[Congressional Record Volume 145, Number 30 (Thursday, February 25, 1999)]
[Senate]
[Page S2040]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                      NOMINATION OF BILL LANN LEE

 Mrs. BOXER. Mr. President, I note with great pride that the 
President has announced his intention to nominate Mr. Bill Lann Lee, a 
native of my State of California, to be Assistant Attorney General for 
Civil Rights in the Department of Justice.
  The Senate will recall that Bill Lann Lee was nominated for this post 
more than a year and a half ago, in July 1997. His nomination died in 
the Judiciary Committee at the end of the 105th Congress. The majority 
of that Committee denied the full Senate a vote on the nomination 
because it knew Bill Lann Lee would have been confirmed if a vote had 
been taken.
  Mr. President, I hope that the Judiciary Committee will not make the 
same mistake twice. Bill Lann Lee is fully qualified for this position. 
Indeed, I believe that he is the best person for the position. His 
personal history and his professional credentials both make him the 
perfect candidate to be Assistant Attorney for Civil Rights.
  Bill Lann Lee was born in Harlem, the son of immigrants. He learned 
early in life about patriotism, from his father, who volunteered for 
military service in World War II in order to serve the adopted country 
that he loved so much. Bill Lee also learned from his parents, who ran 
a laundry, the value of hard work, a good education, and commitment to 
excellence.
  Bill Lee spent most of his 24-year legal career with the NAACP Legal 
Defense and Education Fund, which was founded by Thurgood Marshall. He 
also spent several years in the 1980's working for the Center for Law 
in the Public Interest. Throughout his career, Bill Lee has 
demonstrated a talent for consensus building--surely one of the most 
important attributes for the top civil rights job.
  Elected officials and other leaders from both parties have strongly 
endorsed Bill Lann Lee, including Los Angeles Mayor Richard Riordan, 
who said, in a letter to the White House: ``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.''
  He has the endorsement of the National District Attorneys 
Association, which wrote: ``. . . as the Assistant Attorney General for 
Civil Rights, he will remain fully cognizant of the need and 
expectations of the people of the U.S. to be provided effective, 
efficient and fair law enforcement services. . . . he will do his 
utmost to ensure that honest and hardworking police officers are not 
tarnished by the acts of a few miscreants.''
  I join the many people across the country--lawyers, law enforcement, 
elected officials, and others--who want the Senate to finally confirm 
this splendid nominee for this very important post.




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