[Congressional Record Volume 145, Number 50 (Tuesday, April 13, 1999)]
[House]
[Pages H1873-H1874]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




THE VINDICATION OF SUSAN McDOUGAL AND THE CONFIRMATION OF BILL LANN LEE

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under the Speaker's announced policy of 
January 19, 1999, the gentlewoman from Texas (Ms. Jackson-Lee) is 
recognized during morning hour debates for 5 minutes.
  Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas. Mr. Speaker, this morning there are several 
things on my mind that I would like to share with this body. In 
particular, let me acknowledge and congratulate the vindication of 
Susan McDougal. When asked the question, what happened in that case and 
how did she feel, she clearly acknowledged the fact that all of us knew 
would come to light: Susan McDougal told the truth, that there was no 
substance in Whitewater to attribute illegal activities to the 
President and First Lady of the United States. During her tenure, truth 
was not enough for the special prosecutor and the special Independent 
Counsel, but a jury in Arkansas has vindicated her.
  The same thing with the contempt charge for the President. A sad day, 
a sad occurrence. But it was what we argued in the Committee on the 
Judiciary, which was this was a civil matter that would be handled by 
the civil courts. Today that has occurred, or yesterday that has 
occurred.
  Unfortunately, the tragedy of impeachment proceeded because others 
disagreed and felt that matters that could have been handled by the 
courts were the responsibility of this body to take on the highest act 
that this body could take in the impeachment of a president.
  I am very happy, however, that the people of the United States saw 
the facts of this situation, and that this individual, the President of 
the United States, was not impeached, or was not convicted of these 
particular acts.
  With that, let me also bring to the attention of this body the need 
to move forward with the confirmation of the Assistant Attorney General 
for Civil Rights, Bill Lann Lee. This gentleman has served in this 
position for almost 2 years as the Acting Attorney General. Yet, it has 
not been seen fit to confirm him by the other body.
  He has worked tirelessly and within the laws of the land. He is an 
outstanding civil rights attorney. He is a first generation Asian 
American. He has worked in the civil rights area for some 23 years. He 
has spent his time with his nose to the grindstone. He has in fact 
worked very hard, but he has not worked viciously, or with 
vindictiveness.
  I have seen him work in my district, coming to Houston and joining me 
in a town hall meeting on hate crimes after the death of James Barrett, 
Junior. He has also worked with cases like the shooting death of Pedro 
Oregon, so he is concerned about law enforcement, but he is also 
concerned about justice, as well.
  Mr. Lann Lee is someone who brings the kind of practical experience 
and leadership to the Justice Department that is needed. He has 
maintained a sense of dignity, and realizes that, although when we talk 
about civil rights there are those who will raise their voices and say, 
well, we have already crossed that hurdle, America is beyond that, 
there is no need to address those issues, and of course people will 
speak without facts, but I can assure them, with the devastating 
opinions like that in Texas, which has denied access of Hispanics and 
African-Americans to institutions of higher learning, with job 
discrimination against women in the work force, with the lack of equal 
pay for equal work, I can assure Americans that although they may want 
to turn their heads and may not want to hear about civil rights, it is 
important for those of us who uphold the law to not turn our heads, to 
not be afraid of the truth, but go forward and take the higher ground, 
and work with those of good will and good faith and ensure that this is 
truly a land of equal opportunity.
  Bill Lann Lee does nothing but follow the law. He is not in any way 
changing the law. He is not interpreting the law, making the law in his 
own form. He is following the law of the land, which is affirmative 
action; not quotas, but the outreach to individuals to give them an 
opportunity, to give them a helping hand, not a handout.

[[Page H1874]]

  He is following the law on fighting against discrimination of women 
in the workplace. He is following the law on being against the hate 
crimes like those perpetrated against James Byrd, Junior. He is 
following the law when he is investigating the allegations of police 
brutality that are not a respecter of color, creed, or religion, but 
happen across the Nation. He is following the law when he protects good 
law enforcement, as well.
  As indicated by Sandy Bernard, who was president or is president of 
the 150,000 member American Association of University Women, in an 
editorial in the Houston Chronicle on Monday, April 12, 1999, ``For 
more than a year Lee has done an outstanding job as the Acting 
Assistant Attorney General, enforcing our Nation's civil rights laws 
effectively, fairly, and vigorously. His work on behalf of women is 
impressive, and he is moving forward.''
  We cannot ask Bill Lann Lee, Mr. Speaker, to change the laws that he 
has to enforce. What we can simply do is say, do your job. He should be 
confirmed and confirmed now.
  Mr. Speaker, I include for the Record a copy of the article in the 
Houston Chronicle of Monday, April 12, 1999.
  The article referred to is as follows:

          Get Past Politics, Approve Bill Lann Lee Nomination

       Civil rights laws are designed to protect equal 
     opportunity, but these laws are meaningless without a strong 
     leader to enforce them. That leader is Bill Lann Lee. The 
     Senate must confirm Lee as assistant attorney general for 
     civil rights if we are going to guarantee equal protection 
     for all.
       For more than a year, Lee has done an outstanding job as 
     the acting assistant attorney general enforcing our nation's 
     civil rights laws effectively, fairly and vigorously.
       His work on behalf of women is impressive. He has 
     challenged public-sector employment practices that have 
     excluded women from many traditionally male jobs. He has 
     enforced Title IX--the law that prohibits discrimination on 
     the basis of sex in education--in many federal training and 
     educational programs.
       As chair of the National Task Force on Violence Against 
     Health Care Providers, created after the murder of Dr. 
     Barnett Slepian, he has vigorously protected reproductive 
     health care providers. He has made prevention and prosecution 
     of hate crimes a top priority of the division under his 
     leadership.
       Prior to his current position, Lee worked for two decades 
     as a civil rights attorney and a champion of equal 
     opportunity. He negotiated settlements in cases that 
     successfully broke down workplace barriers, especially those 
     that kept women from advancing. Lee made a name for himself 
     by bringing about positive change through the law and 
     building consensus and partnerships--something we need more 
     of in Washington.
       So what is the problem? I comes down to politics. In 1997 
     the Senate, Judiciary Committee held up Lee's nomination 
     though he was clearly qualified for the job. Some senators 
     thought that Lee would support ``unconstitutional'' 
     affirmative action policies. Yet these policies are the law 
     of the land. In fact, Lee has strictly adhered to recent 
     Supreme Court rulings on affirmative action.
       If our elected officials have an issue with the law, they 
     should not take it out on those appointed to uphold the law. 
     Interestingly, recent votes in the House and Senate have been 
     supportive of affirmative action. It seems the Senate 
     Judiciary Committee would rather hold the nation to its own 
     agenda than allow a vote where the outcome may be 
     disagreeable to them.
       The American Association of University Women was sure of 
     Lee's ability when he was first nominated a year ago, and we 
     are only more convinced today. Lee's 23-year history of 
     fighting discrimination and working for justice speaks for 
     itself. His excellent work over the past year should be 
     rewarded with a confirmation so he can continue his job.
       By confirming Bill Lann Lee, the Senate will demonstrate 
     that it can rise above political pettiness and prove its 
     commitment to advancing civil rights for everyone.

  Mr. Speaker, I rise today to inform the nation of a continuing 
injustice. I rise to tell the nation of an attorney with impeccable 
credentials and qualifications to be the next Assistant Attorney 
General for Civil Rights at the United States Department of Justice. I 
rise today to remind you of the story of Bill Lann Lee.
  It is now more than two years since his appointment to fill the 
position of Assistant Attorney General. Yet, his appointment to be the 
next Assistant Attorney General for the Civil Rights Division has been 
frozen for more than two years in the Senate. The Senate has refused to 
complete the confirmation process.
  Mr. Lee is one of the country's leading civil rights attorneys, with 
a long and distinguished history of defending the rights of all 
Americans. Mr. Lee's distinguished legal career has spanned more than 
23 years. He has tirelessly spent his career seeking equal opportunity 
for all people and working diligently against discrimination in all 
forms, including employment, housing, voting and education. Mr. Lee has 
extensive experience in civil rights law.
  Yet despite all these accomplishments, his confirmation remains 
unfinished. A man whose experience in civil rights law includes 
extensive work in employment discrimination, health care, prevention of 
lead poisoning in poor children, access to public transportation, and 
equal access to education.
  I know first hand Mr. Lee brings a reasoned approach to his post. He 
has served the interests of his client, the American people without 
hesitation. During the last two years, he has served the nation as the 
Acting Assistant Attorney General. He has won my respect with his 
straightforward approach and on many occasions he has responded to the 
needs of the 18th Congressional District. Mr. Lee came to Houston to 
participate in a Town Hall Meeting on Hate Crimes.
  During his two years as Acting Assistant Attorney General the Civil 
Rights Division has enforced the laws that prohibit discrimination on 
the basis of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability, 
and other factors. Known as a skilled consensus builder, he has 
tirelessly worked to improve civil rights for all Americans.
  Bill Lann Lee brings the kind of practical experience and leadership 
to the Justice Department that is needed. His leadership of the Civil 
Rights Division has included many issues including the monitoring of 
elections and investigating the police as well as protecting citizens 
with disabilities. One needs to look no further than events in Jasper, 
TX and New York City to see the leadership of Bill Lann Lee.
  I praised President Clinton in 1997 when he made this appointment and 
I continue my support today. It is long past the time that the Senate 
should have taken action to confirm Bill Lann Lee as the nation's 
Assistant Attorney General for Civil Rights. I urge my colleagues in 
the Senate to complete this process. Congress needs to reaffirm its 
commitment to civil rights and we can send no greater sign than to 
confirm Bill Lann Lee.

                          ____________________