[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 155 (2009), Part 5]
[House]
[Pages 6755-6757]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




  RONALD H. BROWN UNITED STATES MISSION TO THE UNITED NATIONS BUILDING

  Ms. EDWARDS of Maryland. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and 
pass the bill (H.R. 837) to designate the Federal building located at 
799 United Nations Plaza in New York, New York, as the ``Ronald H. 
Brown United States Mission to the United Nations Building''.
  The Clerk read the title of the bill.
  The text of the bill is as follows:

                                H.R. 837

       Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of 
     the United States of America in Congress assembled,

     SECTION 1. DESIGNATION.

       The Federal building located at 799 United Nations Plaza in 
     New York, New York, shall be known and designated as the 
     ``Ronald H. Brown United States Mission to the United Nations 
     Building''.

     SEC. 2. REFERENCES.

       Any reference in a law, map, regulation, document, paper, 
     or other record of the United States to the Federal building 
     referred to in section 1 shall be deemed to be a reference to 
     the ``Ronald H. Brown United States Mission to the United 
     Nations Building''.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentlewoman from 
Maryland (Ms. Edwards) and the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Mario Diaz-
Balart) will each control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentlewoman from Maryland.


                             General Leave

  Ms. EDWARDS of Maryland. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that 
all Members may have 5 legislative days within which to revise and 
extend their remarks and to include extraneous material on H.R. 837.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentlewoman from Maryland?
  There was no objection.
  Ms. EDWARDS of Maryland. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I 
may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 837, a bill to designate the 
U.S. Mission to the United Nations Building located at 799 United 
Nations Plaza, New York City, New York, as the Ronald H. Brown United 
States Mission to the United Nations Building.

[[Page 6756]]

  We all acknowledge Ron Brown as an extraordinary man. He wore many 
hats--lawyer, pragmatic bridge builder, statesman, mentor and trusted 
and true friend. As we are all aware, he was the first African American 
Secretary of Commerce. In that position he became a powerful and 
influential voice for promoting American products and trade abroad.
  He left the National Urban League in 1979 to work for Senator Edward 
M. Kennedy, who sought the Democratic Party's Presidential nomination. 
In 1981, Brown began a career as a lawyer and lobbyist. In 1988, he was 
elected chairman of the Democratic National Committee. From 1989 to 
1992, he served as chairman and used his skills as a negotiator and 
pragmatic bridge builder to help reunite the Democratic Party after its 
defeat in the 1988 Presidential election.
  In 1993, President William J. Clinton appointed Ron Brown as 
Secretary of Commerce. During his tenure, Secretary Brown effectively 
utilized and expanded the role of the U.S. Department of Commerce. 
Secretary Brown was known for his amiable political style and his deft 
skill in negotiations. As secretary, he used these qualities 
effectively to promote U.S. trade, expand foreign markets for American 
businesses and spur domestic job growth and economic development.
  Secretary Brown's life was tragically ended in April 1996 when he was 
killed in a plane crash while in service to his country. It is fitting 
and proper we honor his civic contributions by this designation, and I 
urge passage of H.R. 837.
  I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. MARIO DIAZ-BALART of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such 
time as I may consume.
  As you just heard from the gentlewoman from Maryland, this bill names 
the Federal building located in the United Nations Plaza in New York as 
the Ronald H. Brown United States Mission to the United Nations 
Building.
  This bill has already passed the House once before and, as you have 
heard the explanation, here it is in front of us.
  Mr. OBERSTAR. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of H.R. 837, a 
bill to designate the United States Mission to the United Nations 
Building located at 799 First Avenue, New York, New York, as the 
``Ronald H. Brown United States Mission to the United Nations 
Building''.
  Enactment of this legislation is long overdue. I commend the 
gentleman from New York (Mr. Rangel) for his steadfastness in 
supporting this bill. Congressman Rangel introduced similar bills in 
the 108th, 109th, and 110th Congresses.
  Last Congress, the House passed H.R. 735, to designate the United 
States Mission to the United Nations in honor of Ron Brown. 
Unfortunately, the Senate was unable to act on the bill. I am pleased 
that today we will again pass this bill and pay a fitting tribute to 
the life and achievements of this extraordinary American.
  Ron Brown was a man who served his country in many capacities: 
lawyer, pragmatic bridge builder, statesman, mentor, and trusted 
friend.
  He may be best known for his service as the first African-American 
Secretary of Commerce. In that position, he became a powerful and 
influential voice for promoting American products and trade abroad. He 
championed expanding markets for U.S. goods and services, in order to 
increase job opportunities and foster job creation here at home.
  He also served President Clinton on the National Economic Council, 
the Domestic Policy Council, the Task Force on National Health Care 
Reform, the Trade Promotion Coordinating Committee, and the U.S.-Russia 
Business Development Committee.
  Secretary Brown served on the Board of Trustees for Middlebury 
College and received his law degree from St. John's University in New 
York City. Prior to entering public service, he worked as a welfare 
caseworker in New York City.
  In addition to his many talents and strengths, Secretary Brown was a 
passionate civil rights activist with a distinguished record of service 
to his community. His commitment to this nation and its citizens 
provides a model for us all.
  Secretary Brown's life tragically ended in April 1996, when he was 
killed in a plane crash in Croatia while on an official Department of 
Commerce trade mission.
  The Department of State requested that Secretary Brown personally 
undertake the trade mission to highlight and find opportunities for 
U.S. businesses to boost economic reconstruction of the war torn region 
of former Yugoslavia.
  Congress has previously designated four Federal buildings that serve 
as Department of State facilities. In 2000, Congress designated the 
Department of State headquarters as the ``Harry S Truman Federal 
Building'' (P.L. 106-218). In 2004, Congress designated the Foreign 
Service Institute as the ``George P. Schultz National Foreign Affairs 
Training Center'' (P.L. 108-136). In 2005, Congress designated the 
United States Embassy Annex in Rome, Italy, as the ``Mel Sembler 
Building'' (P.L. 108-447) and designated the Federal building in 
Kingston, Jamaica, as the ``Colin L. Powell Residential Plaza'' (P.L. 
109-89).
  Secretary Brown died in service to his country. It is fitting and 
proper to honor this Federal building as the ``Ronald H. Brown United 
States Mission to the United Nations Building''.
  I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting H.R. 837.
  Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support 
of H.R. 837, the ``Ronald H. Brown United States Mission to the United 
Nations Building''. I would like to thank my colleague Charlie Rangel 
for introducing this legislation. H.R. 837 moves to designate the 
federal building at 799 United Nations Plaza in New York as the Ronald 
H. Brown United States Mission to the United Nations Building.
  Former United States Secretary of Commerce under President Clinton, 
Ronald Brown, has always been a dedicated U.S servant. Born in 
Washington, DC, he quickly showed an interest in public service, as a 
young man he was a member of the African-American social and 
philanthropic organization. Brown also worked for the Jack and Jill 
foundation, an organization that works to help children to have 
cultural opportunities, develop leadership skills, and form social 
networks even in a segregated society.
  Having not only a passion for public service Brown had a strong 
desire to serve his country as well. In 1962 upon graduation of 
Middlebury College he enlisted in the army, where he served in Korea 
and Europe.
  Upon being discharged Brown joined the National Urban League, an 
organization that aims at advocating on behalf of African Americans and 
against racial discrimination in the United States. He would excel 
within the organization where he moved all the way up to Deputy 
Executive Director for Programs and Governmental Affairs. Following his 
service with the National Urban League, he immediately began fighting 
for another great American public servant, Edward M. Kennedy. Brown 
served as campaign manager for the now second most senior member of the 
United States Senate.
  After running Kennedy's successful Senate campaign, Brown began a 
string of political occupations that include lobbying for the law firm 
Patton, Boggs & Blow, Head of the Jesse Jackson convention team for the 
Democratic National Convention in Atlanta. Finally Brown was elected 
chairman of the Democratic National Committee in February of 1989. 
Tragically, on April 3. 1996 on an official trade mission, his plane 
carrying him and 34 other passengers struck a mountain while attempting 
a procedural landing.
  Ronald H. Brown was a man that dedicated his entire life to bettering 
the lives of others. Whether it be young African Americans in New York, 
fighting for the freedom of all Americans in some of the worlds most 
dangerous battlefields, or working day in and out to help promote and 
excel the careers of others whose ideals and policies he believed would 
better the nation. Brown's is a story that deserves to be recognized 
everyday. I feel designating a building in his name is the perfect way 
to recognize this true American public servant. This building will 
stand long after generations have gone and will hopefully remind all 
generations to come, that a dedicated spirit and a devotion to country 
are qualities that deserve recognition.
  Mr. Speaker I urge my colleagues to support H.R. 837, designating the 
federal building at 799 United Nations Plaza in New York as the 
``Ronald H. Brown United States Mission to the United Nations 
Building''. To recognize a great American man who devoted his life to 
the betterment of his country.
  Mr. MARIO DIAZ-BALART of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the 
remaining part of my time.
  Ms. EDWARDS of Maryland. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my 
time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentlewoman from Maryland (Ms. Edwards) that the House suspend the 
rules and pass the bill, H.R. 837.

[[Page 6757]]

  The question was taken; and (two-thirds being in the affirmative) the 
rules were suspended and the bill was passed.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

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