House Proceeding on Apr 24th, 2007 :: 0:24:38 to 0:29:38
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0:20:21 to 0:24:38( Edit History Discussion )
Speech By: Jesse L. Jr.Jackson

0:24:28 to 0:24:38( Edit History Discussion )

Jesse L. Jr.Jackson: and once again, i send my condolences to those who loved hever, the house and nation have lost a dedicated public servant and someone who in life and death has taught us the meaning of character.

0:24:38 to 0:24:53( Edit History Discussion )

John Lewis: the speaker pro tempore: the chair recognizes the gentleman from georgia, mr. lewis, for five minutes. mr. lewis: thank you, mr. speaker. mr. speaker, we are here today to honor one of our

0:24:38 to 0:29:38( Edit History Discussion )
Speech By: John Lewis

0:24:53 to 0:25:14( Edit History Discussion )

John Lewis: colleagues, representative juanita millender-mcdonald of the 37th district of california. representative millender-mcdonald was an extraordinary woman. she was born in birmingham, alabama,

0:25:14 to 0:25:27( Edit History Discussion )

John Lewis: my native state. born at a time of racial violence and overt display of the most open and systematic form of racism, but she did not let her -- let that hold her down. she moved to california

0:25:27 to 0:25:42( Edit History Discussion )

John Lewis: and became a teacher in the los angeles school system. and throughout her career she used education as an instrument as a tool for change. she was a great teacher, and she used the power of knowledge and

0:25:42 to 0:25:55( Edit History Discussion )

John Lewis: commitment to human understanding to break down institutional barriers and to reach across the aisle. i think that is why she made so many strives as a member of congress. she knew gaining

0:25:55 to 0:26:08( Edit History Discussion )

John Lewis: neutral understanding was the only way to build coalition and lay all differences aside. that's why her creativity and skillful leadership that became legendary. she was the first democrat to

0:26:08 to 0:26:26( Edit History Discussion )

John Lewis: chair the congressional caucus for women issues. and she used that power to build a coalition between the women of the supreme court and the women of congress. she knew the differences in their

0:26:26 to 0:26:39( Edit History Discussion )

John Lewis: roles as public servants. it didn't matter. she believed all women in government shared a common bond. she took concern women of congress to meet delegates to the united nations, to unify the

0:26:39 to 0:26:56( Edit History Discussion )

John Lewis: global struggle of the exploitation against women and girls. she had a platform for all women to speak out against a common problem, violence against teen girls. and she was the first member

0:26:56 to 0:27:08( Edit History Discussion )

John Lewis: to bring the head of the c.i.a. to the city of watts to address drug dumping in that community. and, of course, she was the first african-american woman to chair a full committee, the committee

0:27:08 to 0:27:20( Edit History Discussion )

John Lewis: on house administration. this committee oversees some of the great education institutions of our nation, the library of congress, the smithsonian institute, the government printing office and

0:27:20 to 0:27:37( Edit History Discussion )

John Lewis: the capitol fine arts a building. we can only dream what this great teacher would have done in this capacity. i know she will have used the power of knowledge and education as an instrument

0:27:37 to 0:27:52( Edit History Discussion )

John Lewis: of change. but beyond that, juanita millender-mcdonald was an eloquent lady. she may have moved to california, but she never, ever lost her southern charm. she was always a lady. as tough as

0:27:52 to 0:28:11( Edit History Discussion )

John Lewis: steel, but as sweet as honey. she was more than a colleague. she was our sister, our friend. juanita was a sharp dresser, and sometimes she would dress to kill. she was beautiful on the outside and

0:28:11 to 0:28:22( Edit History Discussion )

John Lewis: on the inside. she had a sweet, a very sweet, wonderful spirit, and she will be deeply missed. sometimes when she would see me she would call me mr. civil rights. and sometimes when she would

0:28:22 to 0:28:39( Edit History Discussion )

John Lewis: say, what are you boys doing? what are you up to? and when she was planning programs in her district, she would stop by to see members of the georgia delegation and tell us she needed a box

0:28:29 to 0:28:48( Edit History Discussion )

John Lewis: of peanuts. and we would all ante up and make those peanuts available to her. it is so unreal, it is so unbelievable that we will not see her on the floor of this chamber again. life is short, too

0:28:59 to 0:29:14( Edit History Discussion )

John Lewis: short. we are here today and we're gone tomorrow, but her spirit and her memory will live on in all of us. it seemed that a light has gone out. maybe here in this chamber an on this earth a light

0:29:14 to 0:29:38( Edit History Discussion )

John Lewis: has gone out. another part of the universe juanita is shining brighter than ever before. thank you, mr. speaker. i yield back the balance of my time. the speaker pro tempore: the chair

0:29:38 to 0:29:59( Edit History Discussion )

Gregory W. Meeks: recognizes the gentleman from new york, mr. meeks, for two minutes. mr. meeks: thank you, mr. chairman. i had to come to the floor today in remembrance of a phenomenal woman, juanita millender-mcdonald.

0:29:38 to 0:32:41( Edit History Discussion )
Speech By: Gregory W. Meeks