[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 33 (Tuesday, February 27, 2007)]
[House]
[Pages H1914-H1919]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
RECOGNIZING ANN RICHARDS' EXTRAORDINARY CONTRIBUTIONS TO TEXAS AND
AMERICAN PUBLIC LIFE
Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and
agree to the resolution (H. Res. 42) recognizing Ann Richards'
extraordinary contributions to Texas and American public life.
The Clerk read as follows:
H. Res. 42
Whereas Dorothy Ann Willis Richards, the First Lady of
Texas politics, an American icon and patriot, who touched the
lives of Texans and Americans across the Nation, passed away
September 13, 2006, after a valiant fight with esophageal
cancer;
Whereas her political philosophy was one of government
openness and she was a forceful champion for economic and
social justice for all Americans, opening Texas government to
all Texans, including African Americans, Hispanics, women,
and the disadvantaged;
Whereas, before her service ended, of her nearly 3,000
appointments, 46 percent were female, 15 percent were black,
20 percent were Hispanic and 2 percent were Asian American;
Whereas her service to Texas and the Nation included
teaching Texas schoolchildren, serving as County Commissioner
in Travis County, serving 2 terms as Texas State Treasurer,
and finally serving as the Governor of Texas;
Whereas Richards raised 4 incredible children, and 8
``almost perfect'' grandchildren and touched the lives of
countless friends throughout her life;
Whereas Governor Richards revitalized the Texas economy,
yielding 2 percent growth when the United States economy was
shrinking; she streamlined Texas's government and regulatory
institutions for business and the public; she revitalized and
positioned Texas's corporate infrastructure for the explosive
economic growth it experienced later in the decade, and she
saved Texas taxpayers more than $6 billion;
Whereas Richards reformed the Texas prison system by
establishing a substance abuse program for inmates, reducing
the number of violent offenders released, and increasing
prison space to deal with a growing prison population;
Whereas Richards instituted the Texas lottery to supplement
school finances and she sought to decentralize control over
education policy to districts and individual campuses,
instituting site-based management;
Whereas Richards inspired an entire generation of young
women, admonishing them with the words ``well-behaved women
rarely make history'';
Whereas, in 1989, with co-author Peter Knobler, she wrote
her autobiography ``Straight from the Heart'', inspiring
Texans with her personal story and folksy humor;
Whereas, in 2004, she authored ``I'm Not Slowing Down,
Winning My Battle with Osteoporosis'' and became an
international spokesperson for women battling the disease;
Whereas, after her diagnosis with esophageal cancer,
Richards inspired all of us with her determination to win
against all the odds, and her fearless battle until the very
last day in her beloved Austin, Texas;
Whereas her sense of humor, delivery, and understanding of
Texas's ``old boy'' politics was legendary, charming, and
disarming; and
Whereas Governor Dorothy Ann Willis Richards was an
American original, an irreplaceable public servant, a patriot
who loved the Nation and its expansive land, ideas, and the
Constitution: Now, therefore, be it
Resolved, That the House of Representatives recognizes and
commends Ann Richards' extraordinary contributions to Texas
and American public life.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from
Illinois (Mr. Davis) and the gentleman from Connecticut (Mr. Shays)
each will control 20 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Illinois.
General Leave
Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all
Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their
remarks.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the
gentleman from Illinois?
There was no objection.
Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I
might consume.
Mr. Speaker, at the memorial service of Ann Richards, the former
mayor of Dallas, Texas, Ron Kirk, the mayor's lifelong friend said,
``Ann Richards was as fierce a warrior and advocate for justice as any
public servant I've ever known. She embraced every person she met, no
matter their station in life, with dignity, and love, and compassion.''
The former Governor of Texas was a witty, flamboyant and outspoken
homemaker who captured the hearts and minds of the people of Texas, as
well as the Nation. She burst into national prominence as a keynote
speaker to the 1988 Democratic National Convention when she uttered the
famous line about the wealthy, then-Vice President George H.W. Bush,
and she said, ``Poor George, he can't help it; he was born with a
silver foot in his mouth.'' The speech set the tone for her political
future as the first woman elected to treasurer, a statewide office, in
Texas in 50 years.
In 1990, Ann Richards won the Democratic gubernatorial nomination
against attorney general and former Congressman Jim Mattox and former
Governor Mark White. Her Republican opponent was multimillionaire
rancher Clayton Williams, Jr. The campaign between the two was brutal,
but Richards prevailed in the election on November 6, 1990, by a margin
of 49-47 percent.
As Governor, Ann Richards wanted a more inclusive Texas. She called
it the ``New Texas,'' where she made nearly 3,000 appointments, 46
percent were female, 15 percent were African American, 20 percent were
Hispanic and 2 percent were Asian Americans. Among Governor Richards'
appointment of firsts are: the first African American to the University
of Texas regent; the first crime victim to join the State criminal
justice board; the first disabled person to serve on human services
board; and the first teacher to lead the State board of education.
During her tenure, she oversaw the fabled Texas Rangers pin stars on
their first African American and female officers.
Richards implemented an economic revitalization program to address
the Texas economy that was in a slump since the mid-1980s, compounded
by a downturn in the U.S. economy. Her policy initiatives yielded a 2
percent growth in 1991 for the Texas economy, while the U.S. economy as
a whole shrank.
Ann Richards reformed the Texas prison system by establishing a
substance abuse program for inmates in prison and reduced the number of
violent offenders released back into society. She was a supporter of
proposals to reduce the sale of semiautomatic
[[Page H1915]]
firearms and cop killer bullets in the State.
{time} 1530
She vetoed legislation that would allow people to carry concealed
handguns and automatic weapons inside public establishments without the
owner's permission. Some political analysts believe that this veto cost
her her reelection bid for Governor in 1994. Richards lost her
reelection bid to George W. Bush. After her unsuccessful bid for
reelection, someone asked her, ``What would you have done differently
if you knew you would be a one-term Governor?'' Richards grinned and
said, ``Oh, I would probably have raised more hell.''
Mr. Speaker, I urge all my colleagues to support this resolution.
Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. SHAYS. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, I rise today to join my fellow Members of Congress in
recognizing Dorothy Ann Willis Richards' really extraordinary
contribution to Texas and to American public life.
A steadfast political activist who first entered the political arena
as a student at the University of Texas, Ann Richards rose through the
political ranks first as a volunteer in State and local political
campaigns and ultimately to a national figure.
A feminist icon, Ann Richards first came to national attention to
many as the Texas State treasurer, when she delivered the keynote
address at the 1988 National Democratic Convention. Serving as the
Governor of Texas from 1991 to 1995, Governor Richards was widely
acknowledged as an inspirational national leader, civil rights
advocate, and role model. Her political philosophy was one of
government openness and was noted for her unprecedented appointments of
women and minorities to important positions.
Throughout her life, Governor Richards had a particular interest in
social interests such as advancing women's rights and equality for all
groups and individuals. She believed, if given a chance, all women
could perform as well or better than men, and I would emphasize she
probably thought better than men. She once offered a memorable salute
to the achievements of women by reminding her audience, and I love this
quote, ``Ginger Rogers did everything that Fred Astaire did. She just
did it backwards and in high heels.''
Always willing to use her upbringing as an example for others, she
once said that, ``Where I grew up, there wasn't much tolerance for
self-importance, people who put on airs,'' and she lived by that
philosophy.
During her tenure as Governor, she not only expanded the State's
economic base through a program for economic revitalization, but
created one of the most inclusive and representative governments in the
history of Texas.
Soon after becoming Governor, she sought government efficiency by
authorizing comprehensive audits of every State agency, that ultimately
saved the taxpayers of Texas reportedly $6 billion.
As a result of her interest in law enforcement and her own personal
battles with alcoholism, Governor Richards reformed the Texas prison
system by establishing a substance abuse program for inmates,
decreasing the number of violent offenders released, and increasing
prison space.
Governor Richards was always tireless in her efforts on behalf of
children and education. While Governor, she instituted the Texas
lottery as a means of supplementing school funding.
After leaving office, in her final year of life, the Austin
Independent School District announced, ``The Ann Richards School For
Young Women Leaders.'' Opening in the fall of 2007, this institution
will serve as a college preparatory school for girls in grades 6
through 12. The curriculum will focus on math, science, and technology.
This initiative is one of many lasting tributes to Governor Richards'
all-encompassing devotion to the citizens of Texas.
Sadly, Ann Richards passed away from cancer on September 16, 2006.
She was 73 years old, leaving behind a legacy of political achievement
and a record of championing equality and justice.
I ask all Members to join by supporting this resolution.
Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, it is now my pleasure to yield 3
minutes to the distinguished gentleman from Texas and the author of
this legislation, Representative Solomon Ortiz.
(Mr. ORTIZ asked and was given permission to revise and extend his
remarks.)
Mr. ORTIZ. Mr. Speaker, today we are here to pay tribute to the life
of the late Governor of Texas, Dorothy Ann Willis Richards. And I want
to thank Chairman Waxman, the majority leader, and my good friend,
Danny Davis, for bringing this bill to the floor, and my colleagues for
taking time from their busy schedule to do what we are doing today.
America and the State of Texas both suffered a great loss on
September 13, 2006, when Ann Richards met our Maker after a brave
struggle with cancer.
Growing up as the son of migrant workers in segregated South Texas, I
was painfully aware of the power dynamics in place that placed those of
privilege high above the working poor. Ann Richards sought to turn that
tide around. During her service as Governor of Texas, she appointed
more females and minorities than any Governor by far.
It was Ann's spunk and her dedication to the people of our beloved
State, all the people, that earned her love and admiration of millions
of Americans.
Following her philosophy of life in public service, ``well-behaved
women rarely make history,'' Ann's charm and passion for life propelled
her far in the history books.
A lifelong public servant, Ann began her career as a Texas school
teacher. She later served in Austin as Travis County Commissioner and
Texas State Treasurer prior to being elected State Governor in a
historic campaign.
During her entire public service career, Ann remained a teacher,
teaching Texans that the advantage of working together benefited the
economy of our State. Even today she still teaches us.
Ann Richards is remembered today and always not only for her
accomplishments, but also for the way she carried them out. Her
disarming wit and wisdom won opponents time and time again. Her big as
Texas hair, hearty laugh, piercing blue eyes, and smiling face are
unforgettable. She was one of those people you just couldn't help but
like, and today I am so happy that they gave us time to honor a great
American, a great Governor, and a great friend, Ann Richards.
Mr. SHAYS. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, it is my pleasure to yield 3
minutes to the gentlewoman from Texas with whom I had the good fortune
to spend Saturday with at Paul Quinn College where we were discussing
the issues related to African American males, Representative Eddie
Bernice Johnson.
Ms. EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay
tribute to the legacy of an exceptional public servant, the late
Governor Ann Richards.
When Governor Richards passed away in September, I not only lost an
esteemed colleague, but a dear and trusted friend. I am proud to say
that our friendship endured for more than 40 years.
First, we are from the same hometown. But I didn't meet her there, I
met her in Dallas, Texas when she lived there in the 1960s. And then
she moved to Austin, and the first thing that she did, she always
helped in everybody's campaign, but the first thing she did in Austin
was manage Sarah Weddington's campaign for the Texas House, and we won
at the same time. Sarah Weddington is the young lawyer that defended
Rowe v. Wade before the Supreme Court.
As women in politics, and especially Ann, we shared some of the same
views and many of the same colleagues, and I did encourage her that she
had come to her time that she can maybe serve in elective office
herself. And we knew that Texans were not that supportive of women
running for office, but she ran for the County Commissioner's Court and
won.
She was not afraid to be herself, and she really listened to people
and she was supportive of people. Her independent spirit and charm not
only won
[[Page H1916]]
her votes, but it really generated a great deal of respect. And she
often used humor to get her point across, but she did get her point
across. People respected her, and they knew that she would work hard on
their behalf and there was never a question about that.
She took pride in her accomplishments as Governor. First she won as
Treasurer, and I had the pleasure of running her campaign in Dallas
County during that time. But when she won as Governor, it was a very
male-dominated situation, and she right away appointed more women and
minorities to important boards than anyone else ever had done in
history.
For the first time there were women and minorities on the board of
regents of Texas universities all over the State and many other women
positions that was on the medical examiners board. Those medical
examiners didn't know what had taken place. But she was not afraid to
do it.
She utilized the latest technology as Texas Treasurer. When she came
into office there was a big deficit, and she hired a consultant to come
down and help, and that consultant was Franklin Raines. That is when I
first met him.
We did so much together. And when she was in office and was able to
see how to get through those many problems, she earned the support of
the business community, which was mostly white men of course. Ann broke
her way from the mold.
I rise today to pay tribute to the legacy of an exceptional public
servant, the late Governor Ann Richards.
When Governor Richards passed away in September, I not only lost an
esteemed colleague, but a dear and trusted friend.
I'm proud to say that our friendship endured for more than 40 years.
I first met Ann Richards in the sixties when she lived in Dallas and
was running for Travis County Commissioner.
As women in politics, Ann and I shared many of the same views and
also many of the same challenges.
Texas in the 1970's wasn't very supportive of women running for
political office, so you really had to earn each and every vote.
Ann wasn't afraid to be herself, and she compelled people to listen
to her.
Her independent spirit and charm not only won her votes, but it
garnered respect.
People respected her, and they knew that she would work hard on their
behalf.
Ann took pride in her accomplishments in the male dominated Texas
politics. She had hoped that her success may serve as inspiration to
young women.
She certainly served as inspiration to me.
In 1982 Ann successfully ran for Texas State Treasurer.
As State Treasurer she utilized the latest technology to transform
the Texas Treasury into a modern operation.
Along the way, Ann earned the respect of the business community who
appreciated her foresight and vision.
In 1990 Ann became the first woman Governor of Texas elected in her
own right.
Ann broke away from the mold of previous Governors. She wasn't afraid
to shake things up and speak her mind.
In her tenure as Governor she was adamant about appointing minorities
on state boards and commissions.
Ann wanted the Texas Government to reflect the diversity and culture
of the people of the State.
Ann was a hands-on Governor, and she didn't let much get by her.
She did her best to eliminate inefficiency and waste within the
government.
She demanded that the Texas government fully serve the people, and
she did everything in her power to realize that.
She had a strong will for justice and fairness for all.
Governor Richards was one of the finest of Texans that I've ever
known.
She dedicated herself to the State and the people of Texas.
She broke down barriers for women, and made us believe that anything
was possible.
She was truly an original, and her absence is immensely felt.
The recognition she is receiving today is very well deserved.
Her many contributions to the State of Texas and to America will not
be forgotten.
Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, it is my pleasure now to yield 3
minutes to an individual who had the good fortune to be a close
neighbor of Governor Richards, Representative Lloyd Doggett of Texas.
Mr. DOGGETT. I thank the gentleman and my colleagues for this
resolution honoring our friend, Ann Richards.
Despite the great sense of loss that so many of us continue to feel,
I must say that the wonderful gathering that we had last year in Austin
for Ann Richards was about the most joyous memorial service that I have
ever participated in. There was so much to celebrate about this person,
about this life.
Ann came to Austin in the 1970s. She was a true life force. She
became our County Commissioner and our State Treasurer before becoming
Governor. And during most of my tenure in Congress, I had the good
fortune to have her as a next-door neighbor.
She had a quick wit, but she also had a very warm smile. And it was
her smile, her warmth, and her sense of humor that could win over even
the most ardent foe.
She believed in straight talk. Her candor about her personal life
enabled her to tell hard truths in her political life. And in her
waning months, she faced her battle with cancer with the same fighting
spirit and the same sense of humor that defined her life.
I think that there are two places not often the focus of reflecting
on Ann Richards' life where her effect is particularly notable. One is
in our schools. Until January, I represented Ann Richards Middle School
in La Joya, Texas. I could see how those young people from a poor
economic area were enriched by their contact with Ann Richards and the
inspiration that she provided them with her continued participation
long after she completed her tenure as Governor. And, now in Austin, we
are starting the Ann Richards School For Young Women. Its purpose is
one that Ann devoted much of her personal life to--inspiring and
serving as a mentor for young women. And now, in this school, many
middle school girls will find that they too can fulfill their dreams
and fully participate in all sectors of our society.
{time} 1545
A former teacher, Ann knew what a difference quality public education
could make in the lives of young women and young men, and these
institutions serve to remind us of what she accomplished.
But the second place is with her family. She has two daughters, two
sons, who are active participants in the life of our community and of
our country. I think that they speak volumes about the kind of mother
and the kind of family person that Ann Richards is, and they continue
to live the legacy that she established.
She set high standards and inspired countless Americans to do the
same. Her loss means that all of us who share her values must redouble
our efforts.
Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, it is my pleasure to yield 2
minutes to the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Lampson).
Mr. LAMPSON. Mr. Speaker, I am proud to have been able to call Ann
Richards a friend of mine and of my family. Just like she inspired
millions of young women in Texas and across this Nation, she inspired
my oldest daughter, Hillary, who I often took along with me to meetings
in Austin.
At one meeting with the Governor, Hillary pulled out this yellowed
copy of Ann's keynote address to the 1988 Democratic National
Convention and proceeded to quote lines back to her. Hillary's favorite
line from that speech was one that Ann had popularized in her famously
wry tone: ``Ginger Rogers did everything that Fred Astaire did. She
just did it backwards and in high heels.'' To me, that line epitomizes
Ann Richards: skillful, determined, and equal to any man's task.
She was a woman in what had been a man's rough and tumble world of
Texas politics, but she never let anything or anyone hold her back. She
believed education was the great equalizer. She believed redemption was
possible, and she believed that a woman's place was in the dome. She
aimed to create a new Texas; and when she broke through that glass
ceiling, she reached her hand out to pull women, minorities, and the
disadvantaged up with her.
Like the yellow rose of Texas, Ann was a beautiful and classic lady.
She could also be thorny, though. She told you exactly what you needed
to hear, using wit and candor to make her point. Her presence and her
laughter could fill a room, even if all you could see was that big
white hairdo peeking above the crowd.
Dorothy Ann Willis Richards is a Texas giant, and I am proud that my
[[Page H1917]]
daughters grew up knowing such a strong, independent, and caring woman.
I want to leave you with some words from Ann, words that all of us
here today should take to heart.
She said: ``The public doesn't like you to mislead or represent
yourself to be something you're not . . . They don't ask their public
officials to be perfect. They just ask them to be smart, truthful,
honest, and to show a modicum of good sense.''
Ann, we'll miss you.
Mr. SHAYS. Mr. Speaker, I yield 5 minutes to the gentleman from Texas
(Mr. Burgess).
Mr. BURGESS. I thank the gentleman for yielding.
Mr. Speaker, it will come as no great surprise that on any issue of
policy Ann Richards and I were probably 180 degrees out of phase; but
last year, when she received her diagnosis, I sent her a little note
telling her that we were thinking about her and praying for her. She
sent me a little note back, and I wanted to share that with the House
today.
She said: ``Thank you for being so thoughtful.
``For someone who has cancer, I'm in great shape. Patience has never
been my long suit, but I am learning. I am in my third week of
treatment and am taking it one day at a time. The M.D. Anderson
Hospital is fabulous. It's a whole lot like `Star Wars' with more
interesting machines than Buck Rogers ever imagined.
``Thanks a lot for thinking of me and praying for me. With all that
energy directed toward my recovery, how can we miss?''
Mr. Speaker, there wasn't much that Ann Richards and I did agree on,
but we both agreed on our love for Texas, and we both agreed we only
wanted the best for our State. Texas is proud to have had a Governor
like Ann Richards. Although oftentimes we were on opposite sides of the
issue, she will be missed in my home State of Texas.
Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, may I inquire as to how much time
I have left.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The gentleman from Illinois has 5\1/2\
minutes. The gentleman from Connecticut has 15 minutes.
Mr. SHAYS. Mr. Speaker, I would ask unanimous consent to transfer 10
minutes over to my colleague, if there is need to use that time.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the
gentleman from Connecticut?
There was no objection.
Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. I want to thank the gentleman from
Connecticut.
Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I might consume.
Mr. Speaker, all of us come in contact with individuals who have a
way to connect one way or another. Sometimes it is from near, and
sometimes it is from afar. I shall never forget the speech that
Governor Richards made at the Democratic convention in 1988. You know,
speeches are things that you hear a lot of when you are involved in
public activity and public office, and you don't always look for
anything special when you see another one coming. I mean, sometimes, it
is another speech.
But the amount of wit and charm that Ann Richards had and her ability
to convey it in such a way that she could make a humorous point that
was not always so humorous, but you still got the humor out of it, and
whoever it was directed to and at didn't necessarily view it as being
offensive, she had the ability to do that.
We have heard speaker after speaker talk about the fact that she
appointed this large number of individuals to boards and commissions
and made regents out of people and gave them positions that people just
didn't sort of expect, because it had not been done before.
Then she took on a real tough question that some people feel caused
her to lose an election, but she probably knew the risk that she was
taking, because it had to do with the right of individuals to keep and
bear arms, dealing with semiautomatic weapons that the normal average
person wouldn't necessarily carry.
I mean, you wouldn't walk around, even if you wanted to go hunting,
with a semiautomatic weapon to shoot rabbits or deer or whatever it is
that you would shoot, although I have never believed in shooting that
many things any way, unless they were shooting back. Therefore, I was
never much of a hunter, because the animals didn't have anything to
shoot back with. That was about the only way that I would see myself
shooting at them.
But she knew the great political risk that she was taking, and not
withstanding that risk, held to her guns, held to her position, did not
waver, did not back up. That is what real leaders are made of. They
don't take positions just to get elected or just to be in office. But
they take them based upon principles upon which they believe, ideas and
ideology that govern their lives.
That was the kind of woman that Ann Richards was, and that is why I
think she was able to mean so much to so many people, not only in
Texas; but she was a great advancement for the women's movement, for
enticing more women to run for public office, and, of course, to be
elected to public office, and to reach another level of equity, another
level of having arrived at a point in history where a woman, a little
girl growing up, can believe that she has the possibility of moving not
only to Governor of the State of Texas, but to Speaker of the House of
the United States House of Representatives.
Mr. Speaker, it is my pleasure to yield such time as she might
consume to our distinguished Speaker, Nancy Pelosi.
Ms. PELOSI. Thank you very much, Congressman Davis, and thank you for
bringing this opportunity to the fore for us to sing the praises of the
great Governor of Texas, Ann Richards. I am proud to join you today,
Mr. Davis, in honor of Ann Richards, a true pioneer and one of Texas'
great daughters.
Ann Richards expanded the realm of what is possible for women. As she
loved to say: ``A woman's place is in the dome.'' She is certainly
smiling down on us today. As more women than ever rise to elective
office, we owe a great debt to Ann Richards for helping to blaze the
trail.
So important was she to the women in Congress who serve here now, as
part of my swearing-in festivities, I had a tea honoring Ann Richards
in which we reviewed a film of her life in which her beautiful
granddaughter, Lily, made a presentation about her grandmother, from
which we all drew strength and inspiration about this woman, a true,
true pioneer. Ann Richards will be remembered for her devastating wit
and gigantic heart, which led her to make real and lasting improvements
for all Americans.
From health care, to education, to opening the doors of government to
all, Ann Richards was one of our Nation's most fierce champions for
expanding opportunity. Just as Ann was an advocate for all of America's
children, she was particularly proud of her own. Ann's daughter Cecile
Richards was an essential member of my team when I became leader and
has since become President of Planned Parenthood of America. I know Ann
was equally proud of her three children, Daniel, Clark and Ellen, and
her eight grandchildren, I mentioned Lily. She was proud of all of
them.
I hope it is a comfort to her entire family that so many people here
in the Congress, indeed in the country, remember Ann with great
enthusiasm and are grateful for her leadership. She has been gone a
number of months now, but it is a loss that we sorely feel. It is a
memory that we greatly cherish of a great woman, a leader in our
country, and a person.
As I say to all of us in Congress or in elective office, all of us
owe Ann Richards a great debt of gratitude. She is the gold standard
for statesmanship, man or woman. Again, we are especially proud of the
leadership she provided as a woman leader in our country.
Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. I want to thank the distinguished Speaker for
her remarks.
Mr. SHAYS. Mr. Speaker, all Members on this side of the aisle have a
tremendous appreciation for this great lady, and we are happy to honor
her and are grateful the House is, in fact, honoring her.
Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I rise in proud support, and
as an original co-sponsor of H. Res. 42. This resolution is offered by
the Texas Democratic Delegation in the House, chaired by Congressman
Ortiz,
[[Page H1918]]
and recognizes the extraordinary contributions of Ann Richards to
public life in Texas and the United States. It is both fitting and
proper that the People's House pay this tribute to a pioneering and
path breaking woman who devoted her life to serving the people.
Mr. Speaker, this happy moment stands in stark contrast to that
sorrowful morning of September 14, 2006, when I informed the House from
this podium of my sad duty to report that an American original and the
First Lady of Texas politics, the great Ann Richards, had lost her long
and valiant battle with throat cancer.
Mr. Speaker, Dorothy Ann Willis Richards began her career in politics
in the early 1970s after having raised four children. A Democrat, she
served as County Commissioner in Travis County, Texas from 1977 to
1982. Richards was elected to the first of two terms as Texas State
Treasurer in 1982. We who knew and loved her will remember her always
as a forcefully articulate and an amusingly folksy speaker. She first
gained national prominence with her keynote address at the 1988
Democratic National Convention. In 1990 she was elected governor of
Texas, the first woman chief executive of Texas in more than fifty
years.
Dorothy Ann Willis was born in Lakeview, Texas. She grew up in Waco,
Texas, and graduated from Waco High School in 1950, participating in
Girls State. She received a bachelor's degree from Baylor University
while on a debate scholarship. She married her high school sweetheart,
David Richards, and moved to Austin, Texas, where she earned a teaching
certificate from the University of Texas at Austin.
After graduation, she taught social studies and history at Fulmore
Junior High School in Austin, Texas from 1955 to 1956. She had also two
daughters and two sons in the following years, and she campaigned for
Texas liberals and progressives such as Henry B. Gonzalez, Ralph
Yarborough, and Sarah Weddington. One of her daughters, Cecile Richards
became president of Planned Parenthood in 2006. Throughout her life Ann
Richards was a forceful champion for economic and social justice for
all Americans, especially women and the disadvantaged.
In 1976, Richards ran against and defeated a three-term incumbent on
the Travis County, Texas Commissioner Court, holding the position for
six years. She then was elected State Treasurer in 1982, becoming the
first woman elected to statewide office in more than fifty years. In
winning the Democratic nomination for treasurer, Richards ended the
career of a Texas politician with the same name as a president (but no
relation), Warren G. Harding. In 1986, she was re-elected treasurer
without opposition.
Ann Richards delivered the keynote address to the 1988 Democratic
National Convention, a move which put her in the national spotlight
with the line ``Poor George [H.W. Bush], he can't help it . . . He was
born with a silver foot in his mouth.'' The speech set the tone for her
political future; she described herself as a real Texan (in supposed
contrast to George H.W. Bush), established herself as a feminist, and
reached out to African-Americans and Hispanics. In 1989, with co-author
Peter Knobler, she wrote her autobiography, Straight from the Heart.
In 1990, she sought and won the Democratic gubernatorial nomination
besting such venerable vote getters as Texas Attorney General James
``Jim'' Mattox and former governor Mark White. In the general election
she defeated multi-millionaire rancher Clayton Williams after a brutal
campaign and was inaugurated the 45th governor of Texas in January
1991.
The Texas economy had been in a slump since the mid-1980s, compounded
by a downturn in the U.S. economy. Governor Richards responded with a
program of economic revitalization, yielding growth in 1991 of 2% when
the U.S. economy as a whole shrank. She also streamlined Texas's
government and regulatory institutions for business and the public. Her
efforts helped to revitalize and position Texas's corporate
infrastructure for the explosive economic growth it experienced later
in the decade. Her audits on the state bureaucracy saved Texas
taxpayers more than $6 billion.
Governor Richards reformed the Texas prison system, establishing a
substance abuse program for inmates, reducing the number of violent
offenders released, and increasing prison space to deal with a growing
prison population (from less than 60,000 in 1992 to more than 80,000 in
1994). She backed proposals to reduce the sale of semi-automatic
firearms and ``cop-killer'' bullets in the state.
The Texas Lottery was also instituted during her governorship--
advocated as a means of supplementing school finances; Ann Richards
purchased the first lotto ticket on May 29, 1992. However, most of the
income from the lottery went into the state's general fund rather than
specifically to education, until 1997, when all lottery net revenue was
redirected to the state's Foundation School Fund, which supports public
education. School finance remained one of the key issues of her
governorship and of those succeeding hers; the famous Robin Hood plan
was launched in the 1992-1993 biennium which attempted to make school
funding more equitable across school districts. Richards also sought to
decentralize control over education policy to districts and individual
campuses; she instituted ``site-based management'' to this end.
In March 2006, Governor Richards announced that she had been
diagnosed with esophageal cancer and will be seeking treatment at M.D.
Anderson Cancer Center in Houston, Texas. The disease has a five-year
survival rate of 25 percent. Despite the statistics, Governor Richards
vowed to beat her illness and battled valiantly until the very last
day, when she finished her journey on earth and ascended to the
heavens.
None of us who knew and loved Ann Richards will ever forget her or
the way she brightened the lives of all the people she served. She was
one in a million and she will be deeply missed. She will never be
replaced. She was an American original. She was my friend.
Mr. GENE GREEN of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.
Res. 42, recognizing Ann. Richards extraordinary contributions to Texas
and American public life.
Ann Richards and I worked together when I served in Texas State
Senate in 1991 and 1992 before I was elected to the House of
Representatives in 1993. At that time, she was serving as the Governor
of Texas. During our tenure in the state house we worked together to
support stronger environmental laws for our district and Texas.
Governor Richards was a teacher who started out in politics as a
volunteer on the campaigns of Sarah Weddington, Henry B. Gonzalez, and
Ralph Yarborough. She began her own political career in 1976 when she
was elected to serve as a County Commissioner in Travis County.
Six years later in 1982, she was elected Texas State Treasurer and
served two terms. Ann made history by becoming the first woman elected
to statewide office in Texas in fifty years.
In 1990, Ann ran for governor and promised to increase the role of
minorities and women in state government as part of her plan for a
``New Texas.'' When Governor Richards was elected she made it a
priority as governor to appoint more women and minorities to state
boards and commissions and followed through on her promise.
During her tenure, Governor Richards had many accomplishments
including revitalizing the Texas economy, reforming the prison system,
and instituting the state lottery. Once she left public office, Ann
continued to be an inspiration to us all when she bravely battled
osteoporosis and esophageal cancer.
Ann wasn't only the governor of one of the greatest states in
America, but she was one of America's greatest governors in terms of
her personality, sense of humor, and trailblazing accomplishments.
Governor Richards was the First Lady of Texas politics and her
extraordinary accomplishments make her not only a Texas hero, but also
an American hero.
Mr. HINOJOSA. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H. Res. 42 offered by
my colleague and neighbor Congressman Solomon Ortiz. Governor Ann
Richards was a woman of incomparable spirit, wit, intelligence, and
heart. She was a trailblazer who opened the world of public service and
politics to women and minorities in her beloved home state of Texas, as
well as throughout the country.
I remember her most for her commitment to my constituents in South
Texas. In 1993, Governor Richards signed the bill to create South Texas
Community College, now South Texas College.
Without Governor Richards' direct insight and involvement in granting
us a three year waiver in not requiring a taxing district, the creation
of the school simply would not have been possible. Today, the college,
with 17,000 students, is responsible for contributing to our local
economy through workforce and job training programs, has directly
contributed to the drop in the region's unemployment rate, and extends
education opportunities for so many students. She also helped to
streamline the state's government and helped create programs and
opportunities for Texas' economy to flourish at a time when the
country's languished.
It is incumbent upon all of US to continue the legacy started by Ann
Richards decades ago. We need to lend voice to the disadvantaged and
disenfranchised; give americans a leg-up, not a hand-out; and, create
opportunities for all to participate in their government. It is a
legacy she was proud of, and one I will not forget. She will be missed
by so many, and especially by me.
I urge all of my colleagues to support this legislation honoring such
a great lady.
Mr. EDWARDS. Mr. Speaker, Ann Richards was a true Texas treasure. We
shall miss her
[[Page H1919]]
dearly, but her spirit will live on to inspire generations to come. She
made a positive difference for Texas and for our nation. In my book she
represented the very best of political leadership.
In an era when the good ol' boy system denied opportunities to women
and racial minorities, she broke down barriers to ensure that public
service would be open to all. In an era when self-important politicians
too often took themselves too seriously, she used good humor to keep
our feet on the ground, even as we were rolling in laughter.
As Governor of the state she loved, her accomplishments were many,
whether in improving education or health care or job opportunities.
Yet, like the best of political leaders, her greatest legacy will be
having inspired others to be their best, to reach for their dreams, and
to make life better for our neighbors.
I have no doubt that after all of us in this House are gone and
forgotten, the legacy of Ann Richards will be carrying on through the
countless lives of those who were inspired to public service by the
touch of this great American.
On a personal note, it was an honor for me to know Ann Richards,
especially since she graduated from Baylor University and her parents
lived in my hometown of Waco, Texas. It was back in Waco, often outside
the limelight of the press, that I admired Ann Richards' deep love and
respect for average working families. She understood that they are the
backbone of our nation.
Those of us honored to call Ann Richards our friend, and those of us
whose lives were touched by her commitment to equality and public
service know that there will never be anyone quite like her. That is
why we miss her so.
Somehow, I just have to believe that Governor Richards wanted to
witness from a heavenly seat the swearing in of Speaker Pelosi as the
first woman Speaker of the U.S. House. Or, perhaps the Good Lord just
wanted Ann Richards to be by His side when that history was made.
Either way, I have no doubt that heaven is a little funnier place
with Ann Richards there and that our nation is a better place because
of her time here on earth.
To the Richards family, I want to express a heart-felt ``thank you''
for sharing your special loved one with all of us for so many years.
Our memories of her will inspire us to be better, to do more for years
to come.
Mr. RODRIGUEZ. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of H. Res.
42. Anne Richards's devotion to the state of Texas deserves our highest
honor and commendation. Her work to promote the rights of women in
politics, devotion to equality and her never-failing drive to better
the lives of her constituents made her an iconic figure in Texas
politics.
Governor Richards began her political career in the 1970's fighting
for equality. As an advocate for female politicians, she managed Sarah
Weddington's successful bid to become a member of the Texas State House
of Representatives. She then joined State Representative Weddington as
a legislative assistant in 1974, during this time she also participated
in Wilhelmina Delco's campaign to become the first African-American to
represent Austin in the state legislature. Not content to rest there,
she provided training sessions across the state for female candidates
and managers. She would continue this fight for equality for the next
20 years.
In 1982 she was elected to the post of state treasurer becoming the
first woman elected to state-wide office in more than 50 years. She
devoted herself to the modernization of the state treasury and to
earning the greatest possible interest for the state of Texas.
According to one estimate, the treasury earned 1.8 billion dollars
under her leadership, representing a huge improvement over her
predecessor. During her tenure she displayed the incredible wit that
made her such a powerful public speaker and one of the most popular
figures in Texas politics.
After two terms as state treasurer she was elected Governor of the
state of Texas in 1990. What she accomplished in her four years as
Governor was nothing short of amazing. Among the achievements for which
we are honoring her here today, she revitalized the Texan economy,
achieving growth during a period of national economic decline. She
revamped the Texas prison system to improve rehabilitation for inmates
and to better protect the citizens of Texas by establishing a substance
abuse program for inmates, working to expand capacity and reduce prison
overpopulation, and reducing the number of violent offenders released.
The Texas Lottery was also instituted during Governor Richards' time in
office as a means to supplement school financing
Education and school financing were focal points of her Governorship.
She worked tirelessly to make school funding more equitable across
districts and championed ``sitebased management'' programs to
decentralize school administration.
Of her nearly 3,000 government appointments, 46 percent were female,
15 percent were black, 20 percent were Hispanic and 2 percent were
Asian American. I rise today to honor her commitment to diversity, her
battle for equality, and her lifetime of service to the state of Texas
and the United States of America.
Mr. SHAYS. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of our time.
Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I want to thank Mr. Shays for his
accommodation and would urge passage of H. Res. 42.
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 Illinois (Mr. Davis) that the House suspend the rules
and agree to the resolution, H. Res. 42.
The question was taken; and (two-thirds being in the affirmative) the
rules were suspended and the resolution was agreed to.
A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.
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