[Congressional Record Volume 163, Number 198 (Tuesday, December 5, 2017)]
[House]
[Page H9630]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
RETIREMENT OF DEAN OF THE UNITED STATES CONGRESS
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Chair recognizes the gentlewoman from
Texas (Ms. Jackson Lee) for 5 minutes.
Ms. JACKSON LEE. Mr. Speaker, a few minutes ago, in Detroit, the dean
of the United States Congress offered his retirement immediately. He
has asked me, a member of the Judiciary Committee, to offer his words
to his colleagues and to put his statement in the Record that indicates
that he has notified Speaker Ryan, Leader Pelosi, and Governor Snyder
of his retirement from the United States House of Representatives.
It is important to note, as I begin, that there is no difference or
no undermining of the rights of women and the abhorrence of sexual
harassment and sexual assault. But this is a statement that I believe
should be read on behalf of the dean of the United States Congress, Mr.
John Conyers.
{time} 1100
As a Member of Congress, I have known Mr. Conyers to not shy away
from a legislative challenge. In addition to being the first Member to
introduce the Martin Luther King holiday bill, he was the first to hold
hearings on police misconduct, the first to examine the problem of
solitary confinement, the first to offer racial profiling legislation,
the first to introduce legislation protecting against
disenfranchisement of ex-felons, and the first to pursue legislation
protecting Black farmers from discrimination, among many other civil
rights measures.
In 2007, Representative Conyers stood up for the prerogatives of the
House of Representatives and successfully brought a suit against the
former President Bush White House for failing to comply with subpoenas
relating to a U.S. attorney's investigation.
He has been the chairman of the Judiciary Committee; and he will
continue to, in his life, as he has indicated, stand for what is right.
It is now my privilege to read this statement from Mr. John Conyers.
I reiterate that he says that he notified Speaker Ryan, Leader Pelosi,
and Governor Snyder of his retirement from the United States House of
Representatives.
It was his honor--these are his words--and his privilege to serve the
constituents of Detroit, Michigan, as their United States Congressman
in the 13th and 14th Congressional District for 53 years.
This is his statement again:
I came to Congress in 1964. Since then, I have devoted my
entire career to improving the lives of my constituents in
Detroit and on the behalf of justice everywhere. These years
witnessed a profound evolution in civil rights, led by
millions in the streets who marched for justice and people of
conscience in the Congress--both Democrats and Republicans--
who heard them and enacted the Civil Rights Act, the Voting
Rights Act, and other landmark reforms. I have been in the
forefront of the civil rights movement. I have been a
champion of justice for the oppressed and the
disenfranchised. I never wavered in my commitment to justice
and democracy.
I am proud to have been part of that rich history. I have
been privileged to be a founder of the Congressional Black
Caucus and to represent the United States Congress by being
dean.
I passed, as indicated, the law dealing with the Martin
Luther King, Jr., Holiday Act, the Violence Against Women
Act, the Hate Crimes Act, the USA Freedom Act, and the
extension of the Voting Rights Act. I have led the fight
against mandatory minimum sentences, hoping to reverse the
devastating incarceration rates for African Americans and
poor people. I have tried to pass a universal healthcare law,
H.R. 676. Every Congress since 1989, I have introduced H.R.
40 to study reparations for slavery, and I deeply appreciate
those handful of courageous colleagues who have joined me.
For Detroiters, I am proud of what we have been able to
accomplish to bring hundreds of millions of dollars in
critical grants and Federal funding for southeast Michigan to
revitalize our great city, attract rich talent, and return to
us prosperity.
I recognize that in this present environment, due process
will not be afforded to me. I was taught by a great woman, my
mother, to honor women. The first employee I ever hired was
Mrs. Rosa Parks, who worked in my office for 22 years. It has
been my great honor to work alongside some of the most
talented and honorable staff on Capitol Hill and in Detroit.
I have stated my position on these allegations. I have
worked with both women and men.
Given the totality of the circumstance of not being
afforded the right of due process in conjunction with my
current health condition, and to preserve my legacy and good
name, I am retiring.
I hope that my retirement will be viewed in the larger
perspective of my record of service, and as I enter a new
chapter, I pledge to continue my commitment to a progressive
vision and a better future for this country that I love. I
owe that to the legacy of my father, John Conyers, Sr., who
integrated labor unions in this country; to my brother
Nathan, who integrated business, and he is my ``main man;''
and to my loving wife, Monica; and to my son, John III, who I
believe offers hope to this generation of leadership, and who
is committed to being an advocate of fairness and justice for
all; and to Carl Edward, who never leaves my side.
I cannot allow the great work of this body to be distracted
from the important work, or the goals of the Democratic Party
to be distracted. It has been an honor and a privilege of my
life to represent the people of Michigan in the House of
Representatives, but that responsibility will now fall to my
colleagues and my successor. They have my deepest support and
prayers. Jobs, justice, and peace.
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