[Congressional Record Volume 155, Number 42 (Tuesday, March 10, 2009)]
[House]
[Pages H3115-H3116]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




  RONALD H. BROWN UNITED STATES MISSION TO THE UNITED NATIONS BUILDING

  Ms. EDWARDS of Maryland. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and 
pass the bill (H.R. 837) to designate the Federal building located at 
799 United Nations Plaza in New York, New York, as the ``Ronald H. 
Brown United States Mission to the United Nations Building''.
  The Clerk read the title of the bill.
  The text of the bill is as follows:

                                H.R. 837

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

     SECTION 1. DESIGNATION.

       The Federal building located at 799 United Nations Plaza in 
     New York, New York, shall be known and designated as the 
     ``Ronald H. Brown United States Mission to the United Nations 
     Building''.

     SEC. 2. REFERENCES.

       Any reference in a law, map, regulation, document, paper, 
     or other record of the United States to the Federal building 
     referred to in section 1 shall be deemed to be a reference to 
     the ``Ronald H. Brown United States Mission to the United 
     Nations Building''.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentlewoman from 
Maryland (Ms. Edwards) and the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Mario Diaz-
Balart) will each control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentlewoman from Maryland.


                             General Leave

  Ms. EDWARDS of Maryland. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that 
all Members may have 5 legislative days within which to revise and 
extend their remarks and to include extraneous material on H.R. 837.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentlewoman from Maryland?
  There was no objection.
  Ms. EDWARDS of Maryland. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I 
may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 837, a bill to designate the 
U.S. Mission to the United Nations Building located at 799 United 
Nations Plaza, New York City, New York, as the Ronald H. Brown United 
States Mission to the United Nations Building.
  We all acknowledge Ron Brown as an extraordinary man. He wore many 
hats--lawyer, pragmatic bridge builder, statesman, mentor and trusted 
and true friend. As we are all aware, he was the first African American 
Secretary of Commerce. In that position he became a powerful and 
influential voice for promoting American products and trade abroad.
  He left the National Urban League in 1979 to work for Senator Edward 
M. Kennedy, who sought the Democratic Party's Presidential nomination. 
In 1981, Brown began a career as a lawyer and lobbyist. In 1988, he was 
elected chairman of the Democratic National Committee. From 1989 to 
1992, he served as chairman and used his skills as a negotiator and 
pragmatic bridge builder to help reunite the Democratic Party after its 
defeat in the 1988 Presidential election.
  In 1993, President William J. Clinton appointed Ron Brown as 
Secretary of Commerce. During his tenure, Secretary Brown effectively 
utilized and expanded the role of the U.S. Department of Commerce. 
Secretary Brown

[[Page H3116]]

was known for his amiable political style and his deft skill in 
negotiations. As secretary, he used these qualities effectively to 
promote U.S. trade, expand foreign markets for American businesses and 
spur domestic job growth and economic development.
  Secretary Brown's life was tragically ended in April 1996 when he was 
killed in a plane crash while in service to his country. It is fitting 
and proper we honor his civic contributions by this designation, and I 
urge passage of H.R. 837.
  I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. MARIO DIAZ-BALART of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such 
time as I may consume.
  As you just heard from the gentlewoman from Maryland, this bill names 
the Federal building located in the United Nations Plaza in New York as 
the Ronald H. Brown United States Mission to the United Nations 
Building.
  This bill has already passed the House once before and, as you have 
heard the explanation, here it is in front of us.
  Mr. OBERSTAR. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of H.R. 837, a 
bill to designate the United States Mission to the United Nations 
Building located at 799 First Avenue, New York, New York, as the 
``Ronald H. Brown United States Mission to the United Nations 
Building''.
  Enactment of this legislation is long overdue. I commend the 
gentleman from New York (Mr. Rangel) for his steadfastness in 
supporting this bill. Congressman Rangel introduced similar bills in 
the 108th, 109th, and 110th Congresses.
  Last Congress, the House passed H.R. 735, to designate the United 
States Mission to the United Nations in honor of Ron Brown. 
Unfortunately, the Senate was unable to act on the bill. I am pleased 
that today we will again pass this bill and pay a fitting tribute to 
the life and achievements of this extraordinary American.
  Ron Brown was a man who served his country in many capacities: 
lawyer, pragmatic bridge builder, statesman, mentor, and trusted 
friend.
  He may be best known for his service as the first African-American 
Secretary of Commerce. In that position, he became a powerful and 
influential voice for promoting American products and trade abroad. He 
championed expanding markets for U.S. goods and services, in order to 
increase job opportunities and foster job creation here at home.
  He also served President Clinton on the National Economic Council, 
the Domestic Policy Council, the Task Force on National Health Care 
Reform, the Trade Promotion Coordinating Committee, and the U.S.-Russia 
Business Development Committee.
  Secretary Brown served on the Board of Trustees for Middlebury 
College and received his law degree from St. John's University in New 
York City. Prior to entering public service, he worked as a welfare 
caseworker in New York City.
  In addition to his many talents and strengths, Secretary Brown was a 
passionate civil rights activist with a distinguished record of service 
to his community. His commitment to this nation and its citizens 
provides a model for us all.
  Secretary Brown's life tragically ended in April 1996, when he was 
killed in a plane crash in Croatia while on an official Department of 
Commerce trade mission.
  The Department of State requested that Secretary Brown personally 
undertake the trade mission to highlight and find opportunities for 
U.S. businesses to boost economic reconstruction of the war torn region 
of former Yugoslavia.
  Congress has previously designated four Federal buildings that serve 
as Department of State facilities. In 2000, Congress designated the 
Department of State headquarters as the ``Harry S Truman Federal 
Building'' (P.L. 106-218). In 2004, Congress designated the Foreign 
Service Institute as the ``George P. Schultz National Foreign Affairs 
Training Center'' (P.L. 108-136). In 2005, Congress designated the 
United States Embassy Annex in Rome, Italy, as the ``Mel Sembler 
Building'' (P.L. 108-447) and designated the Federal building in 
Kingston, Jamaica, as the ``Colin L. Powell Residential Plaza'' (P.L. 
109-89).
  Secretary Brown died in service to his country. It is fitting and 
proper to honor this Federal building as the ``Ronald H. Brown United 
States Mission to the United Nations Building''.
  I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting H.R. 837.
  Mr. MARIO DIAZ-BALART of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the 
remaining part of my time.
  Ms. EDWARDS of Maryland. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my 
time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentlewoman from Maryland (Ms. Edwards) that the House suspend the 
rules and pass the bill, H.R. 837.
  The question was taken; and (two-thirds being in the affirmative) the 
rules were suspended and the bill was passed.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

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