[Congressional Record Volume 147, Number 78 (Thursday, June 7, 2001)]
[House]
[Page H2964]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




  WELCOMING DIANE WATSON OF CALIFORNIA TO THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

  (Mr. FARR of California asked and was given permission to address the 
House for 1 minute.)
  Mr. FARR of California. Mr. Speaker, as Chair of the Democratic 
delegation from the great State of California, it is a great privilege 
and honor to introduce our newest Member of the United States Congress, 
former Senator, former ambassador, now Congresswoman, Diane Watson.
  I had the privilege of serving in the California State legislature 
with then Senator Watson for a long time, and I do not know if all the 
world knows what a leader, what a dynamic leader she is. She was first 
involved in education, an issue very dear to all of us here in 
Congress, as a teacher and then as a lecturer, a lecturer at Cal State 
Long Beach, which our colleague, the gentleman from California (Mr. 
Horn), was president of. She was the first African American woman 
elected to the Los Angeles Board of Education and, historically, became 
the first African American woman to be elected to the California State 
Senate.
  In the State Senate she chaired the Health and Human Services 
Committee for over 17 years. Her legislation is landmark legislation, 
setting up the California birth defects monitoring program. She also 
ensured quality for community care and residential care facilities. And 
most recently, she has served this Nation well as our ambassador to 
Micronesia.
  The remarkable and historical fact of Congresswoman Diane Watson 
coming to the United States Congress from the State of California is 
for the first time in the history of this House, a delegation from one 
State, the largest delegation, 52 members in all, which is broken down 
into 20 Republicans and 32 Democrats, the 32 Democrats, with her 
election, makes it parity for the first time in Congress where, for the 
first time in history, the largest delegation is half women and half 
men.
  So I am very proud to introduce to my colleagues one who will be a 
great Member and a great leader of this House, the gentlewoman from 
California (Ms. Watson).

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