[Congressional Record Volume 156, Number 104 (Wednesday, July 14, 2010)]
[House]
[Pages H5561-H5563]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
TOM BRADLEY POST OFFICE BUILDING
Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and
pass the bill (H.R. 5450) to designate the facility of the United
States Postal Service located at 3894 Crenshaw Boulevard in Los
Angeles, California, as the ``Tom Bradley Post Office Building''.
The Clerk read the title of the bill.
The text of the bill is as follows:
H.R. 5450
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of
the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. TOM BRADLEY POST OFFICE BUILDING.
(a) Designation.--The facility of the United States Postal
Service located at 3894 Crenshaw Boulevard in Los Angeles,
California, shall be known and designated as the ``Tom
Bradley Post Office Building''.
(b) References.--Any reference in a law, map, regulation,
document, paper, or other record of the United States to the
facility referred to in subsection (a) shall be deemed to be
a reference to the ``Tom Bradley Post Office Building''.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from
Illinois (Mr. Davis) and the gentleman from Utah (Mr. Chaffetz) each
will control 20 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Illinois.
General Leave
Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all
Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their
remarks.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the
gentleman from Illinois?
There was no objection.
Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as she may
consume to the gentlewoman from Los Angeles, California (Ms. Watson),
the author of this legislation.
Ms. WATSON. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 5450. I
would also like to thank the members of the California delegation for
supporting this bill.
H.R. 5450 would designate a Post Office in my district located at
3894 Crenshaw Boulevard in Los Angeles, California, as the Tom Bradley
Post Office Building.
Tom Bradley served as the mayor of Los Angeles for an unprecedented
20 years, as a city councilman for 10 years, and as a Los Angeles
police officer for 21 years. Tom Bradley, the son of sharecroppers and
the grandson of a former slave, was born on December 29, 1917, to Lee
and Crenner Bradley in Calvert, Texas. In 1924, the Bradleys moved to
Los Angeles near Temple and Alvarado Streets.
A young Tom Bradley attended Polytechnic High School, where he
starred in track and was an all-city football player. Upon graduating
from high school in 1937, Bradley attended the University of California
at Los Angeles on a track scholarship. During his junior year at UCLA,
Bradley dropped out to attend the Los Angeles Police Academy.
After becoming a police officer in 1940 and serving many years in the
department, Tom Bradley would rise to the rank of lieutenant, which was
the highest rank for an African American at that time.
While working for the Los Angeles Police Department, Bradley studied
at night at Southwestern University School of Law and received his law
degree in 1956. He later passed the State bar, and in 1961 he would
leave the LAPD to practice law.
In 1963, Tom Bradley, along with Billy Mills, would become the first
African Americans elected to the Los Angeles City Council. Bradley
would serve on the City Council until the year 1972. During his tenure
on the City Council, he would speak out against racial segregation
within the LAPD, as well as the department's handling of the Watts
riots in 1965.
In 1969, Tom Bradley first challenged incumbent mayor Sam Yorty.
Armed with key endorsements, Bradley held a substantial lead over Yorty
in the primary, but was a few percentage points shy of winning the race
outright. However, in the runoff, Yorty pulled an amazing come-from-
behind victory to win reelection, primarily because he played racial
politics.
In 1973, Tom Bradley would unseat Sam Yorty to become Los Angeles'
first African American mayor and the second African American to be
mayor of a major United States city.
During Tom Bradley's tenure as mayor, Los Angeles overtook San
Francisco as the financial capital of the State and much of the West.
The
[[Page H5562]]
City of Los Angeles sprouted a skyline of new and impressive office
buildings, and with a booming international airport and Port of Los
Angeles, the city became a transportation hub and gateway to the
Pacific rim.
In 1982, as the Democratic Party nominee, Tom Bradley lost the race
for California governor to George Deukmejian by less than 1 percentage
point of the vote. The racial dynamics that appeared to underlie his
narrow and unexpected loss in 1982 gave rise to the political term
``the Tom Bradley effect.''
In 1984, amid a chorus of people predicting disaster, Tom Bradley
championed Los Angeles as the host of the Summer Olympics. The games
were a huge success, bringing the city not only great publicity, but a
$250 million surplus, and I am happy to announce that that surplus has
grown and it still remains around $300 million.
Tom Bradley's most difficult moments as mayor came in the last years
of his tenure. During the 1992 Los Angeles riots, more than 50 people
were killed in the civil unrest following the acquittal of the police
officers involved in the Rodney King beating.
During a speech in September of 1992 when Bradley announced he would
not seek a sixth term as mayor, he stated, ``The April unrest tore at
my heart, and I will not be at peace until we have healed our wounds
and rebuilt our neighborhoods. Let us all, every one of us, pledge to
make Los Angeles a beacon of mutual respect, justice and tolerance from
this day forward.''
{time} 1120
The words of tolerance, justice, and respect were how Tom Bradley
lived his life, governed the city of Los Angeles, and created
coalitions with people from every race, religion, and ethnic
background.
At the age of 80, Tom Bradley died on September 29, 1998. He was
survived by his late wife, Ethel Bradley, and their two daughters,
Lorraine and Phyllis. The city of Los Angeles will never have a mayor
that served as long as Tom Bradley and had the type of impact and
influence he commanded. For this Congress to give Tom Bradley this
honor would be fitting, due to his life's work as a public servant
working to bring justice and prosperity to all citizens of Los Angeles.
And I proudly, Mr. Speaker, would like all of you to know Tom Bradley
followed my father, who was a police officer in Los Angeles, and he was
proud to say that he helped to train him.
Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support H.R. 5450.
Mr. CHAFFETZ. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 5450, to designate the
facility of the United States Postal Service located at 3894 Crenshaw
Boulevard in Los Angeles, California, as the ``Tom Bradley Post Office
Building.'' Mr. Speaker, it is altogether fitting and proper that we
name this for the late Mayor Tom Bradley, a man who tirelessly and
selflessly served the citizens of Los Angeles, and who truly embodies
the quintessential American success story.
Born in Calvert, Texas, on December 29, 1917, Mayor Bradley was the
son of sharecroppers and the grandson of a slave. In 1924, he moved to
Los Angeles, where he was raised by his single mother and excelled in
school and athletics. Upon graduation from high school, Mayor Bradley
attended the University of California at Los Angeles, or UCLA, where he
ran track and field, as well as achieving multiple records, and
eventually became the team captain. When he graduated from UCLA in
1940, Mayor Bradley joined the Los Angeles Police Department and
eventually was promoted to the rank of lieutenant. He was the first
African American in the department's history to attain that rank. While
working for the LAPD, Mr. Bradley attended Southwestern Law School at
night and graduated in 1956. He passed the State Bar of California on
the first try, and in 1961 resigned from the LAPD so he could practice
law full time.
Mr. Speaker, like so many of us, Tom Bradley entered politics because
he cared about the community in which he resided. In 1949, he
volunteered for an Los Angeles City Council campaign and during his
time at the LAPD he became active in the Democratic Minority Conference
and the California Democratic Council. In 1963, he threw his hat into
the political ring and was elected to the Los Angeles City Council,
representing the city's 10th District. That year marked the first time
in the city's history that an African American was elected to the city
council, Bradley being one of those three.
After winning reelection in 1967, the always ambitious Bradley ran
for mayor of Los Angeles in 1969. After winning the primary, Bradley
lost in a runoff in his bid for mayor to Sam Yorty. Not discouraged by
the outcome of his first try for mayor, Bradley ran again in 1973, this
time beating Sam Yorty. Bradley became the first African American
elected as mayor of Los Angeles. Mayor Bradley was able to win by
building a multiethnic coalition that transcended race and united
residents from all walks of life.
Tom Bradley would go on to serve five consecutive terms. During his
20 years in office, Mayor Bradley did much for the citizens of Los
Angeles. Under his stewardship, Los Angeles became the financial
capital of California and gained international prominence as the
gateway to the Pacific Rim. Not only did Bradley promote and expand
international trade and travel through Los Angeles, he improved social
services and the lives of those struggling most in the inner city.
Mayor Bradley doubled the number of minorities and women working in
City Hall. And though he endured much opposition, he successfully
brought civilian control over the Los Angeles Police Department.
Aside from the economic development and skyline of new and impressive
buildings in downtown Los Angeles, many would argue that Mayor
Bradley's greatest accomplishment surrounded the 1984 Summer Olympics
hosted in Los Angeles. Amid much skepticism, Mayor Bradley was able to
not only bring the games to Los Angeles, but he helped make them a huge
success. Los Angeles received fame and publicity. And when the games
left town, Los Angeles had a $250 million surplus that evidently
continues to grow. After serving five terms as mayor, Tom Bradley
resigned in 1993. He was the city's longest-serving mayor.
Tragically, in 1996, Mayor Bradley suffered a debilitating stroke
that left him partially paralyzed and not able to speak. Then, on
September 29, 1998, Mayor Bradley passed away after suffering a heart
attack. He was 80 years old. Surviving him was his wife of 57 years,
Ethel Arnold Bradley, as well as his two daughters, Lorraine and
Phyllis.
Mr. Speaker, in closing, I leave this body with a quote from Mayor
Bradley upon his resignation as mayor, where he said, ``Let us all,
every one of us, pledge to make Los Angeles a beacon of mutual respect,
justice, and tolerance from this day forward.'' I firmly believe this
is a pledge that not only Angelenos should take, but that all Americans
should consider.
Mr. Speaker, it is proper that we pass this legislation in honor of
the memory of Mayor Tom Bradley, a true American hero and success
story. I urge all Members to support this bill.
Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for time, and I yield back
the balance of my time.
Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may
consume.
Mr. Speaker, on behalf of the House Committee on Oversight and
Government Reform, I am pleased to present H.R. 5450 for consideration.
This measure would designate the facility of the United States Postal
Service located at 3894 Crenshaw Boulevard in Los Angeles California as
the ``Tom Bradley Post Office Building.''
H.R. 5450 was introduced by my colleague, the gentlewoman from
California, Representative Diane Watson, on May 27, 2010. It was
referred to the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, which
ordered it reported favorably by unanimous consent on June 17, 2010.
The measure enjoys the bipartisan support of 52 members of the
California delegation.
Mr. Speaker, Tom Bradley was born on December 29, 1917, in Calvert,
Texas. The son of a sharecropper and the grandson of former slaves, Mr.
Bradley achieved many firsts over the course of his career in Los
Angeles, where he moved with his family as a child. He
[[Page H5563]]
was the first African American lieutenant in the Los Angeles Police
Department, where he served for 22 years. He took night classes at the
Southwestern University School of Law during this time and received a
law degree in 1956. In 1963, he was elected to the Los Angeles City
Council and was its first African American member. He was also the
city's first African American mayor as well as the longest-serving
mayor in the city's history, serving from 1974 to 1994.
Mr. Bradley was a physically imposing figure, standing well over 6
feet tall, but his manner was soft, low-key, and calming. He helped
lead Los Angeles through difficult times, including the first energy
crisis of 1973 to 1974, and helped to boost economic development and
investment in the city. Following the riots associated with the Rodney
King incident in 1992, Mr. Bradley, along with then-Governor Pete
Wilson, formed the Rebuild Los Angeles Task Force, an extensive effort
to revitalize the city. Mr. Bradley also formed the Christopher
Commission in July of 1991, charging it with conducting ``a full and
fair examination of the structure and operation of the Los Angeles
Police Department, including its recruitment and training practices,
internal disciplinary system, and citizen complaint system.''
{time} 1130
And so, Mr. Speaker, Mr. Bradley's leadership, vision for his
community, and skill as a conscientious administrator are inspirations
to us all. Let us now pay tribute to this great American through the
passage of H.R. 5450. I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting it.
Again, I commend Representative Diane Watson for introducing this
legislation. It deserves all of our votes, and I would urge its
passage.
Ms. RICHARDSON. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 5450,
which honors long-time Los Angeles Mayor Tom Bradley by designating the
United States Postal Service located at 3894 Crenshaw Boulevard in Los
Angeles, California, the ``Tom Bradley Post Office Building.'' H.R.
5450 is an important measure that commends a man who has left a lasting
and positive impact on the Los Angeles community and our nation.
I would like to thank Chairman Towns for his leadership in bringing
this bill to the floor. I also thank the sponsor of this legislation,
Congresswoman Watson, for taking the time to honor Tom Bradley and his
historic contributions to our ration's social and economic progress.
Mr. Speaker, Mayor Tom Bradley did much to improve the city of Los
Angeles during his record five terms as mayor. In his 20 years in
office, Los Angeles successfully hosted the 1984 Olympics and passed
Chicago to become the second most populous city in the country. These
changing dynamics brought social challenges that demanded incredible
leadership from Mayor Bradley. After the 1992 Rodney King riots he
worked tirelessly to rebuild Los Angeles and continue the process of
racial reconciliation. Mayor Bradley famously stated, ``The April
unrest tore at my heart, and I will not be at peace until we have
healed our wounds and rebuilt our neighborhoods. Let us all, every one
of us, pledge to make Los Angeles a beacon of mutual respect, justice
and tolerance from this day forward.''
Prior to his record five terms as mayor of Los Angeles, Tom Bradley
served on the Los Angeles City Council from 1963 to 1972. In 1963, he
and Mr. Billy G. Mills became the first African Americans elected to
the City Council. The district that he represented was based around the
ethnically diverse Crenshaw neighborhood. During his tenure, he spoke
out against racial segregation within the LAPD, as well as the
department's mishandling of the Watts Riots in 1965.
Growing up in the Los Angeles area, Mayor Tom Bradley had a positive
impact on my life. His service to our community, commitment to social
and economic progress, and hard work to bring about racial
reconciliation was an example that inspired me to get involved in
public service. I am grateful for the progress that he led in the Los
Angeles community.
Mr. Speaker, it is entirely fitting that we honor and express our
national gratitude for Mayor Tom Bradley's record service, during which
time he worked on behalf of millions of Americans and helped fight
poverty, inequality, and social injustice. The U.S. Postal Service
building at 3894 Crenshaw Boulevard will honor a great humanitarian,
politician, and all around remarkable individual. Naming a post office
in his honor is the least we can do to recognize Mayor Tom Bradley's
great contributions to the Los Angeles community and our nation.
Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting H.R. 5450.
Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for
time, and I yield back the balance of my time.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the
gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Davis) that the House suspend the rules
and pass the bill, H.R. 5450.
The question was taken; and (two-thirds being in the affirmative) the
rules were suspended and the bill was passed.
A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.
____________________