[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 151 (Wednesday, October 21, 1998)]
[Senate]
[Pages S12910-S12912]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                             BILL LANN LEE

 Mrs. BOXER. Mr. President, I want to express my deep 
disappointment and sadness that the Senate has failed to act on the 
nomination of Bill Lann Lee as Assistant Attorney General for Civil 
Rights at the Department of Justice.
  Bill Lann Lee's nomination was sent to the Senate in July, 1997. I 
had the honor of introducing him to the Judiciary Committee, and I have 
spoken to the Senate numerous times to urge his confirmation. In my 
travels throughout my home state of California, I have heard over and 
over from his supporters, ``please make sure Bill Lann Lee gets 
confirmed.''
  I cannot explain why the Senate failed to act on this eminently 
qualified nominee. I can only guess that an eminently qualified 
candidate fell victim to partisan politics. Mr. Lee has served for 10 
months as the Acting Assistant Attorney General for Civil Rights 
because the Judiciary Committee refused to report the nomination. The 
Committee did not act because it did not wish the full Senate to vote--
because the majority of that Committee knew that Bill Lann Lee would be 
confirmed if a vote were taken.
  If any member of this body does not wish to confirm one of the 
President's nominees, then he or she should have the courage to vote 
that nominee down. But that did not happen.
  In all this time, one thing is certain; those who know Mr. Lee, and 
those who are aware of his record, know Mr. Bill Lann Lee is the best 
person for the position of Assistant Attorney General for Civil Rights 
at the Department of Justice. Unfortunately, this nomination has been 
held back by a few senators who oppose Mr. Lee as head of the Civil 
Rights Division because, oddly enough, Mr. Lee believes strongly in 
civil rights.
  I want the record to be clear about Bill Lann Lee, his personal 
history and his professsional credentials, both of which make him the 
perfect candidate to be Assistant Attorney General for Civil Rights.
  Bill Lann Lee was born in Harlem, the son of hardworking, patriotic, 
immigrant parents who came to this country because they believed 
America was the land of opportunity. His father, William Lee, not only 
spoke of this, but also showed his son by example, that a penniless 
immigrant who works hard in this country can make a better life for 
himself and for his family. Many of us know the senior Lee was a 
laundryman in New York, who faced daily unspeakable discrimination. 
What some of my colleagues may not know is that the senior Lee 
volunteered in the U.S. Army Air Force during World War II. He fought 
overseas for America and all that America

[[Page S12911]]

stands for, and he advanced to corporal, where as an Army soldier, he 
was treated just like everyone else.
  Bill Lann Lee took to heart these lessons of hard work and dedication 
to America's values. He attended the renowned Bronx High School of 
Science. He went on to attend Yale on a scholarship and graduated Phi 
Beta Kappa and magna cum laude. He received his law degree from 
Columbia University Law school.
  Attending school, Mr. Lee was one of the most formally dressed 
students. He frequently wore white dress shirts to class, while his 
classmates wore sweatshirts with college logos. When I think of the 
reason why Bill Lann Lee wore white dress shirts every day, tears well 
up in my eyes.
  Bill Lee, who came from poverty, wore white dress shirts because 
these were the shirts left behind at his parents' laundry business. 
Bill Lee wore the clothes that were forgotten by others. He wore the 
clothes that his parents toiled over, despite the cramp conditions in 
their tiny laundry, despite the fact they all ate their meals amidst 
piles of dirty laundry. All this in hopes that one day their children 
would make something of themselves--an immigrant's dream--the American 
dream. And Bill Lann Lee wore those white dress shirts with pride, to 
save money for his family, to save money for his education, all this in 
hopes that one day he would fulfill that dream, and make something of 
himself.
  Mr. Lee spent most of his 24-year legal career with the NAACP Legal 
Defense and Educational Fund, which was founded by the late Supreme 
Court Justice, Thurgood Marshall. Lee left the Legal Defense Fund in 
1983 and worked for the Center for Law in the Public Interest, but 
eventually returned to the Legal Defense Fund in 1988.
  During the course of his career, Mr. Lee showed his ability to build 
consensus and coalitions, fostering negotiations and settlements even 
as he litigated contentious civil rights cases. An example of this is a 
case alleging that Vons Grocery Stores' hiring practices kept women and 
minorities locked in entry-level jobs. Lee's skill to seek a settlement 
resulted in the praise of Vons' general counsel because the court 
decree expressly stated Vons was not required to meet quotas or hire 
unqualified individuals, but that Vons must show a good faith effort 
for hiring and promoting qualified minority employees.
  While Bill Lee's record speaks volumes, many have felt they wanted to 
add a few words.
  In a letter to Erskine Bowles, Mayor Richard Riordan of Los Angeles 
explained that Mr. Lee was opposing counsel in an important civil 
rights case (Labor/Community Strategy Center v. Los Angeles County 
Metropolitan Transportation Authority) which was ultimately settled. 
Mayor Riordan writes, ``The work of my opponents rarely evoke my 
praise, but the negotiations could not have concluded successfully 
without Mr. Lee's practical leadership and expertise.'' Mayor Riordan 
believes Mr. Lee to have a stellar track record as a civil rights 
litigator, and in closing, writes: ``Mr. Lee has practiced mainstream 
civil rights law. He does not believe in quotas. He has pursued 
flexible and reasonable remedies that in each case were approved by a 
court.''
  Additionally, former U.S. Senator Hiram Fong, a Republican from 
Hawaii, lends his support to Mr. Lee. Senator Fong, who served in the 
U.S. Senate for 17 years and was on the Judiciary Committee, states ``I 
am herewith heartily endorsing the nomination of Bill Lann Lee to the 
position of Assistant United States Attorney General for Civil Rights . 
. . His record shows that he is an exceptional litigator with over 20 
years experience with civil rights issues.''
  Also, William Murphy, District Attorney for Staten Island, New York, 
wrote on behalf of the National District Attorneys Association in 
strong support for Bill Lee. Mr. Murphy writes ``I believe that as the 
Assistant Attorney General for Civil Rights, he will remain fully 
cognizant of the need and expectations of the people of the United 
States to be provided effective, efficient and fair law enforcement 
services. I am convinced that he will do his utmost to insuring that 
honest and hardworking police officers are not tarnished by the acts of 
a few miscreants.''
  Even Kenneth Klein, the lead attorney on the opposing legal team on 
the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority case, 
wrote a letter of support for Mr. Lee. Mr. Klein, a former prosecutor, 
writes: ``Notwithstanding the significant disparity between Mr. Lee's 
political philosophy and my own, I cannot think of a better candidate 
to fill the position of Assistant Attorney General for Civil Rights 
than Bill Lann Lee.''
  Mr. President, again, I deeply regret that the Senate did not have 
the chance to vote on this nomination. I know that Bill Lann Lee would 
have been confirmed by a wide margin. I am sorry that those senators 
who disagreed with the President and his nominees to express that 
disagreement in the form of a vote.
  Mr. President, I ask that these letters of support be printed in the 
Record.
  The letters follow:

  There being no objection, the letters were ordered to be printed in 
the Record, as follows:
                                              City of Los Angeles,


                                          Office of the Mayor,

                                  Los Angeles, CA, March 20, 1997.
     Re: Bill Lann Lee, candidate for Assistant Attorney General, 
         Civil Rights Division, United States Department of 
         Justice.

     Erskine Bowles
     Chief of Staff, Office of the President, The White House, 
         Washington, DC.
       Dear Mr. Bowles: I am writing to support the appointment of 
     Bill Lann Lee to the United States Department of Justice 
     position of Assistant Attorney General, Civil Rights 
     Division. Throughout his distinguished career as a civil 
     rights lawyer, Mr. Lee has worked to advance the civil rights 
     progress of the nation and of our richly diverse city of Los 
     Angeles.
       In my opinion, Bill Lee is an astute lawyer who is superbly 
     qualified to enforce our national civil rights laws. Mr. 
     Lee's candidacy offers the president an excellent opportunity 
     to reaffirm his strong support of women's rights and civil 
     rights laws.
       Mr. Lee first became known to me as opposing counsel in an 
     important civil rights case concerning poor bus riders in Los 
     Angeles. As Mayor, I took a leading role in settling that 
     case. The work of my opponents rarely evoke my praise, but 
     the negotiations could not have concluded successfully 
     without Mr. Lee's practical leadership and expertise.
       I know that his expertise is the result of working twenty-
     two years in the ``All Star'' leagues of civil rights 
     litigators. His track record is nationally renowned and 
     speaks for itself. Beyond the many victories, what makes his 
     work special is that he has represented clients from every 
     background, including poor whites, women and children 
     suffering from lead poisoning. His admirable ability to win 
     the trust of so many communities is evident in the broad 
     coalition of civil rights and women's rights experts who are 
     backing his candidacy for this position.
       Mr. Lee has practiced mainstream civil rights law. He does 
     not believe in quotas. He has pursued flexible and reasonable 
     remedies that in each case were approved by a court.
       Mr. Lee is an outstanding citizen of Los Angeles. He has my 
     enthusiastic support and strongest recommendation for the 
     position of Assistant Attorney General for Civil Rights.
           Sincerely,
                                               Richard J. Riordan,
     Mayor.
                                  ____



                                    Finance Enterprises, Ltd.,

                                    Honolulu, HI, August 25, 1997.
     To the Members of the Committee on the Judiciary,
     U.S. Senate,
     Washington, DC.
       Gentlemen: As one who has served in the United States 
     Senate from the State of Hawaii for seventeen years and as a 
     former member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, I am 
     herewith heartily endorsing the nomination of Bill Lann Lee 
     to the position of Assistant United States Attorney General 
     for Civil Rights.
       Mr. Lee has had a very distinguished career in public 
     service especially in matters pertaining to civil rights 
     discrimination.
       I have been deeply impressed by Mr. Lee's efforts in behalf 
     of the poor, children, minorities, women and others who seek 
     a more just and fair society. He is able and well qualified 
     for the position he seeks. His record shows that he is an 
     exceptional litigator with over 20 years experience with 
     civil rights issues.
       I respectfully request that Mr. Bill Lann Lee's nomination 
     be given an early hearing and that he be given the 
     Committee's endorsement.
       With warmest aloha,
           Sincerely,
                                                     Hiram L. Fong
                                            U.S. Senator, Retired.

[[Page S12912]]

     
                                  ____
                                       National District Attorneys


                                                  Association,

                                  Alexandria, VA, October 3, 1997.
     Hon. Orrin G. Hatch,
     Chairman, Senate Committee on the Judiciary, Washington, DC.
       Dear Chairman Hatch: I strongly support the nomination of 
     Bill Lann Lee as Assistant Attorney General for Civil Rights 
     for the Department of Justice.
       Through his work as a Civil Rights attorney, Bill Lann Lee 
     is, I believe, well versed in the problems confronting law 
     enforcement at the community level and in particular in the 
     problems facing our police departments in regard to their 
     relationships with the communities they serve. Crucial to his 
     success as Assistant Attorney General will be his ability to 
     minimize destructive conflict between state, local and 
     federal resources to achieve the goal of bringing peace and 
     harmony to our communities.
       In my discussion with him on his goals in his nominative 
     role, Mr. Lee has indicated his strong dedication to seeking 
     out nonconfrontational and alternative methods of resolving 
     the festering problems besetting our police. Moreover, he 
     recognizes that many complaints are without merit and based 
     in perception rather than fact. He is eminently aware that he 
     must make a viable and continual contribution to fostering a 
     stronger working relationships between law enforcement and 
     all segments of our communities to achieve the goal of ending 
     both actual and perceptions of police misconduct.
       During our discussions we also addressed how best to 
     accomplish the investigative efforts, involving both local 
     and federal interests, in cases involving police misconduct. 
     He has pledged to work with local leaders to develop 
     protocols to combine efforts to ensure effective use of 
     assets, a fuller development of the pertinent facts and a 
     timelier resolution. This alone would be a lasting 
     contribution if brought to fruition.
       I believe that as the Assistant Attorney General for Civil 
     Rights, he will remain fully cognizant of the need and 
     expectations of the people of the United States to be 
     provided effective, efficient and fair law enforcement 
     services. I am convinced that he will do his utmost to 
     insuring that honest and hardworking police officers are not 
     tarnished by the acts of a few miscreants.
       Thank you for considering my perspective in considering 
     this important appointment.
           Sincerely,
                                                William L. Murphy,
     District Attorney, Richmond County, NY
                                  ____



                                           Riordan & McKinzie,

                              Los Angeles, CA, September 19, 1997.
     Re: Bill Lann Lee

     Hon. Orrin Hatch,
     Chairman, Senate Judiciary Committee,
     Washington, DC.
       Dear Senator Hatch: I am aware of the fact that the Senate 
     Judiciary Committee is considering the nomination of Bill 
     Lann Lee for the post of Assistant Attorney General for Civil 
     Rights. As the lead attorney representing the Los Angeles 
     County Metropolitan Transportation Authority in the case of 
     Labor/Community Strategy Center, et al. v. Los Angeles County 
     Metropolitan Transportation Authority (the ``LACMTA 
     litigation''), I came to know Bill Lann Lee quite well. We 
     clashed on many issues during the course of that litigation. 
     However, I have nothing but the highest regard for Mr. Lann 
     Lee as an attorney and as a gentleman.
       Additionally, as a former prosecutor, it is my belief that 
     the Assistant Attorney General for Civil Rights must be an 
     individual who is pragmatic. During the course of the LACMTA 
     litigation, we were able to work with Mr. Lee to reach 
     compromises on a number of substantial issues--the most 
     important of which was the Consent Decree that resolved the 
     litigation. Were it not for Mr. Lee's pragmatic approach, the 
     parties would never have been able to resolve their 
     differences.
       Notwithstanding the significant disparity between Mr. Lee's 
     political philosophy and my own, I cannot think of a better 
     candidate to fill the position of Assistant Attorney General 
     for Civil Rights than Bill Lann Lee.
           Sincerely,
                                                    Kenneth Klein,
     of Riordan & McKinzie.

                          ____________________