[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 28 (Thursday, March 10, 2005)]
[House]
[Pages H1268-H1269]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




             INTRODUCTION OF REPRESENTATIVE DORIS O. MATSUI

  (Mr. STARK asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. STARK. Mr. Speaker, as dean of the California congressional 
delegation, it is my distinct honor to introduce the newest Member of 
the House of Representatives, the Honorable Doris Matsui.
  She was elected Tuesday, leading a field of 11 candidates with more 
than 69 percent of the vote, and I think that is just spectacular.
  Just very quickly, Doris was raised in the small Central Valley town 
of Dinuba, California. She has pursued a life of public service and 
civic leadership ever since. She was deputy assistant to President Bill 
Clinton. She has put service to her community and Nation foremost in 
her career and has a deep commitment to improving people's lives.
  She worked to give voice to concerns of children, the elderly and 
equality for women and minorities. As a member of President Clinton's 
transition team and during her tenure at the White House, she played a 
key role in developing important policy initiatives. She increased the 
number of public school teachers, expanded health care for children and 
made college more affordable.
  Appointed by President Clinton to chair the Nonprofit Liaison Group, 
she worked to coordinate the efforts of the Federal Government and 
nonprofit organizations. She serves as a trustee of the Woodrow Wilson 
Center which seeks to bring scholars and public policymakers together 
on major public and international issues.
  She has been an advocate for professional international exchange 
programs between the United States and 140 nations.

                              {time}  1030

  In all Doris' efforts, she had a strong partner in Bob, who would be 
proud to see her carry on the Matsui tradition of public service. We 
welcome the Matsui family, Doris' son Brian; his wife, Amy; and 
granddaughter Anna.
  Both sides of the aisle have their own dean. I think the other one 
may be

[[Page H1269]]

somewhat older than I am, but he is still the dean; and it is my 
distinct pleasure to yield to the Honorable Jerry Lewis, the dean of 
the Republican delegation from California.
  Mr. LEWIS of California. Mr. Speaker, I very much appreciate my 
colleague from California yielding me a moment. Doris knows that Bob 
and I were very, very dear friends. We came to the Congress together. 
At that time we talked a lot about our hometown, for the Matsui family 
knows that Arlene and I consider in many ways Sacramento to be really 
our second home. It was our privilege to spend a decade there working 
in the legislature on behalf of public affairs; and the reputation of 
the Matsui family went well ahead of their service here. Bob served as 
a member of the board of supervisors and was a fabulous local leader.
  In turn, his tragic loss was a shock to all of us, but clearly the 
voice expressed by that vote by the people in that district that 
surrounds and includes Sacramento is a reflection of the fact that 
their people know and deeply believe that Doris is the person to 
reflect the view and the future that Bob would have for the country.
  Doris, I want you to know that we do not just welcome you to the 
family today but it is very important for you and I to know that we 
will continue to work together on behalf of California and our second 
home; and, indeed, there are wonderful things as well as great things 
in the future that need to be done.
  So welcome, God bless you, Godspeed.
  Mr. STARK. And now, Mr. Speaker, with a final note that the 
California Democratic delegation of 33 members is now 55 percent 
nonmale, I want to introduce our newest Member, the Honorable Doris 
Matsui.

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