[Congressional Record Volume 156, Number 57 (Wednesday, April 21, 2010)]
[House]
[Pages H2740-H2749]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




            CELEBRATING THE LIFE OF DR. DOROTHY IRENE HEIGHT

  Mr. CONYERS. Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to 
the resolution (H. Res. 1281) celebrating the life and achievements of 
Dr. Dorothy Irene Height and recognizing her lifelong dedication and 
leadership in the struggle for human rights and equality for all people 
until her death at age 98 on April 20, 2010.
  The Clerk read the title of the resolution.
  The text of the resolution is as follows:

                              H. Res. 1281

       Whereas Dr. Dorothy Irene Height was a humanitarian whose 
     life exemplified her passionate commitment to a just society 
     and civil rights for all people;
       Whereas Dr. Height was the godmother of the civil rights 
     movement and tireless advocate of equality for women and 
     women's rights in the United States;
       Whereas Dr. Height led many national organizations, 
     including 33 years of service on the staff of the National 
     Board of the Young Women's Christian Association (YWCA), 
     director of the National YWCA School for Professional 
     Workers, and became the first director of the Center for 
     Racial Justice, served as president of the National Council 
     of Negro Women (NCNW) for 4 decades, as president of Delta 
     Sigma Theta Sorority, Incorporated during two consecutive 
     terms, and continued to provide guidance as chair and 
     president emerita of NCNW until her death;
       Whereas Dr. Height was the recipient of countless awards 
     and honors, including the Presidential Citizens Medal in 1989 
     by President Ronald Reagan, the Presidential Medal of Honor 
     in 1994 by President William Clinton, and the Congressional 
     Medal of Honor by President George W. Bush on behalf of the 
     United States Congress in 2004; and
       Whereas Dr. Height was a tenacious and zealous civil rights 
     activist, social worker, advocate, educator, and organizer in 
     the quest for equality: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
       (1) celebrates the life of Dr. Dorothy Irene Height; and

[[Page H2741]]

       (2) expresses recognition for her life-long dedication and 
     leadership in the struggle for civil rights for all people.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from 
Michigan (Mr. Conyers) and the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Poe) each will 
control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Michigan.


                             General Leave

  Mr. CONYERS. I ask unanimous consent that all Members have 5 
legislative days to revise their remarks and include extraneous 
material.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from Michigan?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. CONYERS. I yield myself as much time as I may consume.
  This is a day we come to remember and honor the life and legacies of 
one of America's most celebrated civil rights leaders, the late Dr. 
Dorothy Height, who passed just yesterday and was one that brings back 
many memories for many of the Members of the House. Her connections 
with Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., and Rosa Parks and all of the 
organizations that she was connected with are already a part of 
legendary record.
  I was with her in 1963 when Dr. King led this March on Washington, 
and I remembered seeing her. I didn't know her at that time, but I sure 
got to know her a couple of years later.
  I reserve the balance of my time.
  Madam Speaker, this resolution honors the life and achievements of 
one of the most celebrated and cherished women in the Civil Rights 
movement, the late Dr. Dorothy Height.
  With Dr. Height's passing yesterday, heaven gained one of its most 
beloved treasures, while this nation lost a true soldier in the fight 
for equality for all men and women.
  I recall the first time I met Dr. Height. Her confidence in our 
nation's potential, and her passion for seeing every person obtain 
equality, made her a force to be reckoned with.
  A few years ago, I was humbled when Dr. Height honored me for 
continuing to pursue the dream of the late Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
  Today, I stand proud to have been her friend and to have the 
privilege to celebrate her life before this Congress.
  Today, I would like to touch on three significant points about Dr. 
Height.
  First, Dr. Dorothy Height was a centerpiece on the many stages of the 
Civil Rights movement.
  In 1960, Dr. Height was the only woman team member in the United 
Civil Rights Leadership. She worked beside Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., 
A. Philip Randolph, John Lewis, James Farmer, and many other celebrated 
civil rights leaders.
  Although Dr. Height was not among the speakers who addressed the 
crowd gathered at the Lincoln Memorial at the March on Washington in 
1963, she was the only woman to stand on the stage that day as Dr. King 
delivered his historic ``I Have A Dream'' speech.
  And 45 years later, she watched that dream of equality move even 
closer to becoming true, as she attended the inauguration of our 
nation's first black President.
  This historic moment was built on the hard work and perseverance of 
Dr. Height, whose tenacity led her to be known as the ``godmother of 
the Civil Rights movement.''
  Second, Dr. Height's commitment to equal treatment for every American 
has influenced American Presidents for over 70 years.
  From President Franklin Delano Roosevelt to President Barack Obama, 
Dr. Height's influence and advocacy helped shape the Civil Rights 
issues that confronted each generation.
  When Dr. Height was a young woman, she was one of 10 American youth 
invited by First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt to spend a weekend at her Hyde 
Park New York home, to plan a World Youth Conference in 1938.
  Through this relationship, Dr. Height encouraged President Roosevelt 
to take action to desegregate America's public schools.
  Later, in the 1960's, she went on to encourage the Johnson 
Administration to make unprecedented appointments of African American 
women to positions in government.
  Dr. Height gained significant influence throughout her lifetime. She 
transformed her leadership into a movement of empowerment for those who 
were living under unfulfilled promises of their country.
  She once said ``greatness is not measured by what a man or woman 
accomplished, but by the opposition he or she has overcome to reach his 
goals.''
  Finally, Dr. Height's personal experience with segregation motivated 
her to become an excellent and educated leader who selflessly sought to 
ensure that others have similar opportunities.
  Dr. Height dedicated herself to achieving a good education. At a very 
young age, Dr. Height was distinct amongst her peers, and provided 
great leadership to the Christian Youth Movement of North America, 
where she worked to prevent lynching, desegregate the armed forces, and 
reform the criminal justice system. She was also an advocate for free 
access to public accommodations.
  Her focus and dedication paid off as she won scholarships, and 
recognition for her scholastic excellence. Although she was denied 
admission by one institution because it had reached its quota of two 
black students, she went on to attend New York University and Columbia 
University.
  We should be very thankful for the sacrifices and hard work of Dr. 
Dorothy Height. A recipient of the President's Medal of Honor, the 
Congressional Medal of Honor, and a tireless advocate for individuals 
who had yet to see the American dream become a reality, we honor this 
outstanding woman.
  I would like to commend my colleagues for their work on this 
important resolution. In particular, I would like to thank my good 
friend from the State of Ohio, Congresswoman Marcia Fudge, who is the 
sponsor of this resolution.
  I urge my colleagues to support this important resolution.

                              {time}  1230

  Mr. POE of Texas. I yield myself as much time as I may consume.
  I want to thank the chairman of the Judiciary Committee for bringing 
this to the floor as quickly as possible. I support this resolution, H. 
Res. 1281, which commemorates the life of the late Dorothy Height, as 
the chairman said, who died just yesterday.
  She was one of the key civil rights leaders who fought for racial and 
gender equality in the 20th century. She helped bring about school 
desegregation. She brought about, in her own way, the movement for an 
advocation of voting rights and employment equality.
  She was born in Richmond, Virginia, in 1912 and moved to Pennsylvania 
at an early age. In 1929, she was admitted to Barnard College, but she 
was denied admission when she showed up to register. The school had a 
policy of accepting only two black students.
  So she went to New York University and graduated in 1932. She 
received her master's degree in educational psychology the very next 
year, and after her studies Mrs. Height served as a caseworker in New 
York City welfare department.
  At the age of only 25, she joined the National Council of Negro 
Women, beginning her career as a civil rights activist on behalf of 
African Americans and all women.
  In 1944, she joined the YWCA and served as the national president of 
Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Incorporated, from 1946 to 1957. Then from 
1957 to 1997, she was President of the National Council of Negro Women, 
and during the 1960s, she established ``Wednesdays in Mississippi'' to 
join black and white women from the North and South to engage in a 
dialogue as a means toward social integration.
  Many American leaders respected Mrs. Height. She lobbied First Lady 
Eleanor Roosevelt to help civil rights efforts in the 1940s. In later 
years she encouraged President Dwight Eisenhower and President Lyndon 
Baines Johnson to desegregate schools and appoint black women in 
positions of government.
  Mrs. Height herself served on the President's Committee on the Status 
of Women, and she was a consultant on African affairs to the Secretary 
of State.
  Mrs. Height was on the platform with Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., 
when he gave his famous ``I Have a Dream'' speech in 1963. As Chairman 
Conyers has mentioned, he was at that event in 1963.
  For Mrs. Height's six decades of selfless work on behalf of civil 
rights and for her dedication, she was awarded the Presidential Medal 
of Freedom in 1994 and the Congressional Gold Medal in 2004. Yesterday, 
at the age of 98, Dorothy Height passed away at Howard University 
Hospital here in Washington, D.C.
  I urge all my colleagues to join me in supporting this resolution.
  I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. CONYERS. I thank Judge Poe for co-leading this resolution from 
the Judiciary Committee.
  Madam Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the 
distinguished majority leader, James Clyburn, the gentleman from South 
Carolina.
  Mr. CLYBURN. I thank the chair for yielding me the time. Thank you so

[[Page H2742]]

much, Ranking Member Poe, for joining in this resolution.
  Madam Speaker, I was born and raised in the little town of Sumter, 
South Carolina, and just outside of Sumter is a little town of 
Mayesville, the birthplace of Mary McLeod Bethune, the founder of the 
National Council of Negro Women.
  When I was growing up, my mother, who was a beautician, and Mrs. 
Bethune organized the National Council through beauty shops. My mother 
thought that Mrs. Bethune was the greatest person to ever live, and she 
made me learn everything I could about Mrs. Bethune.
  Later, as I labored on the staff of Governor John West back in 1971, 
I received a phone call from Dorothy Height. I knew Mrs. Height--she 
had been a long-time president of the Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, the 
sister sorority to my fraternity, Omega Psi Phi, so I knew her. I also 
knew her because she had become the national leader of the National 
Council of Negro Women.
  She said to me that she wanted my help, because she thought that 
South Carolina, being the birthplace of Mary McLeod Bethune, would be 
the place that ought to honor her. She thought that Mrs. Bethune's 
portrait should be in the State House of South Carolina. At that time 
no African American was so honored. There never had been an African 
American's portrait placed in the State House and I went to Governor 
West and I told him that I thought this was something we should do.
  Well, as you can imagine, Madam Speaker, this was not met with as 
much collegiality as we displayed toward each other here on this floor.
  So I called Mrs. Height to tell her that I thought this was going to 
be very, very difficult.
  She said to me, now, young man, I didn't ask for your help because I 
thought it was going to be easy. She said things to me that day that 
made me understand a lot about who and what I am, and we joined 
together. We covered and counseled each other, and I am pleased to 
report that because of Mrs. Height, Dr. Height, the portrait of Mary 
McLeod Bethune hangs in the State House of South Carolina, the first 
African American so honored.
  Others have joined us later, Willie Mays, Rev. I.D. Quincy Newman, 
but she blazed that trail, and she did so because of Dr. Height.
  When I got elected to the Congress, Dr. Height called again, and she 
told me that the National Council is going to put a statue here, in, I 
believe, Lincoln Park here in Washington. She wanted me to come and be 
a part of that dedication. I joined her there that day, and from that 
day on, very often, we would meet, we would talk on the phone, and I 
just believe that she is very close to being as great a woman as Mary 
McLeod Bethune was, and I am pleased to be here to say a few words in 
honor of her and in memory of her great life and tremendous legacy.
  Mr. POE of Texas. I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. CONYERS. I am pleased to yield such time as she may consume to 
the gentlewoman from Ohio (Ms. Fudge) one of our newest Members of the 
Congress, who knew, worked for, studied under, and was a mentee to 
Dorothy Height.
  Ms. FUDGE. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
  On yesterday, Madam Speaker, a civil rights icon and humanitarian, 
Dr. Dorothy Irene Height, passed away at the age of 98. She was my 
friend, my mentor, and one of my predecessors as the national president 
of the Delta Sigma Theta Sorority.
  Dr. Height was passionate about justice and equality. Everything she 
did, every position she held, and every policy she advocated served her 
life's mission, which was to eliminate barriers to success for women 
and blacks, while inspiring the next generation.
  Even though Presidents and other world leaders sought her counsel, 
she always took the time to advise and encourage young women, including 
myself.
  While we mourn her loss, I am not sad. She lived a great life. We 
often talk about life is not the longevity, but it is the breadth, and 
she had a great life. So we celebrate her life today, a great 
humanitarian who leaves a legacy of strong and caring women. That is 
why I am honored to introduce this resolution celebrating Dr. Height's 
life and recognizing her work.
  Dr. Height served as president of the National Council of Negro Women 
for four decades, stepping down from the position in 1997. In her 
position with the Council, which, by the way, connected nearly 4 
million women worldwide, she tackled issues that affected all families, 
including child care for working mothers, health and nutrition, and 
providing adequate housing for families in need. She served as the 
national president of Delta Sigma Theta from 1947 to 1957.
  Widely recognized as one of the founding members of the Civil Rights 
Movement, Dr. Height was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 
1994 by President Bill Clinton, and in 2004 she received the 
Congressional Gold Medal. Dr. Height fought for equal rights for both 
women and blacks and was active in such causes as securing voting 
rights, equal employment opportunities and desegregation of public 
schools.
  Marching alongside Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., she advocated women's 
rights during the civil rights struggle. Dr. Height was instrumental in 
the fight for equal pay for women and organized numerous programs to 
help women achieve equal rights and independence.
  Dr. Height was a tenacious and zealous civil rights activist, social 
worker, advocate, educator, organizer, mentor and friend. She was my 
friend. I will miss her, but my life has been better just by knowing 
her. 
  Mr. POE of Texas. I continue to reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. CONYERS. Madam Speaker, I yield such time as she may consume to a 
senior member of the Judiciary Committee, the gentlewoman from Texas 
(Ms. Jackson Lee).
  Ms. JACKSON LEE of Texas. Let me thank the chairman of the Judiciary 
Committee and my colleague from Texas (Mr. Poe) for his presence and 
comments on the floor about Dr. Dorothy Height and, as well, the author 
of the resolution.
  I am very proud to have joined Congresswoman Fudge to be an original 
cosponsor of this legislation and come to the floor today, as we did 
yesterday, for I believe that the celebration of Dr. Height's life 
needs no stopping, if you will. If we continue to commemorate her 
throughout this week, it will not be able to account for her service.
  And for those who may not be familiar with Dr. Dorothy Height, I only 
wish that this picture was in color. For maybe as you look at this lady 
adorned with this fabulous hat, well attired, you will remember seeing 
in many pictures with Presidents, kings and queens, international 
leaders, a lady who was appropriately attired with that dapper and 
beautiful hat. The color that I remember most is her beautiful aqua, 
and I say that only because many times we look at women as to how they 
are adorned.
  I think that Dr. Height did not fail to be noticed when she came into 
a room, both by her stature and her attire, but certainly by her words. 
I would count her the most influential woman in the Civil Rights 
Movement, a friend to many, one who empowered women and clearly progeny 
of Mary McLeod Bethune, what a wonderful legacy that was given to Dr. 
Height in her leadership of the National Council of Negro Women for 
some 40 years.
  There are chapters throughout the Nation, and I am grateful to be a 
member of the Dorothy Height Chapter in Houston, Texas. There are many, 
and I must remind my colleagues and those that are listening, that the 
name continues to be the National Council of Negro Women, which was the 
name that was given by Mary McLeod Bethune. No one dared view that as 
any undermining of the dignity and purpose, reliability and, of course, 
the power of this organization.

                              {time}  1245

  No one ran away from the word ``negro'' because we knew that in that 
word there was struggle, there was a showing of what we overcame. And 
to the instruction of Mary McLeod Bethune, we knew that it captured the 
empowerment of women, but it also spoke to the education of our 
children. Dr. Dorothy Height was in the center point of that.
  I had the privilege of coming here to the United States Congress and 
being able to look up to Dr. Height as I got to know her even before my 
congressional duties. What a pleasure to be

[[Page H2743]]

able to join C. DeLores Tucker at her annual events and the National 
Council of Black Political Women to deal with her seeking empowerment 
for women, and as well to be able to join with then Betty Shabazz, Dr. 
Dorothy Height, and Coretta Scott King. What a powerful group of women 
whose history paralleled each other, but in essence they were sisters.
  And so I rise today to be able to acknowledge this glorified woman 
who came eagerly to the National Council that was headed by C. DeLores 
Tucker and now by E. Faye Williams, and to be able to thank her.
  When we were looking to pass legislation to include Sojourner Truth 
as the only standing figure now of an African American woman in this 
United States Congress, this great heroine, this great woman added her 
leverage, her power, her support and sisterhood to ensure that we 
placed Sojourner Truth, a suffragette and an abolitionist, here.
  So Dr. Height, as you rest today, let it be known that we do recommit 
ourselves to the universal access of education for all children, for 
the education of America's children, for reminding us that Haiti's 
children--now suffering in the wane of an earthquake--must be provided 
education, and to be reminded that there is no shame in being an 
agitator and a provocateur and someone who fights for freedom and 
justice.
  We are in your debt, the godmother, if you will, of civil rights. We 
will be forever in your debt. And the women and the men and the many 
different rainbow colors of these United States and around the world, 
people will be indebted to you for your common touch, for your spirit, 
and, yes, for saving so many of us.
  May God bless your soul. May you rest in peace as we celebrate over 
these days your life. God bless you, Dr. Dorothy Height.
  Madam Speaker, I rise in strong support of H. Res. 1281, Honoring the 
life and Achievements of Dr. Dorothy Height and Recognizing her 
Lifelong Dedication and Leadership in the Struggle for Human Rights and 
Equality for All People Until Her Death at Age 95 on April 20, 2010.
  I was deeply saddened to learn of the death of Dr. Dorothy I. Height 
who was a national treasure and a civil rights icon. For more than half 
a century, Dorothy Irene Height played a leading role in the never 
ending struggle for equality and human rights here at home and around 
the world. Her life exemplifies her passionate commitment for a just 
society and her vision of a better world.
  Dr. Height was a social justice and civil rights activist, a servant 
of the people, one who served a number of Presidents, a humanitarian, 
American, a hero, and a great patriot. She believed in women's rights 
and the empowerment of minorities. She was an inspiration to all women. 
She never ran away from the fight for justice. All of those are words 
without motion, unless you had the privilege to know Dr. Dorothy Height 
as I did. You would then be captured by her charm, her energy, her 
insight, her intellect and her compassion. Her legacy is one of a 
glorious and wonderful champion of the people.
  Dorothy Height witnessed or participated in virtually every major 
movement for social and political change in the last century. During 
the 1963 civil rights March on Washington, Dorothy Height was the only 
woman on the podium when Martin Luther King Jr. gave his ``I Have a 
Dream'' speech. For nearly 75 years, Dorothy Height fought for the 
equality and human rights of all people. She was the only female member 
of the ``Big 6'' civil rights leaders (Whitney Young, Jr., A. Philip 
Randolph, Martin Luther King, Jr., James Farmer, and Roy Wilkins). Her 
vision and dedication made the National Council of Negro Women the 
premier organization in advocating for the health, education, and 
economic empowerment for all women of African descent around the world.
  Dorothy Height was born in Richmond, Virginia, March 24, 1912, and 
educated in the public schools of Rankin, Pennsylvania, a borough of 
Pittsburgh, where her family moved when she was four. She established 
herself early as a dedicated student with exceptional oratorical 
skills. After winning a $1,000 scholarship in a national oratorical 
contest on the United States Constitution, sponsored by the Fraternal 
Order of the Elks, and compiling a distinguished academic record, she 
enrolled in New York University where she earned both her bachelor and 
master's degrees in just 4 years. She continued her postgraduate 
studies at Columbia University and the New York School of Social Work.
  In 1933, Dorothy Height joined the United Christian Youth Movement of 
North America where her leadership qualities earned her the trust and 
confidence of her peers. It was during this period that she began to 
emerge as an effective civil rights advocate as she worked to prevent 
lynching, desegregate the Armed Forces, reform the criminal justice 
system, and provide free access to public accommodations. In 1935, 
Dorothy Height was appointed by New York government officials to deal 
with the aftermath of the Harlem riot of 1935.
  As Vice President of the United Christian Youth Movement of North 
America, Dorothy Height was 1 of only 10 American youth delegates to 
the 1937 World Conference on Life and Work of the Churches held in 
Oxford, England. Two years later she was selected to represent the YWCA 
at the World Conference of Christian Youth in Amsterdam, Holland.

  Madam Speaker, it was in 1937, while serving as Assistant Executive 
Director of the Harlem YWCA, that Dorothy Height met Mary McLeod 
Bethune, founder and president of the National Council of Negro Women 
(NCNW). Mrs. Bethune was immediately impressed with young Dorothy 
Height's poise and intelligence and invited her to join the NCNW and 
assist in the quest for women's rights to full and equal employment, 
pay and education.
  In 1938, Dorothy Height was 1 of 10 young Americans invited by 
Eleanor Roosevelt to Hyde Park, NY to help plan and prepare for the 
World Youth Conference to be held at Vassar College.
  For the next several years, Dorothy Height served in a dual role: as 
a YWCA staff member and NCNW volunteer, integrating her training as a 
social worker and her commitment to rise above the limitations of race 
and sex. She rose quickly through the ranks of the YWCA, from working 
at the Emma Ransom House in Harlem to the Executive Directorship of the 
Phyllis Wheatley YWCA in Washington, DC, to the YWCA National 
headquarters office.
  For 33 years, from 1944 through 1977, Dorothy Height served on the 
staff of the National Board of the YWCA and held several leadership 
positions in public affairs and leadership training and as Director of 
the National YWCA School for Professional Workers. In 1965, she was 
named Director of the Center for Racial Justice, a position she held 
until her retirement.
  In 1952, Dorothy Height lived in India, where she worked as a 
visiting professor in the Delhi School of Social Work at the University 
of Delhi, which was founded by the YWCAs of India, Burma and Ceylon. 
She would become renowned for her internationalism and humanitarianism. 
She traveled around the world expanding the work of the YWCA. She 
conducted a well-received study of the training of women's 
organizations in five African countries: Liberia, Ghana, Guinea, Sierra 
Leone, and Nigeria under the Committee of Correspondence.
  Dorothy Height loved and led her sorority, Delta Sigma Theta. She was 
elected National President of the sorority in 1947 and served in that 
capacity until 1956. She led the sorority to a new level of 
organizational development, initiation eligibility, and social action 
throughout her term. Her leadership training skills, social work 
background and knowledge of volunteerism benefited the sorority as it 
moved into a new era of activism on the national and international 
scene.
  In 1957, Dorothy Height was elected the fourth National President of 
NCNW and served in that position for 40 years, when she became Chair of 
the Board and President Emerita.
  In 1960, Dorothy Height was the woman team member leader in the 
United Civil Rights Leadership along with Martin Luther King, Whitney 
H. Young, A. Philip Randolph, James Farmer, Roy Wilkins and John Lewis. 
In 1961, while Dorothy Height was participating in major Civil Rights 
leadership, she led NCNW to deal with unmet needs among women and their 
families to combat hunger, develop cooperative pig banks, and provided 
families with community freezers and showers.
  In 1964, after the passage of the Civil Rights Act, Dorothy Height 
with Polly Cowan, an NCNW Board Member, organized teams of women of 
different races and faith as ``Wednesdays in Mississippi'' to assist in 
the freedom schools and open communication between women of difference 
races. The workshops which followed stressed the need for decent 
housing which became the basis for NCNW in partnership with the 
Department of Housing and Urban Development to develop Turnkey III Home 
Ownership for low income families in Gulfport, Mississippi.
  In 1970, Dorothy Height directed the series of activities culminating 
in the YWCA Convention adopting as its ``One Imperative'' to the 
elimination of racism. That same year she also established the Women's 
Center for Education and Career Advancement in New York City to prepare 
women for entry level jobs. This experience led her in 1975 to 
collaborate with Pace College to establish a course of study leading to 
the Associate Degree for Professional Studies (AAPS).

  In 1975, Dorothy Height participated in the Tribunal at the 
International Women's Year

[[Page H2744]]

Conference of the United Nations in Mexico City. As a result of this 
experience, NCNW was awarded a grant from the United States Agency for 
International Development (USAID) to hold a conference within the 
conference for women from the United States, African countries, South 
America, Mexico and the Caribbean. This was followed with a site visit 
with 50 of the women to visit with rural women in Mississippi. Under 
the auspices of the USAID, Dorothy Height lectured in South Africa 
after addressing the National Convention of the Black Women's 
Federation of South Africa near Johannesburg (1977). Since 1986, she 
has worked tirelessly to strengthen the Black family.
  Madam Speaker, under the leadership of Dorothy Height:
  NCNW achieved tax-exempt status in 1966;
  NCNW dedicated the statue of Mary McLeod Bethune in Lincoln Park, 
Washington D.C. in 1974; the first woman to be so honored on public 
land in the Nation's Capital;
  Developed model national and community-based programs ranging from 
teen-age parenting to pig ``banks''--which addressed hunger in rural 
areas;
  Established the Bethune Museum and Archives for Black Women, the 
first institution devoted to black women's history;
  Established the Bethune Council House as a national historic site;
  Transformed NCNW into an issue-oriented political organization, 
sponsoring ``Wednesdays in Mississippi'' when interracial groups of 
women would help out at Freedom Schools; organizing voter registration 
drives in the South; and fostering communications between black and 
white women.
  Established the Black Family Reunion Celebration in 1986 to reinforce 
the historic strengths and traditional values of the Black family.
  Among the major awards bestowed upon Dorothy Irene Height in 
gratitude and appreciation for her service to our nation and the world 
are the following:
  Presidential Medal of Freedom presented by President Bill Clinton;
  Congressional Gold Medal presented by President George W. Bush;
  John F. Kennedy Memorial Award;
  NAACP--Spingarn Medal;
  Hadassah Myrtle Wreath of Achievement;
  Ministerial Interfaith Association Award;
  Ladies Home Journal--Woman of the Year;
  Congressional Black Caucus--Decades of Service;
  President Ronald Reagan--Citizens Medal;
  Franklin Roosevelt--Freedom Medal;
  Essence Award; and the
  Camille Cosby World of Children Award.
  Dorothy Height was also elected to the National Women's Hall of Fame 
and is the recipient of 36 honorary degrees from colleges and 
universities as diverse as Tuskegee University, Harvard University, 
Spelman College, Princeton University, Bennett College, Pace 
University, Lincoln University, Columbia University Howard University, 
New York University, Morehouse College, and Meharry Medical College.
  Madam Speaker, Dorothy Height has witnessed or participated in 
virtually every major movement for social and political change in the 
last century. For nearly 75 years, Dorothy Height has fought for the 
equality and human rights of all people. She was the only female member 
of the ``Big 6'' civil rights leaders (Whitney Young, Jr., A. Philip 
Randolph, Martin Luther King, Jr., James Farmer, and Roy Wilkins). Her 
vision and dedication made NCNW the premier organization in advocating 
for the health, education and economic empowerment for all women of 
African descent around the world.
  Thank you, Dorothy Height, for your service to our nation. You have 
made America a better place for all persons of all races, religions, 
and backgrounds. You have mentored hundreds, been a role model to 
thousands, and a hero to millions. You are an American original. I am 
glad to count you as a friend.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The gentleman from Texas has 17 minutes 
remaining; the gentleman from Michigan has 5\1/2\ minutes remaining.
  Mr. POE of Texas. Madam Speaker, I continue to reserve.
  Mr. CONYERS. Madam Speaker, I am delighted to recognize our former 
State senator, former ambassador, and now a Member of Congress, who has 
served here with such distinction, Diane Watson, Hollywood, California. 
I yield her 1 minute.
  Ms. WATSON. Madam Speaker, I come to contribute and to continue to 
contribute to a woman that really was the matriarch of the American 
civil rights movement, And I want you to know her crusade for racial 
justice and gender equality spanned more than six decades.
  This is a fact you need to know: it was at age 19 that Mrs. McLeod 
saw the leadership, the skill, and the brilliance of Dorothy Height. 
She was 19 years old when Mary McLeod Bethune passed the mantle of 
leadership over to her, and she held it high and she served all people 
well.
  I just want you to know that I found out, with a little research, 
that my grandmother went to school with Mary McLeod Bethune, and she 
used to tell us about her when we were 3 years old, my sister and I. 
And so it was many, many decades ago that the leadership was struck, 
and we stand on her shoulders.
  Mr. POE of Texas. Madam Speaker, I yield to Mr. Conyers an additional 
10 minutes and ask unanimous consent that he be allowed to control that 
time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from Texas?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. CONYERS. I want to thank Judge Poe for his generosity.
  At this time, I am going to yield 2 minutes to Donna Edwards of 
Maryland.
  Ms. EDWARDS of Maryland. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
  I rise today to mourn and to join our Nation in mourning Dr. Dorothy 
Height. She was an American icon who dedicated her life to racial 
justice and to gender equality. And at a time when women and African 
Americans were regarded as second class citizens, this strong, 
powerful, beautiful African American woman stood up for us and she 
strove to change that and rose to become a key figure in the civil 
rights movement, meeting with first ladies and Presidents and heads of 
state.
  I want to step back for a minute because I look back fondly to the 
time when I first met Dr. Height, and it was more than 20 years ago as 
a young advocate working on domestic violence. It was through Dr. 
Height's voice and her leadership and her kindness and generosity of 
intellect and of spirit that enabled me to become a really strong 
advocate for domestic violence and to speak on behalf of the needs of 
African American women and women of color in a feminist movement that 
was not always open to those kinds of voices. It was really Dr. Height 
who enabled us to meet those challenges with our other feminist 
colleagues. And so I regard Dr. Height as a strong woman of color in 
the civil rights movement, but also a really strong feminist and a 
committed feminist.
  Just a few weeks ago, I greeted Dr. Height when she was out in my 
congressional district with her beloved Deltas. She was feeling as 
strong and healthy then and healthy of spirit and mind and intellect as 
she always had been. And so with that, I rise to remember her, to value 
her, and as a novice political leader, to know that when it really 
counted, Dr. Height was on my side, too.
  Mr. POE of Texas. I continue to reserve my time.
  Mr. CONYERS. Madam Speaker, it is my distinct honor to recognize our 
Speaker of the House, Nancy Pelosi, for 1 minute.
  Ms. PELOSI. I thank the chairman for yielding and for giving us this 
opportunity to honor the life, legacy, and contributions of the 
godmother of the civil rights movement and a champion of social 
justice, Dr. Dorothy Height. Her loss is felt by all of us who knew 
her, respected her, and followed in her footsteps; but it is also felt 
by people who may never know her name, but for whom she worked, for 
whom she led, and for whom she made a difference. The Nation mourns the 
passing of this giant of American history; and our thoughts and prayers 
are with her family, friends, and the loved ones of this extraordinary 
woman.
  Men and women of every race and faith are heirs to the work, passion, 
and legacy of Dorothy Height. From her earliest days as an activist, 
she fought for equality under the law for every American, recognizing 
that the battle for civil rights extended to African American women and 
anyone denied the chance to succeed because of who they are.
  For four decades, she stood at the helm of the National Council of 
Negro Women, continuing the struggle for an America that lived up to 
the ideals of liberty and opportunity for all. In every fight, Dorothy 
Height turned the tides of history toward progress. Because of what she 
achieved, schools are no longer separate and unequal, and

[[Page H2745]]

the voting booth is open to all striving to participate in our 
democracy. Because of what she did, a steady job and a decent home are 
not limited to a person based on their background, color of their skin, 
or means.
  Today, we live in an America Dorothy Height helped to build, a Nation 
defined by equality, shaped by civil rights, and driven by the pursuit 
of justice for all. The pledge we take every day, ``liberty and justice 
for all,'' that is what Dorothy Height was about.
  I was very proud to join President Bush and the House and Senate, 
Democrats and Republicans, in 2004 when we presented the Congressional 
Gold Medal, the highest civilian honor Congress can bestow, on Dr. 
Dorothy Height. At that time, President George W. Bush said, ``In the 
presence of Dorothy Height, you realize you're in the presence of 
grace. But you've got to realize that behind that grace there is a will 
of steel and absolute determination.'' The President later quoted from 
her book, but then he went on to say how Dorothy Height ``always 
stressed the importance of institutions closest to us: our families, 
our churches and our neighborhoods.'' He said: ``She understands that 
those institutions are important in shaping the character of an 
individual, and therefore the character of the Nation.''
  President Bush--President of the United States, imagine--even quoted 
Dorothy Height's memoir where she wrote: ``It is in the neighborhood 
and communities where the world begins. That is where children grow and 
families are developed, where people exercise the power to change their 
lives,'' President of the United States quoting Dorothy Height as we 
presented her with a Congressional Gold Medal.
  It is important to note that with all of those honors, it was also a 
pleasure for us to hear from Dr. Alexis Herman; she was the Secretary 
of Labor. Secretary Herman was very, very close personally and 
professionally, in every way, to Dorothy Height. And at that time she 
sang her praises and talked about what she did in the civil rights 
movement and what she did to advance women and young girls and the 
rest, but she also talked about how she made the best sweet potato pie. 
So personally, professionally, patriotically, Dorothy Height was all 
systems go.
  I have been passed a note because I was asking about a film that I 
recently saw on TV that I hope can be available now again. It is 
called, ``The Life and Surprising Times of Dorothy Height.'' It is an 
inspirational presentation of the life of a person, a person who was 
instilled by her own mother with the idea that she could do whatever 
she set out to do and had a responsibility to do so.
  Over Dorothy Height's lifetime in the trenches for social justice, 
human rights, and equality, Dorothy Height advocated on behalf of our 
neighborhoods and our communities. She stood tall for our children and 
families. She truly exercised her power to change lives.
  As we state in our resolution today: ``Dr. Height was a tenacious and 
zealous civil rights activist, social worker, advocate, educator, and 
organizer in the quest for equality.'' And I join my colleague, 
Congresswoman Edwards, in focusing on that equality for women as well.
  I last saw Dorothy Height about a month ago at the 70th birthday 
party for John Lewis, our colleague. As others regaled us about stories 
of the civil rights movement, there she sat, as dignified as a queen 
reigning over the proceedings, one who had seen it all, seen the 
struggle, seen the change, and now recognized then by the Congress of 
the United States and now in her passing by the entire Nation.
  Our country is better off because of Dorothy Height's commitment, 
compassion, grace and patriotism. We will miss her tenacity and zeal 
for the fight for equality--our Nation's heritage and our hope. We will 
each take inspiration from the story of progress and her countless 
victories for the American people.

                              {time}  1300

  Mr. POE of Texas. I continue to reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. CONYERS. Madam Speaker, I am pleased to yield 1 minute to my 
friend and colleague from Michigan, Carolyn Cheeks Kilpatrick, a 
distinguished member of the Appropriations Committee and an activist in 
her own right.
  Ms. KILPATRICK of Michigan. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I thank the 
gentleman for yielding us the additional time. I appreciate it very 
much.
  Madam Speaker, I have known the honorable Dorothy Irene Height for 
many years. This last weekend, several of us went to Bennett College 
for Women in Greensboro, North Carolina.
  I was a speaker at the Heights of Excellence Scholarship Luncheon for 
the young women who go to that university. It was quite an honor for us 
to pay homage to Dr. Height--quiet, courageous. Just imagine 70 years 
ago when she stepped out as a woman, working with leaders--speaking, 
giving, organizing, and teaching. Here we are, in 2010, wanting to be 
like Dorothy Irene Height.
  I want to honor former Secretary Alexis Herman, who served as her 
adopted daughter and who was with her for all of these years as we have 
served here in Washington.
  I also honor Dr. Barbara Skinner, who worked tirelessly and who 
surrounded Dr. Height in prayer for the last 3 weeks, 24 hours a day.
  Thank you, my sisters. Let us rise up and have the strength that Dr. 
Height showed each of us.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The time of the gentlewoman has expired.
  Mr. CONYERS. I yield the gentlewoman an additional 30 seconds.
  Ms. KILPATRICK of Michigan. Dr. Height, you are in all of us, and as 
we go forward as women--as Congresswomen, as mothers--and as we raise 
the young children to be future Dr. Heights, just know that the height 
of excellence will remain in each of us.
  Rest in peace, our dear, beloved mother. Join Rosa Parks, Harriet 
Tubman, and the others who have gone before.
  Mr. POE of Texas. I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. CONYERS. I am pleased now to yield 1 minute to my colleague, the 
gentlewoman from Wisconsin, Gwen Moore.
  Ms. MOORE of Wisconsin. Thank you so much.
  Madam Speaker, Dr. Dorothy Height gave not only her height but loaned 
her depth and breadth and width and weight and length of service to the 
civil rights movement and to gender equality. Mother to no children, 
wife to no one, she was queen mother, nurturer, and lover of the civil 
rights movement through seven decades of advocacy. Although she was the 
queen, she treated each one she encountered with equity, and it was my 
privilege to bow down to her each time I encountered her.
  Thank God for the life of Dr. Dorothy Height, and thank God for her 
legacy. May her life be more than a memory. May it be a compelling 
force to press on in the unfinished work of the civil rights and gender 
equality movement.
  Mr. POE of Texas. I continue to reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. CONYERS. Madam Speaker, I am pleased to yield 1 minute to the 
chair of the Congressional Black Caucus, the distinguished gentlelady 
from Oakland, California, Barbara Lee.
  Ms. LEE of California. I want to thank the gentleman from Michigan 
for yielding and for his leadership, Congressman John Conyers, one of 
the great civil rights leaders.
  Madam Speaker, I also want to say, as we think about and honor and 
mourn, yes, and celebrate her life, Dr. Height was one of our greatest 
civil rights leaders, a woman, who oftentimes, with the great men of 
the civil rights movement, had to make sure that a woman's voice, an 
African American woman's voice, was heard.
  Dr. Height wore many hats literally and figuratively. I am going to 
miss her so much.
  A couple of months ago, she insisted that I participate in the 
National Council of Negro Women's annual conference in Maryland. Dr. 
Height, of course, knows the schedule here on the Hill, and said, Well, 
just come out for the breakfast.
  I said, Okay, Dr. Height.
  I got there at, maybe, 7 o'clock in the morning. She was there to 
greet me at 7 a.m.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The time of the gentlewoman has expired.
  Mr. CONYERS. I yield the gentlewoman an additional 30 seconds.
  Ms. LEE of California. You knew you were in the presence of greatness 
when you were with Dr. Height.

[[Page H2746]]

  Whenever we called on Dr. Height, she was there to support our 
efforts. Just recently, for example, she joined the Congressional Black 
Caucus in our efforts here on the Hill to support the 2010 census. Her 
passion was an inspiration to all of us here in Congress. It is hard to 
imagine that, in the thirties, she provided a resistance movement in 
her efforts to desegregate the YWCA.
  We are going to deeply miss her. We love her. We celebrate her life 
and mourn her death.
  Madam Speaker, I rise today in support and as an original co-sponsor 
of this resolution honoring the life and legacy of a true American 
treasure--Dr. Dorothy Irene Height. I want to thank my colleagues 
Marcia Fudge and her staff and our leadership for working so quickly to 
get this resolution to the House floor. Today, I join with my House 
colleagues, the Congressional Black Caucus and people around the world 
as we celebrate the life of Dr. Height.
  A Matriarch of the Civil Right Movement, staunch advocate for women's 
rights and all-around Grand Dame, Dr. Height was a bold and brilliant 
African American Woman, who blazed many trails and opened many doors so 
that we all may lead freer and more prosperous lives.
  Throughout her life, Dr. Height wore many hats-both literally and 
figuratively--with elegance and dignity, excellence and determination. 
From her legendary stewardship as the National President and Delta 
Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., to her unprecedented 41-year tenure at the 
helm of the National Council of Negro Women, Dr. Height was a woman of 
courage and strength.
  Dr. Height's commitment to equality was reflected in so many of her 
pursuits. In the 1930s, Dr. Height traveled across the United States to 
encourage YWCA chapters to implemet interracial charters. After 
dedicating more than 60 years of her life to the YWCA, Dr. Height 
remained proudest of her efforts to direct YWCA's attention to issues 
of civil rights and racial justice. She was so committed to this work 
in fact, that the YWCA named Dr. Height the first director of its new 
Center for Racial Justice in 1965.
  As a leader of the United Christian Youth Movement of North America, 
Dr. Height worked to desegregate the armed forces, prevent lynching, 
reform the criminal justice system, and establish free access to public 
accommodations. At a time when racial segregation was the standard and 
resistance to integration was often fierce, Dr. Height forever remained 
true to her convictions, even when it was not the comfortable thing to 
do.
  A life-time advocate for peace, equality, and justice, Dr. Height was 
especially committed to empowering women and girls. She stood toe-to-
toe with male civil rights leaders, steadfast in her dedication to 
ensure that black women's needs were addressed. She was forever 
dedicated to helping women achieve full and equal employment, pay, and 
education.
  As the National President of the National Council of Negro Women, Dr. 
Height led the NCNW in helping women and families combat hunger. She 
also established the Women's Center for Education and Career 
Advancement in New York City to prepare women for entry level jobs. 
During her tenure as President of the NCNW, they were able to buy a 
beautiful building just a few blocks away from here at 633 Pennsylvania 
Avenue--a site where slave traders legally operated what was known as 
the ``Center Slave Market''. To this day it is the only African 
American-owned building on Pennsylvania Avenue, proving that she was 
not only a great leader, but an astute business woman as well.
  Dr. Height remained a fighter until her last breath. During my time 
here in Congress and particularly as chair of the Congressional Black 
Caucus. I always knew that I could call on Dr. Height and she would be 
there to support our efforts.
  Last year, she attended President Barack Obama's first signing of a 
bill into law at the White House--the Lilly Ledbetter Act. She was 
present for the unveiling of the Shirley Chisholm portrait and the bust 
of Sojourner Truth here in the Capitol. She worked diligently on 
various issues with the Black Women's Roundtable and the Black 
Leadership Forum and often participated in panels here on Capitol Hill. 
Just recently, she joined us in our efforts to support the 2010 Census.
  Her passion was an inspiration to all of us here in Congress, and I 
was honored and privileged to call her a mentor and friend.
  With the passing of Dr. Height, our Nation mourns the loss of a true 
national treasure. Dr. Height's leadership in the struggle for equality 
and human rights serves as an inspiration to all Americans. Her undying 
commitment to a just society and her vision for a better would 
undergirds the work of the Congressional Black Caucus, and the CBC is 
deeply grateful for her mentorship, wisdom, and guidance.
  Today we mourn the loss, but celebrate the life and legacy of Dr. 
Height--a visionary and great humanitarian who gave us all so much. We 
love you Dr. Height and we promise to continue your legacy of service 
to all human kind.
  I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. POE of Texas. I continue to reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. CONYERS. Madam Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from 
North Carolina, Judge Butterfield.
  Mr. BUTTERFIELD. Let me thank the chairman, my good friend Mr. 
Conyers, for yielding me the time.
  Mr. Conyers, I didn't want our female colleagues to have a monopoly 
on the floor today. Plus, I wanted to come down and say a few words 
about Dr. Dorothy Height.
  Madam Speaker, I had the privilege of knowing Dr. Height for at least 
50 years. She and my mother, as well as Dr. Mary McLeod Bethune, were 
very good friends. They were all active participants in the National 
Council of Negro Women.
  In the early 1950s, I would come to Washington, D.C., with my mother 
to attend those meetings. It was Dorothy Height and Mary McLeod Bethune 
who opened up the Willard Hotel for the women to have their convention. 
At that time, hotels in D.C. were segregated, and it was Dr. Height who 
helped open up the Willard Hotel for that purpose. At that time, she 
was helping to build the organization on behalf of Dr. Bethune, who was 
beginning to fail.
  When I came to Congress 6 years ago, I brought with me a picture of 
the organization that was taken in 1942. I went over and presented it 
to Dorothy Height. She immediately recognized the picture and told me 
that it was taken in front of the Department of Labor in 1942. When I 
asked her where she was in the picture, Dr. Height told me, Well, 
honey, I was inside, doing the work of the organization while the 
members were outside, taking the picture.
  Thank you for the time, Mr. Conyers. This was a lifetime of service 
to the American people and to African American women. I want to thank 
her for her service to equality, fairness, and inclusion.
  Mr. POE of Texas. I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. CONYERS. Madam Speaker, I am delighted to yield 1 minute to the 
gentlewoman from the Virgin Islands, Dr. Donna Christensen.
  Mrs. CHRISTENSEN. Thank you, Mr. Chairman, for yielding.
  Madam Speaker, I rise today with my colleagues in support of this 
resolution honoring Dr. Dorothy Irene Height, who is the godmother of 
the women's movement, a leader in the fight for equality and justice 
for all Americans, one of the civil rights movement's greatest 
pioneers, and a true drum major of justice to the very end. It is 
because of her unwavering dedication, dogged determination, and 
invaluable leadership that many of us stand proudly here today. She 
motivated and inspired men and women of all creeds and colors here and 
the world over.
  Today, our entire Nation stands with us to commemorate the passing of 
our beloved leader. While we mourn her loss, we joyously celebrate her 
full giving and meaningful life and her selfless visionary and rich 
legacy. She has passed the torch to those of us who remain. Let us 
carry it with pride.
  My family, my staff, and the people of the Virgin Islands join me 
today in extending our deepest condolences to her family and loved 
ones.
  Mr. POE of Texas. I reserve the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The gentleman from Michigan has 5 minutes 
remaining.
  Mr. CONYERS. I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Madam Speaker, the recitations of many of the Members in memory of 
Dorothy Height have been marked by the personal knowledge and their own 
intimate relationship with her. I am no different from the rest.
  I knew and worked with her on a regular basis. She was attending all 
of the functions. Up until recently, I could see her anywhere in 
Washington if there was a civil rights event or women's event, a 
national event, and so it was good to see her. Sure, she was slowing 
down, but most of us are anyway, so I appreciated that she was as 
stylish as has been referred to as always. She always had that spirit, 
and

[[Page H2747]]

it is with great pleasure that I remember through the many occasions, 
starting from our first public meeting at the March on Washington in 
1963. She, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., and Rosa Parks were very 
important figures as I participated in the struggle that would lead to 
the culmination of the great civil rights movement in American history. 
It is with fond memory that I remember her activity, her friendship, 
her helpfulness. I think that there may be some kind of national 
commemoration for her that might be appropriate now that we've reviewed 
all of the medals, commendations, and awards that she has received thus 
far.
  I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. POE of Texas. I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. CONYERS. I am pleased now to yield 1 minute to the majority 
leader of the House, the gentleman from Maryland, the great Steny 
Hoyer.
  Mr. HOYER. I thank the chairman for yielding.
  I want to thank Chairman Conyers for his extraordinary leadership on 
behalf of the rights of all peoples. His role in the civil rights 
movement has been extraordinary, and it continues to this date.
  Madam Speaker, I rise on behalf of this resolution and in memory of 
an extraordinary woman.
  I had the privilege of knowing Dorothy Height for some four decades. 
That does not mean that I saw her regularly during those four decades, 
but I saw her frequently during those four decades. She also exuded the 
positive, constructive approach that she took to solving problems, to 
bringing people together. The historian Taylor Branch rightly called 
Dr. Height's brothers and sisters in the civil rights movement the 
``modern founders of democracy.''
  Today, we honor the legacy that she leaves behind. What a wonderful, 
long, productive, constructive, important life we honor in Dorothy 
Height.
  Dorothy Height was an extraordinarily gracious human being. When 
meeting with her, I never failed to leave her side and not feel better. 
I would feel better about the relationship that I had with her and that 
she had with others as I saw her interface with others in the room, in 
the crowd, in the meeting. Dorothy Height was and is a giant. The 
Washington Post had on its front page today a very large picture of 
Dorothy Height. It was appropriate that, in the Nation's capital, 
Dorothy Height would be given such prominence, not for her death but 
for the life that she lived, for the contributions she made.
  We are all better for Dorothy Height's life. We are all freer for 
Dorothy Height's life. We were lifted as a society by Dorothy Height 
and by those with whom she worked from a segregated society where the 
perception was that some Americans were not equal to other Americans. 
That was contrary to the premise articulated by Thomas Jefferson but 
not lived out by Thomas Jefferson and our Founding Fathers. Their 
premise was accurate, but their practice was not. Martin Luther King, 
Jr.; Dorothy Height; John Conyers; John Lewis, who serves with us; Jim 
Clyburn, our whip; and so many others called America's attention to the 
fact that it was not living out the reality of its promise, not just to 
African Americans but to all Americans.
  Dorothy Height showed extraordinary courage and conviction in the 
face of bigotry and discrimination. Like so many in this body who faced 
bigotry and discrimination, they did not allow that to poison their 
souls. They did not allow that to diminish their relationships even 
with those whom they saw as oppressors. To that extent, they rose above 
the conduct directed at them in order to change that conduct through 
love and positive engagement. Dorothy Height is a perfect example to 
all of us, young and old, who are participating in this society which, 
unfortunately, too often we see today falls into anger and 
confrontation rather than civility and discussion.

                              {time}  1315

  I am worried about the anger that I see in the society today. In some 
respects I think not justified at the level that we find it. Yes, there 
is room for disagreement, but Dorothy Height shows us that 
notwithstanding the fact that there may be disagreement, 
notwithstanding the fact that there may be people who do not treat us 
as we would want to be treated, that the way to solve that is to do so 
constructively and civilly with debate that states the facts and the 
truth but does not devolve into hate and division.
  So I am pleased to join my friend John Conyers. I came to Congress 
some 30 years ago, and we were talking about making Martin Luther King, 
Jr.'s birthday a national holiday, not a holiday to play but a holiday 
to recognize the contribution that was made then and the work that 
still remains to be done. John Conyers had me out in front of the 
Capitol on January 15 or close to that time every year, and I was so 
proud to stand with him and say to America let us recognize those who, 
as Taylor Branch has said, are the modern founders of democracy.
  Thank you, Mr. Chairman, for your leadership. Thank you for bringing 
this resolution to the floor to recognize an extraordinary, wonderful, 
lovely person whose spirit enriched us all and enriched our country.
  Mr. POE of Texas. Madam Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentlewoman 
from Illinois (Mrs. Biggert).
  Mrs. BIGGERT. I thank the gentleman for yielding.
  I had to come down to the floor just to support this resolution.
  I served as the co-chair of the 107th Women's Caucus, along with 
Juanita Millender-McDonald, and as we sat down to plan the events for 
the year, the first name that appeared on our list was Dr. Dorothy 
Height. We had that event over in one of the hotels on the Hill, and it 
was the most interesting thing that I have been to. Dorothy Height was 
in her hat, as she always wore a hat. We all arrived in our hats. And I 
still have that hat hanging on my coat hanger in my house here in 
Washington, and every time I see it I always think of her.
  Here was a person that had such a dramatic effect on our country. 
Such a strong personality, but everything that she did was with such 
great graciousness. And think of the times that she saw in her 98 years 
and what transpired in this country. And I think that Juanita 
Millender-McDonald would have been the first one down here too if she 
had not also passed on.
  So that was a great year and it started off with a great event to 
have this wonderful person, Dorothy Height, be the speaker at our first 
event. And she did that with such grace, such gentleness; yet she 
always was very strong on her beliefs. And I would call her a change 
agent, but she did so with the civility that we don't often see, almost 
the white gloves mentality and the hats and the type of person that she 
was.
  So I just wanted to come down and say that I really support that 
resolution and thank you for doing it.
  Mr. CONYERS. Madam Speaker, I have no further requests for time, and 
I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. POE of Texas. Madam Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my 
time to close.
  I want to once again voice my support of this resolution. Dr. Height 
died at 98. The most important influential person in my life was my 
grandmother, who lived to her late 90s as well. Chairman Conyers would 
like to know, of course, that she was a Roosevelt Democrat, never 
forgave me for being a Republican, but once we got past that, she made 
a lot of comments that influenced me and made a lot of statements that 
were true then and are true now.
  She said that ``there is nothing more powerful than a woman who has 
made up her mind.'' I think that definition fits Dr. Dorothy Height. 
She made up her mind about two issues: civil rights and the equality of 
women in our society.
  So today we honor her. I support this resolution and I urge its 
adoption.
  Madam Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. CONYERS. Madam Speaker, I would like to close by thanking all the 
presenters, particularly singling out my dear friend on the Judiciary 
Committee, Judge Poe, who has done a very good job here.
  It occurred to me that Dorothy Height has already received so many 
awards, commendations, citations during her lifetime that if the 
distinguished President of the United States were to ask us what 
further could be done, I would recommend that there be

[[Page H2748]]

some kind of event, bipartisan obviously, but one that draws in 
Americans who may not have participated in the struggles and the 
experiences that distinguished Dorothy Height's long career, and that 
might be a wonderful way for her to be remembered, as she no doubt will 
in the course of history as more and more historical books are written 
about her contribution going all the way back to the 1930s.
  Mr. SCOTT of Virginia. Madam Speaker, our Nation mourns the loss of 
one of our most influential civil rights leaders, Dr. Dorothy I. 
Height, a native of Richmond, Virginia. Dr. Height spent the better 
part of her lifetime working to ensure that others would have the 
freedom to accomplish their dreams. As the only woman in the inner 
circle of leaders of the Civil Rights Movement, her presence provided 
the much needed female perspective on decisions made in the struggle to 
achieve equal rights for all Americans. Even though she was on the dais 
with Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. as he delivered his ``I Have a Dream'' 
Speech in 1963, her integral role in the movement was not always known 
to the general public. That role was finally recognized nationally when 
President Clinton awarded Dr. Height the Medal of Freedom in 1994 and 
Congress awarded her the Congressional Gold Medal in 2004.
  Dr. Height was an outspoken advocate for racial and gender equality 
both before and after the Civil Rights Movement. Her life of social 
activism spanned eight decades. From working as a caseworker with the 
New York City Welfare Department to her four decades as president of 
the National Council for Negro Women to serving as national president 
of Delta Sigma Theta, Dr. Height's life has touched countless 
Americans. Political leaders and heavyweights, such as Eleanor 
Roosevelt and Presidents Eisenhower and Johnson, regularly sought out 
her counsel and wisdom. Yesterday's loss is a heavy one. America owes 
Dr. Height a heavy debt of gratitude for her lifetime of selfless 
service to her fellow citizens. Our Nation is a better place because of 
her. She will be greatly missed.
  Mr. AL GREEN of Texas. Madam Speaker, I am deeply saddened by the 
passing of legendary civil rights pioneer Dr. Dorothy Irene Height. I 
extend my heartfelt condolences to the family and friends of Dr. Height 
as our Nation mourns the loss of a true visionary, champion, and leader 
in the fight for civil rights and justice for all Americans.
  Dr. Height began her career as a civil rights activist when she 
joined the National Council of Negro Women. She would later serve as 
president of the organization from 1957-1998. In her position with the 
Council, which connected nearly 4 million women worldwide, she tackled 
issues that affected women, including child care for working mothers, 
health and nutrition and providing adequate housing for families in 
need.
  She also served as National President of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, 
Incorporated from 1946-1957. She remained active with Delta Sigma Theta 
Sorority throughout her life. While there she developed leadership 
training programs and interracial and ecumenical education programs.
  Widely recognized as one of the founding members of the Civil Rights 
movement, Dr. Height was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 
1994 by President Bill Clinton. In 2004, she also received the 
Congressional Gold Medal.
  In 1998, she told People magazine, ``I want to be remembered as 
someone who used herself and anything she could touch to work for 
justice and freedom. . . . I want to be remembered as one who tried.'' 
There is no doubt that Dr. Height will be remembered as someone who not 
only tried, but went a step beyond to secure liberty and justice for 
all Americans.
  Dr. Dorothy Height's leadership in the struggle for equality and 
justice for all people will continue to serve as an inspiration to our 
Nation.
  Mr. THOMPSON of Mississippi. Madam Speaker, today I rise to honor the 
life and legacy of one of the most prominent figures of the Civil 
Rights Movement, Dr. Dorothy Irene Height.
  Dr. Height, a leading voice during the civil rights era, worked side 
by side with Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and other pioneers to bring 
about social justice and equality for African-Americans. Having faced 
racism much of her young life, she received a scholarship from Barnard 
College; however, she was turned away because the two-person quota for 
accepting black females had been reached . . . further thrusting her to 
fight vigorously to eliminate racial and gender inequality.
  Dr. Height, described as the ``glue'' that held together the family 
of black civil rights leaders, was the most influential and often the 
only female voice at the table working to emphasize and amplify social 
injustice across this country.
  Familiar with the strength, compassion and courage of women such as 
Fannie Lou Hamer, at the height of the civil rights movement, Dr. 
Height helped to organize ``Wednesdays in Mississippi'', a project to 
create a dialogue of understanding between both interracial and 
interfaith groups from the North and South.
  Dr. Height, through her selfless acts and noble devotion to the 
movement, encouraged President Dwight D. Eisenhower to desegregate 
schools and President Lyndon B. Johnson to appoint African-American 
women to positions in government in the 1960s.
  Dr. Height rose through the ranks of leadership and became the 
President of the National Council of Negro Women (NCNW) while 
simultaneously leading the Young Women's Christian Association (YWCA), 
an organization she had been discriminated against by as a child.
  Additionally, Dr. Height served as the National President of Delta 
Sigma Theta Sorority, Incorporated from 1946-1957 and later helped from 
the National Black Family Reunion that celebrated and promoted the 
tradition, tenacity and history of the black family.
  Today, I would like to honor the life and eternal legacy of one of 
our Nation's greatest heroes and humanitarians.
  Dr. Height's legacy as one of the 20th century's social justice 
giants will live forever. Her lifetime of contributions to education, 
gender equality and broad civil rights issues inspires all, as she was 
not afraid to tackle the biggest, most looming issues of her day.
  For that, we are grateful and eternally indebted.
  Mr. JOHNSON of Georgia. Madam Speaker, I rise today to express my 
strong support for H. Res 1281, Honoring the life and achievements of 
Dr. Dorothy Irene Height. I would also like to commend Representative 
Fudge, the sponsor of this resolution, for her commitment to preserving 
the accomplishments of Dr. Height.
  Madam Speaker, as a life-long crusader for women's rights, civil 
rights, racial justice and gender equality, the legacy of Dr. Height's 
efforts can be seen in many facets of American life, from school 
integration to voting rights, and fair labor standards.
  Born in Richmond, VA in 1912, Dr. Height, the valedictorian of her 
high school class, soon encountered the first of many obstacles to 
equality that she would face, after being denied entrance to Barnard 
College due to discriminatory admissions practices. She later went on 
to graduate from New York University in 1932 and earned a masters 
degree in educational psychology the following year. Inspired by the 
efforts of Adam Clayton Powell Sr. and Mary McLeod Bethune, the 
president of the Harlem YWCA, she took as job on the staff of the YWCA 
in 1944, where she remained until 1975. From her position on the YWCA 
staff, Dr. Height was instrumental in providing leadership training and 
education, eventually organizing and directing the YWCA's Center for 
Racial Justice.
  In 1957, Dr. Height was named the fourth president of the National 
Council of Negro Women, a position she maintained through the height of 
the civil rights movement. Over the next four decades, she would use 
her influence to develop a national platform for a wide range of issues 
regarding civil rights. The creator of programs such as Wednesdays in 
Mississippi, this 1960s effort brought together interracial groups of 
women to volunteer at Freedom schools and with voter registration 
drives, to improve education and civil rights across the State. She 
would later oversee the ``pig bank'' program through the 70s and 80s. 
The program was designed as a sustainable initiative to provide pigs to 
poor families throughout Mississippi.
  Madam Speaker, although Dr. Height's work never drew the national 
recognition of other well known civil rights activists, her efforts 
have not gone unnoticed. This did not trouble her, however, as she once 
said, ``If you worry about who is going to get credit, you don't get 
much work done''.
  She would go on to receive several honors including the Presidential 
Citizens Medal in 1989, the Franklin Delano Roosevelt Freedom from Want 
Award in 1993, and the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 1994. I applaud 
the House of Representatives for honoring Dr. Height's lifetime of 
leadership, her many cultural contributions to American society, and 
her service to her fellow citizens. Please join me in supporting this 
resolution.
  Mr. CANTOR. Madam Speaker, today, I am honored to commemorate the 
life and many achievements of Dr. Dorothy Irene Height. Born in my 
hometown of Richmond, Virginia on March 24, 1912, Dr. Height became a 
leader and national champion of the civil rights movement.
  As one of the only women at the table when contemporaries like 
Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and others were formulating plans 
for the civil rights movement, Dr. Height distinguished herself as a 
civil rights activist and leader. Faced with many obstacles, Dorothy 
overcame each and every challenge taking

[[Page H2749]]

on many leadership roles throughout her career, including President of 
the National Council of Negro Women (NCNW), President of Delta Sigma 
Theta Sorority, and her thirty-three years of service with the Young 
Women's Christian Association (YWCA).
  Her wise counsel has been sought by many American leaders such as 
First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt. She has also earned several awards, 
including the Presidential Medal of Freedom an I was proud to add my 
name to a bill in 2003 that was supported unanimously in Congress to 
award Dr. Height the Congressional Gold Medal. Though we are saddened 
by Dr. Height's recent passing, it is my firm belief that she will be 
an inspiration for future generations of Americans and will always be 
remembered for her hard work, courage, and determination in the fight 
for equality and opportunity for all.
  Mr. VAN HOLLEN. Madam Speaker, I rise today as a cosponsor of this 
resolution to honor and celebrate the life of Dr. Dorothy Irene Height.
  Widely recognized as the godmother of the civil rights movement, Dr. 
Height devoted her life to the cause of equality and justice for all 
people. A social worker by training, Dr. Height served on the staff of 
the Young Women's Christian Association for thirty three years and as 
president of the National Council of Negro Women for four decades. With 
uncommon dignity and her trademark hats, Dr. Height advised Presidents 
from Dwight Eisenhower to Barack Obama. In the 1960s, she organized the 
``Wednesdays in Mississippi'' initiative to further understanding 
between white women and black women in the north and the south. She 
penned a regular column called ``A Woman's Word'' in the venerable 
African-American weekly the New York Amsterdam News. And she chronicled 
her unique experience in the leadership of the civil rights movement in 
her 2005 memoir ``Open Wide The Freedom Gates''. For her service to our 
nation, Dr. Height was presented with the Presidential Citizens Medal 
by President Reagan in 1989, the Presidential Medal of Honor from 
President Clinton in 1994 and the Congressional Medal of Honor in 2004.
  Today, I add my voice to those celebrating her life's work and 
achievements, and I yield back the balance of my time.
  Ms. CORRINE BROWN of Florida. Madam Speaker, I was saddened to hear 
of the loss of one of the foremost leaders of the civil rights movement 
and a true national treasure, Dr. Dorothy Height. I always say, when 
you're born you get a birth certificate, and when you die you get a 
death certificate--but it's what you do with the dash in between that 
really matters. And that saying really encapsulates the essence of 
Dorothy Height's life.
  As an African-American woman and longtime Member of the Congressional 
Black Caucus, I am particularly grateful for the courage, wisdom and 
determination she employed to create opportunities for women and for 
African Americans in our country.
  Dorothy Height began her career in 1937 by serving those in dire need 
as a welfare caseworker and had the ear of every President since 
Eisenhower. Most recently, she was an honored guest and seated 
dignitaries at the inauguration of President Barack Obama. Along the 
way, Dr. Height was behind every major civil rights movement and 
progressive effort for social change throughout the century.
  As president of the National Council of Negro Women for four decades, 
she tackled issues that affected all women, including child care for 
working mothers, health and nutrition, as well as providing housing for 
families in need. As a civil rights activist, Dr. Height participated 
in protests in Harlem during the 1930s, and went on to be instrumental 
in lobbying first lady Eleanor Roosevelt on behalf of civil rights 
causes a few years later. Dr. Height was also a key player in 
advocating for President Dwight D. Eisenhower to move more aggressively 
on school desegregation issues. Dr. Height is one of two people to earn 
all three of our nation's highest civilian honors: the Presidential 
Citizens Award (1989), the Presidential Medal of Freedom (1994) and the 
Congressional Gold Medal (2004).
  My thoughts and prayers are with the family, friends, and loved ones 
of Dr. Dorothy Height. The nation will never forget her, the mother of 
the civil rights movement, especially those of us who have followed her 
lead in working for social justice.
  Mr. CONYERS. I yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentleman from Michigan (Mr. Conyers) that the House suspend the rules 
and agree to the resolution, H. Res. 1281.
  The question was taken; and (two-thirds being in the affirmative) the 
rules were suspended and the resolution was agreed to.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

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