[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 6 (Wednesday, February 4, 1998)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E93]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




               TRIBUTE TO THE HONORABLE RONALD V. DELLUMS

                                 ______
                                 



                         HON. NICK J. RAHALL II

                            of west virginia

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, February 4, 1998

  Mr. RAHALL. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to one of the 
most respected members of the House of Representatives, the ranking 
Member of the House National Security Committee, Ron Dellums. I know 
that I safely speak for all of my Colleagues when I say that the House 
will not be the same without his thoughtful leadership when he leaves 
this body on Friday.
  Chairman Dellums has served in the House of Representatives for over 
twenty seven years, arriving in 1971 as an intense young man, committed 
to his principles of justice, education and health care for all. His 
legislative goals including cutting back on defense spending and using 
that money to help local communities, and to ending apartheid in South 
Africa.
  In the 27 years since arriving in Washington, Mr. Dellums may have 
gotten a little bit more gray hair, but one thing hasn't changed: His 
intensity and commitment to the people of California's Bay Area and to 
the United States.
  Ron Dellums has taken stands on issues that sometimes have been at 
odds with many other Members. For example, when most members fought to 
join the House Armed Services Committee to increase defense spending, 
Mr. Dellums joined for another reason. He said at the time, ``I did not 
join the Armed Services Committee to learn about missiles, planes and 
ships; I joined because I knew I would need to become an expert in this 
field in order to argue successfully for military spending reductions 
that would free up resources for the desperate human needs that I see 
every day in my community.''
  His stands on other issues have been just as principled. In 1971, the 
Freshman from California introduced legislation to impose economic 
sanctions on the apartheid regime of South Africa. It would be fifteen 
years before this legislation was enacted into law, enacted over the 
veto of President Ronald Reagan. Lesser members may have given up the 
cause, but not Ron Dellums.
  It will be this that I will always remember Ron Dellums. For his hard 
work and commitment to his ideals and his willingness to always seek an 
alternative. Ron Dellums always could be counted on to develop 
alternatives that reflected his beliefs, so that he would never have to 
sacrifice his principles.
  Ron Dellums will be missed by the House of Representatives and by me. 
I wish him the best of luck in all of his future endeavors.

                          ____________________