[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 66 (Tuesday, April 24, 2007)]
[Senate]
[Page S4908]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




         IN MEMORY OF REPRESENTATIVE JUANITA MILLENDER-McDONALD

  Mrs. BOXER. Mr. President, today I honor the memory of Representative 
Juanita Millender-McDonald, a kind-hearted woman whose remarkable life 
touched so many of us.
  Juanita was a loving mother, and a dedicated public servant who 
approached her work with an upbeat attitude and can-do spirit that was 
an inspiration to us all.
  Her passing is a tragic loss for California, the 37th Congressional 
District she so ably represented, and the many Members of Congress with 
whom she has worked over the years.
  Juanita's career broke through so many barriers for women and African 
Americans. Her rise as the first African American woman to chair a 
Congressional Committee was only the latest of many firsts in her 
career.
  In her seven terms of service in the House of Representatives, she 
fought valiantly for the rights of women, for the security of our 
Nation, and for the protection of human rights across our Nation and 
the world.
  Juanita's efforts to reach across the aisle made her one the most 
effective Members of Congress, but it was her bold initiatives that 
embodied the courage with which she followed her convictions.
  In her first year in Congress, Juanita immediately demanded the 
attention of the nation when she brought then- CIA director John 
Deutsch to Watts to address a newspaper report that the CIA was using 
profits from domestic crack-cocaine sales to fund CIA-backed Contras in 
Nicaragua.
  Juanita's commitment to the health of our communities has been 
profound, and her efforts addressed the needs not only of her 
constituents, but to the victims of disease around the world.
  She led the charge to enact the Mother-to-Child HIV-AIDS Transmission 
Act that has become the foundation of President Bush's $15 billion 
African AIDS initiative. For nearly a decade, Juanita coordinated the 
annual AIDS Walk in her district to help continue to inform the 
community and raise awareness of this deadly disease.
  During her tenure as the Ranking Member of the Committee on House 
Administration, Juanita fought to ensure that every ballot that is cast 
is counted, and that all of the citizens of our country would know 
their voting rights.
  Juanita has been inspiring young women since the beginning of her 
career as an educator in California, when she served the Los Angeles 
Unified School District as a career counselor and edited Images, a 
state textbook which encouraged young women to pursue non-traditional 
careers.
  As the Democratic Chair of the Congressional Caucus for Women's 
Issues, she sought to address the plight of women globally, brought 
together the women of Congress with the first female Supreme Court 
Justices to discuss issues important to women across the Nation, and 
sought recognition for the women in uniform who have served our country 
in times of war with the first annual Memorial Day Tribute to Women in 
the Military at the Arlington National Cemetery's Women's Memorial.
  On so many issues, I have been fortunate enough to consider Juanita a 
valuable ally and friend, but I will especially miss her work as a 
leading voice on the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee. 
As the Representative of a district with two of the busiest ports in 
the United States, Juanita was a passionate supporter of the effort to 
ensure that the movement of goods is safe, secure and efficient.
  Through these past years, Juanita and I worked together to keep the 
C-17 production line from being mothballed by President Bush and 
furloughing hundreds of employees.
  I know that Juanita's presence will be sorely missed by communities 
which she served so tirelessly. Today I send my sincere condolences to 
her husband James, her five children, her staff, and all those who knew 
and loved her. Together we will continue her important work.

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