[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 67 (Wednesday, April 25, 2007)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E856]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 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. CHARLES B. RANGEL

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                         Monday, April 23, 2007

  Mr. RANGEL. Madam Speaker, I rise to enter into the Congressional 
Record remarks on the life and work of the Honorable Congresswoman 
Juanita Millender-McDonald. Congresswoman Millender-McDonald served 
seven terms for the 37th Congressional District as a Democrat in the 
U.S. House of Representatives. She died of cancer on April 22, 2007 at 
age 68.
  Mrs. Millender-McDonald was born in Birmingham, Alabama on September 
7, 1938. She always placed education and women's rights in the 
forefront of her issues and values; after graduating from the 
University of Redlands with an undergraduate degree, she became a 
teacher for the Los Angeles Unified School District. When she attained 
her Master's Degree from California State University at Los Angeles, 
she gave up her job as a teacher to be an editor and writer for the 
school district. Her lifelong fight for women's rights emerged when she 
became the manuscript editor for Images, a textbook designed to enhance 
the self-esteem of young women.
  Before running for local office, she was named the Director of Gender 
Equity Programs for the Los Angeles school district. In 1990, she was 
elected the first African American woman to the Carson City Council, 
and in 1992 the first woman to represent the 55th Assembly District in 
the California State Legislature in 1992. In both roles she attacked 
the congestion and transportation problems of California 
infrastructure. As an assemblywoman, she helped push the Alameda 
Corridor, a $1.8 billion public works project to lay new tracks and 
build trenches and bridges. Her concern with transportation continued 
in her national office.
  As a member of the House, she was appointed to the Committee on 
Transportation and Infrastructure and its Subcommittees on Aviation and 
Surface Transportation. She also served on the Committee on Small 
Business and as one of the ranking members on the Subcommittee on Tax, 
Finance, and Exports. After two years in the House, she was named the 
Region One Democratic Whip, and was honored with the Watts Walk of Fame 
for her work on behalf of the 37th District. In 2006, the Congresswoman 
became the first African American chair of the House Administration 
Committee.
  For her entire life, Congresswoman Juanita Millender-McDonald has 
fought for social justice. She was a leader in election reform, women's 
rights, and transportation solutions; she was a credit to her district 
and to all the people she served as a Representative of the United 
States. Her husband, five adult children and five grandchildren survive 
her. I commend her and her life's work, and ask my colleagues to 
recognize her memory.




                          ____________________