[Congressional Record Volume 147, Number 124 (Friday, September 21, 2001)]
[Senate]
[Page S9615]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                      IN MEMORY OF ROSE ANN VUICH

 Mrs. BOXER. Mr. President, I rise today to recognize the 
recent passing of Rose Ann Vuich, an extraordinary public servant and 
Californian who died on August 30th at the age of 74, after a long 
battle with Alzheimer's.
  Rose Ann Vuich was California's first woman State senator, serving in 
the California State Senate for 16 years until her retirement in 1992. 
With the election of Senator Vuich in 1976, she became an icon in 
California's political history and helped to write a new era in the 
history of the California State Senate.
  Rose Ann Vuich set a high level of integrity and decency. To this 
day, there is a Rose Ann Vuich award recognizing other great public 
servants who meet her high standards. She was a woman of great 
determination and dedication, who worked tirelessly for her 
constituents and was loved and respected by so many.
  Rose Ann Vuich was the daughter of Yugoslav immigrants and was from 
the small farming community of Dinuba in Tulare County, California. 
Senator Vuich was dedicated to agriculture, family, community and 
promoting the San Joaquin Valley. She will be greatly missed by all.
  On behalf of the Senate, I extend our thoughts and prayers to the 
Vuich Family on the loss of an extraordinary woman. I ask that the 
Fresno Bee Editorial from August 31, 2001 be printed in the Record.

                  [From the Fresno Bee, Aug. 31, 2001]

  Rose Ann Vuich--Valley Lawmaker Left an Enduring Legacy of Ethical, 
                            Honest Behavior

  At a time when there's so much cynicism about government, Rose Ann 
Vuich reminded us that public service is noble. Sen. Vuich, who died 
Thursday, was California's first woman state senator, but her mark in 
Sacramento was made with her integrity and a commitment to her Valley 
constituents.
  A Democrat from Dinuba, Sen. Vuich represented the region for 16 
years until retiring in 1992. She served at a time when the Legislature 
was controlled by special interests and laws limiting gifts from 
lobbyists were not as strict as they are today. Many legislators had 
their hands out, and the special interests were only too happy to 
grease them. But they could not get to Sen. Vuich, although they tried.
  Sen. Vuich had earned a reputation for voting her conscience and, 
didn't look kindly on so-called ``juice bills,'' which were bills that 
had no value other than attracting campaign contributions for 
lawmakers. In Sacramento, FBI agents played a tape that had a witness 
saying a bill shouldn't go to the Banking and Commerce Committee, which 
Sen. Vuich chaired, because she didn't ``play ball.''
  In 1998, an award for ethical leadership was established in Sen. 
Vuich's name. The aim was to raise the ethical bar in the region, which 
was sorely needed after the many indictments in the local Operation 
Rezone case.
  Sen. Vuich also was a role model for women in government. It was 
difficult being California's first woman state senator, but she broke 
into that men's club with humor and dignity. She kept a bell on her 
desk in the Senate chamber, and when her male colleagues referred to 
the ``gentlemen of the Senate'' or ``fellow senators,'' she rang the 
bell loudly. The Senate soon became more sensitive to gender-biased 
language.
  Sen. Vuich was instrumental in getting the local freeway system built 
and the centerpiece of her 1976 campaign was completing Freeway 41, 
which she called ``the freeway to nowhere.''
  Sen. Vuich remains a role model for all of us. The lessons she taught 
us must endure.

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