[Congressional Record Volume 148, Number 100 (Monday, July 22, 2002)]
[House]
[Pages H5027-H5033]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




    HONORING CORINNE ``LINDY'' CLAIBORNE BOGGS ON OCCASION OF 25TH 
        ANNIVERSARY OF FOUNDING OF CONGRESSIONAL WOMEN'S CAUCUS

  Mr. LINDER. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the 
concurrent resolution (H. Con. Res. 439) honoring Corinne ``Lindy'' 
Claiborne Boggs on the occasion of the 25th anniversary of the founding 
of the Congressional Women's Caucus.
  The Clerk read as follows:

                            H. Con. Res. 439

       Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate 
     concurring), That the Congress honors Corinne ``Lindy'' 
     Claiborne Boggs for her extraordinary service to the people 
     of Louisiana and the United States, recognizes that her role 
     in founding the Congressional Women's Caucus has improved the 
     lives of families throughout the United States, and commends 
     her bipartisan spirit as an example to all elected officials.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from 
Georgia (Mr. Linder) and the gentlewoman from the District of Columbia 
(Ms. Norton) each will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Georgia (Mr. Linder).

                              {time}  1715

  Mr. LINDER. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, today I rise to recognize and honor one of the most 
influential and respected women in the history of American politics, 
former Congresswoman Lindy Boggs of Louisiana.
  Assuming the seat held by her late husband, then House Majority 
Leader Hale Boggs in 1973, Lindy Boggs once considered herself to be 
``a bridge between the old and new, liberals and conservatives, whites 
and blacks, men and women, Republicans and Democrats.'' This assertion, 
given by the

[[Page H5028]]

long-time Secretary for the Congressional Women's Caucus and the 
longest serving female Member of Congress from the South, in my 
opinion, exemplifies what the spirit of public service ought to be.
  Mr. Speaker, it is said that behind every great man stands a great 
woman, but I believe that great women stand not only behind great men, 
but beside them. And in a large number of cases, in front of them. 
Lindy Boggs certainly stands out as one of the most respected and 
successful women in the history of this country. Her 17 years of 
service to the people of Louisiana, her representation of the women of 
America, her grace, and her presence have earned her an esteemed place 
not only in the annals of Congress, but in the history of this country.
  As such, Mr. Speaker, I rise to salute this devoted mother, wife, 
Member of this body, and Ambassador of the people of the United States 
to the Holy See, and thank her for setting an example not only to the 
Members of this body, but to the people of this great Nation.
  In addition, I would like to take this opportunity to join my 
colleagues and rise in celebration of the 25th anniversary of the 
founding of the Congressional Women's Caucus. On April 19, 1977, 15 
Members of Congress met in what was formally known as the 
Congresswoman's Reading Room to establish one of the most influential 
and respected organizations within the House since then. Originally 
known as the Congresswomen's Caucus, this group has successfully fought 
for a number of important issues affecting the millions of women across 
this country, including pension reform, welfare reform, increased child 
support enforcement, and better awareness and stiffer penalties for 
domestic violence.
  Though we rise today to celebrate 25 years of service by the 
Congressional Women's Caucus, I believe that changes brought on by this 
group have only just begun. As such, on behalf of the American people, 
I thank all of the members of the Congressional Women's Caucus for the 
hard work and dedication to make our country a better place. I am proud 
to stand beside each and every one of them as we work together to lead 
this country now and into the future.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Ms. NORTON. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I want to associate myself with the remarks of the 
gentleman from Georgia (Mr. Linder) and thank the gentleman for his 
leadership in bring this resolution to the floor in honor of Lindy 
Boggs. This is an occasion to remember and reflect upon both Lindy 
Boggs and the role of the Congressional Women's Caucus on women's 
issues, and the role they both have played in coordinating and 
communicating and legislating for women's interests in the formation of 
public policy.
  It is, at the same time, a celebration of Lindy Boggs herself. Lindy 
Boggs was or has become a stateswoman in the finest tradition of women 
in politics. She took the political reins when the responsibility fell 
to her, even though it was not her initial calling. Then she served in 
the House for nearly 2 decades. Lindy Boggs was a teacher by training, 
but she came from a long tradition of political service by members of 
her family. When she was in the Congress, she was given the task and 
the formidable responsibility of arranging for the bicentennial of the 
Congress itself. She chaired the Joint Committee on Bicentennial 
arrangements in the 94th Congress, and the Commission on the 
Bicentenary of the United States House of Representatives from the 95th 
through the 101st Congresses.
  She led the 1976 Democratic Convention which nominated Jimmy Carter, 
President of the United States, and was the first woman to chair a 
national party convention. She was an author, a political wife, mother, 
and a gentlewoman who influenced the formation of national policy with 
a gentle hand.
  When she retired from this body, she was chosen to serve as the 
United States Ambassador to the Vatican from 1997 to 2001.
  Mr. Speaker, when one looks at the life of Lindy Boggs, one is 
impressed by the number of firsts that accompany her service. The first 
woman to be elected to the House of Representatives from Louisiana. 
That is not so unusual today. The first woman to serve as a regent of 
the Smithsonian Institute. No one would be surprised at having a woman 
regent today. She was the first woman to reside over a national 
convention. That would be routine at Democratic and Republican 
conventions today. The first woman to receive the Congressional Medal 
from Veterans of Foreign Wars.
  Women may be new to the military and the rolls they have today, but 
Lindy Boggs broke yet another military tradition. She was the first 
woman to receive a Tulane University Distinguished Outstanding Alumni 
Award, the first woman to serve as Ambassador to the Holy See. These 
firsts have now become part of American life and the American 
tradition. When we consider that a woman of our time broke these 
barriers, we must have no small amount of respect.
  H-235 where the women of the House come to lounge is named the Lindy 
Claiborne Boggs Congressional Reading Room. We do not name rooms after 
ordinary people, and the naming of this room in 1962 as the 
Congressional Women's Reading Room is significant because H-235 is a 
very special room. It was the original Speaker's office used by Henry 
Clay and James Pope. It was the place where we are often reminded that 
John Quincy Adams was taken and died after suffering from a stroke. 
Lindy Boggs' picture was hung there.
  In the years since the Congressional Caucus on Women'S Issues was 
formed, America has changed more profoundly than in any other way. The 
Women's Caucus as we are called, accepts some responsibility for those 
changes. America is different in each and every way. Some of these ways 
had nothing to do with legislation. Much of them depended upon the 
leadership of Members of Congress willing to give women's issues great 
priority, to give them priority over other issues. As a result of 
women's leadership, much of the great legislation of the last 25 years 
that benefit women and their families has been passed.
  Today it is routine to see women walking onto factory floors or 
driving buses or building things. That was not routine when the 
Congressional Women's Caucus was formed in 1977. Women now are partners 
in law firms. They serve on corporate boards and are CEOs. They are 
doctors of every kind; and yes, they serve as Chairs in this House and 
in very responsible positions in the cabinet of the United States. 
Women have improved the quality of the recruits of the Armed Services. 
If there were no women in the Armed Services, much that we do every day 
and much of what we depend on every day would not be done nearly as 
well.
  None of this has happened because of women in the House of 
Representatives alone; but no one believes that women in the House of 
Representatives have made no difference on these great advances for 
women. To give Members some idea of just how important the work of 
Lindy Boggs and the women who began the Congressional Women's Caucus 
has been, I would name only a few of the most important pieces of 
legislation that have passed this House since the Women's Caucus was 
formed: The Family Medical and Leave Act, the Pregnancy Discrimination 
Act, the Child Support Enforcement Act, the Breast and Cervical Cancer 
Mortality Prevention Act, the Mammography Quality Standards Act. The 
list is very long indeed.
  In honoring Lindy Boggs, we honor the women who have served in the 
Congress before and since Lindy Boggs served. It is very appropriate to 
take note, as she is one of the most distinguished women ever to serve 
in this body in over 200 years.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. LINDER. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the 
gentleman from Louisiana (Mr. Vitter), the sponsor of this resolution.
  Mr. VITTER. Mr. Speaker, I am honored and humbled to stand as an 
author of H. Con. Res. 439 as a small commemoration to a woman who has 
given her State and country so much, and that is Lindy Boggs.
  Louisiana has a rich and colorful history. We have had fierce debates 
in our State over the politics of north Louisiana versus south 
Louisiana, Catholics versus Protestants, the LSU Tigers versus the 
Tulane Green Wave, but we all agree that Louisiana is proud to be

[[Page H5029]]

home of a true national gem that we call Lindy, and I am proud to have 
authored this resolution that honors her work, her legacy, and her 
life.
  Marie Corinne Morrison Claiborne Boggs is beloved throughout 
Louisiana, but has an impact on events that affect the entire country 
and indeed the world. She arrived in Washington at 24 years of age as 
the wife of a newly elected congressman, Hale Boggs, and the mother of 
young children. She returns this week to receive the Freedom Award from 
the Capitol Historical Society.
  In the meantime, she has served as a congresswoman, as an ambassador, 
as a chair of political conventions, as someone who has contributed so 
much to her State and country. In doing so, she pioneered new frontiers 
for women and has created a true legacy of service, patriotism, and 
honor.
  As a congressional spouse, Lindy managed her husband's campaign and 
congressional office. She chaired the inaugural balls of Presidents 
Kennedy and Johnson. She accomplished this while raising three 
wonderful children. She was truly Hale's helpmate, soulmate, and they 
were a wonderful team that worked together to form a formidable duo. If 
Hale and Lindy could not convince and charm someone, it could not be 
done.
  When tragedy struck in 1972, Lindy found herself widowed and Hale's 
work left undone, so she stepped in where she saw a need and became a 
pioneer. She won the special election in 1973 to Hale's old seat and 
became the first woman from Louisiana to be elected to Congress. She 
retired from Congress in 1991 after many years of exemplary service, 
but she did not retire from life, she continued to be very active, most 
notably, going to the Vatican to serve as ambassador to the Holy See.
  As we gather to honor Lindy Boggs, I find myself truly awed by the 
respect and admiration that she garners from such a vast array of 
people. A friend not only to presidents and the Pope, but really a 
friend to us all, particularly those of us in Louisiana. Louisiana is 
proud of Lindy Boggs, a true national gem.
  Ms. NORTON. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as she may consume to the 
gentlewoman from California (Ms. Pelosi).
  Ms. PELOSI. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentlewoman for yielding me this 
time, and commend the gentlewoman from the District of Columbia (Ms. 
Norton), the gentleman from Georgia (Mr. Linder), and the gentleman 
from Louisiana (Mr. Vitter) for their leadership in bringing this 
important resolution to the floor.
  It is an exciting day for those of us who have served with Lindy 
Boggs. I am pleased to be part of this effort to honor an outstanding 
woman who has been such an important role model for many of us, and for 
so many women in political life, Ambassador Lindy Boggs.
  Mr. Speaker, how appropriate that the gentlewoman from the District 
of Columbia (Ms. Norton) should be managing this bill on the Democratic 
side. She would have a full appreciation of what Ambassador Lindy Boggs 
has contributed because of the considerable record of the gentlewoman 
from the District of Columbia (Ms. Norton) in all of these areas. Her 
appreciation is heightened and her recognition all the more important, 
and I thank the gentlewoman from the District of Columbia (Ms. Norton) 
on behalf of all of the women in the Congress. There could not be a 
better manager of this bill.

                              {time}  1730

  As the gentlewoman from the District of Columbia (Ms. Norton) 
mentioned, Lindy Boggs had a career of firsts. To name a few, of course 
as has been said, first woman to be elected to the House from 
Louisiana, first woman to chair a Democratic National convention, and 
the first woman to serve as ambassador to the Holy See. And what a 
great ambassador she was indeed.
  Each one of these firsts helped clear the path for women to take on 
leadership roles and to make their voices heard. I have no doubt if we 
asked Lindy Boggs about her life of public service, we would not hear 
about all of those firsts. We would hear about the accomplishments that 
went with them. What Lindy Boggs cared about were those 
accomplishments, not what she symbolized but what she had done. The 
gentlewoman from the District of Columbia (Ms. Norton) mentioned that 
there is a room named for Lindy Boggs in the Capitol and she said that 
rooms in the Capitol are not named for ordinary people, only 
extraordinary ones. Indeed, they are not even named for women. So this 
is quite a spectacular source of comfort to women who visit the Capitol 
that this room is named for Lindy Boggs, and a historic and wonderful 
room it is at that.
  We talk about her accomplishments. The list is long, and certainly 
time prevents me from going into everything; but I associate myself 
with some of the accomplishments mentioned by the gentlewoman from the 
District of Columbia (Ms. Norton) and the gentleman. She was 
instrumental in ensuring that women had access to credit. She fought 
for civil rights, pay equity for women, protection of the exploited and 
assistance to the underprivileged. Her leadership of the Women's Caucus 
created a powerful bipartisan force for creating policy on issues of 
concern to not just women but all Americans, issues like Social 
Security, pensions, and education.
  Her most important, I think she would say, contribution was raising 
her children. Her son's statement, Tom Boggs' statement about her is 
great. He said it best at a family celebration when he toasted her as 
mother, campaign manager, mother, consummate hostess, mother, civil 
rights advocate, mother, congresswoman, grandmother, convention 
chairman, mother, congresswoman, mother, author, mother, great 
grandmother, ambassador, mother.
  To that I would add one more: teacher. She taught us all when we 
served with her in the Congress. She taught so many of us here not 
about the ins and outs and the arcane goings on of this august body. 
She taught us not only about the issues and how to get things done but 
she taught us what mattered and how to do it in a way that would reap 
benefits not only for our issues but for our future service here.
  Two of those lessons are two that I would like to convey. When I 
think of Lindy, I always think of them; and when I employ these 
lessons, I always think of Lindy. She passed them on. She said Hale 
used to always say never fight any fight as if it is your last fight. 
No matter how right you think you are, no matter how involved you are 
with the issue, no matter how passionate, no matter how angry, no 
matter what, you always have to take off the gloves and shake hands 
when it is over, go to your respective corners and come out for another 
fight another day, but to always treat people as the resource that we 
are to each other, people here to work for the American people and not 
to fight to the end on any issue.
  And her second piece of advice she gave me long before I came to 
Congress, but I pass it on with attribution to her all the time, to a 
group of women gathered, she said know thy power, know thy power. 
Women, children, workers, people, we should all know our power because 
this Congress will always respond to the wishes of the American people, 
and women out there and people out there just have to make their voices 
heard and their concerns heard, and they can see how powerful they are.
  I wish to say that it is easy to get caught up in Potomac fever and 
believe that power resides here, but she knew and taught us and 
reminded us constantly that power resided with the people. Thanks to 
Lindy Boggs, the power is increasingly in the hands of women as well as 
men, and for that and for much more we are very grateful to her.
  I am proud to have this opportunity to join in honoring Lindy Boggs. 
Everyone who has ever served with her had the privilege of calling her 
colleague. Every person in America has been blessed by her service to 
our country. Yes, she is a gem and she truly deserves the title ``The 
Gentlewoman from Louisiana.''
  I thank my colleagues for the opportunity to honor Lindy Boggs today.
  Mr. LINDER. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to my 
friend, the gentleman from California (Mr. Lewis).
  Mr. LEWIS of California. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from 
Georgia (Mr. Linder) and the gentlewoman from the District of Columbia 
(Ms. Norton). It is my privilege to rise today and join many a 
colleague to express my feelings about Lindy Boggs. I

[[Page H5030]]

especially appreciate the gentleman from Georgia's (Mr. Linder) 
bringing this matter before us today and giving us this opportunity.
  Let me say the last time that Lindy and I were together in a social 
way was during the time when she served as ambassador to the Holy See, 
a fabulous experience for a woman of her background and experience and 
talent; but it was most interesting to me over that luncheon to watch 
Lindy, for it was very clear to those who know her at all to know that 
she was missing something that day and the feeling one got was that she 
was missing the House.
  It was my honor to serve with Lindy for a number areas in the House 
of Representatives. Almost all those years we shared committees 
together within the appropriations process. She worked long and hard in 
the legislative branch as well as that subcommittee that deals with 
housing programs and veterans, those programs within our Committee on 
Appropriations that serve people in many ways the most. Lindy, above 
and beyond all else, was a woman of the House who cared most about the 
institution that is the Congress. While the gentlewoman from the 
District of Columbia (Ms. Norton) is my Congresswoman, she and I share 
the fact that Lindy Boggs represents the best of what we would hope to 
be as we serve here in the House of Representatives.
  Lindy Boggs, with almost every breath during the years she served 
here, wanted to reflect the best of the House of Representatives, for 
she cared about this institution. It was her energy that was applied to 
try to make sure that it did the utmost on behalf of this institution 
as it continues to serve our people and our freedom well.
  Lindy, I look forward to seeing you on Wednesday when people will, in 
a formal way, address many of your accomplishments. Today it is a 
privilege of mine to just say a few words about a great friend from the 
House of Representatives.
  Ms. NORTON. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  I thank the gentleman for his remarks, and I appreciate that the 
gentleman never forgets that he spends more time in Washington than he 
does in his home district because the House meets here and not in 
California. I know that Lindy Boggs would especially appreciate the 
words of the gentleman who served with Lindy Boggs and who serves in 
such a bipartisan fashion to this day with us all.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. LINDER. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to yield such time as she may 
consume to the gentlewoman from Florida (Ms. Ros-Lehtinen).
  Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. I thank the gentleman from Georgia for yielding me 
this time.
  Mr. Speaker, on this 25th anniversary of the founding of the 
Congressional Women's Caucus, I rise along with my colleagues to 
congratulate its founder, the first woman elected to the U.S. House of 
Representatives to have served in such a high distinction, Corinne 
``Lindy'' Claiborne Boggs. The first woman to chair a national 
political convention and the first to be elected as ambassador to the 
Vatican, Lindy Boggs broke the glass ceiling and helped pave the way 
for the many numbers of women who today humbly serve in our United 
States Congress.
  During the 101st Congress, I had the great privilege of serving 
alongside Lindy Boggs as she assumed the responsibility of compiling 
photographs and brief biographies of the 129 women who had served in 
the House and Senate as of that time. To date, the published volume, 
which is entitled ``Women in Congress, 1917 to 1990,'' proudly marks 
Congress' anniversary as it highlights the progress and the 
contributions made by women to the history of our Nation. That book, 
``Women in Congress,'' remains a historical resource which has inspired 
many readers across America to seek careers in public service.
  Through the bipartisan caucus that Lindy Boggs helped found, she 
remained committed to empowering women and improving the lives of our 
families. With her leadership, she helped shepherd vital pieces of 
legislation and helped to create the Select Committee on Children, 
Youth and Families, proving her dedication to the once underprivileged 
of our society. Today, the Women's Caucus continues to make history, 
helping to enact legislation imperative to the lives of women such as 
the Breast and Cervical Cancer Treatment Act and the Violence Against 
Women Act.
  Mr. Speaker, that is why I rise today to thank Corinne ``Lindy'' 
Claiborne Boggs, for which the Ladies' Reading Room is named and which 
is expertly directed by my good friend Susan Dean, for her vision, for 
Lindy's diligence and for making the women of this legislative body 
very proud.
  Ms. NORTON. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  The gentlewoman from Florida emphasized that the Women's Caucus is a 
bipartisan caucus. I would like, myself, to reiterate that emphasis. It 
is, I think, not unusual that the name of Lindy Boggs would be 
associated with a bipartisan caucus in this House. The Women's Caucus 
for all of its accomplishments pursues those accomplishments in a 
bipartisan fashion. That is not always easy, but the fact is that we 
have found in the caucus that the great majority of the issues that 
come naturally to us are issues that are of their very nature 
bipartisan. It was my great privilege to chair the Congressional Caucus 
on Women's Issues during one Congress. I must say that I think that 
Lindy Boggs would be especially proud that the caucus that she helped 
found has maintained its strong bipartisan focus and because of that 
focus has become one of the strongest caucuses in the House.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. LINDER. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to yield such time as she may 
consume to the gentlewoman from Maryland (Mrs. Morella).
  Mrs. MORELLA. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding this 
time to me, and I certainly thank him and the gentleman from Louisiana 
(Mr. Tauzin), the authors of this resolution, for bringing it before 
the House. I certainly rise in support of H. Con. Res. 439, to honor 
Lindy Boggs on this 25th anniversary of the Congressional Caucus on 
Women's Issues. As has been mentioned over and over again, and very 
appropriately so, this is and always has been a bipartisan group of 
people who have come together to do what they can for what is in the 
best interests of women, children, and all of our society.
  On April 15, 1977, 15 Congresswomen held the first meeting of the 
Congresswomen's Caucus. These women met to discuss Social Security and 
pension reform, child care and job training. They also prioritized 
securing government contracts for women-owned businesses. It has gone 
on and on. It has increased its numbers. We named the Congresswomen's 
Reading Room for Lindy Boggs. How appropriate, because of her strength, 
her courage, her caring and her fairness.
  In 1993, 24 newly elected Congresswomen dubbed the year the Year of 
the Woman; and the following year, in the 104th Congress, I was 
privileged to cochair the Women's Caucus that Lindy was one of the 
founders of. She was the first woman elected to the U.S. House of 
Representatives from Louisiana, and in 1976 she was the first woman to 
chair a national political convention.
  You may all know the history, that she was only 24 years of age when 
she came to Washington from Louisiana with her newly elected husband, 
Congressman Hale Boggs. She emerged as an influential force in American 
politics, running her husband's congressional campaigns and managing 
his Capitol Hill office. Simultaneously she raised three children who 
would come into prominence in their own right. In the words of her 
youngest child, NPR and ABC-TV's Cokie Roberts, ``Politics is our 
family business.'' And it is so true. The members of the family, one 
who is now deceased who was very prominent in politics, Tommy Boggs, 
and Cokie Roberts all care about family. They care about family, they 
care about education, and they care about very strong values. Lindy 
Boggs can be very proud of what she has done to create that 
environment.

                              {time}  1745

  Backtracking, in 1972, Congressman Boggs disappeared in a small plane 
over Alaska, and Lindy ran for his seat and won. She served in Congress 
for nine terms, from 1976 to 1990. I was fortunate to serve with her 
from the time I was elected in 1987 until she left and retired in 1990.

[[Page H5031]]

  She served on the Committee on Appropriations, she was instrumental 
in creating the Select Committee on Children, Youth and Families, and 
chaired the Crisis Intervention Task Force. She spearheaded all kinds 
of legislation to help the American public on issues ranging from civil 
rights to credit access and government service and pay equity for 
women.
  I always found her to be a mentor, one that I could go to, and I 
think others felt the same way, too, when I wanted to seek some advice. 
She was always understanding, and always had some very gentle but 
strong advice to offer.
  Lindy Boggs has since served as a board member or director of the 
National Archives, the Botanical Gardens and the U.S. Capitol 
Commission, and in 1994, she published her autobiography, Washington 
through a Purple Veil, Memoirs of a Southern Woman.
  I also visited with her on two occasions when she became Ambassador 
to the Holy See. She was the typical Lindy Boggs; receptive, open, very 
caring about her responsibility, professional, with those who were 
there to visit.
  So I support this resolution honoring Lindy Boggs and the 
Congressional Caucus on Women's Issues on its 25th anniversary. 
Bipartisanship has always been a key to the Caucus' success. We find 
the issues we can share our support for and we bring our efforts 
together to improve the lives of women and families.
  Again, Mr. Speaker, I congratulate Lindy Boggs for the great service 
she has rendered. May the Congressional Caucus for Women's Issues 
thrive and continue.
  Ms. NORTON. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. LINDER. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to yield such time as he may 
consume to the gentleman from Louisiana (Mr. Tauzin), I suspect a long-
time friend of the Boggs family.
  Mr. TAUZIN. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding me time.
  Mr. Speaker, I am pleased today that we are taking a moment to honor 
Lindy Boggs and the work she did in this Chamber and throughout her 
lifetime for our Nation, for our State, and for so many in this House 
who were privileged to know her and work with her. It is indeed amazing 
that it is already 25 years since she participated so mightily in the 
establishment of the Congressional Caucus on Women's Issues, and we 
celebrate that anniversary today in the same moment we honor her for 
her work and enduring character and enduring spirit.
  I wanted to speak for a second as dean of the Louisiana delegation 
about Lindy Boggs, the person. The women of this Chamber have a lot of 
debt to Lindy Boggs. She broke so many glass ceilings in her life and 
she opened so many doors that had remained closed before. She was such 
an instrument of advancing the cause of women in this Nation in her 
incredibly quiet, genteel and classy way. But the men of this Chamber 
owe a great deal to Lindy Boggs, too, particularly the members of the 
Louisiana delegation.
  I came to know Lindy as the spouse of Congressman Hale Boggs, who was 
such a powerful figure in this Chamber and lost his life campaigning 
for a colleague in Alaska. We never found Hale Boggs. We just know that 
we lost him, and Lindy Boggs had to pick up the pieces of her life and 
her career in the face of that awful tragedy. But she not only picked 
up the pieces of his career, but established her own and became a 
legend in Louisiana for amazing service to our State as a 
Congresswoman.
  On a personal level, Lindy Boggs was something very special for all 
the members of our delegation. I believe all of you who serve in this 
body know of which I speak when I say that there are times when the 
stresses of the job we have undertaken, that we have undertaken in many 
cases in spite of the demands of family and friends and work and all 
the other things that intrude upon our work here in Congress, those 
pressures and those incredible hours and those incredible problems of 
travel back and forth to the district that we all undertake in service 
to our country sometimes erode your sense of who you are and what you 
are and sometimes become very almost unbearable in the light of all the 
claims upon your life as a Member of Congress. Your children need you, 
your friends need you, the folks at home need you, and your colleagues 
and their work here need you. Eventually at some point in your career, 
you need some very special person to set it all right and sit down with 
you and give you focus again.
  Lindy Boggs always did that for our delegation. I can remember so 
many times when a member of our delegation was in that moment of stress 
when it all seemed too much, and it all seemed too difficult, and it 
all seemed almost unbearable, and Lindy Boggs was there to put it all 
in perspective and remind them why they knocked on doors and why they 
worked so hard to get here and what service to this country was all 
about and what it was to sacrifice sometimes in order to do this job 
good and to do it well, and to be respectful of all the obligations 
imposed upon a Member of this body.
  Lindy Boggs was such a class act as a Congresswoman. She remains such 
a class act as a person. She remains someone all of us in our 
delegation continually look up to with admiration and respect and honor 
and great affection.
  She went on, as you know, to serve as Ambassador to the Vatican and 
to serve our country in that incredibly important function, 
representing our Nation to a foreign nation. She did so with, again, 
that special style that was only Lindy's, that special ability to charm 
anyone, anywhere in this world, and to make them want to pay attention 
to her and to listen to her and to take her into account.
  She had so many gifts, and this beautiful family she raised with so 
much talent is just one of the many gifts that she has given this body 
and this world and this country.
  For all of you who look back over those 25 years and think how far 
this body has come, how much we have changed in those 25 years, let me 
perhaps close with one most important thought for the women of this 
body: Lindy Boggs opened not only doors for you, but she opened a lot 
of eyes to men in this body about women's issues. She taught us so 
much. She made us all much more sensitive to the concerns of women, not 
only in this body, but in this country. And to all of you who remember 
her, as I do, with such love and affection on this 25th anniversary of 
this institution of the Congressional Caucus on Women's Issues that she 
was so mightily responsible for, we say thank you again, Lindy. Thank 
you for being a part of this body, thank you for giving so much of your 
life to this country in so many different ways. Thank you for being 
that personal nurturing spirit that you were for our delegation in so 
many tough moments, and thank you for all you did for women's issues in 
this country.
  Lindy Boggs, we love you, and this body stands in awe of you, and we 
honor you today because you deserve no less than the highest honor this 
body could ever afford anyone in this country, who has done so much and 
given so much and has been such a great lady as yourself.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Terry). The time of the gentleman from 
Georgia (Mr. Linder) has expired. The gentlewoman from the District of 
Columbia has 5 minutes remaining.
  Ms. NORTON. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, Lindy Boggs makes us use the words eloquence, 
intelligence and excellence in the same sentence. I think that is why 
11 years after she left this House she continues to draw people to this 
floor when we speak her name. That, in and of itself, speaks volumes of 
the lasting contributions and the significance of the contributions 
Lindy Boggs has made.
  If I may be so presumptuous as to speak on behalf of the women who 
serve in the Congress, we are especially grateful to today honor a 
woman whom we regard as one of the seers, one of the great mentors of 
the House.
  Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from Georgia (Mr. 
Linder).
  Mr. LINDER. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentlewoman for yielding me 
time.
  Mr. Speaker, in closing, let me just say that I have met Lindy Boggs 
personally on one occasion in the Ambassador's residence in Rome when 
she was an Ambassador to the Holy See. Knowing of her remarkable 
history, her remarkable contributions to this country, I only left that 
meeting saying, gee, what a nice lady. I hope someone says that about 
me sometime, what a nice person. All of us have made

[[Page H5032]]

contributions one way or another, but she was a lovely lady.
  Ms. SCHAKOWSKY. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Corinne Lindy 
Claiborne Boggs, a pioneer for all women in the U.S. Congress. As the 
first woman from Louisiana to be elected to the U.S. House of 
Representatives and as a founder of the Congressional Women's Caucus, 
Lindy Boggs helped pave the path for all women Members of Congress who 
have followed in her footsteps.
  When Lindy Boggs was elected to Congress in 1973, there were only 15 
other women in the House of Representatives. Today there are 62 women 
in the House, and for the first time ever, a woman holds the second 
highest position in the Democratic party. Lindy Boggs is a model and 
inspiration for all of us who dedicate our lives to public service. She 
was the first woman to chair a national political convention in 1976 
and served as the Ambassador to the Vatican under President Clinton 
from 1997 to 2000.
  I am proud to walk the same halls and work in the same Chamber where 
Lindy Boggs broke down so many barriers and led the way for so many to 
follow. I commend her for her leadership, spirit, and vision, and urge 
my colleagues to support H. Con. Res. 439 Honoring Corrine ``Lindy'' 
Claiborne Boggs on the Occasion of the 25th Anniversary of the Founding 
of the Congressional Women's Caucus.
  Mr. HOYER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of H. Con. 
Res. 439, which pays tribute to my friend, Corinne ``Lindy'' Claiborne 
Boggs, on the occasion of the 25th anniversary of the founding of the 
Congressional Women's Caucus.
  Lindy Boggs is an outstanding individual whose service in the U.S. 
House of Representatives has made a lasting and positive contribution 
to this great institution. Her dedication to public service, especially 
in improving the lives of women, children and the underprivileged, has 
touched the lives of many--and is a testimony to her impeccable 
character.
  I had the distinct honor of serving on the Appropriations Committee 
with Lindy after I was elected to Congress--and I can truly say she is 
one of the most proactive and effective Members I have had the 
privilege of serving with in Congress.
  Lindy's remarkable career is one of many firsts. In 1973, she became 
the first women elected to the United States House of Representatives 
from Louisiana. And by the end of her tenure in 1991, she became the 
longest serving Congresswoman from the South.
  Lindy was the first woman to chair a national political convention, 
leading the Democratic convention of 1976 that nominated President 
Jimmy Carter.
  Her dedication to the advancement of women led her to help found the 
Congressional Women's Caucus in 1977, which is still active today as an 
instrumental bipartisan force in Congress that promotes key legislation 
to advance the rights of women.
  She was a leader in creating the Select Committee on Children, Youth 
and Families, and chaired the Crisis Intervention Task Force.
  Since retiring from Congress, Lindy served as United States 
Ambassador to the Holy See from 1997-2001. Her life long dedication to 
public service exemplifies the devotion, integrity and leadership that 
have characterized her personal, family and political lives through the 
years.
  I am proud to stand with my colleagues in support of H. Con. Res. 
439, in tribute to Lindy Boggs. Her valuable contributions in Congress 
and her fierce advocacy of women's rights are an inspiration to all of 
us.
  Mrs. MINK of Hawaii. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to join in celebrating 
the contributions of Corrine ``Lindy'' Claiborne Boggs on the Occasion 
of the 25th Anniversary of the Founding of the Congressional Women's 
Caucus.
  I was one of only 16 women Members of the House of Representatives in 
March 1973, when Lindy began her tenure after winning a special 
election to fill the seat of her beloved husband, Congressman Hale 
Boggs. Fourteen of the women Members were Democrats and two were 
Republicans.
  Lindy knew how to be an effective legislator from the start. She 
already knew a great many of the Members and was knowledgeable about 
House procedure and protocol. In 1976, she became the first woman to 
chair a national political convention, presiding over the nomination of 
President Jimmy Carter.
  In 1977, Lindy and 14 other women representatives held the first 
meeting of the Congresswomen's Caucus in the Congresswomen's Reading 
Room. From the beginning, the focus of the caucus was on issues with 
special relevance to women, since our representation among the general 
Membership of the Congress was so small. The Caucus was a bipartisan 
organization from its inception, showing that Democratic and Republican 
Congresswomen could work together on issues to improve the lives of 
women and their families.
  In 1981, the name of the Caucus was changed to the Congressional 
Caucus on Women's Issues and membership was opened to male members of 
Congress. In 1990, we voted to name the Congresswoman's reading room 
the Corrine ``Lindy'' Boggs Congressional Reading Room in recognition 
of Lindy's years of service as Caucus Secretary, her example of 
bipartisanship, and her efforts to ``fix up'' our little space.
  Lindy served nine terms in Congress, including service on the 
Appropriations Committee. She was instrumental in creating the Select 
Committee on Children, Youth and Families and chaired the Crisis 
Intervention Task Force. Lindy decided not to run for Congress in 1990.
  Lindy was appointed U.S. Ambassador to the Holy See (Vatican) by 
President Clinton and served in that capacity from 1997 to 2001.
  I join my colleagues in thanking Lindy for her years of outstanding 
public service to the people of Louisiana and to our nation. Her role 
as a founding member of the Congressional Women's Caucus has helped to 
make the concerns and voices of women heard throughout our government.
  Mr. HOLT. Mr. Speaker, I am very pleased to join with my colleagues 
in support of this legislation to honor Corrine ``Lindy'' Boggs for her 
years of service to the House and to the nation.
  We in central New Jersey have a close relationship with the Boggs 
family that many of my colleagues may not know about and we have a 
special affection for Lindy Boggs who has spent so much time in our 
area.
  In 1983, Princeton elected as mayor Barbara Boggs Sigmund, Rep. 
Bogg's daughter. Barbara Boggs Sigmund was a Southern belle whose charm 
and grace and style and courage made her one of the most beloved 
politicians of modern New Jersey history. Lindy Boggs often has listed 
``mother'' as one of her accomplishments--with offspring like Barbara, 
Cokie and Tom it's no wonder.
  Barbara Boggs Sigmund played in the halls of Congress as a child, 
worked as a letter writer for President John F. Kennedy and danced with 
President Lyndon Johnson at her wedding. She is remembered for working 
up to the final day of an 8-year battle with the cancer that took her 
life at age 51 in 1990.
  In 1972 Sigmund launched her political career with a winning campaign 
for a seat on the Princeton Borough council. In three years she was a 
Mercer County freeholder as we call county councilors in New Jersey. As 
a council member she convinced New Jersey government to ``Save the 
Dinky,'' the single-car train that links the Borough to the Princeton 
Junction station a mile outside town. She has also established 
Womanspace, a shelter for battered women. Later as Mayor, she joined 
with Mercer County Executive Bill Mathesius, a Republican, to promote 
``smart growth'' in New Jersey. Barbara was reelected, and entered the 
Democratic gubernatorial primary in 1989.
  ``Barbara had a blend of personal charm and chutzpah that nobody 
could stop,'' a former colleague said after Sigmund's death. She was a 
omen in the mold of her colleague Lindy.
  Barbara Boggs Sigmund, like her distinguished parents, made public 
service their calling. We in central New Jersey are better for the 
commitment of Lindy Boggs and her entire family. I join with my 
colleagues in honoring these distinguished Americans.
  Ms. SHEILA JACKSON-LEE of Texas. Mr. Speaker, today we are here to 
support the passage of H. Con. Res. 439, which seeks to honor 
Congresswoman Corinne ``Lindy'' Boggs of Louisiana, the first woman to 
be elected to the House from that State.
   Corinne ``Lindy'' Boggs was elected to represent Louisiana in a 
special election held after the devastating disappearance of her 
husband's plane in 1972.
   Before her stint in the House, Boggs diligently served as the 
president of the Women's National Democratic Club, the Democratic 
Wives' Forum, and the Congressional Club. She chaired the inaugural 
committees for President Kennedy in 1961 and President Johnson in 1965. 
She also served as the first female Regent of the Smithsonian.
   After filling the seat of her late husband, Corinne ``Lindy'' Boggs 
helped to found the Congressional Women's Caucus and served as longtime 
Caucus secretary.
   On this historic 25th anniversary of the founding of the 
Congressional Women's Caucus, we look to honor one of the original 
members, Corinne ``Lindy'' Claiborne Boggs.
   The Women's Caucus is a bipartisan group committed to improving the 
lives of women and families, putting their partisan differences aside. 
The Women's Caucus supports initiatives that impact women and families. 
Originally established on April 19, 1977, the Women's Caucus has 
successfully fought for fair credit practices, tougher child support 
enforcement, retirement income security, and equitable pay.
   The Caucus has a long list of accomplishments in the 107th Congress 
including, but not limited to, the Pregnancy Discrimination Act,

[[Page H5033]]

the Civil Rights Restoration Act, the Women's Business Ownership Act, 
and the Family and Medical Leave Act.
   Caucus members have championed women's issues around the world 
reaching from Egypt to China. At the U.N. world conferences on women 
and children, the Caucus brought to the U.N.'s attention the plight of 
refugees.
   Few of these accomplishments would have been possible without the 
insightful and trailblazing leaders of women such as Corinne ``Lindy'' 
Claiborne Boggs. She served nine terms in the House before retiring in 
1990. In 1997, Boggs was nominated by President Clinton to be the U.S. 
ambassador to the Vatican City.
  Boggs has served this House and country well, now we have the 
opportunity to show our gratitude.
  Ms. KAPTUR. Mr. Speaker, I rise this evening to honor Ambassador and 
Congresswoman Corinne ``Lindy'' Claiborne Boggs, a great and timeless 
leader and lady of this House.
  I had the privilege of serving with Lindy Boggs from the time I 
arrived in Congress in 1983 until her congressional retirement in 1991. 
As a member of the Banking Committee and the Appropriations Committee, 
she championed many causes including equal credit for women, civil 
rights, and community development.
  Lindy was instrumental in founding the Women's Caucus in 1977 when 
there were only 15 women in the House. She served as Caucus Secretary. 
Throughout her congressional career, she was dedicated to improving the 
lives of women and families.
  So, as we celebrate the 25th anniversary of the founding of the 
Women's Caucus, it is only fitting that we honor Lindy's lifelong 
achievements. Her portrait hangs in the Women's Reading room now 
renamed The Corinne Lindy Claiborne Bogg Room for years hence.
  Lindy has the distinction of being the first woman elected to the 
House of Representatives from the state of Louisiana and the first 
woman to chair a national political convention, leading the Democratic 
National Convention that nominated former President Jimmy Carter in 
1976.
  She was also America's distinguished Ambassador to the Holy See 
during the Clinton Administration, the first woman ever appointed to 
this post.
  On April 19, 1977, fifteen Congresswomen held the first meeting of 
the Women's Caucus. At the time there were a total of 18 female members 
of the House of Representatives and 2 female Members of the Senate. 
Twenty five years later, we have 62 female members of the House of 
Representatives and 13 female members of the Senate. Our progress is 
slow but steady, a testament to a nation that has expanded liberty for 
all people since our founding.
  With growing strength in numbers, Lindy's bipartisan spirit lives on 
today. The Congressional Women's Caucus continues to carry the torch 
for equitable pay, women's health, and child welfare under the 
leadership of Congresswoman Juanita Millender-McDonald of California 
and Congresswoman Judy Biggert of Illinois.
  Lindy's spirit of bipartisanship has served as the key to the 
Caucus's strength and success, and I am honored to be a co-sponsor of 
this resolution. As a member of this people's House and the Women's 
Caucus for the past 20 years, I extend my sincere admiration and 
deepest appreciation to Corinne ``Lindy'' Claiborne Boggs for there 
extraordinary service to the people of the United States and the world 
and her unwavering dedication to the establishment of the Congressional 
Women's Caucus. Onward and godspeed to Lindy and her beautiful family.
  Ms. NORTON. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentleman from Georgia (Mr. Linder) that the House suspend the rules 
and agree to the concurrent resolution, H. Con. Res. 439.
  The question was taken.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. In the opinion of the Chair, two-thirds of 
those present have voted in the affirmative.
  Mr. LINDER. Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.
  The yeas and nays were ordered.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to clause 8 of rule XX and the 
Chair's prior announcement, further proceedings on this motion will be 
postponed.

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