[Congressional Record Volume 147, Number 72 (Wednesday, May 23, 2001)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E911-E912]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


 IN HONOR OF JOAN RIVERS ON THE OCCASION OF HER BEING NAMED A WOMAN OF 
              THE YEAR BY THE USO OF METROPOLITAN NEW YORK

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. CAROLYN B. MALONEY

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, May 23, 2001

  Mrs. MALONEY of New York. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to 
Ms. Joan Rivers, a distinguished resident of the 14th Congressional 
District which I represent and an internationally renowned entertainer, 
who will be honored by the USO of Metropolitan New York tomorrow at its 
Women of the Year Luncheon.
  The USO is currently in its sixtieth year of existence, dedicated to 
improving the morale and welfare of our uniformed military personnel. 
For more than half a century, the USO has been providing a ``touch of 
home'' to our men and women in uniform overseas.
  The USO Woman of the Year award has been given to an impressive list 
of past honorees including such luminaries as Barbara Bush, Lady Bird 
Johnson, and Mamie Eisenhower. One of the greatest entertainers of our 
time, and a highly successful author and businesswoman, Ms. Rivers is a 
fitting choice for this distinguished honor.
  Joan Rivers is currently acclaimed for her witty and engaging 
commentary on E! Entertainment Television's Fashion Reviews and E!'s 
live pre-shows for the Academy Awards. Her signature question, ``Can we 
talk?'' has become so well known that the United States government 
agreed to register it as a federal trademark.
  An accomplished comedienne, Ms. Rivers worked her way up through 
small clubs and lounges, where she often relief on tips in lieu of a 
salary, to the international celebrity she has reached today. In 1983, 
``The Tonight Show'' with Johnny Carson broke tradition to

[[Page E912]]

name Ms. Rivers its sole permanent guest hostess.
  A prolific writer, John Rivers has authored nine books, and for three 
years wrote a thrice-weekly syndicated column for the ``Chicago 
Tribune.'' Joan Rivers' volumes have been invariably successful; her 
first book alone sold over four million copies. Ms. Rivers' 1986 
autobiography reached number four on the ``New York Times'' bestseller 
list in only two weeks. The sequel, Still Talking, published in 1991, 
was a Book-of-the-Month selection.
  Mindful of her incredible success, Joan Rivers has been a role model 
in her charitable deeds. Ms. Rivers played the voice of the Honest 
Boy's Mother for an audio version of The Emperor's New Clothes 
benefiting the Starbright Foundation. In 1982, Ms. Rivers was the first 
celebrity to call attention to the impending AIDS crisis when she 
hosted and headlined the first AIDS benefit. Along with many other 
contributions, Ms. Rivers has also participated in the ``Comic Relief'' 
fund-raiser to end homelessness.
  I am delighted that the USO has chosen to honor Joan Rivers. I ask my 
fellow members of Congress to do likewise by joining me in tribute to 
this truly outstanding woman.

                          ____________________