[Congressional Record Volume 146, Number 155 (Friday, December 15, 2000)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E2217-E2218]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




EXPRESSING SORROW OF THE HOUSE AT THE DEATH OF THE HONORABLE JULIAN C. 
         DIXON, MEMBER OF CONGRESS FROM THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                       HON. LUCILLE ROYBAL-ALLARD

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                        Friday, December 8, 2000

  Ms. ROYBAL-ALLARD. Mr. Speaker, it is with a heavy heart that I rise 
to express my deep sadness for the passing of my friend, mentor, and 
fellow Angeleno, Julian Dixon.
  I had the privilege of knowing Julian Dixon for many years, including 
the years he served with my father, Congressman Edward R. Roybal, in 
the 1970s and 80s.
  Julian served his Los Angeles-area community and the state of 
California as a member of the California State Assembly and in Congress 
with distinction.
  Julian Dixon's achievements during his nearly three-decade tenure as 
a legislator are too numerous to recount. He was chairman of the House 
Ethics Committee, maintaining bipartisanship on a traditionally 
partisan committee. A fighter in the struggle for civil rights, he 
brought that commitment to his chairmanship of the District of Columbia 
Appropriations subcommittee where he was a strong advocate for the 
rights of DC residents. Recognizing his leadership capabilities, Julian 
was elected Chairman of the influential Congressional Black Caucus in 
the 1980s. More recently, he served as ranking Democrat on the 
prestigious and demanding Select Intelligence Committee.
  When I was appointed to the Appropriations Committee two years ago, I 
was delighted at the opportunity to serve with Julian on the Commerce-
Justice-State-Judiciary Subcommittee because I knew my staff and I 
would benefit greatly from his expertise and knowledge of the agencies, 
programs and issues that would come before the committee.
  Julian was extremely skillful at getting straight to the heart of a 
policy question. While he never hesitated to express his displeasure 
with any administration official--be they Attorney General or Secretary 
of State--he always did so in a calm, dignified and respectful manner. 
He did not view his role on the subcommittee as solely partisan, but 
rather to make sure that the government was doing its job to serve the 
interests of his constituents and the American people as a whole.
  One anecdote in particular illustrates the way Julian worked and the 
high degree of respect accorded him by Democrats and Republicans alike. 
Last year, which was my first year on the Appropriations committee, the 
Los Angeles police department was involved in a series of controversial 
shootings involving officers. Learning of the incidents, Julian 
immediately understood how critical it was to the future of Los Angeles 
and law enforcement to ensure that such shootings were thoroughly 
investigated. As a result, Julian worked with city officials and the 
district attorney's office to develop a program for ``roll-out teams'' 
to quickly respond to these shootings and ensure a thorough and 
impartial investigation.

[[Page E2218]]

  I still remember when Julian asked me to accompany him when he went 
to Chairman Hal Rogers to describe the problem and to ask for funding 
for the roll-out teams. That the chairman immediately agreed to include 
the funding for this critical program in the conference report is 
indicative of the respect with which Julian was held. I don't think 
Julian ever put out a press release about obtaining this important 
funding, but I know it has had a positive impact in helping us address 
one of the problems with our troubled police force.
  This is just one example of Julian's hard work and commitment to his 
community, and his ability to produce results based on his stature and 
respect in the House. Whether it was fighting for emergency funding for 
Los Angeles after the riot in 1992 and the Northridge earthquake in 
1994, or advocating on behalf of the Los Angeles public transportation 
system, Julian Dixon was a devoted and effective legislator.
  While Julian Dixon will undoubtedly be remembered for years to come 
as an outstanding legislator, I will remember him as a cherished friend 
and trusted mentor. Whether providing guidance on the rules and 
procedures of the House, Los Angeles politics, or committee 
assignments, his advice was always welcome and sound.
  In this time of extreme partisanship and legislative gridlock, it is 
my hope that we can all learn from the example of our friend and 
colleague, Julian Dixon.
  While it is clear that Julian will be dearly missed, his hard work 
and dedication, dignity, and bipartisan manner will serve as an 
enduring model to all.

                          ____________________