[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 159 (Tuesday, December 13, 2005)]
[House]
[Pages H11342-H11343]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




        MARYLAND STATE DELEGATE LENA K. LEE POST OFFICE BUILDING

  Mr. CANNON. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the 
bill (H.R. 4107) to designate the facility of the United States Postal 
Service located at 1826 Pennsylvania Avenue in Baltimore, Maryland, as 
the ``Maryland State Delegate Lena K. Lee Post Office Building''.
  The Clerk read as follows:

                               H.R. 4107

       Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of 
     the United States of America in Congress assembled,

     SECTION 1. MARYLAND STATE DELEGATE LENA K. LEE POST OFFICE 
                   BUILDING.

       (a) Designation.--The facility of the United States Postal 
     Service located at 1826 Pennsylvania Avenue in Baltimore, 
     Maryland, shall be known and designated as the ``Maryland 
     State Delegate Lena K. Lee Post Office Building''.
       (b) References.--Any reference in a law, map, regulation, 
     document, paper, or other record of the United States to the 
     facility referred to in subsection (a) shall be deemed to be 
     a reference to the ``Maryland State Delegate Lena K. Lee Post 
     Office Building''.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from 
Utah (Mr. Cannon) and the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Davis) each will 
control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Utah.


                             General Leave

  Mr. CANNON. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may 
have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their remarks 
and include extraneous material on the bill under consideration.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from Utah?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. CANNON. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 4107, legislation authored by 
the distinguished gentleman from Maryland (Mr. Cummings). The bill 
would designate this post office in Baltimore, Maryland, as the Lena K. 
Lee Post Office Building. All Members of the Maryland delegation have 
cosponsored this legislation.
  A woman with undying ambition and an unstoppable desire to help 
others, the Honorable Lena K. Lee, was often referred to as a master 
teacher, union leader, lawyer, and legislator. Her leadership example 
through the years has provided countless opportunities for young and 
determined African Americans in Maryland.
  Delegate Lee received her bachelor's degree from Morgan State 
University in 1939 and her master's from New York University in 1947. 
Before her days in politics, Delegate Lee was a teacher and eventually 
a principal in the Baltimore City public school system. In 1952, she 
became the third woman to receive her law degree from the University of 
Maryland School of Law.
  In 1967, she began a 16-year term as the first African American 
female lawyer to serve in the House of Delegates. During her tenure, 
she fought to eradicate social inequality and advocated tirelessly for 
women's rights. In addition, Delegate Lee was instrumental in helping 
Morgan State College achieve university status and in saving the 
Orchard Street Church, a site of the Underground Railroad, from 
destruction. She has also served as an advocate for the health of 
Maryland prisoners as well as a supporter in the reconstruction of the 
new Provident Hospital.
  She served as a member of numerous organizations, such as the NAACP, 
the Urban League, the League of Women Voters. Most notably, she was the 
first African American woman to serve as the vice-chair of the 
Baltimore City delegation to the general assembly, and one of the 
founders of the Women Legislators of Maryland and the Maryland 
Legislative Black Caucus.
  She has been the recipient of numerous awards, honors, and citations, 
including the Presidential Citation from the National Association for 
Equal Opportunity in Higher Education and membership into the Maryland 
Women's Hall of Fame.
  I encourage all Members to come together to pass H.R. 4107 to honor 
Delegate Lena K. Lee for her constant perseverance and courage in her 
quest for equality.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, it is now my pleasure to yield 
such time as he may consume to the gentleman from Maryland (Mr. 
Cummings), the sponsor of this legislation.
  Mr. CUMMINGS. Mr. Speaker, I want to thank the gentleman for yielding 
me this time, and I want to thank our

[[Page H11343]]

chairman and the ranking member of the full committee. I certainly want 
to thank the chairman of the subcommittee and Mr. Davis, our ranking 
member, and the gentleman from Utah.
  I rise today, Mr. Speaker, to urge my colleagues to support H.R. 
4107, legislation I introduced to honor a great woman, Lena K. Lee. 
H.R. 4107 would designate the facility of the United States Postal 
Service located at Druid Station in Baltimore, Maryland, the Maryland 
State Delegate Lena K. Lee Post Office Building. It is very interesting 
to note, Mr. Speaker, that this post office is actually located within 
about three blocks from where Delegate Lena K. Lee lives.
  As an individual whose intellect, generous spirit, and rare devotion 
aided her in making momentous contributions to the great State of 
Maryland, the Honorable Lena K. Lee is worthy of this exceptional 
distinction. Born a coal miner's daughter, Delegate Lee rose to 
prominence as a master legislator, teacher, union leader, and a lawyer 
by blazing a trail of distinguished public service.
  She received her B.S. degree from Morgan State College in 1939, and 
her master's degree from New York University in 1947. Before entering 
the political arena, Delegate Lee served as a teacher, and a very good 
one at that, and a elementary school principal in the Baltimore City 
public school system. In 1952, she became the third woman to receive 
her law degree from the University of Maryland Law School.
  In 1967, Delegate Lee went on to serve her community on a much larger 
scale when she began a 15-year term as the first African American 
female lawyer in the House of Delegates. During her tenure, she 
dedicated her energy and talents towards eradicating social 
inequalities and advocating for women's rights.
  Mr. Speaker, Delegate Lee, like the great Rosa Parks, was an 
individual who demonstrated the power of one. She was a champion of 
justice and a dynamic legislator who used her skills to selflessly 
better the world around her. Among her many accomplishments, she 
succeeded in assisting Morgan State College achieve university status 
and in saving the Orchard Street Church, a site of the Underground 
Railroad, from destruction. It is also interesting to note that that 
same building now is used to house the Baltimore branch of the Urban 
League. She also successfully fought for the construction of a new 
Provident Hospital, now called Liberty Medical Center, and the creation 
of no-fault divorce in the State of Maryland.
  As one of the founders of the Women Legislators of Maryland and the 
Maryland Legislative Black Caucus, Delegate Lee further displayed her 
resolve to lead and not follow.
  Because of her tireless efforts, she has been the recipient of 
numerous honors, including the Presidential Citation from the National 
Association For Equal Opportunity in Higher Education, as well as 
membership in the Maryland Women's Hall of Fame, a very, very high 
honor.
  Though Delegate Lee is now in the winter years of her life at age 99, 
her legacy will live on in the lives of those she has touched. She 
cleared the path to opportunities previously inaccessible to many 
bright and talented African Americans.
  On a more personal note, in the summer of 1982, I received a call 
from this woman, known only to me by her reputation. Delegate Lee said 
something that would change the course of my life. She said, ``I'm 
going to retire from the House of Delegates. I'm looking for someone to 
take my place. I'm looking for a female lawyer, so that we will still 
have one in the House.'' And then she went on to say that I have 
decided to choose you. She said, ``I know you're a lawyer and I know 
you're not a female, but'' in her words, ``you will do.''
  In the days that followed, although she was not feeling very well 
physically, Delegate Lee walked door to door with me, introducing me to 
voters and helping to raise campaign funds. The first 1982 campaign for 
the Maryland House of Delegates was not an easy one, and I often 
expressed my doubts to Delegate Lee. The question is not whether 
opportunities will come in life, she often said. The question is 
whether you are prepared to take advantage of them; and I think that 
you are prepared.
  While her eloquent words resonated in my heart, the way she lived her 
life was her most compelling lesson. In no uncertain terms, Delegate 
Lena K. Lee was my first and my very best teacher in public life, and 
for that I will go to my grave being grateful.
  Mr. Speaker, the postal facility named in honor of this distinguished 
lady will serve to signify to the citizens of Maryland and of this 
great country and generations yet unborn that the leadership and 
noteworthy achievements of even one committed citizen can enrich and 
empower our communities and indeed our Nation. I urge my colleagues to 
join me in offering their support to this important legislation.
  Mr. CANNON. Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for time and I 
reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may 
consume.
  I am indeed delighted that Delegate Lee was willing to accept our 
esteemed colleague, even though he was not a woman. And I think that 
she has been vindicated.
  As a member of the House Government Reform Committee, I am pleased to 
join my colleague in consideration of H.R. 4107, legislation naming a 
postal facility in Baltimore, Maryland, after Lena K. Lee.

                              {time}  1445

  This measure, which was introduced by my good friend and colleague 
Representative Elijah Cummings on October 20, 2005, and unanimously 
reported by our committee on November 16, 2005, enjoys the support and 
cosponsorship of the entire Maryland delegation.
  Prior to entering State politics, Lena Lee was a teacher and 
elementary school principal in the Baltimore City public school system. 
In 1967, she began a 16-year term as the first African-American female 
lawyer to serve in the House of delegates. During her term in the House 
of Delegates, Delegate Lee worked hard on eradicating social inequities 
and stood strong in support of women's rights. Delegate Lee also 
assisted Morgan State College achieve university status and saved the 
Orchard Street Church, an underground railroad site, from destruction. 
She advocated for the health of Maryland prisoners and aided in the 
reconstruction of the New Provident Hospital.
  Delegate Lee's incredible leadership in improving the lives of 
Baltimore citizens and preserving cultural and educational landmarks 
made her the recipient of numerous awards, honors and citations, 
including the Presidential citation from the National Association For 
Equal Opportunity in Higher Education and the membership in the 
Maryland Women's Hall of Fame.
  Mr. Speaker, I commend Representative Cummings for seeking to honor 
this very accomplished citizen. Naming the Druid Station in Baltimore 
is a fine way to recognize the legacy of the Honorable Lena K. Lee, and 
I urge swift passage of this bill.
  Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. CANNON. Mr. Speaker, I urge all Members to support passage of 
H.R. 4107, and I yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Petri). The question is on the motion 
offered by the gentleman from Utah (Mr. Cannon) that the House suspend 
the rules and pass the bill, H.R. 4107.
  The question was taken; and (two-thirds having voted in favor 
thereof) the rules were suspended and the bill was passed.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

                          ____________________