[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 154 (2008), Part 13]
[House]
[Pages 18024-18036]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




EXPRESSING THE CONDOLENCES OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES ON THE DEATH 
OF THE HONORABLE STEPHANIE TUBBS JONES, A REPRESENTATIVE FROM THE STATE 
                                OF OHIO

  Ms. KAPTUR. Mr. Speaker, I rise this evening in order to consider the 
bereavement resolution in memory of our beloved colleague.
  The Clerk read the resolution, as follows:

                              H. Res. 1415

       Resolved, That the House has heard with profound sorrow of 
     the death of the Honorable Stephanie Tubbs Jones, a 
     Representative from the State of Ohio.
       Resolved, That the Clerk communicate these resolutions to 
     the Senate and transmit a copy thereof to the family of the 
     deceased.
       Resolved, That when the House adjourns today, it adjourn as 
     a further mark of respect to the memory of the deceased.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The gentlewoman from Ohio is recognized for 
1 hour.
  Ms. KAPTUR. Mr. Speaker and colleagues, it is with a profound sense 
of sadness, as well as a deep sense of privilege that I rise this 
evening to commemorate and to celebrate the life of our friend, 
colleague, and sister, Congresswoman Stephanie Tubbs Jones of Ohio's 
11th District. This evening, we do this with the deepest gratitude for 
her life, and on behalf of our entire Ohio delegation, the people of 
our State, her home city of Cleveland, and citizens far and wide, who 
were blessed to know and walk, work, worship and smile along with 
Stephanie.
  On the day of her funeral, the Cleveland Plain Dealer, or actually it 
was the day after, the Sunday Plain Dealer, had a very large photo of 
the memorial service held in Cleveland, Ohio. And the headline read, 
Stephanie Tubbs Jones, 1949 to 2008: Tears flow, laughter rolls during 
memorial service. And the paper goes on to recount so many beautiful, 
beautiful remarks and remembrances that people across this country 
attributed to her life. We will be placing this in the Congressional 
Record, as well as I would like to read from my home paper, the Toledo 
Blade, way on the other side of the State from where Stephanie 
represented. It stated, a leader passes, the loss of her fighting 
spirit will be keenly felt, deeply mourned and difficult to replace.
  I think particularly this evening of her son, Mervyn. We wish him 
comfort, and we wish him her strength as he mourns her passing.
  We all know that when one met Stephanie, you knew you had met 
strength. You knew you had met someone who endured struggle. She had a 
keen intelligence, a high-minded idealism, and wow, her charisma just 
overflowed.
  The other day I was in my district and I met a man from Cleveland who 
had gone to school with Stephanie. And I said, tell me, was Stephanie 
always that enthusiastic? He said, ``Marcy, I went to law school with 
her. She never changed.''
  And from the time she was in her late teens and early 20s to her 
service here, she had the same boundless energy, drive and positive 
spirit.
  She was a devoted wife, a beloved mother, a sister to us all, and an 
elected leader, in that order. And she relished all of her life's 
roles. Her drive and energy were genuine, and they were infectious. And 
she carved a nobler path for America with her election as the first 
African American woman from Ohio to serve in the U.S. Congress. We 
Ohioans were very proud of her.
  I know that I, like my colleagues, have so many vivid lasting 
memories of Stephanie. Upon her first swearing in, I still recall a 
little table in a reception hall here where I was able to present her 
with a single red rose as

[[Page 18025]]

she was sitting next to her predecessor, Congressman Louis Stokes, and 
how she poignantly responded. She knew the steepness of the climb.
  I recall my efforts to comfort her on the loss of her husband, and 
she immediately reciprocated as she shared with me, over my Blackberry, 
a favorite poem from which she drew succor.
  Imagine how many memories each of us has, how many thousands of lives 
she touched, representing a district and State that tested her talents, 
her spirit, and her conscience daily. She served people well beyond her 
district, logging thousands of miles in freedom's cause.
  I don't think I saw Stephanie too many times without that little 
valise in the back room here. She was always going somewhere. She held 
a hard job, and she put her entire being into it. She literally gave 
herself to us. And in her memory, we should dedicate ourselves to her 
unfinished work.
  One can imagine how few women have ever served in the Congress from 
our State. To those afforded the privilege, there is a priceless bond 
that links our spirits and provides support.
  Stephanie was such a valued sister. Though her years with us were far 
too short, her impact endures well beyond the years. She made history. 
She spoke her conscience, and she reveled in every step of the journey.
  Thanks be to God, she did not suffer in the end. The Lord spared her 
that, perhaps as, through her life, she had endured too much personal 
sadness and loss that would have broken lesser spirits.
  In loss, Stephanie's strength strengthens us. Her enduring personal 
legacy of character and endurance, beyond her milestone achievements, 
remain the portrait of her life. Our delegation is especially honored 
to fittingly commemorate her life and achievements here this evening.

             [From the Sunday Plain Dealer, Aug. 31, 2008]

  Stephanie Tubbs Jones, 1949-2008: Tears Flow, Laughter Rolls During 
                            Memorial Service

                            (By Tony Brown)

       It was a moment that surely would have earned one of the 
     wide, knowing smiles remembered so well by all the friends of 
     Stephanie Tubbs Jones.
       Rep. Tim Ryan of Niles, the man Tubbs Jones used to call 
     her ``white son,'' and fellow Congressman Kendrick Meek of 
     Florida, whom she nicknamed her ``black son,'' had just 
     finished moving tributes to their congressional ``mom.''
       That's when Mervyn Jones II, her real son, slipped out of 
     his front-row seat to join his ``brothers'' in an intimate, 
     tearful embrace in front of thousands gathered to bid 
     farewell to the first black woman elected to Congress from 
     Ohio.
       The three remained locked in each other's arms well into 
     remarks made by former Rep. Louis Stokes, the man whose seat 
     Tubbs Jones inherited in 1989.
       After the men returned to their places, Sen. Barack Obama--
     the son of a black father and a white mother who grew up to 
     become the first black presidential nominee of a major U.S. 
     political party--turned in his chair to console a still-
     sobbing Meek.
       In that moment, amid the grieving and the laughter and the 
     consolation and the stories and the campaign rhetoric of the 
     celebration of a life well-lived, everyone under the vaulted 
     ceiling of Public Hall--all friends of Tubbs Jones--shared in 
     that group hug.
       It was a hug that encircled the woman whose body lay in a 
     flag-draped casket that rested on a square of red carpet in 
     front of the stage: Rep. Stephanie Tubbs Jones, who died of a 
     burst brain aneurysm on Aug. 20 at the age of 58.
       Friend was a word heard over and over as the nation's most 
     powerful Democratic leaders, fresh from Obama's nomination in 
     Denver, joined religious leaders and Tubbs Jones' beloved 
     constituents, family and sorority sisters in testifying to 
     the immensity of Tubbs Jones' spirit.
       Former President Bill Clinton, not scheduled to speak but 
     unable to help himself, called his relationship with Tubbs 
     Jones ``16 years of astonishing friendship.''
       So astonishing that Tubbs Jones continued to support a 
     failing presidential bid by his wife, Sen. Hillary Clinton, 
     well after many of the congresswoman's constituents had voted 
     for Obama.
       ``She was not a fair-weather friend,'' Hillary Clinton told 
     the crowd.
       ``I certainly know what that means. Now, her friendship was 
     not uncritical. When she was your friend, she felt it her 
     responsibility to inform you of all the matters that needed 
     improvement.''
       Obama, Clinton's opponent for the party's presidential 
     nomination, also counted himself among Tubbs Jones' buddies.
       ``I am here today to pay tribute to an extraordinary 
     American and a devoted public servant, a mother, a daughter, 
     a sister, a wife and a dear friend to so many here in 
     Cleveland, so many in Ohio and so many across America.
       ``And during the most recent contest, Stephanie and I were 
     on different sides, and we would see each other, she would 
     say to me, ``This is what it means to be a friend for me.' 
     All I could say is, `I understand.' ''
       There were more words of praise and prayer from elected 
     officials, some quoting Shakespeare and Scripture, during the 
     three-hour-and-47-minute marathon of tributes.
       Speakers included Sen. Sherrod Brown, Mayor Frank Jackson, 
     Cuyahoga County Commissioner Jimmy Dimora, Rep. Carolyn 
     Kilpatrick of Michigan and Ohio Gov. Ted Strickland.
       And they told plenty of funny and poignant stories.
       Perhaps the funniest and most poignant was recounted by 
     Bill Clinton, who recalled accompanying Tubbs Jones to Puerto 
     Rico on a primary campaign visit for his wife.
       ``Now, how Stephanie became a native Puerto Rican in 15 
     minutes, I'll never know,'' Clinton said, warming to his 
     subject.
       They went into a shop, Clinton said, where Tubbs Jones 
     admired a piece of locally made jewelry. Clinton bought it 
     surreptitiously and presented it to her.
       ``She looked at me and laughed and she said, `You know, I 
     really like this,' she says. `It's not often a man'll give a 
     woman a piece of jewelry and not want anything for it.' I 
     totally lost it.''
       So did Clinton's audience. As the laughter died down, the 
     former president moved in for the kicker.
       ``I looked at her and said, `Stephanie, you have given me 
     and our family more, you have given your people and this 
     country more than you will ever know.' ''
       In addition to the eloquent politicians who were gathered, 
     there were plenty of just plain friends who laughed and wept 
     and patted each other on the back to the rhythm of hymns like 
     ``Amazing Grace'' and ``Canaan's Happy Shore.''
       Some of the late arrivals almost didn't make it into the 
     funeral.
       At 11:30 a.m., about 30 minutes after the service began, 
     Secret Service officers blocked the entrance. ``The event is 
     closed,'' one told approaching visitors.
       Within minutes, the number lingering at the entrance grew 
     to more than a dozen. They spoke in shared disbelief. 
     ``Stephanie would not want this,'' one woman said angrily.
       Someone in charge agreed. Within minutes, the officers 
     stepped aside. Newcomers flowed into the cavernous auditorium 
     until well past noon.
       One of the most moving speakers the Friends of Stephanie 
     heard Saturday was no politician or preacher.
       She was a 16-year-old named Tiffany Robertson, a member of 
     an all-girls health careers class at Cleveland's Martin 
     Luther King Jr. High School that Tubbs Jones took under her 
     wing two years ago.
       `` `This is the future,' '' Tiffany recalled Jones telling 
     the girls.
       The congresswoman took time from her political and 
     legislative schedule to visit the class and take them places. 
     She took them to church one Sunday, but Tiffany had to work.
       So Jones dropped by the workplace with Tiffany's classmates 
     in tow.
       ``We're family,'' Tiffany told her classmates, who stood in 
     a show of unity with their peer.
       ``We got to stick together. We got to carry on her legacy. 
     She was steward, protector and advocate to us.
       ``I will miss her as a friend.''
       ``There's a famous song a few years back . . . and the 
     refrain of the song says, `If you have a choice, to sit it 
     out or dance, I hope you dance.' And we all know that 
     Stephanie didn't sit it out, she danced.''--Tim Ryan, U.S. 
     Representative from Ohio.
       ``Stephanie was the kind of political leader who needed 
     hours to go grocery shopping because everyone she saw wanted 
     a moment of her time, and she willingly gave it. Because if 
     you met Stephanie, she was your friend.''--Ted Strickland, 
     Ohio Governor.
       ``Oftentimes, late at night, on the campaign trail, whether 
     the news had been good or bad, she would have a look in her 
     eye. Sometimes she would grab my hand, and she would say, 
     `Oh, I miss my husband, I wish he were here.' Well, they are 
     together now.''--Hillary Clinton, U.S. Senator.
       ``That's not the air show. The rumbling you hear is the 
     rearrangement of chairs in heaven.''--Dennis Eckart, Former 
     Representative standing outside Public Hall as a jet roared 
     by.
       ``I considered her my congresswoman as well. We talked all 
     the time about statewide issues.''--Michael Coleman, Columbus 
     Mayor.
       ``Whenever Stephanie came in contact with young people, she 
     inspired them, she taught them, she mentored them, she stayed 
     in touch with them. Her legacy is in their legacy.''--Sherrod 
     Brown, U.S. Senator from Ohio.
       ``Whenever we talked on the phone, she would say, 
     `Congresswoman, I love ya.' And I'd say: `I love you, too.' 
     She was a great congressman. She was a good friend. Thanks,

[[Page 18026]]

     Stephanie, I love ya.''--Louis Stokes, former U.S. 
     Representative from Ohio.
       ``For Stephanie, it wasn't enough to rise up from modest 
     circumstances and break so many barriers herself. She had to 
     reach back and pull others through the doors she opened.''--
     Barack Obama, Democratic presidential nominee.
       ``I want to let you know, Cleveland, that you were 
     represented by one of the best . . .Ladies and gentlemen, she 
     lived a life that was worth living.''--Kendrick Meek, U.S. 
     Representative from South Carolina.
       ``I'll always know her as Aunt Stephanie. She had a big 
     smile.''--Erin Norton, 24, of Cleveland, whose uncle lived 
     next to Tubbs Jones.
       ``All the good things she started, it's like she's still 
     living.''--Schuvar Murray, 37, of Cleveland.
                                  ____


                    [From the Blade, Aug. 24, 2008]

                            A Leader Passes

       Society's' downtrodden, disadvantaged, disillusioned, and 
     disconnected have lost an influential voice and ally in 
     Washington with the unexpected passing of Stephanie Tubbs 
     Jones, the first black woman to represent Ohio in the U.S. 
     House of Representatives.
       The 11th District representative from the east side of 
     Cleveland died Wednesday after suffering a brain hemorrhage.
       The loss to Ohio and the nation was described by one of her 
     colleagues as ``incalculable,'' and that was an 
     understatement. It was a setback for the cause of 
     impassioned, committed, gutsy leadership, especially for the 
     district, made up of east Cleveland and its nearby suburbs, 
     which Ms. Tubbs Jones served so tirelessly.
       A decade ago, the 58-year-old Democrat was handpicked by 
     U.S. Rep. Lou Stokes to be his successor after his legendary 
     stewardship of that congressional district for 30 years. Over 
     five terms, Mr. Stokes said, ``she took it to a higher level, 
     a new level. She made me so proud.''
       A gregarious leader, she also blazed trails for others with 
     a resume of many firsts--the first black woman to become a 
     judge of Cuyahoga County Common Pleas Court, as well as the 
     county's first black prosecutor, succeeding the storied John 
     T. Corrigan.
       In Washington, she was also the first black woman to sit on 
     the powerful House Ways and Means Committee, where she was a 
     force to be reckoned with. Fiercely partisan, but not 
     necessarily predictable, she was that unusual politician who 
     said what she meant and meant what she said.
       In 2001, she endorsed an unknown black lawyer for Cleveland 
     mayor over the more politically experienced Jane Campbell, 
     who eventually won. This year, she perplexed--and provoked--
     her constituents with her unflagging support of Hillary 
     Clinton for president over newcomer Barack Obama.
       But her word was her bond, said the Rev. Jesse Jackson. 
     ``It didn't waver in the wind.'' Like all congressional 
     Democrats, she was scheduled to serve as a super delegate at 
     the Democratic National Convention in Denver next week to 
     witness the formal nomination of Mr. Obama as the first black 
     candidate for president of the United States.
       Ms. Tubbs Jones, who once said she considered herself a 
     voice for minorities across the country, would have reveled 
     in the moment. The loss of her fighting spirit will be keenly 
     felt, deeply mourned, and difficult to replace.

                              {time}  1930

  Mr. Speaker, I would like to yield at this time to Congresswoman 
Betty Sutton from the Ohio delegation, the able Representative from 
Akron, Lorain.
  Ms. SUTTON. I thank the gentlewoman from Ohio for yielding me the 
time.
  And I, too, rise today with heaviness in my heart but also with a 
deep sense of gratitude and respect for my colleague, my friend, 
Stephanie Tubbs Jones. Her passing is truly a tragic loss for the 
people of Ohio's 11th District, whom she loved so very much, and for 
all of the people who she stood up for across this country.
  Stephanie was truly an historic figure in American politics. She 
achieved many firsts and she blazed many trails in a way that only 
Stephanie could. She was the first African American and first female 
prosecutor in Cuyahoga County, Ohio; the first African American woman 
to sit on the Common Pleas bench in Ohio; the first African American 
woman to be elected to Congress from Ohio, and the first African 
American woman to serve on the House Ways and Means Committee, a job 
she truly loved.
  Stephanie attacked her job as a Congresswoman with passion and a 
contagious enthusiasm on behalf of those she served. She was effective 
and determined. Her strength exceeded courage. She was fearless. She 
lived her life and represented her constituents giving it everything 
she had. She had no time for fear.
  Her amazing spirit touched and brightened so many lives, and with 
every first that Stephanie achieved, with every rung of the ladder she 
climbed, Stephanie always reached back to help others following behind. 
From encouraging the young women and men in her office who interned, to 
inspiring the young people from her hometown of Cleveland, Stephanie 
was a force. And she loved her staff and spoke of them as family. 
Stephanie was not pretentious. She treated all people as they should be 
treated, with dignity and respect.
  Mr. Speaker, when I first arrived in these hallowed Halls in January 
of 2007, I was very fortunate to have Stephanie here to help me. She 
was a colleague and a friend who I could turn to for advice not only on 
the many crucial issues that we face but also simply on how to navigate 
this body. And when I thanked her for helping me along, she would 
always wave a hand in the air and explain, ``Hey, we're sisters.'' 
Stephanie's friendship and mentorship were vital to me, and I am 
grateful that she touched my life
  Stephanie was honest and loyal. You could count on her word. She was 
the type of person who could lift up the spirits of those feeling down. 
She was willing to work with others for the good that was greater than 
just herself, but she was also tough and willing to fight as necessary 
to protect the rights of the people of this great country. Nowhere was 
this more evident than in the fight she led to ensure the integrity of 
our voting process. Stephanie also worked tirelessly to promote home 
ownership and to help keep families in their homes.
  But with all of her achievements, nothing compared to that of the 
strong young man that Stephanie raised, her son, Mervyn. Stephanie's 
face would beam when she talked about Mervyn. There could be no 
question beyond everything she gave in service, everything she 
accomplished, they all paled in comparison to how proud she was of 
Mervyn. She loved him and continues to love him beyond measure.
  Stephanie also had a beautiful and strong sister who she loved and 
appreciated so deeply. When Stephanie spoke of her sister Barbara, it 
was clear how special Barbara was to her.
  Mr. Speaker, I could go on and on about the life of this amazing 
woman. I am so honored to have known her and to have served alongside 
of her. Stephanie was more than my colleague; she was my friend, and we 
were sisters. I will miss her greatly.
  My thoughts and prayers are with her son Mervyn, and her very special 
sister Barbara, and the rest of her family.
  Mr. REGULA. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to express deep sadness on the 
sudden passing of our colleague in this House and a member of the Ohio 
delegation, Congresswoman Stephanie Tubbs Jones.
  August was a busy month for us. We have participated in events in our 
districts and meetings in our offices. Many of us participated in our 
party's presidential conventions. Unfortunately, too many of these 
tasks and goals were cut short and cut short too early for our 
colleague. We grieve her loss here this evening.
  Throughout our time together in this House, the members of the Ohio 
delegation have been a congenial group and not a partisan one. We 
regularly worked together to share common responsibilities and actions 
to improve and strengthen our State. Stephanie brought energy and 
enthusiasm to our delegation and to our work, and we will miss her 
terribly.
  As you will hear throughout this evening's remarks by my colleagues, 
Congresswoman Stephanie Tubbs Jones is a Member who held many firsts in 
our delegation. And I won't repeat those because many Members will 
touch on it.
  To me, Congresswoman Stephanie Tubbs Jones was my friendly, outgoing, 
and upbeat colleague. We often traveled back and forth together in the 
same plane from Ohio to Washington for our congressional session. I 
will miss her wonderful personality and the energy she brought to our 
delegation and to this House.

[[Page 18027]]

  This morning, when I was getting ready to leave for the airport, I 
said to my wife, ``You know, I'm going to really miss Stephanie because 
we would always be on the plane together most the time, the same 
flight, and she was always so upbeat and she had the common expression, 
`Well, how are you doing today? How are you doing today?' ''
  Well, we did well together, but I will miss her energy and 
personality that she brought to the delegation and to this House. I 
worked with Stephanie--her district was not far from mine--and we had a 
common interest in furthering the medical facilities in Cleveland, 
Ohio, some of the best in the United States; and it was a pleasure 
always to work with her and to enjoy her boundless enthusiasm and good 
nature.
  And certainly on behalf of my colleagues in the Ohio delegation, we 
express our sincere sympathy to her son, Mervyn Jones, and to her 
sister, Barbara Walker, as well as to her thousands of constituents and 
to her devoted staff.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Chair understands the gentlewoman from 
Ohio to have yielded half her time to the gentleman from Ohio.
  And the gentleman from Ohio reserves the balance of his time.
  Ms. KAPTUR. Mr. Speaker, I would like to call on the distinguished 
Member from Cleveland, the colleague of Congresswoman Jones, 
Congressman Dennis Kucinich.
  Mr. KUCINICH. I thank the gentlelady.
  When I look at this Chamber this evening, there are so many Members 
of Congress here, each who wants to pay tribute to her. I'm going to 
keep my remarks brief, not in any way reflecting the depth of grief 
that I feel over Stephanie's passing.
  We shared not only districts--because my district is mostly on the 
West side of the Cuyahoga River and hers is mostly on the east side of 
the Cuyahoga River--but we shared political careers, having worked with 
each other for the better part of three decades. And the Stephanie that 
we saw here in the Congress, the one of the 100-megawatt smile, the 
boundless energy, the telling sense of humor, the challenging approach 
when you may not agree with her, that was the Stephanie that I knew for 
30 years.
  But we also shared a friendship about family. And she went through it 
in the last years of her life with the loss of loved ones close to her, 
her father, her husband. And when we would have major events in our 
lives, like we do with close friends--and she was a close friend to 
many of us--we would share many of these things. And there was a lot of 
sadness to share. But there was also a moment when, for me, I had one 
of the biggest things happen in my life, and Stephanie was the first 
person I wanted to share it with.
  More than 3 years ago, I met a woman who walked into my office as 
part of a meeting for policy, and even though I had a very brief 
conversation with her, I knew something had happened at that moment. 
And I just knew at that moment that this was somebody I was going to 
marry, and I didn't even have a discussion with her about anything 
except for policy for more than about half a minute. And I ran down to 
the floor to tell my friend Stephanie, because that's the kind of 
friend she was. You would want to tell her when you thought something 
big was happening in your life.
  And so I said, ``Stephanie, I met her.'' And she looked at me and her 
eyes widened, and she gave her big smile, and she went, ``Shut up!'' 
And she had that kind of way of assessing things brilliantly and 
quickly in a manner and a tone and a language that was Stephanie.
  And she really brought the wisdom of a keen legal mind and melded it 
with a street sense into this political persona that touched people all 
over this country and, indeed, in other countries as well. She had that 
magic.
  Her presence is so powerful that I know I speak for other Members 
when I say that even at this moment, weeks later after her passing, we 
still can't believe it. That's how powerful a presence she was 
personally. And when she engaged you, you knew you were in a 
conversation and it was real.
  When Members of Congress arrived to pay respects at the Bethany 
Church, we saw the sidewalks lined with her constituents. We saw a line 
to get into Bethany Church that was more than a block long. Hundreds of 
people waiting in line.
  I had the chance to talk to some of them. You could see--you have to 
look into people's eyes, look at their faces, and you see the faces of 
people who are struggling with life, who are dealing with the kinds of 
problems that Stephanie came to Congress to address: trying to save 
their homes, trying to save their jobs, trying to keep their families 
together. And their eyes are searching today because they know they 
have lost a champion, and it puts such a great responsibility on all of 
us, a greater responsibility on all of us to uphold those things that 
she came to Congress for, the basic rights of people.
  This was a loss for women who have strived for recognition in this 
body. This is a loss for African Americans who saw in her a champion, 
the first African American woman elected to Congress from the State of 
Ohio.
  But what Stephanie did, her genius and her magic was she just broke 
all of the barriers. She went beyond gender and beyond race and emerged 
to a whole different political element. That's why she can't be 
replaced. And that's why, long after many of us have left this Chamber, 
people will still be talking about Stephanie Tubbs Jones.
  Stephanie, we love you, and we will remember you.
  Mr. REGULA. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from Ohio 
(Mr. Hobson).
  Mr. HOBSON. Mr. Speaker, it's been a tough term for the Ohio 
delegation. First we lost Paul Gillmor, and now we've lost Stephanie. 
Too early for both of them in their lives. But I think it's these times 
when people in the country need to know the friendships that happen in 
this House. We may differ politically on certain issues, but we don't 
differ when it comes to making friends and friendships here in this 
House.
  Stephanie had that beautiful energy that you will hear about and 
heard about before about her that we will all remember. She never met a 
stranger. Wherever we traveled in the world, Stephanie always had that 
great smile on her face. Whenever we were in Cleveland together--I have 
a daughter who lives in Cleveland, and Stephanie would give me a ride 
when I would fly into Cleveland to my daughter's house. She would stop 
and talk to my grandkids. Even though she was in Dennis' district, she 
was still working that side of town, too, because Stephanie worked 
wherever she was.

                              {time}  1945

  She is a loss to all of us. She worked on issues that transcends this 
body, these human issues, and the people in her district are not going 
to forget that, and they truly do have a loss.
  We traveled together many times to view the troops, and I just came 
back yesterday from Korea. In Korea, I talked about Stephanie to one of 
the general officers, and he said, I remember her. When we were in 
Bosnia, you came there in Thanksgiving and how she related to the 
troops in her own special way and talked to these young people about 
what they were doing, what they're going to do in the future.
  But the most important thing about Stephanie, Stephanie never forgot 
who she was. She was a friend to all of us, but she never forgot her 
district.
  One time, I talked Stephanie into going on a trip with me to Italy, 
and she said, ``I can't go. It's our 25th wedding anniversary. Mervyn 
and I want to spend our 25th wedding anniversary together.'' And this 
was when you could do this. I don't even know if I want to tell this, 
but she's gone and I'm retiring. So maybe I can tell this story now 
without going to the Ethics Committee. But I said, ``Stephanie, we're 
going to give you a party in Venice. You tell Mervyn it's going to be a 
very romantic time and it isn't going to cost him a cent.'' Guess what. 
They went on the trip.
  And even after Mervyn's tragic passing--and I was there with her 
then--she would recall the great time we had together. And I'm not 
going to miss her

[[Page 18028]]

because she's going to be here with all of us, but who's going to miss 
her is Mervyn, Junior. He's lost not only his mother and his father but 
his grandparents in a very short period of time, and this is a young 
man. I hope his aunt can help him, and I hope all of us don't forget 
this young man and his life. And we're not going to forget Stephanie.
  Ms. KAPTUR. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the distinguished 
chairman of the Ways and Means Committee from New York City, our 
beloved colleague, Charles Rangel.
  Mr. RANGEL. Thank you so much, Chairwoman Kaptur, for giving me this 
courtesy and this opportunity.
  I was a very long and dear friend of Louis Stokes. I loved him, I 
worked with him, and when he decided that he was going to retire, I did 
everything that I could to share with him how much he would be missed 
by his country and by this Congress. But when he had me to meet in 
Cleveland with Stephanie, I was convinced that--some of you may have 
met people that you know that it really wouldn't make any difference 
what they decided to do. Their intellect, their drive, their 
personality would make them successful, and especially for a woman and 
an African American woman in Ohio or any other part of the United 
States, to be a prosecutor, to be a judge and then to come to the 
Congress, it had to be extraordinary, the same way Harriet Beecher 
Stowe, Fannie Lou Hamer, people of extreme resilience.
  And so from then, she said that she wanted to get on the Ways and 
Means Committee, and boy, the Ways and Means Committee has never been 
the same since she's joined with us. She would come to the meeting 
where we would be fighting and arguing and, with a smile, light it up. 
But that didn't prevent her from getting involved in the argument and 
many times on a different side of the Chair. But at the end of the day, 
I knew that once she was convinced that was the way the committee was 
going, you couldn't stop Stephanie Tubbs Jones.
  I say in conclusion, one of the reasons that so many of you must like 
her, love her is because I don't remember that many complaints that she 
had about the Chair not responding to the needs of her constituents, 
especially when the housing market fell in Cleveland.
  But so many of you that she brought to the chairman of this 
committee, that was not on the committee, because you had convinced her 
that it was important to your community, and she, as a person on that 
committee, thought we should look into it, and there was never but 
never a frivolous request. Every time she came she had done so much 
homework that I just know that the gap that she leaves in my heart and 
our committee will never be filled by anyone else.
  I thank you for this opportunity of sharing.
  Mr. REGULA. I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from North Carolina 
(Mr. Hayes).
  Mr. HAYES. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from Ohio, the Ohio 
delegation, and the gentlelady Ms. Kaptur for allowing me to be a part 
of this.
  Stephanie was a special friend. I am terribly saddened by the 
untimely passing of Stephanie Tubbs Jones. She was someone who cared 
deeply about helping others, especially those who couldn't help 
themselves. Tubbs Jones was a wonderful philanthropist and friend. I 
will miss serving with her as cochair on the House Philanthropy Caucus.
  Representative Tubbs Jones and I began our work in the House the same 
year together in 1998. I was honored last year to have the opportunity 
to partner with her to establish the Congressional Philanthropy Caucus, 
an initiative that she was very passionate about. Her tireless and 
tenacious advocacy for the philanthropic field and commitment to, and 
leadership was very inspiring and helped to forge new relationships and 
partnerships between and among law-makers and grant-makers.
  The Caucus was formed at the behest of the Council on Foundations, a 
Washington, D.C., area-based nonprofit association of more than 2,100 
grant-making foundations and corporations. The Caucus aims to educate 
and inform law-makers about the field of philanthropy.
  As a member of the House Ways and Means Committee, Stephanie stressed 
the importance of reestablishing charitable incentives that have 
expired, emphasizing the impact such tools have on giving in the United 
States and around the world. She was a strong believer that charitable 
incentives help grow charitable giving to populations in need across 
the country. Demonstrating her commitment to her charitable values, 
Representative Tubbs Jones was an original cosponsor of the Public Good 
IRA Rollover Act of 2007, H.R. 1419, which proposed to expand the IRA 
charitable rollover. That Act is especially significant to the 
philanthropic field because it proposes to allow distributions to 
donor-advised funds, supporting organizations, and private foundations 
to qualify as charitable giving tools.
  In addition, when given the opportunity on the House floor, 
Representative Tubbs Jones continually advocated for philanthropy, 
encouraged our colleagues to join the Philanthropy Caucus, and sponsor 
legislation promoting charitable giving. She met with her foundation 
constituents just a few weeks ago to discuss their work and 
contributions to her home State.
  Representative Tubbs Jones was a champion for the philanthropic 
sector and will be greatly missed for her contributions to the 
charitable giving field.
  On behalf of the members of the Congressional Philanthropy Caucus, 
and the many grant-makers that Stephanie supported around the country, 
specifically Ohio foundations, we wish to offer our sincere condolences 
and to extend her family, son Mervyn, colleagues, and staff, our 
deepest sympathies for their loss.
  Ms. KAPTUR. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1\1/2\ minutes to the distinguished 
gentleman from Georgia (Mr. Scott).
  Mr. SCOTT of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, it is indeed an honor to be able 
to stand in this House of Representatives and say a few words for my 
distinguished colleague, Stephanie Tubbs Jones.
  You know, on everybody's tombstone there are three things. There's 
first the date you were born and then the date you die, and in between 
there is a dash. And the question we all must answer at some point is 
what do you do with the dash. Stephanie Tubbs Jones did an amazing 
amount with her dash.
  Born to hardworking, loving parents--Mary, who was a cook at Case 
Western University in Cleveland; her father, Andrew, was a sky cap--
good, hardworking people, who gave love to Stephanie. She rose to 
become a prosecutor, a judge, a trial lawyer, all the way up to the 
Congress of the United States.
  And I tell you, in between, Mr. Speaker, she learned how to play a 
mean game of Bid Whist, Mr. Speaker. But I will tell you, Mr. Speaker, 
she kept the faith, she finished her course, and she fought the good 
fight. And therefore, there is put up for Stephanie Tubbs Jones an 
extraordinary crown of righteousness that the Lord, the righteous 
Judge, appointed and has given to Stephanie Tubbs Jones, and we thank 
God for sending Stephanie Tubbs Jones our way.
  Mr. REGULA. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentlelady from 
Ohio (Ms. Pryce).
  Ms. PRYCE of Ohio. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding 
and thank the Members of the delegation for having this very important 
time to remember our colleague.
  Stephanie was a force in our delegation, and she was also an 
inspiration to everybody here and everybody who knew her. Perhaps we'll 
never understand or totally accept the reasons that people are taken 
from us in such tragic and untimely ways; yet there is always some 
comfort found when we can look at a life and see the great purpose that 
dwelled therein. And Stephanie Tubbs Jones lived with such great 
purpose and made such a difference, and that will help those of us that 
she left behind.
  The last time I talked to Stephanie was not unlike most of us right 
here,

[[Page 18029]]

but it was not in this Chamber. It was in her outer office. It was the 
office right outside the door that is her car. And Stephanie was 
working in her outer office, and she was right by the door. And I 
passed there, and we were waiting for votes. I knocked on her window, 
and she said, ``Come on in, Deb,'' and I crawled in her office. I was 
glad to see it looked sort of like my car. There were papers 
everywhere. There were books. It was just like an office.
  And we started not doing business but just chatting, like so often we 
would do when we would find a minute together. We talked of such great 
things in life as my daughter's hair. Now, for those of you who don't 
know, I have an adopted daughter who's African American, who was born 
in Stephanie's district. And Stephanie took an inordinate amount of 
interest in the lack of quality hair care that I provided to my 
daughter, and Stephanie was great about always giving me good advice 
for Mia, and she wanted to become a greater part of Mia's life.
  We had plans to make that happen the next visit to Washington, and 
I'm sad especially for Mia that that won't happen because Stephanie is 
a wonderful mentor for so many people, women especially. I'm sorry that 
that relationship never took hold, but I will never forget the impact 
that she had on me.
  What a wonderful, strong personality. What a contagious smile, and 
her laughter and her buoyancy held me up many times when I needed just 
that extra shoulder.
  She had such purpose in her life, and that is her lasting legacy. We 
will all miss her, especially her family. There are so many that became 
part of her family. There are so many that she loved and touched in 
such an important, meaningful way. She will sorely be missed, Mr. 
Speaker.
  I offer my deepest condolences to her family, to her son who will 
miss her most of all. She was loved by so many, as she so rightly 
should have been.
  Ms. KAPTUR. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1\1/2\ minutes to Stephanie's 
colleague from the State of Ohio, Congressman Zack Space.
  Mr. SPACE. I thank the gentlelady.
  I rise today to remember a dear friend and dedicated legislator, 
Stephanie Tubbs Jones. She was a tireless advocate for justice, a 
dedicated mother, and a terrific legislator and a fighter for the 
people of Ohio.
  It will be very difficult for me to match the eloquence of someone 
like Chairman Rangel, certainly the gentlelady from Toledo, the 
gentleman from Canton, or my friend Mr. Kucinich from Cleveland. But 
Dennis said something during his presentation that struck me as being 
extraordinarily accurate.
  Stephanie did represent this magical, political persona that was 
meddled between her keen legal mind and her street sense. She had 
compassion, knowledge. She was just a great person and a great 
legislator. She was a trail blazer, as those from the Ohio delegation 
have pointed out, in many respects.
  But something that many might not know is that Stephanie actually had 
an effect on the people in congressional district, which is, while 
sharing the same State of Ohio, a very long way from east Cleveland. 
Stephanie served as an inspiration for women in politics, as well as 
our African American community there as well. She fought for justice 
and equality at every turn in her career, and this was a tragic loss 
for the people of Congress and the people of Ohio.
  Indeed, I still feel her presence here, and I suspect we will for 
quite some time. This has been a tragic loss for this body.

                              {time}  2000

  Mr. REGULA. I yield to the gentlelady from Ohio (Mrs. Schmidt).
  Mrs. SCHMIDT. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay my respects to a great 
lady, Stephanie Tubbs Jones.
  Just over 3 years ago, I first saw Stephanie in this very room. As I 
was sworn into office, she came over and greeted me with a great big 
smile and an enormous hug, welcoming me to this wonderful body. 
Although we share different political views, Stephanie understood that 
friendship trumped politics. I felt fortunate to call her my friend.
  When I went to Cleveland last week to pay my respects, I was welcomed 
by her wonderful family--her sister, Barbara; her nieces, her cousins, 
and her wonderful son, Mervyn.
  I learned something about Stephanie I didn't know. I didn't realize 
that she was involved in a very famous case, a case that spurred not 
only a TV show but also a movie, ``The Fugitive.'' It was the Sam 
Shepard case. She was involved with that case, making sure justice was 
done.
  I want to say thank you to the Lord for letting us have Stephanie as 
long as we did. We never know when the hour comes that he will come for 
us. I know that Stephanie was prepared for him because she was always 
prepared for her family and for her constituents, and she had that 
great big smile. I'm sure that it's there in heaven.
  To Mervyn, to Barbara and to the rest of the family, you have my 
prayers. To the constituents of Cleveland, you have her heart.
  May she rest in peace.
  Ms. KAPTUR. Mr. Speaker, I'd like to yield a minute and a half to 
Stephanie's distinguished colleague from Ohio, our dear friend, 
Congressman Charles Wilson.
  Mr. WILSON of Ohio. Mr. Speaker, I'm sad to be here this evening, but 
I'm also proud that we can rise on this occasion to join my colleagues 
in paying tribute to the honor of Stephanie Tubbs Jones. It's right 
that we express the condolences of the House of Representatives. I feel 
like she was a dear friend to all of us, and I know that I loved her 
and that so many of my colleagues did.
  It came as a terrible shock a week ago Tuesday when we found out that 
Stephanie died, but it's appropriate that we have this resolution we're 
doing this evening to appropriately honor a devoted American, and 
Stephanie was a devoted American.
  Congresswoman Stephanie Tubbs Jones was a champion for the residents 
in the Greater Cleveland area. She was a tireless voice for our State 
of Ohio. She always greeted me with a big smile and, many times, with a 
hug. It was just the way she did and the way she treated people. A 
colleague of hers recently said that he felt that Stephanie treated 
people that way because it was almost as if God were watching. She was 
taken from us way too soon.
  Mr. Speaker, her work was not finished. She is counting on us to 
carry on. My deepest sympathy goes out to her son, Mervyn, to her 
sister, Barbara, and to her extended family. She will be sorely missed 
by the Ohio congressional delegation, by all of Congress, and I will 
miss working with her.
  Mr. REGULA. Mr. Speaker, we have no further requests for time.
  Ms. KAPTUR. Does the gentleman yield?
  Mr. REGULA. Yes, I yield.
  Ms. KAPTUR. Would the gentleman be kind enough to yield us any 
remaining time he might have so we can complete the speakers on our 
side.
  Mr. REGULA. Yes, we'd be happy to yield whatever time we have left to 
your side.
  Ms. KAPTUR. I thank the gentleman very much.
  Mr. Speaker, would you please tell me how much time we have remaining 
then?
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The gentlewoman from Ohio controls the 
remainder of the time, which is 25\1/2\ minutes.
  Ms. KAPTUR. Thank you very much.
  I would like then to yield 2 minutes to our fine colleague from the 
State of California, who was such a close associate and friend of 
Stephanie's, Congresswoman Lois Capps.
  Mrs. CAPPS. I thank my dear colleague from Ohio.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise in sad support of this resolution to pay tribute 
to our colleague, the Honorable Stephanie Tubbs Jones.
  As so many have said, Stephanie had the gift of making us all her 
friends and, for me and for others, her sisters.
  As has been said, she was a tireless advocate on behalf of working 
families and civil rights long before she came to

[[Page 18030]]

Congress, and she continued her devotion to these causes over the last 
decade. I was proud to work with her in the last few years against a 
proposal that would have undermined the Equal Employment Opportunity 
Commission. Her leadership on this issue was exemplary of her 
commitment to protecting people against discrimination. I will cherish 
this opportunity to work with her.
  She was also a wonderful and active member of the Congressional 
Caucus for Women's Issues. She cochaired the task force on Women in the 
Judiciary with her colleague from Ohio and fellow former judge, Deborah 
Pryce.
  She also led efforts to raise awareness and to fund greater research 
into uterine fibroids. This is a disease that affects as many as three 
and four women over the course of their lifetimes. Yet it's rarely 
discussed in public. She had the courage to bring this otherwise taboo 
subject to the forefront in the quest to bring relief to millions of 
women who have and who will suffer from fibroids.
  The people of Ohio and of the entire Congress have lost a true 
champion. For me, there was a personal bond with Stephanie Tubbs Jones. 
She lost her husband suddenly after she came to Congress, and I had 
lost mine recently, and so we had a bond, a sad one, but one that we 
both cherished. We made an agreement that we didn't need to talk. We 
just needed, when we saw each other, to give each other a hug, and I 
will cherish those hugs, and that bond still exists.
  I send my condolences to her son and to her family members, and I 
hope they know that the grief is shared by all of us, and our 
dedication to upholding the causes which motivated and for which she 
showed such great leadership will inspire us to continue and, in each 
of our own ways, to make that legacy that was Stephanie Tubbs Jones' 
live on.
  Ms. KAPTUR. Mr. Speaker, I'd like to yield 2 minutes to the 
Representative from California who was a close colleague of 
Stephanie's, Congresswoman Susan Davis.
  Mrs. DAVIS of California. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor not only 
one of my colleagues but a dear friend, the Honorable Stephanie Tubbs 
Jones.
  As we all know, she served the 11th Congressional District of Ohio 
with dignity and pride, and she represented her district with 
compassion, always with compassion, fighting for justice and equality.
  I was very fortunate because, when I arrived here in 2001, my office 
was right across the hall from Stephanie's, and so you can imagine how 
embraced I felt by her and by all of her staff, by all of the people 
who were so close to her, such a loyal group of people.
  There have been many stories told this evening, and many more will be 
told of her accomplishments; there have been many tributes that people 
have paid to her, but in this very brief time, I just wanted to talk 
for a minute about how her influence goes far beyond the district that 
she represented because, for years, Representative Tubbs Jones had been 
a special guest speaker before a group of young people from San Diego, 
the Aaron Price Fellows. She always came to those meetings at my 
request, and was always so enthusiastic. She would just captivate this 
room of high schoolers, who come from very diverse backgrounds, with 
warmth and humor. She would weave her congressional experience with her 
personal stories to excite the whole group, and she would encourage 
their discussion. She'd love their questions and really would be so 
energized, energized in that room of young people every year that she 
spoke to them just as she did every time she spoke on this very floor. 
I think it says so much about Stephanie that she shared her time and a 
lot of that time with students far from her district. 
  So, today, we remember her as such an inspirational leader, 
inspirational for so many--from high school students, to her 
constituents, of course, and to all of us here--to her colleagues. I am 
proud to say that I will continue to be inspired by her as I serve in 
Congress, and I can just think her saying today, ``Hey, girlfriend.'' 
So I want to say to her ``Thanks, girlfriend. Thank you for 
everything.''
  Ms. KAPTUR. Mr. Speaker, I would like to yield 1 minute to the 
distinguished gentlelady from Chicago, Congresswoman Jan Schakowsky, 
who was a real soul sister to Stephanie.
  Ms. SCHAKOWSKY. Mr. Speaker, Stephanie and I were in the same class. 
We came in in 1998, and immediately bonded as friends and classmates. 
She and my husband became very good friends. We would joke about it 
that my husband, Bob, was her boyfriend, and at their last 
conversation, it ended with his saying, ``Love you, Stef,'' and her 
saying, ``Love you, Bob.'' I'm jealous of that because they had that 
moment where they actually said the word that I feel so much tonight, 
that I loved Stephanie Tubbs Jones.
  Stephanie was a force of nature. She was a big woman and she filled a 
room. I can just picture her now. Can't you just picture her coming 
down and speaking from this podium right now and just filling the space 
with her presence, with her sense of justice, with her passion, and 
with, of course, her smile? Stephanie was fiercely loyal. She was a 
supporter of Hillary Rodham Clinton's. Some of us were on the other 
side, but that didn't challenge our friendship.
  Connie Schultz, who is a Pulitzer Prize winner for the Cleveland 
Plain Dealer said, ``Our friendship was forged by her to the bones 
understanding of what it means to be a woman, willing to stick your 
neck out for your beliefs.''
  Stephanie was fearless and she was loved. I loved her. I love you, 
Stephanie.
  Ms. KAPTUR. I would now like to yield time to the distinguished 
Congressman from North Dakota, Congressman Earl Pomeroy, a friend of 
Stephanie's for many years.
  Mr. POMEROY. I thank the gentlelady for yielding.
  I doubt our departed sister, Stephanie, would ever have imagined the 
impact she had. In fact, the Cleveland Plain Dealer referenced her 
essential humility even when mentioning her personal electricity in 
this editorial of August 22:
  ``I have no illusions about myself,'' Tubbs Jones told the Plain 
Dealer reporter Fran Henry in 1995. ``It could all go up in a puff of 
smoke. I'll never lose sight of that.''
  Stephanie's presence on Earth has come so tragically to an all too 
early end, but her achievements--rising from the daughter of a factory 
worker and skycap to the positions of judge, county prosecutor, five-
term Member of Congress--have made a lasting impact at each and every 
step along the way, especially with the many, many lives she touched.
  I was privileged to sit by her on the Ways and Means Committee. You 
could probably call us the odd couple--a reserved, middle-aged man from 
the most rural part of our country, teamed with the most energetic, 
charismatic, bombastic, thoroughly urban Stephanie Tubbs Jones.
  Over the years, on our committee together, I came to fully understand 
just how deep and how genuine her passion for others was, especially 
for those less fortunate, for those needing help. We'd joke about 
taking turns keeping each other settled down even under considerable 
provocation sometimes in Ways and Means debate. My counsel of ``take it 
easy, Stephanie'' would be met in turn with ``now settle down, Earl.'' 
In one hearing on inexcusable Social Security delays, we both just lost 
it entirely. I'll never forget that hearing; it's one of my favorites.
  One of the greatest compliments I've had in this Congress, in any 
Congress I've served in, was when she'd call me her country boyfriend. 
She had the most incredible way of making those she met feel better. In 
the place where smiles, laughter and deep compassion are never in 
sufficient supply, Stephanie Tubbs Jones will be deeply, deeply missed 
but never forgotten.
  Ms. KAPTUR. I thank the gentleman for his remarks and presence this 
evening.
  I would like to yield 2 minutes now to one of Stephanie's sisters 
here from the State of Texas, Congresswoman Sheila Jackson-Lee.

[[Page 18031]]


  Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas. I thank you very much.
  This is such a wonderful story that I'm listening to as we honor 
Stephanie Tubbs Jones, so I'm going to speak on some issues that showed 
her in her fullness and in her love of life.

                              {time}  2015

  And that was as a House basketball coach. She was that woman with a 
smile. She was a Good Samaritan. She was also like Ruth; if she was 
your friend, she was going to stick with you. She loved life, loved her 
family. How wonderful it was to be part of her family. And she allowed 
this Congress to be part of her family because everyone knew Mervyn, 
her husband; her son; her sisters; her mother and father, who I got a 
chance to know. But yet when she got on that basketball court and she 
was the coach, I tell you that was a winning smile, a winning coach, 
and a winning team.
  And there was nothing more exciting than being at the 2008 House 
basketball team game. This was a game for charity. But you couldn't 
tell Coach Stephanie Tubbs Jones that she was out there for charity. 
She was out there to win, and I think it was the NBA championship, for 
she ran up and down that court. She gave the best coaching. She told 
the guys, who happened to be Members of Congress and others, what they 
could and could not do. And even though she wasn't the referee and she 
wasn't the penalizer, she'd penalize her team.
  And what an exciting time to see in this year's 2008 winning 
basketball effort, Mervyn, her son, make the winning basketball shot. 
It was so exciting that those of us that were in the stands ran out 
onto the court, of course in violation, but we were able to get away 
with that. And I was so excited, in my short stature of 5'2\1/2\'', I 
asked the greatest coach that I knew that I work with her next year, 
and she gave me the greatest honor and said ``yes.'' That was Stephanie 
Tubbs Jones, the lover of life.
  But yet as a prosecutor, one would think she would be hard nosed and 
she'd be running toward prosecution and incarceration. But she teamed 
up with her dear friend Danny Davis, and they shed their light all 
around this campus, both the House and the Senate, to work on what we 
call the Second Chance bill.
  So I rise today on behalf of the incarcerated whom Stephanie loved 
whom she gave an opportunity, through her work with Danny Davis and 
those who cosponsored this legislation, to say to these individuals 
they could have a second chance.
  May God allow her to rest in peace, but may her star shine 
continuously through us. We love her and we love her family.
  Ms. KAPTUR. Mr. Speaker, I would like to place in the Record the 
names of the very able staff of Congresswoman Stephanie Tubbs Jones. 
This staff has endured great sadness, and they have tried to carry on 
with their leader being in spiritual guidance but not there personally.
  And I would like to thank, from her district office, Betty Pinkney, 
her district director; Beverly Charles, her senior liaison; Theresa 
Lang Coaxum, her health liaison; Sharon Cole, business liaison; 
Saulette Reed, her office manager.
  And here in Washington, Kimberley Alton, her legislative director; 
Lalla King Green, her scheduler; Eric Hammond, her staff assistant; 
Aaron Wasserman, her legislative correspondent; Darrell Doss, her tax 
counsel; Athena Abdullah, her health counsel; Nicole Y. Williams, her 
communications director; and Patrice Willoughby, dear Patrice, her 
chief of staff and counsel, who has tried to stand in Stephanie's place 
during these very difficult days.
  And, finally, from the Committee on Standards, Dawn Kelly Mobley, the 
counsel to the chairwoman.
  These are wonderful, wonderful staff people who have Stephanie's 
heart, and we want to do everything we can to help them through this 
very difficult time. And we thank them for their service to Stephanie 
and serving the people of the 11th District and the people of our 
country.
  Also, Mr. Speaker, I would like to place in the Record before I call 
on our final speaker this story: There were many tributes paid to 
Stephanie at the service in Cleveland. One of the most moving speakers, 
the friends of Stephanie, heard Saturday from no politician or preacher 
but from a young 16 year old named Tiffany, a member of an all girls 
health careers class at Cleveland Martin Luther King Junior High School 
that Stephanie took under her wing 2 years ago. Tiffany recalled Jones 
telling the girls ``This is the future. You are the future.'' And the 
Congresswoman took time from her political and legislative schedule to 
visit the class and take them places. She took them to church one 
Sunday, but Tiffany had to work that day. So Stephanie dropped by to 
the workplace with Tiffany's classmates in tow. Stephanie kept her eye 
on every one of them. ``We're family,'' Tiffany told her classmates, 
who stood in a show of unity with their peer. She said, ``We've got to 
stick together. We have got to carry on in her legacy. She was steward, 
protector, and advocate to us. I will miss her as a friend.''
  Stephanie had friends of all ages. We thank her for her leadership 
and for the seeds that she planted in the new growth forest that is 
growing in Cleveland and growing across this country to which she 
devoted her life.
  Mr. Speaker, I would like to call as our final speaker in this 
bereavement resolution Stephanie's very good friend from the State of 
Missouri, Congressman Emanuel Cleaver.
  Mr. CLEAVER. Mr. Speaker, when Congresswoman Tubbs discovered that I 
had three sons who had gone to college on basketball scholarships, she 
asked if I would bring them here for the annual fund-raising basketball 
game with the Georgetown Law School faculty. None of them could come 
this year; so I was drafted by Stephanie Tubbs Jones in language that I 
would normally not use during a sermon. But I did show up and 
immediately became angry because she pulled me out of the game just 
because I could not make it down the court in a minute in the 
transition game. So I cheered for the remainder of the evening for our 
team that Congresswoman Sheila Jackson-Lee mentioned did win in 
overtime.
  But the most significant moment for me came when we all saw the signs 
that the pages had made for us. They were cheering us on. And the pages 
sent me a statement that they asked if I would read on their behalf. 
And I quote:
  ``Ask any one of the pages from the spring 2008 class to list their 
favorite memories from the 5 months we spent working on the hill, an 
anecdote about Ms. Stephanie Tubbs Jones will likely be included. For 
some of us it is the unwavering charisma shown when she was the Speaker 
pro tempore. For others it is the simple act of coming to say good-bye 
to us at our departure ceremony. For most of us, it is the night of the 
2008 home court charity basketball game, where our chants cheering on 
the Hill's Angels team and the Coach Tubbs Jones rang 10 times louder 
than the formidable Georgetown students cheering section and led our 
team to a surprising victory.
  That night and for the rest of the time we knew Ms. Tubbs Jones, we 
weren't just pages sitting in the back of the House. We experienced 
that night the true strength, pride, and enthusiasm of Stephanie Tubbs 
Jones, a strength rooted in her devotion to making things better, a 
pride in her job as a public servant evident every single day, and an 
unmatched enthusiasm for our service as pages. She was the type of 
woman you only dream of meeting at some point in your life and the 
friend we never expected to find in the halls of Congress last spring.
  ``Just as we will never forget our time as pages, we will never 
forget Stephanie Tubbs Jones.
  ``The spring 2008 page class.''
  Mr. Speaker, Stephanie Tubbs Jones was my friend. We had the 
opportunity to spend time together, and I don't want to reminisce and 
say things that others have already said. Let me just say that I hate 
death. I hate it. And if I had an opportunity to erase it or kill it, I 
would. But death, unfortunately, is a part of life and we will all 
experience

[[Page 18032]]

it. The issue is not death so much as it is life, and we are granted an 
unspecified period of time, and many of us deal with those moments with 
a kind of carelessness that certainly was not planned when we were 
given our time on this Earth.
  Stephanie Tubbs Jones was exuberant. She lived her life. She lived it 
out to the fullest. And I can say that if you understand that life is 
not a time to just waste and then look at the time of Stephanie Tubbs 
Jones, you know she understood that. And I would say that death is not 
a cul-de-sac for some. It's not an end. Death is a beginning. And for 
Stephanie Tubbs Jones, it was a comma for a new beginning. She lived 
her life and she lived it with zest and zeal.
  She pulled me in Kansas City on the dance floor in front of hundreds 
of people and made me dance. I have a photograph of that that I had 
been hiding that I am now going to bring out with pride because I think 
when she did that, she was also saying live your life and live it to 
the fullest. Never ever allow cobwebs to cover you. If you rest, you 
rust. Stephanie Tubbs Jones never rusted.
  Ms. KAPTUR. Mr. Speaker, in concluding this first hour this evening 
in honor of our dear colleague Stephanie Tubbs Jones, let me just say 
that Stephanie Tubbs Jones was a true mother of this Republic. Let the 
record show that. Let the record comfort her son in years hence.
  And I want to say to our dear, dear friend and colleague Congressman 
Regula, whose district sort of held Stephanie's up on the southern 
side, I want to thank him so very much, the dean of the Republican side 
of the aisle, for being here throughout this evening and through the 
wonderful participation of her colleagues of various persuasions here 
on the floor. The friendships went beyond party, and I thank the 
gentleman for his participation.
  Mr. REGULA. Well, I would just comment that to know Stephanie was to 
love her. She just had that ebullient personality that you couldn't 
resist.
  I also want to comment on one other thing, and that is that thousands 
of people in East Cleveland, in her district, have better health care 
today than they would have without Stephanie. She focused on the health 
care assets of East Cleveland, some of the best in the Nation, and as a 
result, the people that she represented have a better chance to take 
advantage of the health care facilities. And that's a legacy of 
Stephanie that most people aren't aware of and yet touches the lives of 
literally thousands of people.
  And I congratulate the gentlewoman from Ohio for having this Special 
Order tonight because Stephanie was special.
  Ms. KAPTUR. Thank you, Congressman Regula, and I want to thank all of 
our colleagues who have participated this evening. I can guarantee you 
that every word that is on the Record will come to comfort Mervyn and 
the Tubbs Jones family, their church family, her sisterhood, all the 
people of Cleveland, all the people who have known Stephanie across our 
Nation. I want to thank our colleagues for their generosity and for 
their good hearts.
  Mr. Speaker, I would like to say that the Ohio delegation stands 
beside those from the Congressional Black Caucus, who will have the 
second hour this evening in remembrance of Stephanie Tubbs Jones. We 
thank them very much for doing this. I know how very much their words 
will mean not just today but in future years to those who love 
Stephanie always.
  Ms. EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I rise tonight 
deeply saddened by the passing of my friend and colleague, 
Congresswoman Stephanie Tubbs Jones.
  Congresswoman Tubbs Jones was an extraordinary woman, wife, mother, 
and leader.
  Congresswoman Stephanie Tubbs Jones made history by becoming the 
first African-American woman to be elected to Congress from her State 
of Ohio.
  Throughout her career, Congresswoman Tubbs Jones demonstrated a 
serious commitment to her constituents and represented them well.
  She dedicated her life to uplift and inspire those around her. Her 
dedication, strong will, and spirit gave hope to so many people.
  Congresswoman Tubbs Jones and her work will never be forgotten as she 
lives in us all. She has left her mark in history, in Congress, and in 
our hearts.
  I will deeply miss her and my thoughts and prayers are with her 
family.
  Mr. LEWIS of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, the untimely death of Republican 
Stephanie Tubbs Jones gives us pause. There was a great writer who once 
said that the death of one of us diminishes us all. As Stephanie's 
friends and colleagues in the U.S. Congress, we all feel a little lost 
and a little less because one of our most fearless champions is gone.
  Those who are voiceless in America today, who have been left out and 
left behind, have lost a warrior, a fighter, a crusader who did what 
she could to defend the dignity of human kind. There was not anything 
shy about Stephanie.
  She had the courage, the ability, and the desire to speak up and 
speak out, to fight for what she believed was right, what was fair and 
just.
  As a fellow member of the Ways and Means Committee, she was very 
concerned about using the tax code to help lift the burdens of the 
least among us. I always enjoyed it when she made a statement or 
questioned a witness. She was a brilliant judge and prosecutor, and 
that helped make her a gifted member of Congress.
  Stephanie Tubbs Jones will be deeply missed by the Cleveland 
community, by the people of Ohio, by the citizens of America, by her 
family, friends, and all of her colleagues in the U.S. Congress. Peace 
be with you Stephanie, my friend. May God Almighty grant you eternal 
peace.
  Mr. JEFFERSON. Mr. Speaker, I first met Stephanie Tubbs-Jones through 
her legendary predecessor, Representative Louis Stokes, who described 
her simply as ``full of life.' Indeed, she was. And, to have heard her 
impassioned speech denoting the short-comings of a housing bill the 
Congress recently passed, a speech made just before the Congress went 
on its August break, it as impossible to see her death foreshadowed. 
Her zeal for public service, her love for the members of Congress, and 
particularly of the CBC members, and her commitment to people who 
needed a hand up from government, defined her life here.
  In a larger sense she was a devoted family person. She lost both her 
parents during her service here, and, I having also lost my mother and 
father over my years here, gave us the opportunity for quiet reflection 
on what our parents had meant to us, and helped to deepen our 
friendship.
  She was devoted to the memory of her husband, Mervyn, who died just a 
few years ago. When I chaired the Congressional Black Caucus 
Foundation, I urged her to join the board, which she did. From that 
point, she launched the Mervyn Jones Golf Classic which has raised 
millions in scholarship funds for worthy and needy college students. 
She was awfully proud of her son Mervyn II, who often came to the gym 
to play basketball with us ``old jocks'' and often schooled us with his 
basketball skills.
  Her service on the Ways and Means Committee with me over several 
years gave me insight into her caring heart for health care and human 
resource issues but also into her competence as an infighter in the 
legislative process. She made her points, stood her ground and quite 
often carried her position. She sought me out after Hurricane Katrina 
hit my district and my State, offering advice and real help. Stephanie 
identified with human suffering everywhere and wanted to do something 
about it.
  I was stunned and saddened by her sudden and unexpected death as were 
we all. And it was the hardest thing not to take the plane ride to 
Cleveland to attend her funeral and memorial service. It was only after 
the sage and stern advice from my Chairwoman Carolyn Cheeks-Kilpatrick 
that I reluctantly canceled my trip to Cleveland to attend to the 
issues back at home with Hurricane Gustav bearing down on our people. I 
know I was well covered by the members who did attend and part of me 
will always regret not being there. But, looking at it from another 
vantage point--not having fully seen her in death--my memories of her 
will only be those of her in life--not just in life but ``full of 
life'' as Lou Stokes described her.
  Mrs. LOWEY. Mr. Speaker, I rise to mourn the loss of my friend and 
colleague Stephanie Tubbs Jones.
  Stephanie Tubbs Jones was a kind and caring friend, a hard-working 
and diligent colleague, and a committed representative. She was also a 
trailblazer--she was the first African-American and the first female 
prosecutor in Cuyahoga County, Ohio, the first African-American woman 
to be elected to serve Ohio in the House of Representatives, and the 
first African-American woman to serve on the powerful House Ways and 
Means Committee.

[[Page 18033]]

  Stephanie Tubbs Jones was an inspiration to me and to others who 
aspire to represent their constituents with passion, dedication, and 
integrity. A champion of voting rights, she stood up for those who 
lacked a voice to ensure that they are not denied the most fundamental 
right of our democracy--the right to vote.
  In her role as Chair of the House Ethics Committee, she led the House 
of Representatives in ensuring that Members of Congress live up to high 
standards. She understood that increasing Americans' confidence in 
their government requires honest and ethical behavior by their leaders.
  All those who loved Stephanie Tubbs Jones, including her son Melvyn 
Leroy Jones II, and her sister Barbara Walker, are in my thoughts and 
prayers.
  As we mourn the passing of this intelligent, hard-working, and caring 
representative, we celebrate her accomplishments. We are reminded that 
despite the tragedy of her passing, her life was a blessing for her 
colleagues, her friends, her family, her constituents, and so many who 
needed a champion.
  Ms. HIRONO. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to join my colleagues in 
expressing great sympathy on the sudden passing of Stephanie Tubbs 
Jones.
  Stephanie Tubbs Jones was a pioneer her entire professional career: 
She was the first African-American and the first female prosecutor in 
Cuyahoga County, Ohio; the first African-American woman to sit on the 
Common Pleas bench in Ohio; the first African-American woman to be 
elected to Congress from Ohio; and the first African-American woman to 
serve on the House Ways and Means Committee.
  As a first term member of Congress, my service with Stephanie was too 
short, but I will fondly remember her bright smile and vibrant 
personality. Her leadership and passion will be sorely missed.
  I would like to extend my deepest condolences to Stephanie's son, 
Mervyn Leroy Jones II, and her sister, Barbara Walker.
  Ms. MATSUI. Mr. Speaker, I rise today joining my colleagues in 
tribute, sharing kind words and memories of our colleague and dear 
friend Congresswoman Stephanie Tubbs Jones.
  I was deeply saddened when I heard the news of her death. My 
sincerest thoughts and prayers go out to her son Mervyn, to all her 
family, and to her friends and supporters during this difficult time. '
  Stephanie Tubbs Jones was an inspiration and a tireless advocate for 
her constituents. She was a fighter. A strong woman of conviction and 
intelligence, whose values and experience guided her advocacy and 
fearlessness.
  Stephanie broke molds, she broke glass ceilings, and then swept away 
the stereotypes. Stephanie was never one to be absorbed into the folds 
of a monochrome following. She was outspoken and proactive, bold in 
demeanor and action. Her always bright and powerful attire spoke to her 
outgoing personality, which never shied away from a challenge and 
approached every day with enthusiasm and confidence. Her skill in 
crafting intelligent and responsible legislation shows that she viewed 
the world through this diverse spectrum of color, dismissing the notion 
that solutions to complex problems can come from a world of simply 
black and white.
  Justice and inclusion were at the heart of her work. In her 10 years 
in Congress and her lifetime of service she always put justice, 
opportunity, and equality atop all other pursuits. Stephanie did not 
come from a life of privilege simply to serve the privileged. She came 
from a working class community and put her heart and soul into lifting 
up that community with every step of the ladder she climbed.
  I remember how highly coveted she was by the then members of the Ways 
and Means committee, when joining the powerful committee soon after her 
election. My husband Bob served on the then committee and recognized in 
her character the genuine desire to serve her Nation, her constituents, 
and those whose voices had yet to be fully heard. Her experience as a 
prosecutor and judge gave her arguments tenacity and her decisions 
finality.
  Stephanie Tubbs Jones effectively represented her Cleveland district 
for over a decade. Yet she never dismissed the acknowledgment that her 
success as a groundbreaking figure touched many outside her district's 
boundaries. Her work looked beyond district lines and party lines to 
affect, inspire, and speak for those in need of justice and advocacy.
  My heart goes out to her loved ones. I know that she will be greatly 
missed by everyone who knew her. Her impact will continue to be felt, 
not only in her Cleveland district and the U.S. House of 
Representatives, but by the many individuals who benefited from her 
service.
  Mr. STARK. Mr. Speaker, I rise today with great sadness to mourn the 
passing of my good friend and colleague, Stephanie Tubbs Jones.
  While serving with Stephanie on the Ways and Means Committee, and 
more closely on the Health Subcommittee, I experienced firsthand what a 
fierce and effective advocate she was in Congress. She was an 
uncompromising champion for health care as a right for everyone. Her 
constant effort highlighting the disparities in our health care system 
and her tireless work on behalf of End-Stage Renal Disease patients 
made her an outstanding representative. She is, in a word, 
irreplaceable.
  Her spirited advocacy and commitment to justice and fairness were 
accompanied by warmth and strong loyalty. Those who worked closely with 
her were privileged to see both her intense passion and joy for her 
work.
  I extend my sincerest condolences to her son Mervyn and her sister 
Barbara, and the many women and men who counted her among their family 
and friends. As a colleague and friend, I am honored to have served 
beside her. She will be sorely missed.
  Ms. WOOLSEY. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the life and legacy 
of our dear friend, Congresswoman Stephanie Tubbs Jones. Since her 
arrival here nearly 10 years ago as the first African-American woman 
elected to Congress by Ohio, she was a tireless advocate for the poor 
and our Nation's working families. Despite the tremendous personal 
losses she suffered, including the tragic loss of her sister, her 
parents, and her husband Mervyn of 26 years, she never wavered in her 
commitment to the people of Ohio.
  Stephanie Tubbs Jones will be remembered as a role model, an ardent 
and bold voice for progressive causes, and a champion for the rights of 
the disenfranchised. She will be a tough act to follow. Her remarkable 
passion and bravery continue to be an inspiration to us all, and we 
will all truly miss her presence in this Chamber.
  Mr. RANGEL. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay special tribute to one 
of our own; my friend and colleague, the Honorable Chairwoman Stephanie 
Tubbs Jones who represented the 11th congressional district of Ohio for 
five terms. Sadly she passed away at the young age of 59 on August 20, 
2008 from an aneurysm in her brain. She is survived by her son, Mervyn 
L. Jones II, and her sister Barbara Walker.
  Congresswoman Tubbs Jones truly was a pioneer. She became the first 
African-American woman to chair the Committee on Standards of Official 
Conduct in the 110th Congress and the first African-American woman to 
serve on the Committee on Ways and Means in the 108th Congress where 
she played an important role on the health subcommittee. She fought 
tirelessly for wealth building and economic development, access and 
delivery of health care, and quality education for all. The 
Congresswoman had the ability to remain grounded and always continued 
to work and include the interests of her constituents when dealing with 
issues.
  It was an honor and a privilege to have worked directly with her on 
the Committee on Ways and Means. On the Health Subcommittee she focused 
on End Stage Renal Disease (ESRD), disparities and she played an 
important role in the SCHIP debate. She was a strong supporter of tax 
provisions designed to encourage the rehabilitation of historic, and 
other real property, and to encourage community development. Despite 
her constituency that is mainly unionized, she supported the Peru Trade 
Promotion Agreement and other free-trade agreements as long as they met 
the International Labor Organizations Declaration on Fundamental 
Principles and Right to Work.
  She will be missed by members on both sides of the aisle and by staff 
on the hill who admired and enjoyed working with her as well. We who 
knew and worked with her will surely be among many who will miss her 
smile, her tenacity, and her infectious love of life. She leaves us an 
inspirational legacy, a memorable record of public service and a charge 
to keep fighting for what is right and just. She will forever be in our 
hearts.
  Mr. UDALL of New Mexico. Mr. Speaker, history will remember Stephanie 
Tubbs Jones as a trailblazer. News reports about her death are littered 
with firsts: first black woman to represent Ohio in the House, first 
black woman on Ways and Means, first woman and first African-American 
prosecutor in Cuyahoga County.
  Those who worked with her will remember her electric smile, the kind 
of smile that made you feel like everything would be alright. We will 
remember her warmth, how she could hug somebody and give them a piece 
of her high

[[Page 18034]]

spirits. She had that uncanny ability to make everybody she 
encountered--from presidents to homeless constituents--feel like they 
had known her for years. Her gift was to connect with people on a 
purely human level. No pretense. When confronted with immensely 
powerful men and women, she would treat them with the same casual 
kindness that won her the love of her constituents back in Cleveland.
  Most importantly, we will remember her courage. Stephanie was never 
intimidated by anybody or anything. When she saw injustice, she did 
something about it, even when the battle would be difficult and victory 
uncertain. She spoke for those in need of a champion. In her career, 
she transcended the barriers of race, class and gender that continue to 
undermine the great American creed of equal opportunity. In her work, 
she helped ensure that those barriers will not stop future generations 
of Americans from achieving their potential.
  Stephanie loved warm words, but she preferred strong actions. Let her 
example help us to speak truth to power and stand up for justice. The 
best tribute we could offer to so passionate and committed a public 
servant is to continue her work.
  Mr. RYAN of Ohio. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor my friend, 
mentor, and a true pioneer. Congresswoman Stephanie Tubbs Jones was 
taken from us at far too young an age when she passed away on August 
20th. On August 30th, during a memorial ceremony held at the Cleveland 
Public Hall, I addressed the hundreds of friends and family in 
attendance to pay tribute to Stephanie and I would like to share those 
remarks here as well:
  There was a famous song a few years back called, ``I Hope You 
Dance.'' And it's a song that passes along some advice to all of us, 
and the refrain of the song says, ``If you have the choice to sit it 
out or dance, I hope you dance.'' And we all know that Stephanie didn't 
sit it out; she danced. She danced through this life with a style all 
her own, and she now gets to dance once again with her favorite 
partner, Mervin. Whether literally dancing on the dance floor or 
dancing through life, she possessed the key quality of any great 
dancer--she was fearless. She wasn't real concerned with criticism 
because she got her instructions from the inside. And as Connie Shultz 
pointed out last week in her wonderful column, ``When the rough and 
tumble side of Cleveland politics reared its head and threatened 
Stephanie, she simply said, `I don't have time for fear.' ''
  Gandhi said, ``My life is my message.'' And so it is with Stephanie. 
Her life instructs us that if we live a life without fear, we allow 
God's light to pour through us, like His light poured through 
Stephanie. We saw this light in her bright smile and her catchy laugh; 
her high-fives she always liked to give when she made a witty comment; 
and the nicknames she gave us, as Congressman Meek said, I was the 
``white son.'' We felt this light in her passion for justice and her 
warmth for humanity. Her life teaches us that if we live with courage 
and allow God's light to shine, we can travel farther and higher than 
we ever dreamed; that we can achieve the seemingly unachievable; and 
that we can break glass ceilings and overcome barriers with grace and 
joy. Whether it's Mervin, or Barbara, or her staff, or Members of 
Congress, or Senators, or presidential candidates, Stephanie's death 
gives us what she gave us so many times in life--our marching orders: 
To live a fearless life. To let our light shine. To bring joy and hope. 
To lift people. To dance. The daughter of Cleveland's life mission. And 
the credo she asks us to live by is reflected in the short poem called, 
``I Am One.''

     I am only one,
     But I am one.
     I cannot do everything,
     But I can do something.
     And that which I can do,
     I ought to do.
     And that which I ought to do,
     By the grace of God, I shall do.

  We love you, Stephanie.
  Mr. BACA. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to offer my sincere condolences 
for the passing of the Honorable Stephanie Tubbs Jones. 
  Not only was she a true hero and noble leader in the United States 
Congress, a trailblazer for all minorities, but she was also a friend 
who will be dearly missed.
  Representative Stephanie Tubbs Jones' passing is a tragic loss for 
this Congress and our Nation. Her leadership on the ethics committee 
and on voting rights will never be forgotten. On behalf of the 
Congressional Hispanic Caucus, we send our prayers and condolences to 
her family, friends and staff.
  As Chairman of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus, I worked with 
Representative Jones together on a variety of projects, including our 
fundraising efforts for Gallaudet University here in Washington, as 
well as other endeavors which promoted advocacy for low-income and 
minority communities.
  Having been blessed with the opportunity to get to know her outside 
the walls of Congress as a team member of the Democratic Congressional 
Basketball Team, I was impressed by her continually cheerful 
disposition and lively energy. Due to this vigor, she was always able 
to spread joy to others and add a positive light no matter the 
situation.
  Stephanie's death will be felt by all, not just within Cleveland 
community, but also throughout the Nation because of the ideals she 
stood for. I offer the thoughts and prayers of my wife Barbara and 
myself to Congresswoman Stephanie Tubbs Jones' son Mervyn and for her 
family for their loss.
  Ms. LINDA T. SANCHEZ of California. Mr. Speaker, I rise to express my 
most sincere condolences on the death of the Honorable Stephanie Tubbs 
Jones.
  I was extremely saddened to hear the news of Congresswoman Jones' 
passing. Since 1999, she has proudly and honorably served Ohio's 
eleventh district.
  Stephanie Tubbs Jones was the daughter of an Airport skycap. She grew 
up in Cleveland and graduated from college and law school at Case 
Western. She began her life of public service when she went to work as 
a local government lawyer and went on to serve 8 years as a judge on 
the Court of Common Pleas of Cuyahoga County. As the first African 
American woman elected from Ohio to serve in Congress, she brought a 
fresh energy and new perspective to the House. No one was surprised 
when she quickly rose to a position on the powerful Ways and Means 
Committee.
  I got to know Stephanie in my first term in Congress because my 
office was next door to hers. She was never too busy to help a freshman 
member in whatever way she could. Her energy was boundless, and I will 
sorely miss her smile--it could light up a crowded room. Those who had 
the good fortune to know this incredible woman know what I am talking 
about.
  During her four terms in Congress, she was a champion for the people 
of the eleventh district. She worked tirelessly to create equal 
opportunities for all people in this country as she fought to increase 
the minimum wage, to increase funding to public schools, and to create 
affordable and accessible healthcare.
  The people of Ohio have lost a great political leader, and we have 
lost a beloved and respected colleague. We will all miss her friendly 
smile and her passion for her fellow man.
  Ms. McCOLLUM of Minnesota. Mr. Speaker, it is with tremendous sadness 
that I rise to mourn the passing of our dear colleague, the Honorable 
Stephanie Tubbs Jones of Ohio. Stephanie's death is an unbelievable 
tragedy for her family and all of us who loved her. It is a tremendous 
loss for her Cleveland constituents and our Nation. Her passing reminds 
us how precious life is and how we must treasure the time we spend with 
our loved ones.
  Stephanie's absence is profoundly personal for me because she was a 
very special person and a friend. Many, many memories and personal 
stories come to mind when I think of her. She was a caring person who 
showed her kindness and friendship freely. Her deep, strong, loving 
voice is memorable. Stephanie's energy and strength--almost 
fearlessness--to fight for what she believed in, and at the same time, 
be open to opposing points of view was admirable.
  I can't count the number of times I watched Stephanie on the floor of 
this House boldly speaking out on behalf of Americans and her Ohio 
constituents. She was passionate and never shied away from fighting for 
justice, equality, and the belief that this great country can do so 
much better for so many of the citizens who have been left behind. A 
powerful voice for justice in Congress and an extraordinary public 
servant is the best way I can describe Stephanie and her legacy.
  As the chair of the House Ethics Committee, Congresswoman Tubbs Jones 
had one of the most difficult duties in Congress. Her experience as a 
judge and a prosecutor made her perfectly suited for the responsibility 
of maintaining the integrity of the U.S. House of Representatives.
  Today is Stephanie's 59th birthday. It is heartbreaking that she is 
not here with us, but I am proud to celebrate her life of service and 
her commitment to both her family and the families she represented. 
Congresswoman Tubbs Jones was the epitome of a citizen servant and 
demonstrated to all who knew her a spirit of joy, hope and compassion. 
I feel honored to have known her and privileged to have served with her 
in this House. Stephanie will be missed by me and many others, but she 
will not be forgotten.
  Mr. COHEN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor our departed colleague 
the Honorable Stephanie Tubbs Jones.
  Many have attested to Stephanie's contagious smile and fierce loyalty 
to her friends.

[[Page 18035]]

I always respected and admired her. I can honestly say that she was a 
nice and professional colleague. We spoke for the last time a couple of 
weeks ago at the Congressional Black Caucus's Annual Retreat in Tunica, 
Mississippi. I feel a sense of gratitude for our meeting. We talked. We 
embraced. Stephanie expressed her congratulations for my success as a 
freshman legislator. She spoke fondly of her time in Memphis as she 
visited her family there.
  Over the past decade, Stephanie was an undeniable force in Congress. 
She broke barriers in 1998 by being elected the first African American 
woman in Congress from Ohio. She persisted over the years and was 
appointed to the powerful Ways and Means Committee. She served with a 
sense of pride as the chairwoman of the House Ethics Committee.
  Stephanie and I co-sponsored a great deal of legislation together. On 
July 29, 2008, we unified as Members of Congress and passed H. Res. 
194: the formal apology for government's involvement in slavery and Jim 
Crow. Stephanie was one of my earliest co-sponsors. She was a community 
conscious legislator. She fought for the people and sponsored 
legislation on issue areas ranging from community economic development 
to enfranchisement and retirement security.
  I am forever grateful that my last interaction with Stephanie 
concluded with a deep and meaningful hug. My only regret is that 
Stephanie and I will not have the opportunity to work together in the 
future.
  Ms. LEE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to the life and 
legacy of Congresswoman Stephanie Tubbs Jones.
  First, I would like to offer my deepest condolences to her entire 
family, especially her son Mervyn and her sister Barbara. I want to 
also offer my condolences to the constituents of Ohio's Eleventh 
Congressional District, to all of her many friends, her colleagues--
especially in the Congressional Black Caucus--and of course to her 
staff here in Washington and in Ohio.
  On August 20, 2008 the people of Cleveland, this Nation and the world 
lost a giant in the fight for equality and justice when we lost my 
beloved friend and colleague Congresswoman Stephanie Tubbs Jones.
  So many know Congresswoman Tubbs Jones for her exceptional work on 
behalf of her constituents and for the many barriers she broke and 
trails she blazed as the first African American woman elected to 
Congress from Ohio, as the first African American woman to serve on the 
powerful Ways and Means Committee, and as the first to chair the House 
Ethics Committee.
  Congresswoman Tubbs Jones and I came to Congress about the same time. 
We worked closely together for a decade and she was one of the most 
remarkable persons I have ever known. Whether it was standing up for 
Ohio voters and fighting for election reform or fighting to end the 
unjust war and occupation in Iraq, she always stood on the right side 
of justice.
  She was a political giant, a skilled legislator, an incredible 
orator, but she was much more than that to me. She was also my sister 
in arms, my confidant, and my friend. We spent many an evening in 
Washington together throughout our decade long friendship.
  From attending events together, to just grabbing dinner or an 
occasional down moment, we've spent a great deal of time throughout the 
years. We also spent many mornings together. You see Stephanie was also 
my gym partner along with Congresswoman Laura Richardson.
  Stephanie and I also had the chance to travel together on several 
occasions to places like Cuba and Israel. I will always treasure those 
times and memories. It was during some of our travel together, and our 
work together for the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation, that I got 
the chance to know her husband, Mervyn Jones, whom she loved dearly and 
tragically lost in October 2003.
  In the wake of his death, Stephanie created a scholarship golf 
tournament in his memory, which has become a successful annual event. I 
know she would be pleased that a scholarship has been now arranged in 
her honor.
  Unquestionably, her passing has left a tremendous hole in the 
Congress, in the Congressional Black Caucus, and in my heart. I will 
miss my beautiful friend and sister, Congresswoman Tubbs Jones so very 
much.
  My thoughts and prayers remain with the Congresswoman's entire 
family, her son Mervyn, her sister Barbara, her staff, her friends and 
her many supporters.
  May her soul rest in peace.
  Mrs. MALONEY of New York. Mr. Speaker, today, I join my colleagues to 
remember and celebrate the life of a dear friend and colleague, 
Stephanie Tubbs Jones. It is during times like these that we are both 
able to smile, thinking about those who we admired and who have 
distinctly touched our lives--and in the case of Stephanie Tubbs 
Jones--touched the lives of thousands of Clevelanders who were so 
devoted to her and she to them. And of course, we sadly mourn the death 
of a woman who was dedicated to making the lives of Ohioans and 
Americans better. From increasing the minimum wage to making healthcare 
available to all, Stephanie was at the forefront, fighting for all of 
our families.
  Congresswoman Stephanie Tubbs Jones is the real-life American success 
story. Born to a factory worker and skycap, Stephanie went to public 
schools in Ohio, then became a prosecutor and municipal judge and 
finally, the first African-American woman from Ohio elected to the 
United States Congress. Nearly 10 years ago, she was a little-known 
Democrat from Ohio who rose to prominence becoming Chair of the House 
Committee on Standards of Official Conduct and a member of the powerful 
House Ways and Means Committee.
  Like so many, Stephanie was taken from us too soon and too abruptly. 
I extend my sincerest condolences to Stephanie's family and especially 
to her beloved son, Mervyn. Your mom was a great lady and a wonderful 
friend. We will all miss her dearly.
  Mr. KUCINICH. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in honor and remembrance of 
my colleague and dear friend, United States Congresswoman Stephanie 
Tubbs Jones, who left us far too soon.
  Stephanie's fearless passion for social justice, unyielding 
commitment to improving the lives of her most vulnerable constituents, 
and limitless love for her family and friends, will forever resound 
throughout our Cleveland community and across our nation. Her 
professional achievements were many--her success as a county 
prosecutor, municipal judge, trial court judge and Congresswoman are 
well known, but it was her strength of character in the face of 
personal hardship, her dedication to and ability in helping others and 
her luminous zest for life that ran through everything she did. It is 
these attributes, framed by her hearty laugh and generous heart--that 
will forever be remembered.
  Stephanie's life touched and inspired countless lives, young and old, 
and her energy and positivity knew no bounds--reaching from the block 
clubs of Cleveland, to the halls of Congress, across the country and 
around the world. Wherever she went, people were drawn to her quick 
smile, sharp intellect, easy going nature and passion for making the 
world a better place. The child of devoted, working class parents, 
Stephanie blazed a trail of possibility and hope for women everywhere, 
especially for African American women, when she made history upon being 
elected as the first African American woman from Ohio elected to 
Congress. Stephanie was not afraid to stand up against the tide--she 
was one of the Representatives to vote ``no'' to authorizing the use of 
force in Iraq--an action she believed to be a grave affront to the 
honor of United States veterans and the honorable service of our United 
States military women and men.
  Stephanie's sage advice and ability to get to the heart of the matter 
was coveted by her family and wide circle of friends. Her warmth, 
friendship and loyalty inspired and strengthened the lives of many, 
including my own. People from all walks of life--from United States 
Senators to the cashier around the corner--called Stephanie ``friend'' 
and ``sister.''
  Stephanie's most cherished roles were as wife and mother. Her 
unwavering devotion to her family was evidenced her entire life. 
Together, Stephanie and her late husband, Mervyn Jones Sr., raised 
their son, Mervyn, Jr., who was heart, soul and center of Stephanie's 
life.
  Mr. Speaker and colleagues, please join me in honor and remembrance 
of my dear friend and confidant, Congresswoman Stephanie Tubbs Jones. 
Our shared experiences--from our Cleveland childhood to standing 
together in the House of Representatives--was the foundation for a 
friendship that grew and strengthened over the past thirty years.
  Her passing is a profound loss for all of us, and especially for her 
beloved son, Mervyn, yet her fiery spirit, love for her family and 
friends, and commitment to serving the most fragile of our society will 
be forever reflected in those who loved and knew her well--in 
Cleveland, Washington, and far beyond. The indomitable spirit, love for 
life and passion for social justice that defined my friend, Stephanie 
Tubbs Jones, will live on forever, through every friendship she ever 
forged and within everyone whose life was improved, inspired and lifted 
because of her, and she will be remembered always.
  Ms. KAPTUR. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Without objection, the previous question is 
ordered.
  There was no objection.

[[Page 18036]]

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the resolution.
  The resolution was agreed to.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

                          ____________________