[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 5 (Tuesday, February 3, 1998)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E65]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




   TRIBUTE TO LOUISE RENNE, SAN FRANCISCO'S OUTSTANDING CITY ATTORNEY

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. TOM LANTOS

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, February 3, 1998

  Mr. LANTOS. Mr. Speaker, it is truly an honor for me to pay tribute 
to San Francisco City Attorney Louise Renne, who was recently cited in 
California Lawyer magazine as one of the state's top attorneys for 
1997. To those of us who have known her and followed her career over 
the course of the last three decades, Louise is so much more than an 
outstanding solicitor: She is a fighter for the people of San 
Francisco, a crusader for the progressive values of fairness and equal 
rights and one of the most compassionate and decent public officials 
that I have had the privilege of knowing.
  California Lawyer writes: ``Think of a hot political issue that came 
up during the past year involving a city, and San Francisco City 
Attorney Louise Renne was probably center stage.'' For Louise, 1997 was 
indeed a successful year, as her participation in a $1 billion-plus 
lawsuit forced Bank of America to admit its culpability in knowingly 
mishandling millions of dollars as trustee of San Francisco's municipal 
bond programs.
  While this is a landmark achievement for the city, it serves as only 
one of many in Louise's remarkable career. Her commitment to public 
service has spanned decades, initially as a California deputy attorney 
general for eleven years, during which time she worked with the Sierra 
Club to stop clear-cutting at Redwood National Park and with the San 
Francisco Fire Department to ensure the hiring of more women and 
minorities. As president of the California Women Lawyers during the 
1970's, she fought tirelessly for increased representation of women on 
the judicial bench. In her twelve years as City Attorney, she and her 
highly regarded staff have established a record of legal accomplishment 
and dedicated community activism that dwarfs contemporaries and 
predecessors alike.
  One of Louise Renne's most recent and, in many respects, most 
significant battles has been her fight against Big Tobacco. In June 
1996, at a time when many analysts and attorneys claimed that it would 
be folly to demand compensation from large tobacco companies for the 
billions of public dollars spent on treating tobacco-related illnesses, 
her office filed suit against these irresponsible corporations. San 
Francisco was one of the first cities to stand up to Big Tobacco, but 
certainly not the last.
  Following Louise's leadership, public officials began to speak out in 
overwhelming numbers, demanding that tobacco companies be held 
accountable for decades of deceit and outright lies. She has already 
scored one huge victory, negotiating a settlement with R.J. Reynolds 
that included $1.5 million for city anti-smoking programs focusing on 
children and a ban on the use of the cartoon character Joe Camel 
forever in the State of California. She continues to make her voice, 
and the voices of the overwhelming majority of San Franciscans, heard 
on this vital issue, fighting for legislative initiatives which promise 
to reimburse cities and towns, restrict tobacco advertising and keep 
this addictive and deadly drug away from our children.
  Mr. Speaker, I am proud to have as my constituent and friend such as 
outstanding public servant. Congratulations to Louise Renne on being 
named by California Lawyer as one of the state's top attorneys for 
1997, and congratulations to all San Franciscans for twice electing 
this outstanding woman as City Attorney.

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