On April 24, the House passed, by voice vote, a resolution (H. Res. 328) sponsored by Rep. Diane Watson (D-CA) expressing the sorrow of the House over the death of Rep. Juanita Millender-McDonald (D-CA) on April 22. The Senate passed a similar resolution (S. Res. 165) the same day.
Rep. Watson stated: “Juanita’s distinguished life [was] a life of ‘firsts.’ She [was] the first African American woman in history to chair the Committee on House Administration, which oversees the operation of the House, the Library of Congress, the Smithsonian Institute, and the National Zoo. The Committee on House Administration also oversees all Federal elections…Juanita Millender-McDonald was also the first African-American woman to serve on the Carson City Council and the first to hold the position of chairwoman for two powerful California State Assembly committees in her first term.”
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) said, “Chairwoman Millender-McDonald was an advocate for justice around the world. She spoke out forcefully against the genocide in Darfur, and was a powerful advocate for the rights of women everywhere. As a former co-chairwoman of the Congressional Caucus for Women’s Issues, she worked for gender equity here at home and throughout the world.” Speaker Pelosi continued, “The loss of Chairwoman Juanita Millender-McDonald is a personal one for many of us here. She was always optimistic and determined to make a difference. The dignity with which she faced her illness was an indication of the determination with which she always served the people of our country.”
Rep. Lois Capps (D-CA) stated, “[I]n particular, I want to speak today as I follow in her footsteps as co-chair of the Congressional Caucus for Women’s Issues. During the 107th Congress, she was co-chair of the Caucus for Women’s Issues, serving ably with Congresswoman Judy Biggert.” Rep. Capps continued: “Under their leadership, the Women’s Caucus initiated the first annual Memorial Day tribute to women in the military at the Women’s Memorial at Arlington National Cemetery. Now this event, thanks to Juanita, has become an annual tradition and highlights the Caucus’ strong commitment to supporting our brave women in uniform…As co-chair of the Caucus, Congresswoman Millender-McDonald also convened the first meeting between women Members of Congress and the Supreme Court Justices Sandra Day O’Connor and Ruth Bader Ginsberg in order to discuss issues of national importance to women, especially in the judicial area.”
Rep. Vernon Ehlers (R-MI) said: “First of all, just imagine being born African American in 1938 in Alabama and becoming the first African American woman to chair a committee in the Congress. That is a long and difficult road, and she traversed that road, once again, with elegance and grace. After having five children, she went back to school, received a bachelor’s degree and then became a teacher. She later went back to school again and obtained a master’s degree, showing amazing persistence and drive to do that. She then entered the political arena, became the mayor of the city in her district, and then later the State Assembly, and then the Congress. So she had considerable drive and interests in serving others, and that stood out from the moment you first met her.”
Rep. Sue Myrick (R-NC) said, “Juanita and I both came to Congress in 1995. While we were on different sides of the aisle, I always respected her passion for a host of issues, and her willingness to work with the other side to find solutions. At only 68 years of age, it seemed she had many more years of public service ahead of her, and I’m sorry for the loss of a friend and colleague. Juanita became a good friend of mine back in 1999, when I was diagnosed with cancer. She made a point of reaching out to me to show her support, and I’ve always been grateful to her for going out of her way to lend a kind word and a compassionate smile. Her passing is yet another reminder of how much more work is needed to continue our Nation’s War on Cancer, in spite of the progress that’s been made so far.”
Rep. Carolyn Kilpatrick (D-MI) stated: “Today is the first day of the rest of our lives. I stand here to pay tribute to my friend, my sister, chairwoman, Congresswoman Juanita Millender-McDonald. I was asked earlier by an interviewer: How would she like us to remember her? A leader, a fighter, a mother, a grandmother, excellence bar none, first class, no shortcuts. To Jim and Valerie and to the rest of the family, to the grandchildren, just know you have her blood and you can do anything. No limits; be the best. As chairperson of the Congressional Black Caucus, we are honored to have had her with us and teach us and show us the way.”
