EXPRESSING SORROW OF THE HOUSE AT THE DEATH OF THE HONORABLE JUANITA MILLENDER-MCDONALD, MEMBER OF CONGRESS FROM THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA

Mr. SCOTT of Virginia: Madam Speaker, I wish to offer my sincerest condolences to the family of Congresswoman JUANITA MILLENDER-MCDONALD. My thoughts and prayers go out to them in their time of mourning.

Congresswoman MILLENDER-MCDONALD amassed many firsts and accomplishments during her life as a public servant by breaking racial and gender barriers. She was the first African-American woman to serve as Ranking Member and Chairman of the powerful House Committee on Administration. She was also the first woman to serve on the Carson City Council; the first to chair two powerful California State Assembly committees--the Insurance Committee; and the Revenue & Taxation Committee in her first term as a state legislator. She was also the first African-American Democratic Chair of the Congressional Caucus for Women's Issues and in that capacity she led the women on two groundbreaking meetings: One with U.N. Secretary General Kofi Annan to talk about the plight of women globally and another with the chairman of the New York Stock Exchange to develop strategies for increasing women's investments and net worth.

In recognition of women who served in our military, Congresswoman MILLENDER-MCDONALD initiated the first annual Memorial Day Tribute to Women in the Military at the Women's Memorial at Arlington National Cemetery and she led the fight to secure $15 million for the maintenance of the memorial. Most recently secured $50 million for counseling services for our returning men and women serving in Iraq and Afghanistan.

During her 6 terms in the U.S. House of Representatives, her ability to reach across the aisle and effectively move bipartisan legislation was evident during her work on a range of issues, including ensuring equal rights for women and minorities, improving our education system, combating poverty, protecting voting rights, and stopping the genocide in Darfur.

Congresswoman MILLENDER-MCDONALD devoted her life to her family and to service on behalf of her constituents in the 37th District of California and to the Nation. Congresswoman JUANITA MILLENDER MCDONALD was truly a phenomenal woman. She is a friend and colleague who will be sorely missed.