[Congressional Record Volume 155, Number 135 (Wednesday, September 23, 2009)]
[House]
[Pages H9831-H9833]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




              RECOGNIZING HOWARD UNIVERSITY SCHOOL OF LAW

  Ms. HIRONO. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the 
resolution (H. Res. 684) recognizing and honoring Howard University 
School of Law's 140-year legacy of social justice and its continued 
commitment to the training of capable and compassionate legal 
practitioners and scholars, as amended.
  The Clerk read the title of the resolution.
  The text of the resolution is as follows:

                              H. Res. 684

       Whereas in 1867, shortly after the end of the Civil War, 
     with funds provided by the Freedman's Bureau, Howard Normal 
     and Theological Institute was established;
       Whereas the following year, the Board of Trustees voted to 
     expand the institute's curriculum and change the name to 
     Howard University;
       Whereas in 1869, Howard University School of Law, which 
     shares Howard University's founding principles: Veritas et 
     Utilitas (Truth and Service), was opened in an effort to 
     address the great need to train lawyers who would have a 
     strong commitment to helping African-Americans secure and 
     protect their newly established rights granted by the 13th 
     and 14th amendments to the Constitution;
       Whereas Howard Law School is the first law school dedicated 
     to the education of African-Americans;
       Whereas Howard Law School's original faculty members were 
     former Dean of the Law School, John Mercer Langston, and the 
     Honorable Albert Gallatin Riddle;
       Whereas John Mercer Langston, the namesake of Langston 
     University, was the first African-American Member of the 
     House of Representatives from the State of Virginia, 
     representing Virginia's 4th district, and former President of 
     Virginia Normal and Collegiate Institute (presently known as 
     Virginia State University);
       Whereas the Honorable Albert Gallatin Riddle, former Member 
     of the 37th Congress, was an abolitionist and novelist;
       Whereas Charlotte E. Ray (class of 1872) was not only the 
     first African-American female graduate of Howard Law School, 
     but was also the first African-American female to practice 
     law in the District of Columbia;
       Whereas James C. Napier (class of 1872), who was invited to 
     attend Howard Law School by Dean John Mercer Langston, served 
     as President William H. Taft's Registrar of the Treasury, and 
     is 1 of 5 African-Americans whose signature has appeared on 
     currency of the United States;
       Whereas Robert H. Terrell (class of 1889) was the first 
     African-American municipal judge for the District of 
     Columbia;
       Whereas former Dean of Howard Law School, William Henry 
     Hastie, became the first African-American Governor of the 
     United States Virgin Islands, the first African-American 
     Federal magistrate judge, and the first African-American to 
     be appointed as a Federal circuit court judge;
       Whereas former Vice Dean, Charles Hamilton Houston, widely 
     known as, ``the man who killed Jim Crow'', was known to 
     remark to his students that, ``a lawyer is either a social 
     engineer or a parasite on society . . .'';
       Whereas Howard Law School served as the training ground and 
     planning site for the lawyers who, through Brown v. Board of 
     Education of Topeka, Kansas, rejected the notion that 
     separate education equates to equal education;
       Whereas civil rights attorneys Oliver Hill (class of 1933) 
     and co-counsel, Spottswood Robinson III (class of 1939), were 
     attorneys for the plaintiffs in Davis v. County School Board 
     of Prince Edward County, which was 1 of 5 cases consolidated 
     with Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka, Kansas;
       Whereas Thurgood Marshall (class of 1933) was the lead 
     litigator to argue Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka, 
     Kansas, before the Supreme Court, and was later named 
     Associate Justice on the Supreme Court;
       Whereas Damon Keith (class of 1949) is currently a senior 
     judge for the United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth 
     Circuit;
       Whereas Harris Wofford (class of 1954) is a former Senator 
     from Pennsylvania and was a civil rights advisor to President 
     John F. Kennedy;
       Whereas former Mayor of Richmond, Virginia, L. Douglas 
     Wilder (class of 1959), was the first African-American 
     elected as Governor in the United States;
       Whereas Vernon Jordan (class of 1960), former advisor to 
     President Bill Clinton, noted that at Howard Law School, he 
     found, ``a wife, a career, and a reaffirmation of [his] faith 
     in the mission of black people'', and that his time at 
     Howard, ``saved [his] soul'';
       Whereas Roland Burris (class of 1963) is a Member of the 
     United States Senate;
       Whereas Gabrielle McDonald (class of 1966), Howard 
     University Trustee Emerita, serves as an Arbitrator on the 
     Iran-United States Claims Tribunal, is a former president and 
     judge of the International Criminal Tribunal for the former 
     Yugoslavia, formerly served as a judge for the United States 
     District Court for the Southern District of Texas and was 
     elected to the ``Texas Woman's Hall of Fame'';
       Whereas former Dean and professor at Howard Law School, J. 
     Clay Smith (class of 1967), who was appointed by President 
     Jimmy Carter in 1978 and President Ronald Reagan in 1981 to 
     serve on the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, in the 
     capacities of Commissioner and Acting Chairman, is the author 
     of ``Emancipation: The Making of the Black Lawyer 1844-1944'' 
     and ``Rebels in Law: Voices in History of Black Women 
     Lawyers'', and the editor of ``Supreme Justice: Speeches and 
     Writings'', written by Thurgood Marshall;
       Whereas Wiley Daniel (class of 1971) was the first African-
     American appointed as a judge for the United States District 
     Court for the District of Colorado;
       Whereas Isaiah Leggett (class of 1974) is the County 
     Executive for Montgomery County, Maryland;
       Whereas Jack Johnson (class of 1975) is the County 
     Executive for Prince George's County, Maryland;
       Whereas the recent addition of Vicky Miles-LeGrange (class 
     of 1977) as Chief Judge of the United States District Court 
     for the Western District of Oklahoma evidences the ongoing 
     commitment of the faculty and staff of Howard Law School to 
     equip alumni with the necessary tools to succeed at every 
     level;
       Whereas Gregory Meeks (class of 1978) is a Member of the 
     United States House of Representatives;
       Whereas former District of Columbia Mayors, Walter 
     Washington (class of 1948) and Sharon Pratt Kelly (class of 
     1968), and current Mayor, Adrian Fenty (class of 1996), are 
     alumni of Howard Law School;
       Whereas Howard Law School is one of a select group of law 
     schools that can boast having as alumni a Supreme Court 
     Justice, numerous Federal and State judges, Members of both 
     the House of Representatives and the Senate, a Governor, and 
     several Mayors;
       Whereas the Princeton Review ranks Howard Law School's 
     faculty as the most diverse law school faculty in the Nation;
       Whereas Spencer Boyer, a Professor at Howard Law School, 
     has 38 years of service, which makes him one of the most 
     senior African-American law professors in the United States;
       Whereas the competitive efforts of the Huver I. Brown Trial 
     Advocacy Moot Court Team, the Charles Hamilton Houston 
     National Moot Court Team, and the Goler Teal Butcher 
     International Moot Court Team are evidence of Howard Law 
     School's dedication to the vigorous training of zealous 
     advocates;
       Whereas Howard Law School's curriculum, which includes a 
     study abroad program in Cape Town, South Africa, the Civil 
     Rights Clinic, the Fair Housing Clinic, the World Food Law 
     Institute, and the Institute of Intellectual Property and 
     Social Justice, demonstrates an aggressive commitment to 
     provide relevant hands-on instruction in an ever-evolving 
     legal environment;
       Whereas for 10 years, through the Marshall-Brennan 
     Constitutional Literacy Project, law students in the Howard 
     University School of Law student-fellows program teach 
     constitutional law in public high schools in the District of 
     Columbia;
       Whereas Howard Law School's comparatively low tuition and 
     aggressive career services staff helped the school achieve a 
     ranking of third on the Vault.com's list of the most 
     underrated law schools in the Nation;
       Whereas Howard Law School has contributed robustly to 
     society through the education of attorneys who have gone on 
     to serve the world in countless public and private 
     capacities; and
       Whereas there is no greater illustration of Howard Law 
     School's motto, ``Leadership for America and the Global 
     Community'', than the faculty, staff, students, and alumni of 
     Howard University School of Law: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
       (1) recognizes Howard University School of Law's profound 
     achievements and unwavering commitment to social justice for 
     all people;
       (2) encourages the continued dedication to the first-rate 
     training of social engineers; and
       (3) congratulates Howard University President, Sidney A. 
     Ribeau, Ph.D., Howard University School of Law Dean, Kurt L. 
     Schmoke, J.D., and the faculty, staff, students, and alumni 
     of Howard Law School on the momentous occasion of its 140th 
     anniversary.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentlewoman from 
Hawaii (Ms. Hirono) and the gentleman

[[Page H9832]]

from Pennsylvania (Mr. Thompson) each will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentlewoman from Hawaii.


                             General Leave

  Ms. HIRONO. Mr. Speaker, I request 5 legislative days during which 
Members may revise and extend and insert extraneous material on H. Res. 
684 into the Record.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentlewoman from Hawaii?
  There was no objection.
  Ms. HIRONO. I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize and honor Howard University 
School of Law on the event of their 140th anniversary. The students and 
many exemplary alumni of Howard University School of Law truly embody 
their motto, ``Leadership for America and the Global Community.''
  The Howard University School of Law's deep commitment to social 
justice and compassion began with its founding in 1869. The school was 
established in an effort to help African Americans secure and protect 
their newly established rights. Throughout this Nation's history, 
Howard alumni have challenged racism, worked to attain equal rights and 
access to education, and broken down barriers, rising to prominent 
positions in the field of law and justice. It was Howard University 
School of Law which served as the training ground and planning site of 
the thinkers who boldly defeated the notion that separate education can 
ever be equal through the landmark case Brown v. Board of Education of 
Topeka, Kansas.
  Of the many notable African American legal scholars, Supreme Court 
Justice Thurgood Marshall, arguably one of the most influential African 
Americans in American history, was educated at Howard law school. 
Vernon Jordan, former National Urban League President and domestic 
policy adviser for President Clinton, was educated at Howard law 
school. Charles Hamilton Houston, who earned the title ``The Man Who 
Killed Jim Crow'' because of his successful civil rights litigation, 
served as vice dean at Howard.
  There are few schools that can boast having a Supreme Court Justice, 
numerous Federal judges, Members of both the United States House and 
the Senate, a Governor and several mayors amongst its alumni. It is a 
proud history of those great minds, as well as the countless others 
that have come before, that pave the way for the next generation of 
legal scholars. Howard University School of Law graduates scholars with 
a lifelong commitment to change the world for the better.
  Howard has been recognized for its diverse faculty, its relatively 
low cost, opportunity for hands-on experience through a study abroad 
program of South Africa, and many other professional development 
opportunities, as well as their volunteer work here in D.C., teaching 
constitutional law in public schools.
  The dedication to the tenets of truth and service that inspired the 
founding of Howard University and the School of Law still exist today 
as this institution continues to work towards social justice and 
leadership. The Howard University School of Law remains an important 
institution continuing to serve as a beacon of justice and learning.
  Mr. Speaker, I want to honor and congratulate the current Howard 
University president, Dr. Sidney Ribeau, and the Howard University of 
School of Law dean, Kurt Schmoke, as well as the faculty, staff, 
students and alumni of the Howard University School of Law on this 
momentous occasion of its 140th anniversary. I urge my colleagues to 
support this measure.
  I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. THOMPSON of Pennsylvania. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself as much 
time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of House Resolution 684, a resolution 
recognizing and honoring Howard University School of Law's 140th 
anniversary of legacy and social justice and its continued commitment 
to the training of capable and compassionate legal practitioners and 
scholars.
  Howard University was chartered by Congress as a private university 
in Washington, D.C., in 1867. The law school at Howard opened its doors 
to its first six students in 1869. By the end of the first year, the 
law school had enrolled a total of 22 students. The first students 
graduated from Howard University School of Law on February 3, 1871. The 
American Bar Association accredited the school in 1931. Today, Howard 
University School of Law graduates approximately 185 students with 
either a juris doctorate or a master of law degree. Students attending 
Howard come from all over the United States and the globe.
  Howard University School of Law has had a history of promoting social 
and civil change. In fact, it has an impressive lineup of alumni that 
were key figures in American history, including former Representative 
John Mercer Langston, the first African American Member of the House of 
Representatives; Charlotte E. Ray, the first African American woman to 
practice law in the District of Columbia; and Thurgood Marshall, a 
former Justice of the United States Supreme Court and lead litigator in 
the landmark case Brown v. Board of Education.
  I congratulate Howard School of Law on 140 years of academic success 
and wish them luck as they continue to inspire the country's next 
generation.
  I urge my colleagues to support this resolution.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Ms. HIRONO. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to recognize, for 4 minutes, 
the gentlewoman from Michigan (Ms. Kilpatrick), the sponsor of this 
resolution.
  Ms. KILPATRICK of Michigan. I thank the gentlewoman from Hawaii for 
her leadership in coming to this House and taking us by storm. To our 
ranking member who is managing the bill today, thank you for your 
support.
  As has been mentioned, 140 years ago, Howard University established 
its law school. Since that time, hundreds of young men and women have 
graduated from this prestigious law school. Today, under the direction 
of our president, Sidney Ribeau, it is also carrying on the legacy that 
was started in 1869.
  Thurgood Marshall, Supreme Court Justice, known for his tenacity, his 
intelligence, his forthrightness, and at Howard University in 1869 and 
beyond, they talked about social engineers they were putting out, men 
and women who could elaborate and repeat the Constitution and represent 
young people, old people, and people all over this country. They 
continue in that tradition today:
  Thurgood Marshall, 1954, the Board of Education, equal schools under 
the law;
  Kurt Schmoke, former mayor of Baltimore, Maryland;
  Our sitting Senator right now, Senator Burris from Chicago, Illinois, 
is a graduate of Howard law school;
  Our own colleague, Gregory Meeks of New York, is a graduate of Howard 
law school.
  The school today probably is just as important as it was, not 
probably, is just as important today as it was 140 years ago. I am 
honored that the House would take up the legislation today that we 
would pass it on suspension. In a couple of weeks, they are having a 
ceremony on campus at Howard University, and I invite all the alumni of 
Howard University to come back, come back on campus and let's 
celebrate.
  Today we live in a world where equal protection under the law is a 
must. We must make sure that every citizen in America has access to 
quality representation, access to a fair process, and that lawyers from 
all over this country and abroad who represent those clients will give 
to the very best of their ability. Howard University law school is 140 
years old. We thank those who began the school 140 years ago.
  We pray that as the tradition of the law school continues to excel 
around the world, that we will continue to lift up the United States of 
America, that we will protect our judicial system, and that the lawyers 
who graduate from all the law schools across this country, including 
Howard University's law school, represent to the very best of their 
ability so that American citizens will know that the third branch of 
government is alive and well because in 1869 Howard University was 
established.

                              {time}  1215

  Mr. THOMPSON of Pennsylvania. Mr. Speaker, I don't believe I have any 
additional speakers on this bill, so I yield back the balance of my 
time.

[[Page H9833]]

  Ms. HIRONO. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from Pennsylvania for 
his remarks in support of this measure and also Ms. Kilpatrick for 
bringing this measure forward. I, again, commend Howard University law 
school for its continuing commitment to equality, justice and 
opportunity for all, and urge all of my colleagues to vote for this 
measure.
  I yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentlewoman from Hawaii (Ms. Hirono) that the House suspend the rules 
and agree to the resolution, H. Res. 684, as amended.
  The question was taken; and (two-thirds being in the affirmative) the 
rules were suspended and the resolution, as amended, was agreed to.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

                          ____________________