[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 118 (Wednesday, September 9, 1998)]
[House]
[Pages H7448-H7451]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                   RONALD V. DELLUMS FEDERAL BUILDING

  Mr. KIM. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill 
(H.R. 3295) to designate the Federal building located at 1301 Clay 
Street in Oakland, California, as the ``Ronald V. Dellums Federal 
Building.''
  The Clerk read as follows:

                               H.R. 3295

       Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of 
     the United States of America in Congress assembled,

     SECTION 1. DESIGNATION.

       The Federal building located at 1301 Clay Street in 
     Oakland, California, shall be known and designated as the 
     ``Ronald V. Dellums Federal Building''.

     SEC. 2. REFERENCES.

       Any reference in a law, map, regulation, document, paper, 
     or other record of the United States to the Federal building 
     referred to in section 1 shall be deemed to be a reference to 
     the ``Ronald V. Dellums Federal Building''.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from 
California (Mr. Kim) and the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Traficant) each 
will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from California (Mr. Kim).
  Mr. KIM. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, again, H.R. 3295 designates the Federal building located 
in Oakland, California, as ``Ronald Dellums Federal Building.''
  Congressman Dellums was born in Oakland, California, on November 24, 
1935. After 2 years of service in the U.S. Marine Corps, Congressman 
Dellums received an honorable discharge. He then followed educational 
pursuit and received his AA from Oakland City College in 1958, his BA 
from San Francisco State University in 1960, and his MSW from the 
University of California at Berkeley in 1962.
  In his public role, Congressman Dellums served on the Berkeley City 
Council from 1967 to 1970, when he was then elected to the United 
States House of Representatives to represent northern Alameda County.
  Congressman Dellums' first major effort after arriving in Washington 
was toward finding a resolution to the war in Indochina. This 
experience prepared him to be a strong advocate for arms reductions 
throughout his entire career.
  In addition, Congressman Dellums championed issues involving civil 
rights, equal rights for women, human rights, and environment.
  At the time of his retirement, Congressman Dellums was the ranking 
member on the House Committee on National Security. During his tenure, 
he also held chairmanship of the Committee on Armed Services and the 
Committee on the District of Columbia.
  Throughout his 27-year career, Congressman Dellums served on a 
variety of other committees and caucuses, as well, including the 
Committee on Foreign Affairs, the Committee on the Post Office and 
Civil Service, the Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, and the 
Congressional Black Caucus.
  This is a fitting tribute to our esteemed colleague, and his 
compassion for causes will be deeply missed in this body.
  I support the bill and urge my colleagues to support the bill.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. TRAFICANT. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from 
California (Mr. Miller), a distinguished leader on the Democrat side.
  (Mr. MILLER of California asked and was given permission to revise 
and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. MILLER of California. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from 
Ohio (Mr. Traficant) for yielding.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of this bill and urge the House to 
pass it. I am proud to have authored this legislation to name the 
Federal building in Oakland, California, after Ronald V. Dellums, the 
man who represented the people of Oakland and Berkeley in Congress for 
2\1/2\ decades.
  The people who will go in and out of this building with Ron's name on 
it can take pride in knowing that Ron cared about them, he fought for 
them, and he left a mark in Congress and this country in their names.
  I would like to thank the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Armey), the 
majority leader, for scheduling the bill on the floor today. And I also 
would like to thank the subcommittee chairman and the ranking member, 
the gentleman from California (Mr. Kim) and the gentleman from Ohio 
(Mr. Traficant), for their support in the full committee and to thank 
the full committee chairman and ranking member the gentleman from 
Pennsylvania (Mr. Shuster) and the gentleman from Minnesota (Mr. 
Oberstar) for their support of this legislation.
  I also want to acknowledge the support of the gentleman from 
California (Mr. Lewis) for his coauthorship of this bill. And I would 
like to thank Senator Barbara Boxer for passing this legislation in the 
Senate in June.
  Ron Dellums was truly a unique Member of Congress. His passion was

[[Page H7449]]

his fuel, and his passion did not blind him. He was clear, incisive, 
instructional, and inspirational. He was a tireless champion.
  I know I speak for most of my colleagues when I say that rarely a day 
passes that I do not remark on how I miss his presence in this body. 
Ron Dellums was always known to be the best-dressed Member of Congress. 
He was known as one of the Congress' great orators, colorfully and 
articulately dancing in the well of the House to draw support for his 
positions. And he is known as one of the greatest advocates for peace, 
justice, and human rights.
  Ron Dellums has been our modern-day drum major for peace. He saved us 
from many weapons systems that we did not need, could not afford, and 
probably could not control. As a titan in the movement for human 
rights, he brought the titans of apartheid to their knees and dragged a 
reluctant American Government along the way. He fought for the civil 
rights of all Americans. And more than any other Member of Congress, he 
helped to clearly illustrate how an overfed military budget was 
literally starving our children, our schools, and our communities.
  And Congressman Ron Dellums served the people of America and fought 
for human rights around the world. He did not bid for the monied 
special interests that prey on Congress to answer their every narrow 
need. And he is always there to help his friends.
  When it came time to downsize the military establishments in the Bay 
Area and across the United States, Ron fought to ensure the base 
closure process was fair and expeditious. He also made sure that in 
fact it was about economic conversion and the communities that were 
affected by base closing.
  Perhaps in naming this Federal building in Oakland will serve as an 
opportunity to rededicate ourselves to the challenges that Ron Dellums 
championed. Maybe if we learn to carry the convictions of a more just 
society with us and to work every day as he did, just maybe we will be 
able to make America an even better place and a world just a bit safer.
  With passage of this bill today, I look forward to the President's 
signature in naming the Federal building in Oakland after Ronald V. 
Dellums, Congressman, brother, and champion to us all.
  Mr. KIM. Mr. Speaker, I yield 5 minutes to the gentleman from New 
York (Mr. Solomon) chairman of the Committee on Rules.
  Mr. SOLOMON. Mr. Speaker, I certainly thank the gentleman from 
California (Mr. Kim) for yielding the time.
  People might be surprised when this, one of the most conservative 
Members of the Republican Party, stands to pay tribute to one of the 
most liberal Members who ever served in this body, Ron Dellums.
  I represent the Adirondack Mountains, about as far east as we can 
get. And Ron Dellums, of course, represented the other end of the 
country, out in California. And yet, this conservative Member respects 
Ron Dellums perhaps as much, if not more, than almost any other Member. 
And there is a reason for that: Because Ron Dellums is truly a great 
American.
  Yes, he served in the Marine Corps, like I did many years ago. But 
when he came to this body, he did not speak often, but when he did, he 
spoke with sincerity. He spoke from his heart, and we knew that he was 
not playing to a crowd, that he really was debating the issues that he 
believed in.
  When he became the chairman of the Committee on Armed Services, as it 
used to be called, many of us on our side of the aisle thought that he 
might not do a good job. But do my colleagues know something? He did 
one of the finest jobs that any Democrat from the other side of the 
aisle ever did as chairman of that committee. He was fair to all of us.
  And that is why he and I never had a cross word, except for early in 
both of our careers, almost 20 years ago. And I can recall it was late 
at night, maybe 1:00 in the morning. We were in a furious debate on the 
floor and we got mad at each other. And after the debate was over, Ron 
Dellums came over to me and he said, ``Solomon, why don't we step 
outside and settle this.'' And I looked up at him, I say ``up at him'' 
because he was 5 inches taller and 80 pounds heavier, and I said, 
``Your guns or mine?'' And he said, ``What do you mean?'' I said, 
``Well, Ron, you are so much bigger and in so much better shape and you 
are younger, we have to handicap this.'' So I said, ``Your guns or 
mine?'' And he broke out in a smile and he said, ``Solomon, you are 
okay.''
  And you know what? We never had a cross word after that time because 
we both respected each other. And that is why I stand here today in 
support of naming this building after a great American, a great 
Congressman named Ronald Dellums.
  Mr. TRAFICANT. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentlewoman from 
California (Ms. Pelosi).
  Ms. PELOSI. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. 
Traficant) for yielding, and I commend him and the gentleman from 
California (Mr. Kim) and particularly the author of this resolution the 
gentleman from California (Mr. Miller), his cosponsor the gentleman 
from California (Mr. Lewis), and our great Senator, Senator Boxer, for 
their authorship of this.
  How wonderful this is for us in the Congress of the United States to 
be naming a Federal building for someone who just a few short months 
ago we called ``colleague.'' And indeed it was an honor for every one 
of us who had ever had the privilege of calling him ``colleague'' to 
serve with Ron Dellums.
  As has been mentioned by my colleagues, he served here with great 
dignity. He brought a brilliant intellect, great integrity, tremendous 
passion and energy to all of the issues that he cared about.
  I think it is particularly appropriate that this conversation is 
taking place on a day when we are also honoring Thomas Edison, Lewis 
and Clark, fitting that Ron Dellums' name should be listed among the 
great pioneers of our country, because a pioneer he was indeed and is 
indeed.
  Although he does not serve in Congress, he is still a leader for 
social and economic and environmental justice in our country and indeed 
throughout the world.
  And as we all take great pride in the role America played in ending 
apartheid in South Africa, we must remember that it was not easy and it 
took great and tremendous leadership at the start and was met with 
resistance from the start. But Ron Dellums was there from the start. He 
fought that fight. And I cannot help but think that it has to be his 
proudest boast that he helped end apartheid in South Africa.
  As a Bay Area Member, as a Member from California, I want to say what 
great pride his constituents take in Ron's service in Congress. 
Actually Ron has a Bay Area-wide constituency, actually a national 
constituency, because of his eloquent leadership and passionate 
leadership and the great intellect that he has brought to issues.
  And so, I want to join my colleagues in support of this resolution. 
As the gentleman from California (Mr. Miller) mentioned, for 
generations to come, young people will go to that Federal building and 
the name ``Ron Dellums'' in history will be synonymous with honor, 
integrity, concern about issues, social and economic justice in our 
country and throughout the world.
  Thank you very much to those who led the way on this, the gentleman 
from California (Mr. Miller) especially, for giving us the privilege in 
this House. In honoring Ron Dellums, we bring honor to this House of 
Representatives.
  Mr. KIM. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. TRAFICANT. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from 
American Samoa (Mr. Faleomavaega).

                              {time}  1330

  (Mr. FALEOMAVAEGA asked and was given permission to revise and extend 
his remarks.)
  Mr. FALEOMAVAEGA. Mr. Speaker, I too would like to thank the 
gentleman from California (Mr. Kim) and the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. 
Traficant) for bringing this legislation to the floor. I want to thank 
the gentleman from California as well as the gentlewoman from 
California for their remarks, and for the opportunity to allow me to 
say a few words concerning this piece of legislation.
  Mr. Speaker, in the years I have known and been a Member of this 
body, Ron Dellums' name stands out as a giant, in my opinion. There 
have been

[[Page H7450]]

a lot of misunderstandings among our colleagues about this gentleman, 
especially over the positions that he has taken on questions of 
national security and our defense posture.
  If there was ever someone that I have always respected for what he 
has advocated so strongly over the years, Ron Dellums was not against 
our defense, but he was against corruption and the idea that you can 
buy a little bolt or a little nut that is worth only about 50 cents in 
a hardware store and is sold among the defense industry for $150. That 
is the kind of thing that Ron Dellums stood for.
  I do not think there has ever been a Member that I have known who, 
when he stands up and makes his statement or gives a speech in this 
body, he speaks with such great passion and such a tremendous amount of 
understanding and knowledge on whatever issue he takes up. I have never 
known a gentleman that could speak with great eloquence without even 
the use of notes or anything such as Ron Dellums.
  I think it is most fitting that our colleagues have brought forth 
this legislation to name a Federal Building after this gentleman, and I 
sincerely hope that my colleagues will support this piece of 
legislation.
  Mr. TRAFICANT. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to 
the gentleman from California (Mr. Miller).
  Mr. MILLER of California. Mr. Speaker, I was reminded when the 
gentlewoman from California (Ms. Pelosi) talked about people going in 
and out of this building, people go to the Federal buildings very often 
seeking help, compassion and understanding. Very often their arguments 
are not recognized with dignity. Hopefully people will understand that 
this building and the people who work in it, it is named for a man who 
gave dignity to people's arguments and concerns, even when he so 
strongly disagreed with them.
  Ron Dellums used to say that he arrived in Congress as an Afro-top 
bell-bottom militant from Berkley, and he rose to become chairman of 
the Committee on National Security. One of the amazing things was after 
he became chairman of the Committee on National Security, where there 
were serious disagreements about military policy, national policies, 
the future, procurements and all this, the people who disagreed with 
him so much on the issues commented how fairly they had been treated by 
him in those hearings and how fairly they had been treated in front of 
the Committee on Rules, because he believed that people should be able 
to and that this body could only function if people were allowed to 
bring amendments to the floor and have a free and fair and open debate 
on those issues.
  So when we name this building for Ron Dellums, we do so in the spirit 
of what should be the best about the Congress of the United States, 
what should be the best about public service, and what should be the 
best about public servants looking at their constituents and 
recognizing their dignity and recognizing their needs and understanding 
the need to be heard on their arguments, even when you disagree with 
them.
  So, again, I want to thank the gentleman from California (Mr. Kim) 
and the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Traficant) for bringing this 
legislation to the floor, because I think here truly we do honor the 
best of the Federal Government when we seek to name this building after 
Congressman Ron Dellums.
  Mr. TRAFICANT. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may 
consume.
  Mr. Speaker, he was a liberal, he was a Democrat, but he was a great 
American. I have heard him called so many things on the floor. I look 
back at the history of Ron Dellums, and what a great Member we had in 
our midst. What an orator. It is so fitting to see the gentleman from 
New York (Chairman Solomon), one of our great Members, discuss here 
some of the little anecdotes of Ron's great involvement in our 
Congress.
  Just in passing, I don't want to embarrass her, but Susan Brita of 
our staff at the Committee on Transportation, the Subcommittee on 
Public Buildings and Economic Development, said she can remember the 
day when Ron Dellums brought the mayor in from Oakland, and he was 
lobbying to get free land to have this courthouse built, this very same 
courthouse, that will appropriately be named in his honor.
  I have had a few run-in's with Ron. I disagreed with him on troops on 
the border and I disagreed with him on some other issues, but I will 
tell you what: He was always straight up, looked you right in the eye 
and told you what he felt, right to your face, and you had to 
appreciate that.
  But I want to go step further here today. Nelson Mandela and his 
great efforts in South Africa can never be overshadowed, but there is 
one real big one here today that has to be laid on the platter of 
service of Ron Dellums: Ron Dellums had as much to do with ending 
apartheid in South Africa and developing self-determination in that 
nation as any other American. He deserves absolutely this great and 
fitting tribute.
  So if Ron is out there watching, and he should be, I want him to 
change his position on the border and securing our national security. 
His powerful voice could help our country end that plight. But I want 
to raise my voice today and say Ron Dellums, you deserve this. And to 
see one of his former colleagues, the fine Senator from Illinois here, 
Mr. Durbin, it is so great to see him. I am sure if he could take the 
mike, I would like to yield to you, Senator, and I am sure you would 
like to say this.
  So, on behalf of the fine Senator who took his time to come over, Ron 
Dellums, you deserve this. You are an absolutely great American. You 
stood in the well and you stood on this side for things that were not 
popular years ago, but they are not only popular today, they are the 
law today, and that is the tribute, when you put that name on that 
courthouse.
  H.R. 3295, is a bill to honor Ron Dellums by naming the federal 
building in Oakland, CA the ``Ron V. Dellums Federal Building.''
  As you know, Ron represented the 9th district of California for 26 
years and during that period distinguished himself in many, many ways.
  He fought tirelessly for vigorous examination of the state of our 
military establishment including its purposes, its budget, and other 
issues involving racial and sexual discrimination.
  He was a dynamic advocate for arms reduction and peaceful resolution 
of international conflict. Ron's interests extended to healthcare, 
civil rights, Congressional authority, and alternative budgets.
  He was a great friend, a mentor, always a gentleman, and leader. His 
kindness and humor are missed by all.
  I support this bill and urge my colleagues to join me in support of 
H.R. 3295.
  Mr. OBERSTAR. Mr. Speaker, H.R. 3295 is a bill to designate the 
federal building in Oakland, CA, in honor of our colleague, Ron 
Dellums.
  For over a quarter century Ron represented the 9th district of 
California. Elected to Congress against the backdrop of the Vietnam 
War, Congressman Dellums worked to end that conflict and remained a 
steadfast advocate for peaceful solutions to conflict.
  Ron became a leader for such diverse issues as rational military 
policy, comprehensive and progressive healthcare, and social justice 
for all.
  He was an early and out spoken critic of the racist apartheid 
policies of South Africa. He was a determined advocate of Congressional 
authority to declare war. He led the fight against racial and sexual 
harassment in the military forces. He was sponsor of the alternative 
agendas for the Congressional Black Caucus.
  Ron was always a gentleman, a consensus builder, a mentor, and great 
friend to all members. His humor and judgment are sorely missed.
  With great enthusiasm I support H.R. 3295, a bill to honor Ron 
Dellums by designating the federal building in Oakland, CA, as the 
Ronald V. Dellums Federal Building.
  Ms. LEE. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of H.R. 3295, which 
designates a federal building in Oakland, California as the ``Ronald V. 
Dellums Federal Building.'' The naming of this building after my 
predecessor, Ronald V. Dellums, is an honor that many of his 
constituents, his colleagues, and his supporters from across this 
nation have awaited; it is a mark of recognition, a symbol of their 
appreciation, our appreciation, for the role that he played, the 
leadership that he gave, the work that he did, and the spiritual uplift 
that he gave to the critical issues of our times.
  Ron, as constituents, colleagues, friends and family call him, from 
the time of his first office as a member of the Berkeley City Council, 
became the focus and the leader of a ever-growing group of people who 
were hungry for leadership on the critical issues of the

[[Page H7451]]

late 1960s and the 1970s. These people activists who were upset, angry 
about the Vietnam War, angry about injustices to Blacks and people of 
color, and yearning to be part of a larger America that would be moral 
and ethical domestically and internationally. Like his elder 
contemporary Martin Luther King, Jr., Ron Dellums, joined the activists 
for civil rights and activists for peace. For over two decades, this 
coalition provided some of the greatest political energies and social 
and political achievements that we have known.
  This coalition propelled him to the House of Representatives where, 
as a result of his distinguished work in the Armed Services Committee, 
now the National Security Committee, he was elected to be the Chair and 
later the Ranking Member of that committee. He was valued and loved 
because of the role that he took on that committee and on the floor of 
Congress. He spoke the fears and doubts about an involvement in the war 
in Southeast Asia; he addressed, passionately, the need for social and 
economic justice domestically and abroad. He helped to forge the annual 
Alternative Budget which was a product of the Congressional Black 
Caucus and the Congressional Progressive Caucus. This budget was of 
tremendous importance to his district and to national constituents 
because it provided a necessary voice to many of their deepest moral 
considerations.
  The people who worked with Ron, who supported Ron, who became the 
people who love Ron, I know will value this designation. I urge my 
colleagues to support this bill.
  Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I rise to speak on behalf of 
this bill, which designates the Federal Building located on Clay Street 
in Oakland, California, the ``Ronald V. Dellums Federal Building.''
  With the announcement of his sudden retirement from the Congress last 
month, Representative Ronald V. Dellums, the esteemed former chairman 
of the House National Security Committee (previously called the House 
Armed Services Committee), began to write the final chapter of a 
brilliant legacy of public service spanning well over three decades, 
that simply cannot go without recognition.
  After a distinguished tour of service in the United States Marine 
Corps, Congressman Dellums began to prepare himself to pursue a career 
of helping others. Congressman Dellums was the first member of his 
family to attend college, and completed his studies with a Masters 
Degree in Social Work from the University of California. The 
Congressman's chosen field was that of psychiatric social work before 
he realized his true calling was in the area of public interest.
  While serving as a well-respected community activist in the Bay Area, 
Congressman Dellums was persuaded by friends that he could be an even 
greater good to the local community by serving on the Berkeley City 
Council. The Congressman consented to these requests, and was elected 
to the Berkeley City Council in 1966. After four years on the City 
Council, in 1970, Congressman Dellums challenged the incumbent of the 
Ninth Congressional District of California, and won. From this point 
on, I guess one could say that the ``rest was history''.
  Dellums, upon his arrival in Washington in 1971, emerged as one of 
the most controversial figures on Capitol Hill. Always willing to be a 
balanced and independent voice in times of crisis, Congressman Dellums 
soon rose to national prominence as one of the most intelligent and 
articulate members of this Congress. Congressman Dellums was widely 
recognized as the kind of man that did not just give lipservice to his 
announced legislative priorities, but actually worked tirelessly to 
meet these objectives in order to better serve his constituency and the 
nation at large. There is only one word that can accurately described a 
man like this, integrity.
  Mr. Dellums, first as Chairman of the Acquisitions Subcommittee and 
then as the Full Committee Chairman, showed the kind of exemplary 
dignity befitting of the Chairman's gavel. Even though Congressman 
Dellums was always an advocate of lower military spending, he never 
used the power of the Chair as a means of impeding any opposing views 
held by his colleagues. Dellums used only his intellect and his vote as 
a way of expressing his views on pending legislation, and I am sure 
that this is how the Framers of the Constitution envisioned a 
Congressional Representative would conduct his or herself.
  I honestly cannot think of a higher compliment to give to a lawmaker 
than to say that they consistently stood upon their convictions in the 
face of opposition with honor and dignity. Ronald V. Dellums, without 
exception, remained this kind of man of convictions, during his nearly 
thirty years of service in the United States Congress, and this must be 
applauded. Like Robert Frost said, Congressman Dellums took ``the road 
less traveled by, and that has made all of the difference''.
  In conclusion, I believe that designating a federal building in honor 
of Congressman Dellums is the absolute least we could do. It is but a 
small part in his legacy, one which will leave an imprint of his 
dedication to public service in the minds of all of the federal 
employees in this building, while that imprint remains firmly in the 
hearts of the Members of this elected body.
  Mr. TRAFICANT. Mr. Speaker, I urge an ``aye'' vote, and I yield back 
the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Gillmor). The question is on the motion 
offered by the gentleman from California (Mr. Kim) that the House 
suspend the rules and pass the bill, H.R. 3295.
  The question was taken; and (two-thirds having voted in favor 
thereof) the rules were suspended and the bill was passed.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

                          ____________________