[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 66 (Tuesday, April 24, 2007)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E849]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[[Page E849]]
 EXPRESSING SORROW OF THE HOUSE AT THE DEATH OF THE HONORABLE JUANITA 
  MILLENDER-McDONALD, MEMBER OF CONGRESS FROM THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                          HON. DORIS O. MATSUI

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                         Monday, April 23, 2007

  Ms. MATSUI. Madam Speaker, it is with a heavy heart that I rise today 
to remember a pioneering woman, a fearless advocate for justice and 
equality, and a remarkable trailblazer who was dedicated to improving 
the lives of others. Congresswoman Juanita Millender-McDonald embodied 
all that members of Congress strive to be: she was a masterful 
navigator of Washington politics; she was a tireless champion for her 
constituents in Southern California; she was a focused and determined 
activist for the less fortunate all over the world. She was also a dear 
friend and valued colleague to those of us in Congress, and to so many 
others who were fortunate enough to know her on both a personal and 
professional level.
  As the first African-American woman ever to wield the gavel of a full 
Congressional committee, Juanita was proof of the milestones that can 
be achieved through dedication, intelligence, and political acumen. Her 
steady rise through the hierarchy of California politics--from a seat 
on the Carson City Council to a position in the California State 
Assembly, and finally to the Halls of Congress--instilled in her an 
unshakeable allegiance to the people who repeatedly elected her.
  Juanita's intense loyalty to her constituents was reflected in their 
own well-placed faith that she would represent them in a principled and 
thoughtful manner. She never let them down; indeed, her record as a 
public figure was characterized by an attention to the needs of her 
constituents, by a single-minded focus on achieving equality, and by 
adherence to the principle that democratic government; should help 
those most in need.
  Everything Juanita did was colored by her passionate quest for 
equality. She used this intensity to her advantage, emerging as an 
effective and authoritative advocate for women's rights at home and 
abroad. Never afraid to tackle controversial issues or to use her 
position as a bullhorn for reform, Juanita's energy and enthusiasm for 
advancing the cause of women's rights propelled her into a leadership 
role from her earliest days in Washington.
  Innovative ideas on this score seemed to emanate from Juanita. She 
convened a first-of-its-kind meeting between women members of Congress 
and female Supreme Court justices to discuss women's issues. She 
carried the Families First Agenda to more than thirty states for the 
first time. She served as the first Democratic Chair of the 
Congressional Caucus for Women's Issues. Through it all, Juanita was 
masterful at marshaling well-known and influential individuals to her 
cause without ever losing sight of her goal, which was to help create a 
society committed to justice, fairness, and equality.
  It is fitting that Juanita was such an outspoken and effective 
advocate for women's rights, for perhaps her greatest strength lay in 
her identity as a woman. She demonstrated for all of us--men and women 
alike--that being a member of Congress, a mother, and a grandmother at 
the same time was not merely a challenge. For Juanita, it was a 
blessing to be embraced and cherished. As a grandmother myself, I 
looked to her as a role model for how to integrate the unique 
challenges of having a family with the equally exciting 
responsibilities that come from serving in Congress. Two of the most 
rewarding pleasures in life are raising a family and working for the 
public, and Juanita's life is solid proof that a dedicated and 
forthright individual can accomplish both with poise, grace, and 
dignity.
  I extend my deepest condolences to Congresswoman Millender-McDonald's 
family. While this week my fellow Members and I lost a trusted 
colleague, confidant, and friend, their loss resonates more deeply than 
we can know. Nonetheless, I know that I speak for all of the Congress 
when I say that Juanita Millender-McDonald was someone we admired on a 
personal and professional level, someone whose absence will leave a 
void within us, and someone whose legacy of principled and determined 
leadership will not be forgotten.

                          ____________________