[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 28 (Thursday, March 10, 2005)]
[Senate]
[Page S2502]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                   HONORING THE LIFE OF FERN HOLLAND

  Mr. McCONNELL. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate 
proceed to the immediate consideration of S. Res. 80, submitted earlier 
today by Senators Landrieu and Murkowski.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will report the resolution by title.
  The legislative clerk read as follows:

       A resolution (S. Res. 80) honoring the life of Fern Holland 
     and expressing the deepest condolences of the Senate to her 
     family on their loss.

  There being no objection, the Senate proceeded to consider the 
resolution.
  Ms. LANDRIEU. Mr. President, I rise today to mark the anniversary of 
the death of a young woman whose courage and willingness to help others 
should inspire us all. Fern Holland, who was murdered near the Iraqi 
city of Karbala at the age of 33 a year ago today, lived her life to 
create the most equal and just global society obtainable. In light of 
International Women's Day, which was yesterday, I think it is only 
fitting that we honor the life of someone who led the fight to protect 
women throughout the world. Fern Holland realized the importance of 
helping others early in her life, which is exemplified by the path she 
chose.
  There are hundreds of people whose lives have been touched by Fern 
Holland and I believe her legacy will live long beyond her years on 
Earth. In the January before her death Holland wrote in an e-mail to 
her former boss, Tulsa lawyer Stephen Rodolf. ``I love the work and if 
I die, know that I'm doing precisely what I want to be doing--working 
to organize and educate human rights activists and women's groups.
  I urge my colleagues to remember Fern Holland when they have lost the 
strength to continue to work for the good of all people. We must 
diligently work to sustain the passion Fern Holland possessed. As a 
living memorial to her, I challenge each of my colleagues to continue 
to work for a better future for all people, particularly those without 
their own voice. I would like to extend my deepest sympathy to her 
family who are feeling this loss more than anyone else.
  I urge my colleagues to support this resolution and use this day as a 
time to remember Fern Holland's extraordinary life and to use her 
example to recommit ourselves to the better good of all people.
  Mr. McCONNELL. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the 
resolution and preamble be agreed to en bloc, the motion to reconsider 
be laid upon the table, that any statements relating thereto be printed 
in the Record, without any intervening action or debate.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  The resolution (S. Res. 80) was agreed to.
  The preamble was agreed to.
  The resolution, with its preamble, reads as follows:

                               S. Res. 80

       Whereas the Senate remembers with great sadness the murder 
     of Fern Holland near the Iraqi city of Karbala at the age of 
     33 on March 9, 2004;
       Whereas Fern Holland, born in Bluejacket, Oklahoma, on 
     August 5, 1970, lived her life committed to creating the most 
     equal and just global society possible;
       Whereas Fern Holland graduated with honors in psychology at 
     Oklahoma University and actively sought to help the world 
     through caring for children dying of nuclear-related diseases 
     in Russia and teaching kids in a squatter camp in South 
     Africa;
       Whereas in the spring of 2000, Fern Holland worked for the 
     Peace Corps as a human rights legal advisor in West Africa;
       Whereas in 2003, Fern Holland went to investigate alleged 
     human rights violations for the American Refugee Committee at 
     a refugee camp in Guinea where she established a legal clinic 
     to seek justice for victims of human rights violations, and 
     which, at the time of her death in 2004, had handled 118 
     cases on behalf of victims of human rights violations;
       Whereas in May 2003, Fern Holland went to Iraq as a United 
     States Agency for International Development employee to work 
     for women's rights;
       Whereas in Iraq, Fern Holland organized human rights 
     groups, opened 6 women's centers in south Baghdad, and acted 
     as a strong advocate for Iraqi women's rights;
       Whereas after Fern Holland's death, leading feminists from 
     the National Organization for Women, the Feminist Majority 
     Foundation, and the National Council of Women's Organizations 
     issued statements praising her work;
       Whereas residents of the refugee camp in Guinea renamed the 
     legal clinic Fern Holland established the ``Fern Holland 
     Legal Aid Clinic of Nzerekore'';
       Whereas the high school Fern Holland attended in Miami, 
     Florida observed a moment of silence and then discussed a 
     memorial to honor her;
       Whereas the Cherokee Nation honored Fern Holland by passing 
     a resolution saying she ``died as a warrior'';
       Whereas Fern Holland was posthumously named a Heroic 
     Oklahoman on April 7, 2004, by Governor Brad Henry; and
       Whereas Fern Holland devoted her brief life to promoting 
     her belief in basic human rights and the rule of law: Now, 
     therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the Senate--
       (1) recognizes that, in Fern Holland, the World has lost 
     one of its most devoted and hard working human rights 
     activists;
       (2) honors Fern Holland in her extreme dedication to making 
     the world a better place; and
       (3) expresses its deep and heartfelt condolences to the 
     family of Fern Holland on their loss.

                          ____________________