[Congressional Record Volume 150, Number 16 (Tuesday, February 10, 2004)]
[House]
[Pages H406-H409]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




      PERMITTING USE OF ROTUNDA OF CAPITOL FOR CEREMONY TO AWARD 
             CONGRESSIONAL GOLD MEDAL TO DR. DOROTHY HEIGHT

  Mr. MICA. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the 
concurrent resolution (H. Con. Res. 357) permitting the use of the 
rotunda of the Capitol for a ceremony to award a Congressional Gold 
Medal to Dr. Dorothy Height.
  The Clerk read as follows:

                            H. Con. Res. 357

       Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate 
     concurring), That the rotunda of the Capitol is authorized to 
     be used on March 24, 2004, for a ceremony to award a 
     Congressional Gold Medal to Dr. Dorothy Height. Physical 
     preparations for the ceremony shall be carried out in 
     accordance with such conditions as the Architect of the 
     Capitol may prescribe.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from 
Florida (Mr. Mica) and the gentleman from Connecticut (Mr. Larson) each 
will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Mica).
  Mr. MICA. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to rise this afternoon in support of House 
Concurrent Resolution 357. This is a resolution authorizing again the 
use of the rotunda for a ceremony which will be conducted on March 24 
honoring Dr. Dorothy Height. Dorothy Height will receive a great honor 
of the United States Congress when she is awarded in that ceremony the 
Congressional Gold Medal.
  Mr. Speaker, as we just authorized the use of the rotunda for a 
different ceremony, and that particular ceremony and the previous 
action for a memorial service, this is a service of celebration and 
also of the life of a distinguished American, Dr. Dorothy Height.

                              {time}  1445

  This is a service of celebration and also of the life of the 
distinguished American, Dr. Dorothy Height. On December 6, 2003, the 
resolution awarding Dr. Dorothy Height the Congressional Gold medal 
became public law. That is the purpose for our requesting a ceremony in 
the Capitol rotunda; and, of course, as I said before, we need 
permission of the House and the other body to conduct this ceremony.
  I want to talk a little bit about Dorothy Height and tell a little 
bit about her history. She is an outstanding American and truly 
deserving of this great honor.
  Dorothy Height was born in Richmond, Virginia, in 1912. At an early 
age she moved with her family to Rankin, Pennsylvania. While in high 
school, Dorothy Height was awarded a scholarship to New York University 
where she studied and earned a master's degree. At a very early age she 
established herself as a dedicated student with exceptional oratorical 
skills.
  After graduating from New York University, Dr. Height began her 
career working as a case worker with the New York City Welfare 
Department. At the age of 25, she began her journey as a civil rights 
activist when she joined the National Council of Negro Women. In 1957, 
Dr. Height was named president of the council, a position which she 
held until 1977.
  During the height of the civil rights movement in the late 1960s, 
Dorothy organized Weekdays in Mississippi, which brought together black 
and white women from the North and the South to create a dialogue of 
mutual understanding.
  Throughout her life, Dr. Height fought for equal rights for both 
African Americans and also for women. And in 1944 she joined the 
national staff of the Young Women's Christian Association, the YWCA. 
She remained active with the organization until 1977. During her tenure 
at the YWCA, she developed leadership training and other programs and 
other projects promoting racial and religious tolerance and 
understanding.
  Dr. Height has served our Nation in a number of different capacities 
during her distinguished career, including as a consultant on African 
Affairs to the Secretary of State, also as a member of both the 
President's Committee on Employment of the Handicapped and on the 
President's Committee on the Status of Women. Her tireless efforts for 
equal rights have earned her the praise and recognition of numerous 
organizations as well. She has received the Presidential Medal of 
Freedom, the Franklin Delano Roosevelt Freedom From Want Award, and the 
NAACP Springarn Medal and now the Congressional Gold Medal. Dr. Height 
has also been inducted into the National Women's Hall of Fame.
  Dr. Height's work has helped countless women in America and around 
the world participate in democratic reform resulting in new 
opportunities for themselves, for their families, and their 
communities.
  Finally, Mr. Speaker, if you ever had a chance to hear or see Dorothy 
Height, you had an opportunity to see one of the most distinguished 
advocates for women, an advocate for minorities that has ever been in 
our country's history.
  If you have not seen Dr. Dorothy Height, you missed the glow in her 
eyes, you missed the sparkle in her voice, you missed the strength of 
an individual who has gone beyond so many barriers in her life, again, 
opening doors and offering opportunities to women, to minorities, and 
to all Americans.
  I am a strong admirer of this lady and what she has done. I know a 
former Member of the House, Connie Morella, often talked about Dr. 
Height and her accomplishments; and others will come forward when we 
pass this resolution to honor her accomplishments. So I am absolutely 
delighted this afternoon to be here to offer this resolution to 
authorize the use of the Capitol rotunda where we will present this 
distinguished medal to a great American, Dr. Dorothy Height.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. LARSON of Connecticut. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I 
may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I again would like to associate myself with the remarks 
of the distinguished gentleman from Florida (Mr. Mica), who is eloquent 
and noteworthy in his praise. This has been a historic afternoon in so 
many respects, pausing to honor the works of Glenn Brown in the 
historic writings as they relate to this great Capitol facility, 
pausing to reflect and remember and reserve the great rotunda to 
participate in the Days of Remembrance with regard to the Holocaust, 
and now to step forward and pay homage and honor a living legend.
  I urge all Members to join all of us in supporting the distinguished 
chairman's motion. There can be no more appropriate use of the Capitol 
rotunda than for a ceremony to honor Dr. Dorothy Irene Height for a 
lifetime of achievement of social equality and justice.
  The author of the original legislation, our distinguished colleague, 
the gentlewoman from California (Ms. Watson), could not be here today, 
but deserves credit for having had the persistency to make sure that 
not only would Dr. Height receive the gold medal, but also that we 
would, as this Congress is required, reserve the rotunda for this great 
ceremony.
  It is important for me today to note that Dr. Height is in my home 
State of Connecticut at a book signing as I speak. I am pleased that 
the appropriate ceremony will be approaching next month.
  Congress reserves its highest civilian honor for men and women whose 
contributions to American society exemplify the highest traditions and 
ideals of public service. By every measure, Dr. Dorothy Height's 
lifelong commitment to the principles of freedom, equality, and social 
justice compels this award.
  Beginning during the administration of Franklin Roosevelt and 
continuing to the present day, Dorothy Height has fought to promote 
human and civil rights throughout our society. For decades she has 
worked tirelessly to promote the appointment of qualified women to 
senior Federal positions. As president of the National Council of Negro 
Women since 1957, Dr. Height has been an especially forceful advocate 
for the advancement of African Americans. In addition, and on a 
personal note, I would like to acknowledge the work of Mrs. Mary A. 
Ballard, who

[[Page H407]]

leads the Hartford section of the National Council of Negro Women in my 
home district.
  Mr. Speaker, as Congress recognized last year, there is no doubt that 
America is a far better place thanks to the labor and commitment of Dr. 
Dorothy Height on behalf of not only those among us who face the 
burdens of injustice but all of us. She deserves great credit. The use 
of the Capitol rotunda to award the gold medal to Dorothy Height is not 
only fitting; it is required and long overdue.
  I urges all Members to join in supporting the resolution.
  Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. 
Davis).
  Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I want to first of all commend 
the gentlewoman from California (Ms. Watson) for introducing this 
resolution, and I want to thank the gentleman for yielding me time.
  Dr. Dorothy Height is a steadfast pioneer of women's rights and 
racial justice for people of color. She has set an example of what can 
be achieved through commitment and group activism.
  As the fourth elected president of the National Council of Negro 
Women, Dr. Height led a crusade for justice for black women. To help 
strengthen the black family, she conceived of and organized the Black 
Family Reunion Celebration, which has been held here in Washington 
since 1986, an activity in which I have participated.
  Under the leadership of Dr. Height, the NCNW achieved tax exempt 
status; raised funds on behalf of thousands of women in support of 
erecting a statue of Mary McLeod Bethune, NCNW's founder, in a Federal 
park; she developed several model programs to combat teenage pregnancy 
and address hunger in rural areas; and established the Bethune Museum 
and Archives for Black Women, the first institution devoted to black 
women's history. She was instrumental in the initiation of NCNW-
sponsored food, child care, housing and career educational programs.
  No stranger to political activism, in the 1960s Dr. Height called on 
the NCNW to sponsor Wednesdays in Mississippi when interracial groups 
of women would help out at Freedom Schools and conduct voter 
registration drives in the North and voter registration in the South. 
She worked with Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., and Roy Wilkins to prevent 
lynchings, desegregate the Armed Forces, reform the criminal justice 
system, and provide equal access to public accommodations.
  Dr. Dorothy Irene Height has a long legacy as a leader in the 
struggle for equality and human rights. She has through her words and 
deeds proven distinguished service to humanity and her many 
contributions for equality, social justice and human rights for all 
people. She is commended for her efforts. And even at this stage of her 
life, every time I go to an event, an activity, she is generally there 
in her wheel chair. Someone is pushing her, bringing her, but she is 
there.
  I grew up as a great fan of Dr. Mary McLeod Bethune. And Dr. Height 
inherited the legacy. I also work with two women who are very close to 
Dr. Height, Ms. Rosie Bean and Ms. Arnetta Wilson. I am sure that they 
are both rejoicing to note that their distinguished leader who is 
deserving of such an honor is to be recognized.
  Mr. LARSON of Connecticut. Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests 
for time, and I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. MICA. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to again support this resolution 
that I think is somewhat overdue to present and conduct this ceremony 
for the presentation of the gold medal for Dr. Dorothy Height.
  Dr. Dorothy Height, as I said, is a delightful lady. She just 
celebrated, I am told, her 91st birthday just some 2 weeks ago. She has 
an incredible career that has spanned nearly this century, and she has 
a public career that spans over 65 years. She unquestionably has been 
recognized as one of the preeminent social and civil rights activist of 
our time. In fact, Dorothy Height, I am told, was the only female at 
the table when Dr. Martin Luther King planned the civil rights 
movement.

                              {time}  1500

  She has all her life struggled for equality, for social justice and 
for human rights for all people.
  Mr. Speaker, when young people need role models, and certainly in the 
time that we live in they need role models, we have had two women so 
honored. Soon Dorothy Height will receive this honor. The other I 
remember is Rosa Parks since I have been in Congress. She was awarded a 
gold medal, and certainly Dorothy Height is in the same category and 
deserving of recognition of this honor by Congress.
  So I think, whether it is Rosa Parks who changed the course of 
history in this country or someone who worked tirelessly through their 
life and has an incredibly distinguished career, as we heard, promoting 
the rights of all individuals, women and minorities in our society, 
that we take this time to honor her in this ceremony in March. I urge 
the passage of this resolution.
   Mr. HOLT. Mr. Speaker, I rise to honor one of America's great 
citizens--Dr. Dorothy Height.
   For more than six decades, Dorothy Height has tirelessly fought for 
those who are less fortunate, for those who have been denied access to 
an education, and for those who have been denied equal rights. Both 
through personal example and her commitment to social equality, Dorothy 
Height has provided women and minorities with hope to dream and the 
tools to realize their potential.
   During the civil rights movement, Dorothy Height led the fight for 
inter-racial schooling, and spearheaded African American voter 
registration drives. She worked closely with Dr. Martin Luther King, 
Jr., Roy Wilkins, Whitney Young, A. Philip Randolph, and others as they 
developed plans for obtaining civil rights. It should be noted that she 
was the only woman allowed to be present in several high-powered 
strategy sessions with those great leaders.
   Dorothy Height was an advocate for women's rights during a time when 
few African American women were engaged in the feminist movement. She 
fought tirelessly to implement her vision of full and equal employment, 
fair pay, and access to education for all women.
   In addition to her work for equality in the United States, Dr. 
Dorothy Height has been a leader in the struggle for international 
human rights. In 1975 she helped establish the sole African-American 
private voluntary organization working in Africa. She has improved the 
quality of life for women in developing countries, and has worked to 
combat the AIDS crisis in Africa.
   A Congressional Medal of Honor is well deserved, and one of many 
honors earned by Dr. Dorothy Height over her long and distinguished 
career. I am very pleased to join my colleagues in the House in marking 
this honor for an individual who dedicated her life to the struggle for 
social equality and justice.
  Mr. CUMMINGS. Mr. Speaker, it is with a great sense of pride that I 
stand before this chamber as we act on legislation that moves us one 
step closer to awarding the Congressional Gold Medal to Dr. Dorothy 
Height.
  Two months have passed since the bill bestowing this great honor upon 
Ms. Height (H.R. 1821) was signed into public law. Now, during the 
celebration of Black History, I can think of no better time to put the 
proper procedures in place for Dr. Height to receive her award on March 
24, 2004. I can also think of no better place to bestow this award on 
Dr. Height than in the Capitol rotunda's Statuary Hall--a place that 
memorializes the giants of our country. I think Dr. Height is a giant 
in her own right and apparently many people in our country agree.
  Who would have imagined some 90 years ago that the daughter of James 
Edward Height and Fannie (Borroughs) Height of Richmond, Virginia would 
one day be receiving the Nation's highest civilian honor.
  Born in 1912 in Richmond, Virginia, Dr. Dorothy Irene Height 
distinguished herself at an early age as a dedicated student with 
exceptional oratorical skills. As a young girl she fearlessly and 
vehemently stood up to the racist and sexist climate of the times. At 
the age of 25 she heeded the call of her mentor, Mary McLeod Bethune, 
founder of the National Council of Negro Women, and joined the struggle 
for women's full and equal employment and educational advancement. She 
has and continues to dedicate her life to the struggle for equality, 
social justice, and human rights for all peoples.
  Mr. Speaker, throughout her illustrious career as a civil rights 
advocate, Dr. Height tirelessly worked to prevent lynching, encourage 
voter registration, desegregate the armed forces, reform the criminal 
justice system, and create equal access to public accommodations.
  And a long career it has been. In fact, her public career spans 65 
years. She was a valued advisor to First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt and 
encouraged Presidents Eisenhower and Johnson to desegregate the 
Nation's public schools and to appoint African American women to sub-
Cabinet positions. Since 1957,

[[Page H408]]

she has served as President of the National Council of Negro Women, an 
umbrella organization for 250 local groups and 38 national 
organizations dedicated to economic development and women's issues.
  Mr. Speaker, the numerous awards and accolades Dr. Height has 
received over the years is a testimony to her invaluable contributions 
to the progress of this Nation. The NAACP has awarded her The Spingarn 
Award, its highest honor. She is also the proud recipient of the John 
F. Kennedy Memorial Award from the National Council of Jewish Women; 
the Ministerial Interfaith Association Award; the Lovejoy Award; and 
the Congressional Black Caucus's William L. Dawson Award for her 
decades of public service to people of color and particularly women. 
However, Dr. Height is not one to rest on her laurels. She continues to 
lead the fight against social injustice and inequality. Her profound 
love for our youth is unmatched. As a direct link to the civil rights 
movement of the 1960s, Dr. Height continues to inspire future 
generations of civil rights activists.
  What is truly remarkable about this grand dame is that at age 90 she 
does not plan on slowing down. And although she spends much of her time 
in a wheelchair, she continues to stand up for equality and social 
justice.
  Mr. Speaker, once again, I am proud to stand before this body as we 
move ever closer to bestowing upon Dr. Dorothy Height our Nation's 
highest civilian honor.
  I want to thank my colleagues from the House Administration 
Committee, Mr. Larson and Mr. Ney for setting the procedural stage to 
allow this great ceremony to take place in the Capitol rotunda. I 
especially thank my friend, Diane Watson for sponsoring this 
legislation as well as for sponsoring the original legislation honoring 
Dr. Height that passed in the House.
  Ms. WATSON. Mr. Speaker, H. Con. Res. 357, authorizing the use of the 
capital rotunda to award the congressional gold medal to Dr. Dorothy 
Height, is offered today to sanction the venue for the upcoming award 
of the medal to Dr. Height on March 24, 2004.
  I want to thank Congressman Ney, Chairman of the Committee on House 
Administration, and Congressman Larson, Ranking Member, for their 
cooperation and support in bringing this bill to the floor in an 
expeditious manner. I also want to thank Maria Robinson and Catherine 
Tran, House Administration Committee staff members, for their work.
  Mr. Speaker, on December 6, 2003, President Bush signed into law P.L. 
108-162, which authorizes Congress to present a congressional gold 
medal to Dr. Height in recognition of her many distinguished 
contributions to the nation. The presentation of the congressional 
medal to Dr. Height will appropriately recognize her long and 
productive public career and her superior service to our Nation.
  Dr. Height's numerous accomplishments span the history of the 20th 
Century. She is currently President of the National Council of Negro 
Women (NCNW), a position to which she was appointed in 1957 upon the 
retirement of Dr. Mary McLeod Bethune, one of the most influential 
African-American women in U.S. history. Under Dr. Height's leadership, 
the National Council of Negro Women implemented a number of new and 
innovative programs, including leadership training for African-American 
women in the rural South; the Bethune Museum and Archives, devoted to 
African-American women's history; the Black Family Reunion, a 
nationwide annual gathering to celebrate not only the black family, but 
all families; and Operation Woman Power, a project to expand business 
ownership by women and to provide funds for vocational training.
  In addition to her many accomplishments as president of the NCNW, Dr. 
Height had a persistent, active, and significant presence during our 
Nation's historic civil rights movement. As a member of the so-called 
``big six'' civil rights leaders, which included A. Philip Randolph, 
Martin Luther King, and Roy Wilkins, Dr. Height was the only female who 
participated in the major planning of one of the most important 
movements in U.S. history. She has been an advisor to presidents, and 
remains and active and respected advocate for human rights around the 
globe.
  Dr. Height is the recipient of numerous awards over her long and 
active life, including the Citizens Medal Award, presented by President 
Reagan, and the Presidential Medal of Freedom, awarded by President 
Clinton.
  Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support H. Con. Res. 357 so that 
Congress can appropriately honor a woman who has done and given so much 
to better our Nation.
  Ms. EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON of Texas. Mr. Speaker, it is indeed a great 
honor to rise before this body as a strong supporter of the H. Con. 
Res. 357.
  I first want to thank my distinguished colleague, Ms. Watson for her 
diligent work on this resolution. And I also wish her a speedy 
recovery.
  Mr. Speaker, it is because of people like Dorothy Height that we can 
all enjoy the freedom that America bestows upon her people. Ms. Height 
is a pioneer and trail-blazer. Like other pioneers, both celebrated and 
unknown, she has opened the doors of opportunity to all, making America 
the free country it is today.
  From the very beginning, Dorothy Height was a crusader. During the 
depths of the Great Depression she managed to do something very few of 
her contemporaries were able to accomplish.
  She knew that education was a key to making one's way in the world 
and the way to enlighten the path for others. She graduated from New 
York University with a bachelors and a master's degree in Education in 
1933.
  Immediately afterward, she launched a career in civil rights. She has 
remained on the battlefield for six decades. Her first venue for 
advocating the rights of others was the Young Women's Christian 
Association (YWCA). Here she led an advocacy movement aimed at 
improving conditions for black domestic workers.
  Within the YWCA, she worked to integrate an organization that still 
had separate facilities for blacks and whites. Because of her 
determined and dogged efforts, women of all racial backgrounds could 
use the same facilities with the same privileges.
  Her leadership at the national level resulted in the YWCA adopting an 
interracial charter in 1946 that called on the organization and its 
members to stand against racial injustice in the United States.
  After her work with the YWCA, Ms. Height became president of the 
National Council of Negro Women. She steered the organization through 
the civil rights struggle of the 1960's.
  She helped organize voter registration in the South, at a time when 
it was dangerous and nearly impossible to be an African-American voter 
below the Mason-Dixon line.
  Ms. Height also organized voter education programs and scholarship 
programs for student civil rights workers.
  In 1970 Dorothy Height expanded the goals of the NCNW to encompass 
vocational training and assist women in opening businesses, forms of 
education that were not readily available to women at the time.
  Since then, Dorothy Height has served as a social services expert on 
local, state, and federal governmental committees concerned with 
women's issues. She has also led numerous campaigns for the war on 
drugs, encouraging youngsters to take advantage of education and 
vocational training.
  Mr. Speaker, in 1996, the United States Government recognized Dorothy 
Height's achievements with the Presidential Medal of Freedom.
  I am pleased, Mr. Speaker, to join my friend, the gentlewoman from 
California, Ms. Watson, in support of this most appropriate use of the 
rotunda of the Capitol of the United States.
  Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to support this 
legislation that honors and salutes a giant and to acknowledge my good 
friend the gentlewoman from California (Ms. Watson) for her leadership 
and insight on an effort long overdue.
  We have all truly been blessed with Dr. Dorothy Irene Height, born on 
March 24, 1912 in Richmond, Virginia and raised in Rankin, 
Pennsylvania. Many of us have had the fortunate opportunity to study 
Dr. Height's personal and professional history and her numerous 
contributions-which are extensive, as she has given the greater part of 
her life to the service of others. Therefore, some might describe her 
as an activist for social justice and civil rights, a servant of the 
people, one who has served a number of Presidents, a humanitarian, an 
American hero, and a patriot, to name a few. The above-mentioned titles 
are merely words but are given color and meaning when one actually 
meets the acquaintance of Dr. Dorothy Height. Her charm, energy, 
insight, intellect, wisdom, and her compassion easily captivate others. 
I am honored to have had the opportunity, among others, to share in her 
vision. It is wonderful to know that she can speak eloquently about 
Mary McLeod Bethune, that she can speak to the concept of ownership for 
African American people, having led the effort to erect the first 
African American-owned building on Pennsylvania Avenue just two blocks 
away from the White House. She believes in women's rights and the 
economic empowerment of minorities and is a strong, passionate activist 
for these causes.
  Mr. Speaker, I am delighted to be here today because our words are 
simply that, simple words, mere words. But if our presence on the floor 
today commemorates the honor that is being given to Dr. Dorothy Height 
under the leadership of the gentlewoman from California (Ms. Watson), I 
urge my colleagues to join us in acting to honor and salute this great 
leader. Dr. Height, we love you.
  Dorothy Height's lifetime of achievement measures the liberation of 
Black America, the advance of women's rights, and a determined effort 
to lift the poor and the powerless into the Halls of Power and 
influence in our Nation. She began her career as a staff member of

[[Page H409]]

the YWCA in New York City, becoming director of the Center for Racial 
Justice. She became a volunteer with the National Council of Negro 
Women (NCNW), where she worked with its founder, Mary McLeod Bethune.
  When Bethune died, Height became president, a position she continues 
to hold. NCNW, an organization of national organizations and community 
sections with outreach to four million women, develops model national 
and international community-based programs, sent scores of women to 
help in the Freedom Schools of the civil rights movement, and 
spearheaded voter registration drives. Height's collaborative 
leadership style brings together people of different cultures for 
mutual benefit.
  Because of Dorothy Height's commitment to the ``Black family,'' she 
has hosted the Black Family Reunion Celebration since 1986, in which 
almost 10 million have participated. As stated above, Dr. Height was 
born in Richmond, Virginia, and moved with her parents to Ranklin, 
Pennsylvania at an early age. Winner of a scholarship for her 
exceptional oratorical skills, she entered New York University where 
she earned the Bachelor and Master degrees in 4 years.
  While working as a caseworker for the welfare department in New York, 
Dr. Height joined the NCNW in 1937 and her career as a pioneer in civil 
rights activities began to unfold. She served on the national staff of 
the YWCA of USA from 1944 to 1977 where she was active in developing 
its leadership training and interracial and ecumenical education 
programs. In 1965 she inaugurated the Center for Racial Justice which 
is still a major initiative of the National YWCA. She served as the 
10th national president of the Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., from 
1946 to 1957 before becoming president of the NCNW in 1958.
  Working closely with Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., Roy Wilkins, 
Whitney Young, A. Philip Randolph and others, Dr. Height participated 
in virtually all major civil and human rights events in the 1950's and 
1960's. For her tireless efforts on behalf of the less fortunate, 
President Ronald Reagan presented her the Citizens Medal Award for 
distinguished service to the country in 1989.

  Dr. Height is known for her extensive international and developmental 
education work. She initiated the sole African American private 
voluntary organization working in Africa in 1975, building on the 
success of NCNW's assignments in Asia, Africa, Europe, and South 
America.
  In three decades of national leadership, she has served on major 
policy-making bodies affecting women, social welfare, economic 
development, and civil and human rights, and has received numerous 
appointments and awards. As president of NCNW, Dorothy Irene Height has 
an outstanding record of accomplishments. As a self-help advocate, she 
has been instrumental in the initiation of NCNW sponsored food, child 
care, housing and career educational programs that embody the 
principles of self-reliance. As a promotor of Black family life she 
conceived and organized the Black Family Reunion Celebration in 1986 to 
reinforce the historic strengths and traditional values of the African 
American Family. Now in its ninth year, this multi-city cultural event 
has attracted some 11.5 million people.
  Dr. Height's lifetime of achievement measures the liberation of Black 
America, the brilliant advance of women's rights, and the most 
determined effort to lift up the poor and the powerless. Still 
fighting, pushing, and advocating, Dr. Dorothy Height--mother, wife, 
grandmother, great-grandmother, doctor, civil/human rights activist, 
and freedom fighter continues unrelentingly to serve our country in the 
health and most meaningfully--the civil arena at the age of 91.
  Dr. Height is a commendable and formidable woman. She has whole-
heartedly devoted her life to public service, struggling for social 
justice, the eradication and education of HIV/AIDS, unprivileged 
children, equal rights, voting rights, women's rights, and education 
opportunities for all citizens irrespective of color, ethnicity, 
gender, disability, sexuality and other markers of difference.
  She as the leading lady in the civil rights movement, sitting as the 
only female on the planning table with Whitney Young, Dr. Martin Luther 
King, James Farmer, A. Phillip Randolph, and Roy Wilkins. She has been 
and continues to be emulated internationally. Needless to say, Dr. 
Height is a jewel in the African American community and an influential 
and exemplary leader in the country.
  Many examples of her work stand out in our minds. To give just one--
under her leadership of the National Negro Women's Council, she 
introduced and implemented many initiatives and programs geared towards 
the betterment of the Afro-American community, the advancement of 
minority women in all sectors of society, most notably, in business and 
non-traditional careers. Serving in all capacities imaginable, she has 
served distinguishably.
  Dream giver and earth shaker, Dr. Dorothy Height has followed and 
expanded on the original purpose of the National Council of Negro 
Women, giving new meaning, new courage and pride to women, youth and 
families everywhere. While most individuals resolve to retirement at 
her current age, Dr. Dorothy Height continues to extend and commit 
herself beyond measures; she has done so not for recognition or 
national esteem, but as a labor of love. For the above-mentioned 
reasons, it is our rightful duty to honor her in recognition of her 
many priceless contributions to the civil growth of this nation and the 
beautiful legacy she will leave by awarding her a congressional gold 
medal.
  For the above reasons, Mr. Speaker, I support H. Con. Res. 357.
  Mr. MICA. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Cole). The question is on the motion 
offered by the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Mica) that the House suspend 
the rules and agree to the concurrent resolution, H. Con. Res. 357.
  The question was taken; and (two-thirds having voted in favor 
thereof) the rules were suspended and the concurrent resolution was 
agreed to.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

                          ____________________