[Congressional Record Volume 156, Number 56 (Tuesday, April 20, 2010)]
[Senate]
[Pages S2478-S2479]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




   SENATE RESOLUTION 492--HONORING THE LIFE AND ACHIEVEMENTS OF DR. 
                           DOROTHY I. HEIGHT

  Mr. CARDIN (for himself, Mr. Hatch, Mr. Schumer, Mr. Voinovich, Mr. 
Specter, Mr. Burris, Mrs. Gillibrand, Mr. Warner, Mr. Casey, Mr. Levin, 
Mr. Webb, Mr. Feingold, and Ms. Landrieu) submitted the following 
resolution; which was considered and agreed to:

                              S. Res. 492

       Whereas Dr. Dorothy I. Height was born in Richmond, 
     Virginia, on March 24, 1912;
       Whereas Dorothy Height died on April 20, 2010, at the age 
     of 98, in Washington, D.C., and was survived by her sister 
     Anthanette Height Aldridge;
       Whereas Dorothy Height was valedictorian of her high school 
     and won a national oratorical contest;
       Whereas Dorothy Height attended New York University and 
     graduated in 3 years, receiving a master's degree in 
     educational psychology;
       Whereas Dorothy Height began her career as a caseworker for 
     the Department of Social Services of New York City;

[[Page S2479]]

       Whereas Dorothy Height joined the Harlem Young Women's 
     Christian Association (referred to in this preamble as the 
     ``YWCA'') and remained a full time employee until 1975;
       Whereas Dorothy Height organized and became the director of 
     the YWCA Center for Racial Justice in 1965;
       Whereas, in 1957, Dorothy Height became the fourth 
     president of the National Council of Negro Women, a the 
     social services organization with more than 4,000,000 members 
     nationwide, that is comprised of a number of civic, church, 
     educational, labor, community, and professional groups, and 
     served as president for 40 years;
       Whereas Dorothy Height became arguably the most influential 
     woman of the civil rights movement;
       Whereas Dorothy Height spent her life fighting for racial 
     justice and gender equality;
       Whereas Dorothy Height was known for her insistent voice 
     that commanded attention on civil rights issues;
       Whereas Dorothy Height liked to say, ``If the times aren't 
     ripe, you have to ripen the times.'';
       Whereas Dorothy Height was honored in 1994 with the 
     Presidential Medal of Freedom, the highest civilian honor in 
     the United States, by President William Jefferson Clinton;
       Whereas Dorothy Height received numerous awards, including 
     honorary doctorates from more than 20 universities and 
     colleges;
       Whereas Dorothy Height was honored in March 2004 with the 
     Congressional Gold Medal, the highest decoration Congress can 
     bestow; and
       Whereas the passing of Dorothy Height is a great loss to 
     the Nation: Now, therefore be it
       Resolved, That the Senate--
       (1) recognizes the outstanding contributions of Dr. Dorothy 
     I. Height to the civil rights and women's rights movement;
       (2) pays tribute to Dr. Dorothy I. Height, and her passion, 
     dedication to service, and unwavering commitment to equality; 
     and
       (3) requests the Secretary of the Senate to transmit an 
     enrolled copy of this resolution to the Washington, D.C. 
     headquarters of the National Council of Negro Women, Inc.

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