im Line)

Juanita Millender-McDonald 

LATE A REPRESENTATIVE FROM 

CALIFORNIA 

÷ 

MEMORIAL ADDRESSES 

AND OTHER TRIBUTES 

HON. JUANITA MILLENDER-MCDONALD ÷ z 1938–2007 

(Trim Line)

(Trim Line)

Juanita Millender-McDonald 


34800.003
(Trim Line)

(Trim Line)

U.S. GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE

WASHINGTON : 2007

Memorial Addresses and 

Other Tributes 

HELD IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

AND SENATE 

OF THE UNITED STATES 

TOGETHER WITH MEMORIAL SERVICES 

IN HONOR OF 

JUANITA 

MILLENDER-MCDONALD 

Late a Representative from California 

One Hundred Tenth Congress 

First Session 

÷ 

(Trim Line)

(Trim Line)

Compiled under the direction 

of the 

Joint Committee on Printing 

(Trim Line)

(Trim Line)

[ iii ] 

CONTENTS 

Page 

Biography .................................................................................................. v 

Proceedings in the House of Representatives: 

Tributes by Representatives: 

Baca, Joe, of California .............................................................. 21 

Bishop, Sanford D., Jr., of Georgia ........................................... 27 

Bonner, Jo, of Alabama ............................................................. 75 

Bordallo, Madeleine Z., of Guam .............................................. 43 

Butterfield, G.K., of North Carolina ......................................... 22 

Calvert, Ken, of California ........................................................ 10, 32 

Capito, Shelley Moore, of West Virginia .................................. 45 

Capps, Lois, of California .......................................................... 13 

Christensen, Donna M., of Virgin Islands ............................... 44 

Clarke, Yvette D., of New York ................................................ 59 

Cleaver, Emanuel, of Missouri .................................................. 46, 57 

Conyers, John, Jr., of Michigan ................................................ 49, 74 

Cummings, Elijah E., of Maryland ........................................... 70 

Davis, Artur, of Alabama .......................................................... 62 

Davis, Danny K., of Illinois ....................................................... 39 

Davis, Susan A., of California ................................................... 35 

Doolittle, John T., of California ................................................ 12 

Dreier, David, of California ....................................................... 5 

Ehlers, Vernon J., of Michigan ................................................. 16 

Ellison, Keith, of Minnesota ...................................................... 40 

Faleomavaega, Eni F.H., of American Samoa ......................... 18 

Green, Al, of Texas ..................................................................... 62 

Harman, Jane, of California ...................................................... 33 

Hastings, Alcee L., of Florida .................................................... 56 

Hoyer, Steny H., of Maryland ................................................... 58 

Jackson, Jesse L., Jr., of Illinois ............................................... 64 

Jackson-Lee, Sheila, of Texas ................................................... 20 

Jefferson, William J., of Louisiana ........................................... 68 

Johnson, Eddie Bernice, of Texas ............................................. 25 

Jones, Stephanie Tubbs, of Ohio ............................................... 29 

Kaptur, Marcy, of Ohio .............................................................. 32 

Kilpatrick, Carolyn C., of Michigan .......................................... 7 

Langevin, James R., of Rhode Island ....................................... 52 

Lantos, Tom, of California ......................................................... 46 

Lee, Barbara, of California ........................................................ 9 

Lewis, John, of Georgia ............................................................. 66 

Lofgren, Zoe, of California ......................................................... 11 

Lowey, Nita M., of New York .................................................... 57 

Lungren, Daniel E., of California ............................................. 8 

Maloney, Carolyn B., of New York ........................................... 34 

Matsui, Doris O., of California .................................................. 48 

McCollum, Betty, of Minnesota ................................................. 54 

(Trim Line)

(Trim Line)

[ iv ] 

Page 

Proceedings in the House of Representatives:—Continued 

Tributes by Representatives—Continued 

Meeks, Gregory W., of New York .............................................. 67 

Miller, Candice S., of Michigan ................................................. 47 

Miller, Gary G., of California .................................................... 55 

Myrick, Sue Wilkins, of North Carolina ................................... 36 

Oberstar, James L., of Minnesota ............................................. 17 

Payne, Donald M., of New Jersey ............................................. 40 

Pelosi, Nancy, of California ....................................................... 4 

Rahall, Nick J., II, of West Virginia ......................................... 68 

Rangel, Charles B., of New York .............................................. 50 

Rohrabacher, Dana, of California ............................................. 29 

Roybal-Allard, Lucille, of California ......................................... 53 

Rush, Bobby L., of Illinois ......................................................... 56 

Sa ́nchez, Linda T., of California ............................................... 23 

Sanchez, Loretta, of California ................................................. 24 

Schiff, Adam B., of California ................................................... 43 

Scott, David, of Georgia ............................................................. 27 

Scott, Robert C. ‘‘Bobby,’’ of Virginia ........................................ 34 

Sherman, Brad, of California .................................................... 41 

Shuler, Heath, of North Carolina ............................................. 51 

Solis, Hilda L., of California ...................................................... 31 

Stark, Fortney Pete, of California ............................................ 3 

Waters, Maxine, of California ................................................... 33, 60 

Watson, Diane E., of California ................................................ 3, 37 

Watt, Melvin L., of North Carolina .......................................... 28 

Woolsey, Lynn C., of California ................................................ 42 

Proceedings in the Senate: 

Tributes by Senators: 

Bingaman, Jeff, of New Mexico ................................................ 78 

Boxer, Barbara, of California .................................................... 78 

Memorial Services .................................................................................... 81 

(Trim Line)

(Trim Line)

[ v ] 

BIOGRAPHY 

A recent Washington Times article reported a University of 

California study citing Congresswoman JUANITA MILLENDERMCDONALD as one of the five most effective Members of Congress given her ability to reach across the aisle to effectively 

move bipartisan legislation. As the first African American 

woman in history to hold the distinguished positions of ranking member and chairperson on the powerful Committee on 

House Administration, she oversaw the operation of the 

House of Representatives; the Library of Congress; the 

Smithsonian Institute; the National Zoo; and all Federal 

elections. 

This position extended the many firsts the Congresswoman 

had amassed since arriving on the political stage. She was 

the first African American woman to serve on the Carson 

City Council; the first to hold the position of chairwoman for 

two powerful California State Assembly committees (Insurance, and Revenue and Taxation) in her first term. She was 

the first African American woman to give the national Democratic response to President Bush’s weekly radio address, 

and the first to be named honorary curator of the Museum 

of Latin American Art in Long Beach. 

Additionally, MILLENDER-MCDONALD was the first Democratic chairperson of the Congressional Caucus for Women’s 

Issues to lead the women on two groundbreaking meetings, 

the first with U.N. Secretary General Kofi Annan to talk 

about the plight of women globally, and the other with the 

chairman of the New York Stock Exchange to develop strategies for increasing women’s investments and net worth. 

She convened the first meeting between women Members 

of Congress and Supreme Court Justices Sandra Day O’Connor and Ruth Bader Ginsberg, the only women to serve on 

the High Court, to discuss issues of national importance to 

women. She also led a delegation of 27 women to meet with 

First Lady Hillary Rodham Clinton, taking the Families 

First Agenda to 35 States across the Nation, another first. 

In recognition of women who served our country in uniform during wartime, Congresswoman MILLENDER-MCDONALD initiated the first annual Memorial Day Tribute to 

(Trim Line)

(Trim Line)

[ vi ] 

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. She also secured $50 million for counseling services for our returning 

men and women serving in Iraq and Afghanistan. 

In 1997, a Glamour magazine survey identified Congresswoman MILLENDER-MCDONALD as ‘‘one of eleven women who 

will change the world.’’ Bold initiatives have been her trademark—from the historic move in bringing CIA Director John 

Deutch to Watts to address allegations of covert involvement 

in drug trafficking in South Central Los Angeles; to a ‘‘sitin’’ at former Senator Jesse Helms’ office which forced the 

confirmation of former Senator Carol Mosley Braun as Ambassador to New Zealand and Fiji Island. 

In her role as ranking member of the Committee on House 

Administration, Congresswoman MILLENDER-MCDONALD investigated widespread voting irregularities and voter disenfranchisement and called for a hearing in Ohio, the first 

election reform field hearing in congressional history. Additionally, she spoke out against genocide in Cambodia, Darfur 

and other regions of the world where human rights were in 

danger or ignored, and worked with former Secretary of 

State Madeleine Albright and Ambassador John Miller on 

human trafficking and women’s rights issues globally. 

Her stellar performance on transportation issues resulted 

in her becoming one of the most respected voices on the 

House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee where 

she secured billions of dollars for her region and California. 

In 2005, she played a key role in the crafting and ultimate 

House passage of the 6-year Transportation Reauthorization 

Act (TEA–LU), the largest public works legislation in our 

Nation’s history. 

Her list of landmark legislation includes: 

• the Projects of National and Regional Significance—a $1.8 

billion program to address national transportation arteries 

congestion and mitigation; 

• the historic Alameda Corridor initiative in the 1990s; 

• the Mother-to-Child HIV/AIDS Transmission Act—legislation the President has established as his $15 billion African AIDS initiative; 

• legislation to increase diabetes research in minority and 

female populations; 

• the American-Asian Justice Act to allow foreign-born children of former and current American servicemen to be 

united with their American families; 

(Trim Line)

(Trim Line)

[ vii ] 

• the Freedmen’s Bureau Preservation Act of 2000, which directs the National Archives to preserve the records of 

former African American slaves for future generations to 

trace their family history; 

• the Prohibition Against Alcohol Trafficking Act (PAAT Act) 

to end the sale of alcohol to minors via the internet. 

• legislation that directs the Secretary of Education to study 

and report to Congress of the troubling dropout rate 

among Latino, Native American, American Samoan, and 

African American high school students; 

• legislation to secure $2 million to reduce the backlog of 

equal employment opportunity complaints, including sexual harassment allegations of female air traffic controllers; 

• the Anti-terrorism/Port Security Act of 2003; 

• the Terrorist Threat to Public Transportation Assessment 

Act of 2001; 

• the Child Safety Lock on Firearms Act; 

• the Date Rape and Violence Act; and 

• Sexual Trafficking. 

When the Federal Emergency Management Agency 

(FEMA) imposed mandatory flood insurance premiums on 

the elderly and low-income residents throughout the South 

Bay and South Central regions, Congresswoman MILLENDERMCDONALD went to work securing $50 million in Federal 

funding to alleviate those costs to residents and businesses 

in the 37th District. 

Congresswoman MILLENDER-MCDONALD also secured $2 

million in Federal funding for the first Urban Telemedicine 

Project in the Nation for public housing tenants that focus 

on eye disease detection, prevention and treatment; initiated 

the first outreach to Africans in the diaspora during the 2000 

census campaign; coordinated the first ‘‘Women Across 

America’’ Count 2000 and facilitated the rollout of California 

Count 2000; initiated the first re-enactment of the 19th 

Amendment on the floor of the California State Legislature 

during the 75th anniversary of women’s suffrage. 

Hailed by national leaders for her creative leadership, she 

passed a resolution proclaiming a national ‘‘Dr. Dorothy 

Height Day’’ and received over 100 proclamations from mayors across the country paying special tribute to this pre-eminent social and civil rights leader. 

Congresswoman MILLENDER-MCDONALD was a life member of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People and Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority. She served on 

the Harbor College Foundation, the Southern Christian 

(Trim Line)

(Trim Line)

[ viii ] 

Leadership Conference Board of Directors, and the board of 

trustees of Second Baptist Church, Los Angeles. She was 

founder and executive director of the League of African 

American Women, an organization of 40 African American 

women’s groups, and the founder of the Young Advocates, a 

political leadership-training program for African Americans 

between the ages of 18 and 35. 

Congresswoman MILLENDER-MCDONALD earned a bachelor 

of science degree in business administration from the University of Redlands, a master’s degree in educational administration from California State University, Los Angeles, and 

teaching and administration credentials from the California 

State University system. She was married to James McDonald, Jr., and they were the proud parents and grandparents 

of five adult children and five grandchildren. 

(Trim Line)

(Trim Line)

MEMORIAL ADDRESSES 

AND 

OTHER TRIBUTES 

FOR 

JUANITA MILLENDER-MCDONALD 

(Trim Line)

(Trim Line)

[ 3 ] 

Proceedings in the 

House of Representatives 

MONDAY, April 23, 2007 

Mr. STARK. Madam Speaker, it is with great sorrow that 

I rise to announce the death of our friend and colleague, JUANITA MILLENDER-MCDONALD of California. She died, we are 

informed, peacefully at home with her family after a battle 

with cancer. 

JUANITA holds a special place in history. She is the first 

African American woman to chair a full committee in the 

U.S. House. She also worked tirelessly against genocide and 

human trafficking, and for women’s rights. Prior to coming 

to Congress, she exemplified a leadership role as a teacher, 

city council member, and California State Assemblywoman. 

She was only 68 years young, a vibrant Member of Congress, and a good friend. Our sympathy goes to her husband 

James, five adult children, and five grandchildren. 

Madam Speaker, I ask for a moment of silence to honor 

her at this time. 

Ms. WATSON. Madam Speaker, I offer a privileged resolution (H. Res. 328) and ask for its immediate consideration. 

The Clerk read the resolution, as follows: 

H. RES. 328 

Resolved, That the House has heard with profound sorrow of the death 

of the Honorable JUANITA MILLENDER-MCDONALD, a Representative from 

the State of California. 

Resolved, That a committee of such Members of the House as the Speaker 

may designate, together with such Members of the Senate as may be joined, 

be appointed to attend the funeral. 

Resolved, That the Sergeant-at-Arms of the House be authorized and directed to take such steps as may be necessary for carrying out the provisions of these resolutions and that the necessary expenses in connection 

therewith be paid out of applicable accounts of the House. 

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. 

(Trim Line)

(Trim Line)

[ 4 ] 

The SPEAKER pro tempore. The gentlewoman from California is recognized for 1 hour. 

Ms. WATSON. Madam Speaker, I yield 30 minutes to the 

gentleman from California (Mr. Dreier), pending which I 

yield myself such time as I may consume. 

Madam Speaker, I now yield 1 minute to our most distinguished Speaker, Speaker Nancy Pelosi. 

Ms. PELOSI. Madam Speaker, I thank our dear friend, 

Congresswoman Watson, for bringing us together around 

this very sad and necessary resolution today. 

On behalf of all Members of Congress, I rise to pay tribute 

to Chairwoman JUANITA MILLENDER-MCDONALD, who has 

just passed away. I offer deepest sympathy to her family, 

who loved her so dearly, her husband James McDonald, Jr., 

her five children and her five grandchildren. 

As the first African American to chair a committee in Congress, JUANITA MILLENDER-MCDONALD was a trailblazer, always advocating for the full participation of all Americans in 

the success and prosperity of our country. She was a strong 

defender of the right of every eligible voter to have full access to the polls and a tireless proponent of fair elections 

that ensured that every vote would be counted. 

As chair of the House Administration Committee, Chairwoman MILLENDER-MCDONALD’s deep commitment to diversity was manifested in her actions when hiring and contracting within the House of Representatives. She enjoyed 

her role as the ‘‘mayor of Capitol Hill,’’ and was known for 

asking tourists in elevators, ‘‘Are you finding everything 

OK,’’ and listening closely to their response. 

After her family, the people of California’s 37th District 

were always first and foremost in Chairwoman MILLENDERMCDONALD’s mind and her work here in Congress. She saw 

it as a priority to make sure they had every opportunity. She 

worked to strengthen the economy and jobs there, and she 

saw it as a priority to secure the two ports adjacent to her 

district. 

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 cochairwoman of 

the Congressional Caucus for Women’s Issues, she worked 

for gender equity here at home and throughout the world. 

The loss of Chairwoman JUANITA MILLENDER-MCDONALD

is a personal one for many of us here. She was always optiVerDate jan 13 2004 11:41 Apr 29, 2008 Jkt 034800 PO 00000 Frm 00014 Fmt 6688 Sfmt 6688 C:\DOCS\JUANITA\34800.TXT CRS1 PsN: SKAYNE
(Trim Line)

(Trim Line)

[ 5 ] 

mistic 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. 

We have all lost an effective leader and spokesperson, and 

many of us have lost a dear friend. When we look around 

this Chamber, it is almost impossible to imagine it without 

JUANITA here fighting the fight, and doing so looking magnificent. The dignity, the grace, the beauty, the thoughtfulness that she brought to the tasks at hand were a model for 

others. Young people would come to the Capitol and observe 

her in action and learn from her. 

We also learned from her how to have dignity at the end 

of life. Many of us knew that she had had bouts with illness, 

but we really didn’t know how serious it was. As her daughter Valerie said to me last night, ‘‘She said I want to make 

all of these arrangements so that I can go home.’’ 

I hope it is a comfort to Chairwoman JUANITA MILLENDERMCDONALD’s family and friends that so many people mourn 

their loss and are praying for them at this sad time. Many 

of us will travel to California to say goodbye to JUANITA, if 

I may speak to her in that familiar way. It has been an 

honor to call her colleague, I know we all agree on that, and 

for many of us it was a privilege also to call her friend. 

Goodbye, my friend. 

Mr. DREIER. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as 

I may consume. 

Madam Speaker, let me begin by expressing my appreciation to both of my California colleagues, Ms. Watson and 

Speaker Pelosi, for their very thoughtful words, and, obviously I would, as all of my colleagues I know want to do, associate ourselves with the very thoughtful remarks offered 

by Speaker Pelosi. 

Madam Speaker, this is a very sad time for me personally, 

for a number of reasons. JUANITA MILLENDER-MCDONALD

was my friend and my neighbor. And she was my neighbor 

not only in California representing an adjoining congressional district, but my neighbor right here on Capitol Hill. 

We were next-door neighbors. So, Madam Speaker, I have to 

say that I had the privilege of spending a great deal of time 

with JUANITA. 

As Speaker Pelosi said in her statement that she released 

yesterday, JUANITA MILLENDER-MCDONALD truly was a trailblazer. She was an individual who showed amazing commitment throughout her entire life to her beliefs, and I was very 

(Trim Line)

(Trim Line)

[ 6 ] 

happy that she as a Democrat and I as a Republican were 

able to work together and find areas of agreement. 

I have to say one of the biggest challenges that we face in 

Southern California, and I know my California colleague Ms. 

Watson understands this very well, is the area of transportation. The gridlock challenge, as is the case with many metropolitan areas around the country, is particularly bad in the 

Los Angeles area. JUANITA MILLENDER-MCDONALD served on 

the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee and 

worked tirelessly to try and focus on those challenges, the 

difficulties that we faced. 

There was one particular project that I was pleased to 

work with JUANITA on, and that was something known as 

the Alameda Corridor Project. 

A huge percentage of all of the goods going to and from the 

United States, exports and imports, come through the ports 

of Long Beach and Los Angeles. JUANITA represented large 

parts of Long Beach, and she understood the importance of 

international trade. So she was one of those in the vanguard 

in the quest to deal with construction of the Alameda Corridor, which allowed those goods to move from the ports of 

Long Beach and Los Angeles to the rest of the United States 

and, similarly, goods exported from America. I am very 

happy to see the distinguished chair of the Transportation 

Committee, Mr. Oberstar, nodding in agreement. He knows 

how important this issue is, and he worked very closely with 

JUANITA MILLENDER-MCDONALD and all of us who have been 

involved on that issue. I know she championed it with great 

enthusiasm. 

I also would like to say she was a very proud alumna of 

the University of Redlands. She went to the University of 

Redlands at age 40 and got her degree. One of the reasons 

I am proud to point that out is that the distinguished former 

chairman, now ranking member of the Committee on Appropriations, Mr. Lewis, has specifically asked me to raise this 

issue. 

As I said, we were neighbors. As Speaker Pelosi correctly 

pointed out, while a number of us knew that JUANITA had 

not been well, very few knew of the seriousness of her illness. I remember standing with my two California colleagues, Ms. Watson and Mrs. Napolitano, just last week, 

and we talked about making a video that we were going to 

provide for JUANITA because we knew she had not been well. 

So her passing has come as a great shock to every single 

one of us. She is the first woman to ever chair the ComVerDate jan 13 2004 11:41 Apr 29, 2008 Jkt 034800 PO 00000 Frm 00016 Fmt 6688 Sfmt 6688 C:\DOCS\JUANITA\34800.TXT CRS1 PsN: SKAYNE
(Trim Line)

(Trim Line)

[ 7 ] 

mittee on House Administration. She was a trailblazer on so 

many issues. Her passing is a loss to my State of California, 

to this institution, and to the entire country. 

Madam Speaker, at this point I am going to ask unanimous consent that my California colleague, Mr. Calvert, be 

able to manage the time from this point forward, and with 

that I reserve the balance of my time. 

The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the gentleman from California? 

There was no objection. 

Ms. WATSON. Madam Speaker, I call on the gentlewoman 

from Michigan (Ms. Kilpatrick), the chair of the Congressional Black Caucus, for 3 minutes. 

Ms. KILPATRICK. Madam Speaker, I thank the gentlewoman from California for yielding me this time. 

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 to teach us and show us 

the way. JUANITA has been special in this body, rising from 

mayor pro tempore, city councilperson, the first African 

American woman to chair the House Women’s Caucus, and 

over the last 11 years serving in this body, a special friend 

to me personally. We many times talked about our families. 

So my sister, JUANITA, as you take your rest with the spirit of God, we know you will watch over us and make sure 

that we do our due. We know the family knows you are with 

them forever. 

To Jim, it’s OK, we’re here for you and we always will be. 

So let us continue to rejoice. He makes no mistakes. We 

now have extra protection in heaven. 

On behalf of the entire body of the CBC, we are both remorseful and reflective on the life and legacy of Representative JUANITA MILLENDER-MCDONALD. 

We are praying with and for her family and dear friends 

during this season of grief. 

(Trim Line)

(Trim Line)

[ 8 ] 

Representative MILLENDER-MCDONALD should be celebrated for her abounding commitment to service and advocacy. During her seven-term tenure as the eloquent voice of 

the 37th Congressional District, including Long Beach, the 

industrial suburbs of Carson and Compton and parts of 

South Central Los Angeles. 

As a former educator and recipient of a myriad of distinctions, including: 

• First African American woman to chair a full committee in 

the U.S. House of Representatives; 

• First African American woman to serve on the Carson City 

Council; 

• First African American woman to render the national 

Democratic response to President Bush’s weekly radio address; 

• First to be named honorary curator of the Museum of 

Latin American Art in Long Beach; and 

• First Democratic chair of the Congressional Caucus for 

Women’s Issues. 

Representative MILLENDER-MCDONALD made certain to 

pave the way for her firsts to not be the last for African 

Americans and Americans across the globe. 

Therefore, the CBC will continue to carry on the work of 

Congresswoman MILLENDER-MCDONALD as we change 

course, confront crises, and continue the legacy. 

Mr. CALVERT. Madam Speaker, I am happy to yield 3 

minutes to the gentleman from California (Mr. Daniel E. 

Lungren). 

Mr. LUNGREN. Madam Speaker, I rise to speak on behalf 

of our departed colleague, JUANITA MILLENDER-MCDONALD, 

with whom I only had the privilege of serving for the last 3 

years, but who was an office mate, had the office just down 

the hall from me my first 2 years back here this time 

around; and then I had the proud honor of serving on the 

Committee on House Administration with her. 

More than that, she represented a portion of my hometown 

of Long Beach, and we would often talk about our mutual interests in some of the people and institutions there, particularly my love for Long Beach Memorial Hospital in my hometown. 

In every conversation I had with her, in every dealing I 

had with her, she was very gracious, very generous of spirit, 

always upbeat. I was surprised to hear of her illness and 

(Trim Line)

(Trim Line)

[ 9 ] 

surprised to hear of her passing because in every conversation I had with her, she never gave an indication that she 

was in pain or suffering or in any way challenged by this illness. 

She seemed to radiate a fulfillment in being in this House 

and the work she did. I know she was very proud of the people she represented, her constituents, and I know she was 

proud of the communities she represented. And I know she 

was proud of the firsts she represented, both here in the 

Congress and in the California Legislature. 

This place is a tough place. We battle oftentimes over 

ideas and we battle over ideology, and yet the human aspect 

of this place is forgotten by many who look out or look upon 

us from the outside, but it is always here. And I always enjoyed every encounter I had with JUANITA. She was a pleasure to work with. She was someone who took great pride in 

our State of California, and I think she will be someone who 

will be sorely missed in this House. 

It is my pleasure to stand here and say goodbye, JUANITA. 

I enjoyed working with you. You will be missed. 

Ms. WATSON. Madam Speaker, with pleasure I yield 3 

minutes to Ms. Barbara Lee from California. 

Ms. LEE. Madam Speaker, it is with a heavy heart that 

I rise this evening to offer my condolences to the family of 

our beloved JUANITA MILLENDER-MCDONALD, to her husband, Jim, to her children, to her grandchildren, her sisters, 

and to her entire family. My thoughts and prayers are with 

you during this most difficult time. 

I am reminded of the very many moments we shared together and how precious, fun, and engaging they were. I met 

JUANITA over the telephone when I called to congratulate her 

for, as the underdog, winning the primary for the California 

Assembly in 1993 where I was then serving. 

Even in that first phone conversation, she conveyed such 

a strong sense of purpose and focus, yet a deep message of 

sisterhood and optimism about the future. Of course, JUANITA won the general election and came to the California 

Legislature where she demonstrated her keen intellect and 

her bipartisan legislative abilities as chair of the Revenue 

and Taxation Committee and as chair of the Assembly Insurance Committee. 

JUANITA, her husband, Jim, and her sister participated in 

a delegation which I organized to five countries in Africa. 

(Trim Line)

(Trim Line)

[ 10 ] 

Her commitment to the continent and to diplomacy was recognized by all. 

JUANITA, though, recognized the challenges which I personally faced as the organizer and leader of a delegation, 

most of whose members had never been to Africa. In the 

most sensitive and loving manner, she presented me with a 

beautiful Namibian wallet and passport carrier to shore me 

up and to help me out, and I carry it to this day. You know 

it was beautiful and well-made. JUANITA had a keen sense 

of style, if you remember how beautiful and elegant JUANITA

was always dressed. 

She was a woman of distinction and class which brought 

her many compliments, but she was also a woman of substance, with a keen intellect, big heart, and a passionate 

sense of justice. 

She worked on many issues relating to the empowerment 

of women, HIV/AIDS, orphans, a host of issues which history 

will record as improving the lives of millions. Her annual 

AIDS walk was a source of pride and joy as she shared with 

us the dos and the don’ts on how to put our own together so 

we could replicate her success in our own communities. 

JUANITA was a giving person who shared her wisdom with 

her friends and colleagues, and I will always remember her 

actions during the Bill Clinton impeachment era where she 

organized a group of women to go to the White House and 

meet with Mrs. Clinton in a show of support. It was moments like these when you knew you were in the presence 

of a risk-taker and a giant of a woman. 

JUANITA was a loving wife and mother and grandmother 

and sister. Oftentimes she brought her beautiful grandchildren to the House floor to give them a sense of her work 

and a sense of Congress, and to show them off. I am deeply 

grateful to JUANITA and to her family. 

As the Scriptures say, ‘‘Well done, thy good and faithful 

servant.’’ 

Mr. CALVERT. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time 

as I may consume. 

Last week, as for many of us, I first heard about JUANITA’s 

illness. That is surprising because there is a group of us on 

both sides of the aisle who fly back and forth to California 

every week. I know there is a lot of talk about partisanship 

nowadays, but we have a pretty close group. Many times we 

sit next to each other on the airplane, and we talk about parents and children and golf or whatever. And JUANITA was alVerDate jan 13 2004 11:41 Apr 29, 2008 Jkt 034800 PO 00000 Frm 00020 Fmt 6688 Sfmt 6688 C:\DOCS\JUANITA\34800.TXT CRS1 PsN: SKAYNE
(Trim Line)

(Trim Line)

[ 11 ] 

ways a delight to be with, always had a positive attitude, always someone you looked forward to seeing. 

I was deeply saddened to hear of JUANITA’s sudden passing. I was sitting at home writing a note to her this weekend; and, unfortunately, that note can’t be delivered. But I 

hope she is listening right now as we state our condolences 

to her family and to her friends. 

It has certainly been an honor for me to have worked with 

her for the last 11 years that she served in Congress. She 

was a faithful representative of her district. 

I worked with her specifically on the C–17 factory in Long 

Beach, CA, where they make the great C–17 aircraft, and 

she was a champion for that. She worked for the employees 

that worked at that plant to make sure that the aircraft 

which is doing a wonderful job for our country continues to 

be manufactured in Long Beach, CA. As a matter of fact, the 

last conversation I had with her was about what we can do 

to keep that going. 

There are no words I can use to convey the sense of loss 

when a colleague passes. She was a champion, and a champion for California. Our delegation will miss her very much. 

We will miss her smile. 

I join all of my colleagues in supporting this bereavement 

resolution and extend my sympathies to her families and 

friends. JUANITA MILLENDER-MCDONALD was a patriot who 

faithfully served her country. Her contributions and commitment will not be forgotten. 

Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time. 

Ms. WATSON. Madam Speaker, I am very pleased to give 

3 minutes to the gentlewoman from California (Ms. Zoe 

Lofgren). 

Ms. LOFGREN. Madam Speaker, JUANITA MILLENDERMCDONALD touched our lives in different ways. I chair the 

California Democratic delegation, and I can tell you that our 

delegation is literally heartbroken over the loss of JUANITA. 

We meet every Wednesday as a delegation to sort through 

the issues that face us not just as a Congress but as a State. 

And although we know JUANITA for her leadership in the Nation, those of us in California are very proud of the special 

things she did for our State. 

There will be an empty spot at our meeting every Wednesday. 

She was a trailblazer, as has been mentioned, a first so 

often: the first California African American woman to chair 

(Trim Line)

(Trim Line)

[ 12 ] 

two committees in the California Assembly; the chairperson 

of the House Administration Committee. But when I think of 

JUANITA, I think of someone who had tremendous dignity, 

tremendous style, tremendous poise. She knew that she was 

a first, and it was important to her that she accomplish 

these firsts with an eye to being a role model for young people around the country and, indeed, around the world. 

As chair of the Committee on House Administration, 

where I also serve, she worked so diligently to make sure 

that every vote would be counted, that all Americans would 

be treated fairly and without discrimination, and she was so 

happy to provide that leadership as chairwoman of the committee. It is so unfair that we have lost her from that position so prematurely. 

Today, we mourn the passing of a great American, but we 

also celebrate the legacy of public service that she leaves behind. JUANITA MILLENDER-MCDONALD left this Chamber as 

she entered it, with poise and spirit, fighting for those who 

could not fight for themselves. 

Our thoughts and prayers go out to her husband, her five 

children, her grandchildren, and we mourn her passing, not 

just today but every day. 

Mr. CALVERT. Madam Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to my 

colleague from California (Mr. Doolittle). 

Mr. DOOLITTLE. Madam Speaker, I was, like many of my 

colleagues, shocked and deeply saddened to hear the news 

about JUANITA. Grace Napolitano had just brought by a nice 

card for Members to sign on Friday, I think it was, and here 

I realize that she has passed away. I just had no idea. 

It was my privilege to serve with her on the House Administration Committee when she was the ranking member, and 

JUANITA was a passionate advocate for her ideas and her beliefs. Sometimes she and I would argue with each other, but 

it was never with any personal disagreement. I liked her, I 

thought highly of her, and would just like to join with my 

colleagues in acknowledging her fine service here in the 

House of Representatives, her dedication to California, and 

her desire to make a difference. 

I always admired her love and devotion to family, and I 

join with my colleagues in saying that I will miss her, and 

I am very sorry that this has happened. 

Ms. WATSON. Madam Speaker, I am pleased to yield 5 

minutes to the gentlewoman from California (Mrs. Capps). 

(Trim Line)

(Trim Line)

[ 13 ] 

Mrs. CAPPS. Madam Speaker, I thank my colleague Diane 

Watson for her leadership in gathering us together, and I 

rise with my colleagues to extend my condolences, heartfelt, 

from this body to the family, to the friends, to the constituents of Congresswoman JUANITA MILLENDER-MCDONALD. 

This is a somber hour because we are, as my colleague, the 

dean of our California delegation, mentioned, we are heartsick over this loss, and maybe it is because JUANITA was 

such a striking presence, so dynamic, so poised and articulate. When she entered a room, you knew she was there; and 

now, today, as we gather so soon after we heard of her 

death, just yesterday, walking through the doors of the Capitol, I thought it is not the same place now because she is 

not going to be there, wearing something striking, something 

beautiful, and with her elegance and grace. 

We will miss her. We will always miss her. She served in 

this place, as she served her community and her family and 

her city council and the State legislature, with such distinction, with passion and with dedication for the benefit of her 

community and with enormous patriotism. 

This talented public servant was a champion for several 

years, including fighting HIV/AIDS, improving women’s 

health, encouraging women in business, protecting voting 

rights, stopping the genocide in Darfur. As I mention these 

issues, I think to myself her charge to us this evening would 

be to stop the sweet talk about her and get busy and solve 

these problems. That is the best thing we can do in her 

memory, in her name. 

She knew where the challenges lay in our country, in the 

way we go to the polls and the fairness of our elections, the 

availability of the opportunity to vote for every single American. She was not content. It is not solved yet and we have 

to do this in her honor. 

The genocide in Darfur, until that is a thing of the past, 

we cannot rest. We have got to do this now for JUANITA. 

HIV and AIDS and all of the other things she cared about, 

now we have an increased motivation, and that is how we 

can turn our sorrow into something positive, the way she did 

with her life. 

We have heard from our colleagues this evening, and we 

will hear many things, but in particular, I want to speak 

today as I follow in her footsteps as cochair of the Congressional Caucus for Women’s Issues. During the 107th Congress, she was cochair of the Caucus for Women’s Issues, 

serving ably with Congresswoman Judy Biggert. 

(Trim Line)

(Trim Line)

[ 14 ] 

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. I know JUANITA

will be proud of us as we continue in this tradition. 

As cochair of that caucus, Congresswoman MILLENDERMCDONALD 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. 

On a personal moment, I will never forget the first time 

I met with my colleague, Congresswoman MILLENDERMCDONALD. It was during a very difficult moment in my life 

after the passing of my husband Walter. The first thing I 

knew she was there in my district with every single one of 

her staff members to help me to succeed him in office. It was 

a very rainy time, and there they all were, walking precincts 

in my district, and that was how I met JUANITA MILLENDERMCDONALD. 

She made a special effort to reach out to me and to my 

family in ways that were very meaningful to me. She shared 

with me that her father was a preacher like mine was, so we 

had that kind of bond as well. And I know it has been mentioned how ferociously she worked on issues like the C–17 

and the Alameda Corridor, but if you ever flew with her in 

her service on the Transportation Committee, you knew very 

well that she wanted that airline to work for, not her, but 

for all of us Members and all of the passengers, and she 

made sure whatever flight we were on was going to be on 

time to the best of her ability. 

These are stories that I am not going to ever forget and 

I want to be grateful for her kindness to me, and pledge during that very challenging time in my life, she was there for 

me, and now we reach out to her family members. All of us 

are going to miss our colleague and our thoughts and prayers are with the family during this difficult time. 

It just appeared, such a wonderful picture of JUANITA

MILLENDER-MCDONALD in her local paper, the Los Angeles 

Sentinel, and ironically, it is dated Thursday, April 22, and 

that was when she took leave. And who would have known 

at the paper in her community that just a few days later she 

would be gone. But I think it would be befitting her to have 

(Trim Line)

(Trim Line)

[ 15 ] 

this entered in the Congressional Record in memory of JUANITA. 

[From the Los Angeles Sentinel, April 19, 2007] 

CONGRESSWOMAN JUANITA MILLENDER-MCDONALD WILL TAKE FOUR TO SIX

WEEKS OFF TO SEEK TREATMENT FOR CANCER

(By Yussuf J. Simmonds) 

Congresswoman JUANITA MILLENDER-MCDONALD is taking a leave of absence until May 25 in order to seek proper care and spend quality time with 

her family after being diagnosed with cancer. 

It had been rumored for some time that her health was troubling especially since she had been placed on the ‘‘prayer list’’ at her local church, Second Baptist Church in Los Angeles. However, she has always been a fighter 

for the community and now the community stands ready to return her hard 

work and efforts on its behalf with prayer and best wishes. 

MCDONALD is currently serving her seventh term in Congress representing the 37th Congressional District, which includes parts of Carson, 

Compton, Long Beach, Los Angeles and Signal Hill. Presently, she is the 

chairwoman of the House Administration Committee, the first Black woman 

to hold that position. As chairwoman, she has investigated the voting irregularities and disenfranchisement in Ohio, which was the first election reform field hearing in Congressional history. 

Glamour Magazine recently dubbed her as ‘‘one of the eleven women who 

will change the world’’ and a recent news report cited her as one of the five 

most effective members of Congress because of her ability to reach across 

party lines to effectively move bipartisan legislation. 

Congresswoman Barbara Lee, the vice chair of the Congressional Black 

Caucus and the representative of the 9th Congressional District of California, extended warm greetings to her colleague and offered these words of 

comfort. 

‘‘Our prayers are with Congresswoman MCDONALD and her family. We 

wish her a speedy recovery and hope that her leadership and courage will 

soon be back with us in the nation’s capital,’’ Lee said. 

Councilman Isadore Hall of Compton’s Fourth District was touched when 

he received word of her health concerns. 

‘‘Right now we are holding her up in deep prayer and hoping for a speedy 

recovery,’’ said Hall. ‘‘Certainly her presence will be missed, but we know 

she has competent staff who will be able to move swiftly with the agenda 

she has set for the community.’’ 

This is not the first time that MCDONALD has faced health issues. In 

2005, she underwent major surgery for an unknown illness. Last year, her 

son, R. Keith McDonald, requested a furlough from his 41-month prison sentence for political corruption charges in order to see to her condition at the 

time. 

The judge granted him a six-month release but again, there was no official comment from MCDONALD on her condition then and there is no comment now if either incident is related to her current situation. 

Dr. William Epps, pastor of Second Baptist Church where MCDONALD is 

a parishioner, relayed his thoughtfulness by saying that he stays ‘‘in touch 

with her weekly’’ and that ‘‘I’m keeping her in prayer for strength as she 

faces her health.’’ 

She reportedly will maintain a limited schedule particularly in her district 

and this apparently will be to expedite her recovery process. She has reVerDate jan 13 2004 11:41 Apr 29, 2008 Jkt 034800 PO 00000 Frm 00025 Fmt 6688 Sfmt 6688 C:\DOCS\JUANITA\34800.TXT CRS1 PsN: SKAYNE
(Trim Line)

(Trim Line)

[ 16 ] 

quested respect for her privacy at present and all of her constituents have 

offered their prayers and best wishes for a speedy recovery. 

Mr. CALVERT. Madam Speaker, I yield 5 minutes to the 

gentleman from Michigan (Mr. Ehlers). 

Mr. EHLERS. Madam Speaker, I thank the gentleman for 

yielding. 

I first met JUANITA MILLENDER-MCDONALD in the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, which is a wonderful committee, and I am sure the current Chair would 

agree with that. There is a great diversity of tasks there, and 

I came to know her at that committee. 

I was amazed at Ms. MILLENDER-MCDONALD in a number 

of ways. You just heard the previous speaker talk about her 

grace and elegance. That was apparent from the moment you 

saw her and talked to her. 

She and I became rather good friends because it happened 

that her father was a pastor, and my father was also a pastor. There is a special bond between preachers’ kids or PKs 

as they are called, and we used to jokingly discuss the need 

to develop a PK caucus in the Congress so that we could address major issues of the times, particularly those with a 

moral or human content to them. 

Our friendship continued over the years, and I have to 

confess, I was continually amazed at new things I discovered 

in JUANITA MILLENDER-MCDONALD. 

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 pro tempore 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. 

But I found it interesting, too, on a personal relationship, 

she was a good friend of mine but a very private person, and 

I was dismayed recently to find out that she had cancer because she had never discussed this with me and never alluded to it in our discussions. I knew something was wrong, 

(Trim Line)

(Trim Line)

[ 17 ] 

but I did not know what. I wish I had known so I could have 

offered her more comfort and help. 

We have had our amusing moments as well. One time she 

insisted in talking far past her limit in our committee when 

I was chairman, and I gaveled her out of order, which she 

refused to admit and kept talking. So I gaveled louder and 

she kept talking, and I gaveled louder yet, until she could no 

longer speak. She was not pleased with that. But when she 

became the chairwoman, I called her to congratulate her and 

I said, ‘‘Now, I fully expect you to gavel me out of order every 

opportunity you get,’’ and that was the type of relationship 

we had. 

In spite of our differences of party, in spite of occasional 

differences in perspective and differences in how we should 

accomplish things in this Congress, we remained good 

friends throughout. And I think because of that, together, we 

were able to accomplish a great deal in that committee this 

past year, and we were continuing to do that this year under 

her leadership. 

We have lost a good friend. We have lost a good compatriot. We have lost a good Member of Congress. It is not 

easy to deal with that type of loss, and our comfort is that 

she is in a better place, that she has served our country well. 

She has served her people well. I am sure as a teacher she 

served her students well. I think she has left the Congress 

a better place because of her having been here and with the 

example that she set for us. 

Ms. WATSON. Madam Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to Mr. 

Oberstar of Minnesota. 

Mr. OBERSTAR. Madam Speaker, it was shortly after the 

election in which JUANITA MILLENDER-MCDONALD was elected to the Congress, that she called on my office. I was the 

ranking member on the Transportation and Infrastructure 

Committee. 

She came to see me about service on our committee. I had 

learned a little about her background, and I was surprised. 

I thought she would be more interested in Judiciary or International Relations, but when I asked why she wanted to 

serve on this nuts and bolts committee, she said, ‘‘Well, I 

have the Alameda Corridor in my district.’’ And if I heard Alameda Corridor from her once, I heard it 50 times. It was 

incessant; it was a refrain; it was a passionate advocacy. I, 

of course, did support her candidacy for the committee. 

(Trim Line)

(Trim Line)

[ 18 ] 

Then, when the assignments were given out, she came 

calling again, and said, ‘‘I want to know more about what 

this committee does. What are all these responsibilities? 

What does this subcommittee’s work mean on public buildings and grounds and economic development?’’ 

When I laid out the picture that this committee has jurisdiction over 367 million square feet of Federal civilian office 

space, she was excited. Well, there are things we can do 

here. 

It was just such a delight to see a new Member enthused 

about the work of the committee and wanting to understand 

it. 

Over the years, I have watched, as many of our colleagues 

have, as have the gentleman from Michigan and the gentleman from California (Mr. Dreier) who spoke so warmly 

and touching earlier, Members come in, and they scratch and 

claw to get a committee assignment. Then they get on a committee, and they scratch and claw to get their subcommittee 

assignments. Then when you are there presiding or working, 

for so many years as the ranking member, you turn around, 

and where are they? You don’t see them again. JUANITA

MILLENDER-MCDONALD showed up for work, every time. 

What was also touching was when another committee assignment conflicted, she would come in, sit down, be checked 

in, look at the committee agenda and the information, then 

she would come over and say would you please hold me excused, I have to go to another committee because something 

else is happening. You don’t see that happening very often, 

the conscientiousness that she displayed about her service in 

the Congress. She took it seriously, learned it well. 

When we were crafting the TEA–LU legislation, she wanted to be a part of shaping the minority business enterprise 

provisions. She was on the floor to advocate for them. Her 

whole career was one of dedication to service, but she was 

a person, a mother, a wife, a human being, warm and caring. 

When she walked into a room and offered that smile, clouds 

parted, lights went on and JUANITA MILLENDER-MCDONALD

was there for us. 

She will always be in my heart, in our hearts. 

Mr. CALVERT. Madam Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to my 

colleague from American Samoa (Mr. Faleomavaega). 

Mr. FALEOMAVAEGA. I thank the distinguished gentleman from California, my colleague, for extending me time 

from his part and recognizing the fact that we have so many 

(Trim Line)

(Trim Line)

[ 19 ] 

on this side of the aisle to offer their remarks, especially in 

honoring Ms. JUANITA MILLENDER-MCDONALD. 

Madam Speaker, like all my colleagues in attendance this 

evening in this Chamber, we were all surprised and shocked 

to learn of the untimely death of our distinguished 

gentlelady from the great State of California, Congresswoman JUANITA MILLENDER-MCDONALD. 

Some of you may be surprised to know that when I was 

serving as Lieutenant Governor some 24 years ago, I knew 

JUANITA. She was a dear friend, but she was serving at that 

time as a member of the city council in the city of Carson, 

CA. We collaborated often in addressing the economic and 

social needs of the members of my Samoan community living 

in the cities of Carson, Compton and even Long Beach. Next 

thing I learned, JUANITA was elected as a member of the 

California State Assembly, and then finally she was elected 

as a Member of Congress. 

JUANITA was passionate about the needs of the poor and 

the destitute. I know our Samoan community throughout the 

Los Angeles area all mourn the loss of this great and gentle 

lady. She truly was a dear friend to me, and members of the 

Samoan community are going to feel the loss of her presence. 

She lived life to the fullest. I know we are here to celebrate 

her life, although we also mourn her absence from the halls 

of this great institution. 

On behalf of our Samoan community throughout the Los 

Angeles area, we convey our deepest sympathies and condolences to JUANITA, her husband, and all the members of her 

family. I recall the Good Book, and it is my sincere hope that 

they may all be comforted with our Savior’s promise, 

‘‘Blessed are they who mourn, for they shall be comforted.’’ 

I may also say in our Samoan culture, when someone 

passes away, we don’t say that the person has died. We just 

simply say, ‘‘Be well in your voyage.’’ And I would like to say 

this in my language, JUANITA, Ia manuia lau faigamalaga. 

God bless. 

Ms. WATSON. Madam Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the 

gentlelady from Texas (Ms. Jackson-Lee). 

Mr. CALVERT. Madam Speaker, I yield 1 additional 

minute to the gentlelady from Texas (Ms. Jackson-Lee). 

The SPEAKER pro tempore. The gentlewoman from Texas 

is recognized for 3 minutes. 

(Trim Line)

(Trim Line)

[ 20 ] 

Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas. I thank the distinguished 

gentlelady from California (Ms. Watson) for her dedicated 

commitment and Mr. Calvert, two Californians who have 

come together on this sad but really commemorative time. 

Madam Speaker, I want to lift my voice a little bit, because there are some things that we say in the church about 

home-going services or memorials. They are, in fact, a celebration of life. I clearly believe that as I have listened to my 

colleagues, and as I will continue to listen to my colleagues, 

we really are celebrating JUANITA MILLENDER-MCDONALD’s 

life. We are celebrating our friendship and how we care for 

her, how she cared for us. 

My first remarks are that our mayor has fallen, the mayor 

of our city, the city of Congress, the comings and goings of 

Members and staff, traffic and various personnel, law enforcement. This was her love, as she first started as a ranking member of the House Administration Committee and 

then had the honor of being appointed by the new Speaker 

of the House, a woman, to be the chairwoman of the House 

Administration Committee. 

But I do want to say, before I comment further, that JUANITA had a bigger smile when she was around her husband, 

Jim, her five children and her grandchildren. She sparkled 

when she brought her grandchildren to the floor of the 

House and made sure that everybody knew those beautiful 

and lovely children who, in fact, seemed to have a very 

strong and proud bond with their grandmother. They were 

proud of this regal woman who came to the floor of the 

House as a Member of the U.S. Congress. 

JUANITA was a doer, and she used to often speak of her beginnings with a Baptist father, preacher, a close-knit family, 

and her deep roots in Birmingham, AL, knowing what a segregated South was all about, a segregated America. Though 

she fought against it, she didn’t let it bring her down, discourage her. Off she went to California, and she became a 

true daughter of California, with all of the attributes that 

great State allows you to have. 

She did things to make life better. She had a great sense 

of hope and spirit about her women’s march against AIDS, 

and each year the numbers kept growing up and up and up. 

She would tell me, coming back, thousands of women 

marched against HIV/AIDS to find a cure, to stop the devastation in women. We were so proud when, for the first time, 

she was able to bring us together around women in the military. 

(Trim Line)

(Trim Line)

[ 21 ] 

The last time I was there, the curator of that museum 

said, you know, JUANITA started this. We now have become 

so important because of JUANITA. 

Then, of course, she worked with the library and those 

workers over there. JUANITA was someone who believed in 

getting things done, not for herself, but for others. 

JUANITA MILLENDER-MCDONALD had as her final work, the 

true integrity and transparency of elections all over America. 

Truly, we want to thank her, we love her. We love you, JUANITA. This is a celebration of your life. 

Mr. CALVERT. Madam Speaker, may I inquire how much 

time is remaining on both sides. 

The SPEAKER pro tempore. The gentleman from California has 12 minutes remaining. The gentlewoman from 

California has 121⁄2 minutes remaining. 

Mr. CALVERT. Madam Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the 

gentleman from California (Mr. Baca). 

Mr. BACA. Madam Speaker, yesterday the House of Representatives, the State of California, and the Nation, lost a 

leader and a good friend of ours, Congresswoman JUANITA

MILLENDER-MCDONALD. We certainly will miss her. My wife 

Barbara and I extend a heartfelt condolence to her family, 

friends, staff, children, her five grandchildren and to Jim. 

Today we pay tribute to a real trailblazer, a pioneer, the 

first African American woman to chair a committee, a positive role model, a person who created hope for many individuals, a person who was a well-liked and well-respected individual. 

In her role as a public servant, she touched the lives of 

many individuals. Here in the House, I have heard many individuals talk about how she was a nice person and how she 

was well liked. 

As chair of House Administration she worked closely with 

the Congressional TriCaucus, the Congressional Hispanic 

Caucus, and the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus in trying to obtain fairness and equality for all of us. She 

was pleasant to work with. I have had the opportunity to 

work with JUANITA and served with her in the California 

State Assembly prior to coming to Washington, DC. 

She has always been a strong advocate for the poor, the 

disadvantaged, and those that were underrepresented. I 

know that she spent much time going into my district and 

speaking to a lot of the poor and disadvantaged in San 

(Trim Line)

(Trim Line)

[ 22 ] 

Bernardino, in the Inland Empire, because she cared about 

the poor, not only in that area, but she cared about equal 

representation. She wanted to ensure that we had the numbers or bodies of people who represent us here in Congress. 

She worked for me on my campaign when I first ran out 

there. 

She worked with me also in a variety of areas, but one of 

those that has been mentioned tonight has been the Alameda Corridor. She really took it to heart because she knew 

the Alameda Corridor and what it meant was a lifeline to 

California, to Southern California, in the area of transportation, not only to the L.A. International Airport, but Ontario International Airport that is also affiliated with that 

area. 

JUANITA knew the infrastructure and the growth and the 

population in the area, and she put a high priority on transportation. She was a friend and a loyal supporter, and I am 

grateful. 

As a friend, she will be deeply missed, but she will not be 

forgotten. She fought for justice, she fought for equality so 

that people will not experience the prejudice and racism that 

most of us have experienced throughout our life. She wanted 

life to be better for others. She is a strong voice for many. 

JUANITA MILLENDER-MCDONALD will be remembered for her 

dedication to public service, tireless work on behalf of her 

constituents, standing for the rights of women and minorities, and, overall, her desire to make our country a better 

place. 

We love you, JUANITA MILLENDER-MCDONALD. 

Ms. WATSON. Madam Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the 

gentleman from North Carolina (Mr. Butterfield). 

Mr. BUTTERFIELD. Madam Speaker, I too rise this 

evening to honor the life and work of my colleague and 

friend, Congresswoman JUANITA MILLENDER-MCDONALD, 

who has passed from labor to reward. 

JUANITA was a warm and caring individual. She worked 

very hard in this body to improve the quality of life for all 

Americans. As a faithful member of the Congressional Black 

Caucus she also spoke of the urgency of eradicating poverty 

and eliminating disparities in education, health care, and 

wealth. She spoke for those who could not speak for themselves. My constituents, the 660,000 people of the First District of North Carolina, are grateful for the service of Congresswoman MILLENDER-MCDONALD. 

(Trim Line)

(Trim Line)

[ 23 ] 

I join my colleagues this evening in saying to the family 

of this great woman, you had a wonderful wife, mother, 

grandmother. Her love of humanity and work on behalf of 

disadvantaged people everywhere ensures that she is in 

heaven and free of the suffering she had to endure. May God 

bless the soul of this great American. 

Mr. CALVERT. Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of 

our time. 

Ms. WATSON. Madam Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the 

gentlewoman from California, Linda Sa ́nchez. 

Ms. LINDA T. SANCHEZ of California. Madam Speaker, 

it is with sadness that I join my colleagues here on the floor 

this evening to pay tribute to a colleague who we lost far too 

soon. 

I was saddened to hear the news yesterday of Congresswoman JUANITA MILLENDER-MCDONALD’s passing. JUANITA

was really a woman of many firsts, who broke down countless barriers for women and for African Americans. 

While the history books no doubt will list the numerous accomplishments of her long career, I will remember her best 

as a champion for economic opportunity and empowerment 

for the people of Long Beach and Los Angeles. I was pleased 

to have had the opportunity to work with her on many issues 

important to the communities shared by our adjacent districts. When workers, for example, in our communities who 

assembled the C–17 aircraft, faced the prospect of their assembly plant shutting down and losing their jobs, JUANITA

led the fight to make sure that those jobs were not lost. And 

she succeeded, and hundreds of people’s lives are better off 

today thanks to her hard work. 

When I first joined Congress, JUANITA took the time and 

made a special effort to introduce me to many of the local 

leaders in the African American communities that straddle 

our districts. This was very thoughtful of her and I will always be in her debt for it. 

We here in Congress will certainly miss her insight, her 

experience, and her energy. And I will most certainly miss 

her beautiful smile and her unforgettable style because she 

truly is an unforgettable woman. 

I am sure that her constituents will miss her tireless advocacy on their behalf. They and we have lost a fine public 

servant, and we have lost a tremendously fine colleague. But 

most of all, my thoughts tonight are with her husband, their 

children and grandchildren, and their extended family. I 

(Trim Line)

(Trim Line)

[ 24 ] 

wish them all the strength during this difficult time, and I 

want them to know that JUANITA is truly an incredible 

woman who shall not be forgotten. 

Mr. CALVERT. Madam Speaker, I am pleased to yield 2 

minutes to the gentlelady from Santa Ana, CA (Ms. Loretta 

Sanchez). 

Ms. LORETTA SANCHEZ of California. Madam Speaker, 

I thank my colleague from California. 

JUANITA MILLENDER-MCDONALD was my friend. I used to 

love coming into the Chamber and sitting down next to her 

and asking, ‘‘What’s up, what’s going on?’’ because JUANITA

knew. She knew what was going on in the Congress. She 

was the mayor of Congress, if you will, being the chairwoman of the House Administration Committee. And JUANITA knew what was going on back in California. 

When I first decided to run for Congress and nobody knew, 

JUANITA called me up and said, ‘‘I’m stuck on the freeway, 

but I’m coming down to walk precincts with you. So let’s 

hope the sun stays up and we get to go and walk together.’’ 

And we did, and that is how I met JUANITA MILLENDERMCDONALD. 

When I first came to the Congress, as a young woman— 

quite frankly, 12 years ago there weren’t a lot of us, and it 

was always very difficult and hard to be accepted. It is always hard to find your way in the Congress. But JUANITA

was right there. She was like a touchstone. She was somebody that I could talk to and tell her my frustrations or the 

happy points here. She really is what I would call a friend, 

and to many of us here she was a friend. She is a friend back 

in her district. 

I wish the people of the United States really understood 

the work that JUANITA did. The Alameda Corridor was her 

dream. It was her project. This was the project to move 

goods that come to this country from the port across and 

through Los Angeles and out into the rest of the United 

States. When you think of the fact that 50 percent of everything that comes into the United States comes through the 

ports that were right there at JUANITA’s side, you would understand how important it was to each and every American. 

You see, if that cargo didn’t leave L.A., if you were an auto 

worker in Tennessee, building a car, and you were waiting 

for inventory just in time, it wouldn’t get there in time if it 

hadn’t been for JUANITA. And last year on the very last day 

(Trim Line)

(Trim Line)

[ 25 ] 

of the 109th Congress, we passed the Safe Port Act. That 

really was JUANITA’s legislation. 

She will be remembered for a long time in this country 

and in this Congress. JUANITA, and to her family, I love her. 

Ms. WATSON. Madam Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the 

gentlelady from Texas, Eddie Bernice Johnson. 

Ms. EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON of Texas. Madam 

Speaker, I thank my colleague for the time. 

I rise with great sadness to remember my friend, my sorority sister in the Alpha Kappa Alpha sorority and my colleague, JUANITA MILLENDER-MCDONALD. And I want to extend my deep condolences to her husband James, her children, friends, and loved ones. 

I was privileged to serve with her on the Transportation 

and Infrastructure Committee, and her diligent service is 

evident in many of California’s roads, bridges, and highways. 

I worked with her when she was cochair of the Congressional 

Women’s Caucus. She did it with such charm, grace, poise, 

and dignity. This body is diminished and dismayed by her 

sudden absence, but we were inspired and enriched by her 

presence. 

Her spirit will live on. Her work will be felt by those who 

don’t even know she helped. We celebrate her life. It was a 

wonderful, wonderful life. And we love her and her family. 

[The prepared remarks of Ms. Johnson follow:] 

Madam Speaker, I rise with great sadness to remember 

my friend, my sorority sister and my colleague, JUANITA

MILLENDER-MCDONALD. I want to extend my deep condolences to her husband, James, her children, friends and loved 

ones. 

As chairwoman of the Committee on House Administration, Congresswoman MILLENDER-MCDONALD will be recorded in history as the first African American woman to 

chair a full committee of the House. 

Those of us privileged to know and work with her will remember her tireless advocacy for justice and her example of 

meaningful public service. 

Throughout her career, Congresswoman MILLENDERMCDONALD was a friend to women’s causes and to young 

people. Her work to end human trafficking and slow the 

transmission of AIDS has improved countless lives. 

The results of her work—improved lives for women and 

girls worldwide, expanded voting rights for the disenfranVerDate jan 13 2004 11:41 Apr 29, 2008 Jkt 034800 PO 00000 Frm 00035 Fmt 6688 Sfmt 6688 C:\DOCS\JUANITA\34800.TXT CRS1 PsN: SKAYNE
(Trim Line)

(Trim Line)

[ 26 ] 

chised, greater assistance for the sick and the poor—are a 

testament to her character. 

From the beginning, Congresswoman MILLENDER-MCDONALD was a trailblazer: 

She was the first African American woman to serve on the 

Carson, CA, City Council. 

In her first term in the California State Assembly, she became the first woman to chair two powerful committees. 

She was the first African American woman to give the national Democratic response to President Bush’s weekly radio 

address as well. 

But for all her firsts, Congresswoman MILLENDER-MCDONALD was also a champion for the least and the last. She 

fought injustice wherever she found it: Whether in the voting 

booth, the classroom, the research lab, or the workplace. 

Congresswoman MILLENDER-MCDONALD rigorously investigated widespread voting irregularities and disenfranchisement. 

She was a vocal opponent of genocide around the world 

and a tireless fighter for human rights. 

Her Mother-to-Child HIV/AIDS Transmission Act became 

the President’s $15 billion African AIDS initiative. 

Congresswoman MILLENDER-MCDONALD also worked to increase diabetes research in minority and female populations; 

she pushed the Department of Education to improve the dismal dropout rates among minority high school students and 

secured millions to reduce the backlog of equal employment 

opportunity complaints. 

The first-time voters in Ohio can feel more confident their 

votes will count because of Congresswoman MILLENDERMCDONALD. The elderly diabetics in her home State of Alabama have a better chance of avoiding amputation because 

of her. She had a hand in granting diplomas to thousands of 

Native American students growing up on reservations; and 

countless girls in Cambodia and Sudan have her to thank for 

a childhood free from kidnapping and assault. They may 

never know where to direct their gratitude, but the alleviation of their suffering stands as her lasting legacy. 

Her influence is also inscribed on the physical landscape 

of California’s 37th District. I was privileged to serve with 

her on the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee and 

her diligent service is evident in many of California’s roads, 

bridges and highways. 

(Trim Line)

(Trim Line)

[ 27 ] 

Congresswoman MILLENDER-MCDONALD’s record of exemplary public service includes life memberships in the NAACP 

and Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority. 

She served on the Southern Christian Leadership Conference Board of Directors, and founded the League of African American Women. 

Congresswoman MILLENDER-MCDONALD also founded the 

Young Advocates to train young people for political leadership. 

This body is diminished and dismayed by her sudden absence, but we were inspired and enriched by her presence. 

Her commitment to equal opportunity, civil and human 

rights will be greatly missed. 

Mr. CALVERT. Madam Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the 

gentleman from Georgia (Mr. Scott). 

Mr. SCOTT of Georgia. Madam Speaker, this is indeed a 

solemn occasion, but it is also an occasion to celebrate. 

On each of our obituaries there are three things that are 

mentioned: the year you were born, the year you died, and 

then there is the dash. It is what you do with the dash, what 

you do with your life. And the life that we are here to celebrate, JUANITA MILLENDER-MCDONALD’s life, was one of 

greatness and sacrifice and commitment, serving on the city 

council, serving in the State legislature of California, and 

then in the Congress of the United States, traveling around 

the world wherever the need was, whether it was in Africa, 

the Middle East, or in the Caribbean. 

JUANITA MILLENDER-MCDONALD fought the good fight, she 

kept the faith, and there is indeed put up for her an outstanding crown of righteousness, and we all thank God for 

having Ms. JUANITA MILLENDER-MCDONALD pass our way. 

Ms. WATSON. Madam Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the 

gentleman from Georgia (Mr. Bishop). 

Mr. BISHOP of Georgia. Madam Speaker, my wife Vivian, 

all of our colleagues here in the Congress, and all of the hundreds of workers here on Capitol Hill were deeply saddened 

to learn of the death of our friend and colleague, JUANITA

MILLENDER-MCDONALD. 

Words are never adequate at a time of loss. Only one who 

has worn the garment of bereavement can truly understand 

the pain that comes when a family must confront the inevitable that one has been taken from its midst. Yet, upon prayerful reflection we must all allow our tears to melt into joy, 

(Trim Line)

(Trim Line)

[ 28 ] 

because truly we have been blessed to have known, to love, 

and to have been a part of the life of this very, very exceptional woman. 

JUANITA was a lady of achievement, of service, of public 

distinction, of beauty, of grace, of dignity. She was elegant 

and she was eloquent. She was the epitome of refinement, 

but she was committed. She was intellectual, she was a lady 

of principle, and she was an advocate for justice. 

JUANITA was a person of great courage. She took on the 

toughest fight, but she fought it with dignity. Even in her illness, she took on that tough fight. I was happy to call her 

my friend, but I was happier for her to call me friend and 

confidante. 

A poet wrote, ‘‘Full many a gem of purest ray serene, the 

dark unfathomed caves of oceans bear; full many a flower is 

born to blush unseen, and waste its sweetness on the desert 

air.’’ We are blessed and so happy that JUANITA’s sweetness 

was not wasted, but that we and the world are better because she was here. 

We wish Godspeed and the consolation of the Holy Spirit 

for her husband, her children, and her grandchildren as we 

share in your loss and bid our good friend and colleague farewell. 

Mr. CALVERT. Madam Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the 

gentleman from North Carolina (Mr. Watt). 

Mr. WATT. Madam Speaker, I thank the gentleman for 

yielding time. I join with my colleagues in expressing sympathy and paying tribute to our friend and colleague, JUANITA MILLENDER-MCDONALD. 

When you serve in a body of 435 people, you get to know 

some of the Members by face, some by name, and then you 

get to know some close up and personal. When you serve as 

chair of the Congressional Black Caucus, as I did for the last 

2 years, you get to know your members on a close personal 

basis, and you get to know who will stand with you and 

fight, who will support you, who will cover your back for you. 

And that is how I got to know JUANITA MILLENDER-MCDONALD, because I knew she would stand and fight for what she 

believed in and she would be a friend. 

So I remember her first and foremost as a friend and colleague, and pay tribute to her family and express my sincere 

condolences. 

Ms. WATSON. Madam Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the 

gentlewoman from Ohio, Stephanie Tubbs Jones. 

(Trim Line)

(Trim Line)

[ 29 ] 

Mrs. JONES of Ohio. Madam Speaker, I want to thank my 

colleague, Diane Watson, for organizing this event. 

You know, when I think of JUANITA MILLENDER-MCDONALD, I think of this piece of poetry called ‘‘A Phenomenal 

Woman.’’ In one of the lines in that piece of poetry, it says, 

‘‘Does my sexiness upset you? Do you find it awful hard that 

I dance like I have oil wells growing in my back yard?’’ And 

JUANITA was like that. She danced and she walked and she 

showed off, and that is what I loved most about her. 

When I came to Congress, I learned that we had Alabama 

roots. I learned that she was an AKA and I was a Delta. And 

on the floor of the House I would wear pink, and she would 

say, ‘‘Oh, you look good in that pink.’’ And I would say, ‘‘Oh 

it is only faded red that I have on,’’ because Deltas wore red. 

We talked about issues affecting women. It was as a result 

of her work and that of Bob Ney that I had an opportunity 

to bring the Secretary of State of Ohio before a hearing and 

get him to answer questions. I thank JUANITA for that. 

But I think the thing that JUANITA and I talked about 

most, and my words are to you, Keith, that she loved you. 

We talked about our sons. And African American sons are so 

important in the lives of mothers. And we used to talk about 

you. And I used to talk about Mervyn. And she loved her 

daughters, but we talked about our boys. 

And I just want to say to the family, Jim and all, that we 

here in the Congress will miss JUANITA MILLENDER-MCDONALD. But the thing that we will always remember is she was 

right there on that aisle, right there, just sitting there talking, smiling, walking, being involved. And we thank God for 

JUANITA MILLENDER-MCDONALD. 

And, God, you know, AKAs came first, but the Deltas were 

second. So I will always think of her as my sister. We are 

from the same roots. 

Mr. CALVERT. Madam Speaker, as my final speaker, I 

yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from California (Mr. Rohrabacher), who has also had a difficult week. He lost his 

brother this week, and our condolences are with him, also. 

Mr. ROHRABACHER. Madam Speaker, I lost two people 

who were very dear to me this last week, and one was my 

brother, who passed away Thursday morning, and JUANITA, 

who just passed away on Sunday. 

It is really an amazing thing as I have thought about this, 

just about how similar these two people were, because my 

brother was very, very active in politics, but he was really 

(Trim Line)

(Trim Line)

[ 30 ] 

non-ideological. He was someone who had a very good heart 

and was a very generous person, was always looking forward 

trying to help people get something done. Does that remind 

of you anybody else? 

That was JUANITA. I mean, there wasn’t an ornery bone in 

her body. And in politics, you know, we get kicked around 

and beat up a lot and people lie to us, and people say bad 

things about us, and I never saw JUANITA ever get mean or 

vengeful at all toward anybody. 

And we used to travel back and forth in the airplane. I see 

some of my friends here who traveled on that same flight. 

And it was always such a joy to be with her and to spend 

4 and 5 hours at a time going across the country. And you 

can’t say that about everybody. Who else do you want to 

spend 4 or 5 hours with? 

She was a wonderful person. She had a wonderful heart. 

And my brother wasn’t as successful as JUANITA. When he 

passed away, he really didn’t have a lot of professional success. 

JUANITA, as we have heard today, had enormous professional and personal success in her life, being a woman who 

reached up to the height of power and authority and influence here in Washington, DC, and our Nation’s Capital. 

But you know what? Whether it was that or whether it 

was my poor brother who passed away, both of them died of 

liver cancer, I might add. Both of them died of liver cancer, 

just so close to each other. 

But, you know, when they lay us down in our casket, no 

matter what we have accomplished in the material world, it 

is what we have done to try to help others, how good a heart 

we have, how generous we have been to other people, not 

just financially, but with our time and with our love and 

with our caring. Those are the things that we carry with us. 

I believe my brother was a very accomplished and successful person in that way. And we certainly know that today, 

JUANITA was a wonderful success in her life. She cared about 

people. She never was captured by the meanness and orneriness that comes with politics sometimes. 

She always wanted to get things done. She worked with 

me. Our districts came together in Long Beach and we 

worked together on so many programs for the people of Long 

Beach, especially in the areas of transportation and water 

and health care, and she was always there trying to talk to 

me, saying what can we get done. 

(Trim Line)

(Trim Line)

[ 31 ] 

I am a conservative Republican and she was a Democrat, 

but she always wanted to work together to try to do things 

to help other people. So I am very proud tonight to stand up 

and say that I will miss JUANITA. I am going to miss my 

brother, obviously. But this world has lost two wonderful 

souls, two wonderful human beings. And I am pleased to add 

my voice tonight to say goodbye, JUANITA, and we are going 

to miss you. You had lots of love in your heart, and we love 

you. Bye-bye. 

Ms. WATSON. Madam Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the 

gentlewoman from California, Hilda Solis. 

Ms. SOLIS. Madam Speaker, I would like to thank the 

gentlewoman from Los Angeles, Congresswoman Watson, for 

holding this special event here for us to talk about one of our 

colleagues. 

You know, I haven’t been here very long in the Congress; 

but when I came in 2001, I knew that I had a friend here. 

JUANITA MILLENDER-MCDONALD at that time served as caucus chair for the Women’s Caucus and led the fight in so 

many ways for justice for women. And particularly, as a 

woman of color, she knew how deeply important it was to set 

herself up as a role model for all of us. 

I remember her coming back and talking to me about 

events she did in her district. Every year she would raise 

funds and give grants out to domestic violence shelters and 

programs. She would have a big event with her community, 

and she kept inviting me. Hilda, you have got to see what 

we are doing out in our area; and it is something that you 

should take a look at. 

She was there. She fought so hard for us during the Women’s Caucus as she served her tenure, helping to promote 

women in the military. And she was strongly supportive of 

women in the military. 

And I know that her family, right now, needs our prayers 

and thoughts, and we send those from our community and 

from my family, from my husband and myself, and want to 

thank her for all that she did to fight for us, for our transportation funding in Southern California, for the ACE 

Project, which affects so many of the L.A. delegation members, and for her strong work and advocacy for people of 

color affected by HIV and AIDS. 

So I want to thank her. And it is fitting to say that this 

evening, because this evening after we finish our discussions 

here, we are going to talk about the uninsured. And Lord 

(Trim Line)

(Trim Line)

[ 32 ] 

knows that our communities of color share a heavy burden, 

disparate treatment, disparities that exist with chronic illnesses, and one of those being cancer, particularly African 

American women who many times go undiagnosed. We need 

to do more in this area. And so we think of her today. We 

honor her, and we thank her family for the time that she 

served with us here on Earth. 

Mr. CALVERT. Madam Speaker, may I inquire how much 

time is remaining on both sides. 

The SPEAKER pro tempore. You have 1 minute, and the 

gentlewoman has 11⁄2 minutes. 

Mr. CALVERT. I would close, Madam Speaker, by saying 

that we heard many great stories about JUANITA and remembrances of her life, and we have lost a great friend, a great 

champion for our home State of California, and a great 

champion for our country. And as we mourn her loss, our 

condolences are shared with her family. Godspeed, JUANITA. 

Madam Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time. 

Ms. WATSON. Madam Speaker, I yield 11⁄2 minutes to Ms. 

Marcy Kaptur from Ohio. 

Ms. KAPTUR. Madam Speaker, I can say that Congresswoman MILLENDER-MCDONALD would be so happy to see 

Congresswoman Yvette Clarke in the Chair tonight. And I 

thank Congresswoman Diane Watson for her compassionate 

service and certainly for this memorial service tonight. And 

I extend deepest condolences on behalf of the people of Ohio 

to the family of our beloved Congresswoman, JUANITA

MILLENDER-MCDONALD, her husband, Jim, her children, and 

her grandchildren. 

Having had the great pleasure of serving with her during 

her entire tenure, let me say, when I think of JUANITA, I 

think of a woman who was resilient, who was strong, determined, refined, accomplished, persevering and, indeed, courageous, a pioneer with a great sense of humor and, as a 

minister’s daughter, a boundless sense of hope. 

Even today, for a woman to chair a full committee of this 

House is a rarity. And for an African American woman, she 

created the mold, the first African American woman in the 

history of this country to chair a full committee in this 

House. 

Just a few weeks ago, a new volume of ‘‘Women of Congress’’ was published, and hers is the first name in that volVerDate jan 13 2004 11:41 Apr 29, 2008 Jkt 034800 PO 00000 Frm 00042 Fmt 6688 Sfmt 6688 C:\DOCS\JUANITA\34800.TXT CRS1 PsN: SKAYNE
(Trim Line)

(Trim Line)

[ 33 ] 

ume, commissioned by order of the chair of the House Administration Committee, JUANITA MILLENDER-MCDONALD. 

There are some people who teach us how to live and indeed, she did. And many people can teach us how to die, and 

she has done that with her great dignity and her courage. 

Just a few weeks ago, when Nancy Pelosi of California was 

sworn in as our first Speaker, I had the great honor of being 

one of the two Democratic tellers. JUANITA, as chair of the 

House Administration Committee, sat to my right. I shall 

never forget that moment, and I think she lived partly for 

that moment. 

May her strength comfort her family in these trying moments of bereavement. I believe God holds close those who 

journey toward the light in this Easter and Passover season. 

And may the angels of mercy lift her and lift the spirits of 

those who love her and bring comfort and bring peace. 

Ms. WATERS. Madam Speaker, Congresswoman JUANITA

MILLENDER-MCDONALD was a remarkably committed legislator. As the first African American woman to chair a full 

committee in Congress, she was deeply dedicated to the work 

of the House Administration Committee. Through her chair, 

she was working on landmark legislation to ensure the integrity of our voting system. 

At home, Representative MILLENDER-MCDONALD worked 

every day for her constituents on the issues of health care, 

economic development and housing. Representative 

MILLENDER-MCDONALD was engaged in a serious effort to revitalize the public housing in her district and was involved 

in a series of tours and meetings with the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), Alphonso Jackson, at 

both Imperial Courts and Nickerson Gardens aimed at providing better housing options for her constituents. 

Recently, we joined together to lend our voices to the chorus of community leaders and residents in a successful effort 

to extend funding for Martin Luther King Hospital. 

Representative MILLENDER-MCDONALD will be missed not 

only by her constituents in the 37th District, but by all of the 

people who were touched by her service. 

Ms. HARMAN. Madam Speaker, in my office is a wonderful photograph of JUANITA and I, arms raised in victory, It 

was taken as I announced my intention to run for Governor 

of California in 1998. She was right there, and I was clearly 

buoyed by her presence. Our friendship was forged in that 

tough campaign, and it remained strong. 

(Trim Line)

(Trim Line)

[ 34 ] 

JUANITA was a popular and highly regarded Member of 

this House. Those are not easy things to achieve in a very 

competitive workplace, so it is worth asking how she did it. 

First, she was a loyal friend. Once she decided to endorse 

or support you, she never flinched—no matter how hot the 

heat. And second, she was a pro. She had a clear idea of 

what legislators can do, and she worked hard. 

The results are obvious. JUANITA MILLENDER-MCDONALD

served California’s 37th Congressional District well. 

When she came to Congress, she decided to add 

‘‘Millender’’ to her name in order to honor her father. Surely 

she honored her mother. But she also honored her constituents—and this Congress. 

A good friend, superb colleague and class act, JUANITA, you 

will be missed. 

Mrs. MALONEY of New York. Madam Speaker, I rise 

today with a heavy heart as I remember my dear friend and 

colleague, Congresswoman JUANITA MILLENDER-MCDONALD. 

JUANITA passed away April 22 in her home State of California. She will be remembered as a strong woman and formidable legislator who broke down many barriers by becoming the first African American woman in history to chair a 

committee in Congress, the House Administration Committee, and the first African American woman to serve on 

the Carson City Council and the first to chair two committees in the California State Assembly. 

I really got to know JUANITA when I cochaired the Congressional Caucus on Women’s Issues and subsequently 

when she became the cochair. She was a strong advocate for 

women’s and minority rights and was a strong ally in the effort to combat human trafficking. JUANITA came to work 

with a passion and determination that is rarely found. She 

represented the 37th Congressional District with dignity and 

pride, proving to be an effective leader and caring Representative. 

I especially want to extend my condolences to Congresswoman MILLENDER-MCDONALD’s husband, James, and to her 

five children and grandchildren. You are in my thoughts and 

prayers. 

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. 

(Trim Line)

(Trim Line)

[ 35 ] 

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 

chair 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 and 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. She 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. 

Mrs. DAVIS of California. Madam Speaker, I rise today to 

express my deep sadness at the passing of my friend and colleague, Congresswoman JUANITA MILLENDER-MCDONALD, a 

dedicated public servant, who worked tirelessly on behalf of 

her constituents and her country. 

I had the privilege to serve with Congresswoman 

MILLENDER-MCDONALD on the House Administration ComVerDate jan 13 2004 11:41 Apr 29, 2008 Jkt 034800 PO 00000 Frm 00045 Fmt 6688 Sfmt 6688 C:\DOCS\JUANITA\34800.TXT CRS1 PsN: SKAYNE
(Trim Line)

(Trim Line)

[ 36 ] 

mittee and also previously in the California State Assembly, 

and can attest to the passion, dignity, and grace she brought 

to her work. 

JUANITA MILLENDER-MCDONALD devoted much of her life 

to public service. In her career she was an educator and an 

advisor, a member of Carson’s City Council, a California 

State Assemblywoman and finally a Member of Congress. 

Congresswoman MILLENDER-MCDONALD’s passion and 

drive were unmatched. She was an unwavering advocate for 

minority rights. She was a champion of women’s health 

issues. She was an adamant opponent of the genocide in 

Darfur. And she was committed to securing election reform 

and security for our Nation’s ports. 

I admired Congresswoman MILLENDER-MCDONALD’s leadership and fervor in her many roles: as community leader, 

Member of Congress, and chairwoman. All those who knew 

her and worked with her know the void she leaves with her 

passing. I extend my heartfelt condolences to her husband, 

James, her children and her grandchildren. She will be 

missed. 

Mrs. MYRICK. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the 

late JUANITA MILLENDER-MCDONALD, who bravely fought a 

battle with cancer up until this past weekend. After a painful struggle, she’s now at peace. 

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. 

Today we mourn the loss of a friend, and our thoughts and 

prayers go out to her husband James, and her children and 

grandchildren. 

The SPEAKER pro tempore. All time for debate has expired. 

(Trim Line)

(Trim Line)

[ 37 ] 

Without objection, the previous question is ordered on the 

resolution. 

There was no objection. 

The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the resolution. 

The resolution was agreed to. 

A motion to reconsider was laid on the table. 

The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under a previous order of the 

House, the gentlewoman from California (Ms. Watson) is recognized for 5 minutes. 

Ms. WATSON. Madam Speaker, it is with a heavy heart 

that I rise this evening to celebrate the life of my very good 

friend and colleague, Congresswoman JUANITA MILLENDERMCDONALD. 

I personally have known Congresswoman JUANITA

MILLENDER-MCDONALD for over 30 years. Our time together 

spans back before her days as a Member of this distinguished body when I was member of the Los Angeles Unified 

School Board and she was there as an administrator and 

then as a California State legislator. And then on that road 

she was elected to the Carson City Council. 

JUANITA’s distinguished life is a life of ‘‘firsts.’’ She is 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

worked tirelessly to investigate all reports of voter irregularities and voter disenfranchisement. She was one of the first 

Members of Congress to call for a congressional hearing on 

reported voting irregularities in the State of Ohio. She 

played an important role in congressional election reform. 

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. 

Like myself, JUANITA MILLENDER-MCDONALD at heart was 

an educator. After raising five children, JUANITA, at the age 

of 40, returned to school and earned a bachelor’s degree from 

the University of Redlands and a master’s degree in educational administration from Cal State L.A. 

She spent her early career in the classroom, teaching high 

school and working at a career center. It is here that JUANITA first demonstrated her ongoing interest in the lives of 

(Trim Line)

(Trim Line)

[ 38 ] 

young people and issues that impact the lives of women and 

their children. But above all, JUANITA worked tirelessly for 

all the people in her community. And I want to say, all the 

people. She was a people person who had an uncanny skill 

to build and sustain networks. 

As a member of the Transportation and Infrastructure 

Committee, JUANITA worked, again tirelessly, to secure 

much-needed Federal assistance for Southern California’s 

transportation needs, including funding for her passion: for 

the Alameda Corridor. 

JUANITA’s passing is a great loss to this institution, her 

constituents, and this Nation. She was a great citizen as well 

as a great person and would have made a lasting and important contribution to this body in her position as House Administration chair. She was making that contribution every 

single day. 

And I would say to her, ‘‘JUANITA, you missed the caucus.’’ 

‘‘You missed the California caucus.’’ ‘‘You missed the Black 

Caucus.’’ 

She said, ‘‘I am so busy working, I don’t have time for the 

caucuses.’’ She was committed. 

And on a personal note, Madam Speaker, when she was 

sworn in as a Congresswoman in her district, I went there. 

She had been sworn in here, and when she got up to speak, 

she said, ‘‘You know, I was raised on a farm and I married 

early.’’ And she said, ‘‘I was so naive, when I had five children one after another, I just knew it was that orange juice, 

being raised on a farm.’’ So I would tease her. I said, ‘‘JUANITA, watch out for the orange juice.’’ 

She was one of my closest friends and colleagues. She will 

be missed. And I want you to know she was raised by a father and her older sisters. She was the youngest. So she 

said, ‘‘You know, on a farm we were wealthy.’’ And she said, 

‘‘But it was my father who played the role of both parents. 

He set down the principles and values by which I run my 

life. So in honor of my father, I am adding as my middle 

name, my maiden name, his last name.’’ So, therefore, she 

became JUANITA MILLENDER-MCDONALD. And if you ever 

saw her signature, it was one of the most beautiful, graceful 

signatures. And she always took time to write ‘‘JUANITA

MILLENDER-MCDONALD.’’ And I would go on correcting people when they said ‘‘JUANITA MCDONALD.’’ I said, ‘‘No. JUANITA MILLENDER-MCDONALD.’’ 

So, JUANITA, we celebrate you and we know that you are 

here in these Chambers today. And to end my piece and 

(Trim Line)

(Trim Line)

[ 39 ] 

allow the others, we did a taping with our voices on it, and 

at the end we sang to her ‘‘Dreamgirls.’’ We will always be 

dreaming of our JUANITA MILLENDER-MCDONALD. 

The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under a previous order of the 

House, the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Davis) is recognized 

for 5 minutes. 

Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Madam Speaker, I join with my colleagues from all across America who have spent much of the 

evening extolling the virtues of our colleague JUANITA

MILLENDER-MCDONALD. Much has been said, and yet there 

is much that can, in fact, be added. 

As a matter of fact, when I first came to Congress, JUANITA was one of the first persons that my wife and I met. So 

my wife immediately became a JUANITA MILLENDER-MCDONALD fan. And I said to her, ‘‘Vera, it is all right for you to 

be a JUANITA MILLENDER-MCDONALD fan, but don’t try to 

dress like her. We can’t afford it.’’ 

JUANITA was, in fact, a charming, delightful, snazzy lady, 

the essence of femininity, but as tough as a nail. As a matter 

of fact, I don’t know if a week went by that I didn’t receive 

some communique from her talking about some issue or explaining something that she had done or something that she 

had worked on. And as I listened to all of my colleagues talk 

about her many ‘‘firsts,’’ the first African American woman 

to serve on the Carson City Council, the first African American woman to render the national Democratic response to 

President Bush’s weekly radio address, the first to be named 

honorary curator of the Museum of Latin American Art in 

Long Beach, and the first Democratic chair of the Congressional Caucus on Women’s Issues. Obviously, she was many 

firsts. And I guess maybe the poet Homer had her in mind 

when he said that there are pioneer souls that go where 

highways never ran, but let me live in my House by the side 

of the road and be a friend to man. 

And I guess he had JUANITA in mind as he talked about 

why would I live in my House by the side of the road as the 

race of men go by. Men who are good, men who are bad, men 

who are wise, foolish, but then so am I. So why would I not 

simply be, as JUANITA has been, one who understood the relationship between people, moving across aisles, moving 

across boundaries to accomplish and get things done. 

So on behalf of my family and me and all of the residents 

of the Seventh Congressional District of Illinois, we extend 

our greatest condolences to her family and say that we too 

(Trim Line)

(Trim Line)

[ 40 ] 

would hope to live in the House by the side of the road like 

JUANITA MILLENDER-MCDONALD and be a friend to mankind. 

Mr. ELLISON. Madam Speaker, I am so honored to see all 

of our colleagues rise and extol all of the great virtues of 

JUANITA MILLENDER-MCDONALD, talking about her historic 

firsts, her role as mayor pro tempore, city councilperson, the 

first African American woman to chair a committee in the 

House, and all of the great things that she did, things that 

commanded the attention of the whole world. 

But I just want to say, as a member of the freshman class, 

that coming to Congress, trying to figure out what is going 

on around here, things going by so quickly, JUANITA

MILLENDER-MCDONALD had time for people in our situation, 

just trying to figure out what was happening. She had a moment to say, How is it going? Did you know where this was 

or where that was, and what can I do to help you? 

So in life, Madam Speaker, people will often remember the 

great things that we did that command headlines and find 

things that we do that command public attention. But greatness is measured by the small things in life, and in those 

small things she was great also. 

The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under a previous order of the 

House, the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Payne) is recognized for 5 minutes. 

Mr. PAYNE. Madam Speaker, yesterday we lost a devoted 

colleague and friend, Congresswoman JUANITA MILLENDERMCDONALD. 

Congresswoman MILLENDER-MCDONALD was a dedicated 

public servant who worked tirelessly on behalf of her constituents in the 37th Congressional District of California. As 

we know, prior to her coming to Congress, she made a name 

for herself as the first African American woman to serve on 

the City Council in Carson City and the chairwoman of two 

powerful committees, Insurance and Revenue. 

But many people don’t know that in recognition of women 

who served our country in uniform during wartime, 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. She also secured $50 million for counseling services for our returning men and women serving in Iraq and 

Afghanistan. 

(Trim Line)

(Trim Line)

[ 41 ] 

Bold initiatives have been her trademark. In 2005, Congresswoman MILLENDER-MCDONALD, along with other CBC 

members, unveiled a portrait of Joseph Rainey, the first African American to be seated in Congress. She was very proud 

of that because she contacted members of his family who are 

alive today, and there was a tremendous celebration. 

Internationally, she spoke out against genocide in Cambodia and Darfur and other regions of the world where 

human rights are in danger. She worked with former Secretary of State Madeleine Albright and Ambassador John 

Miller on human trafficking and women’s rights issues globally. 

She reminds me of a poem I learned as a youngster in elementary school, actually; but it is appropriate because her 

memory will live on. The poem is called, ‘‘The Arrow and a 

Song.’’ It said: 

I shot an arrow into the air, it fell to Earth I know not where. For so 

swiftly it flew, my sight could not follow it in its flight. 

I sang a song into the air, it fell to Earth I know not where. For who has 

sight so keen and strong that can follow the flight of a song? But long, long 

afterwards in an oak I found the arrow still unbroke. And the song, from 

beginning to end, I found again in the heart of a friend. 

And so I say that to say that what JUANITA did will live 

on. Her work for the persons who worked in the Library of 

Congress who were minorities and women who were being 

terminated, and we felt unfairly, she took on that responsibility to fight to see that those women, primarily, would be 

placed in other positions. 

She worked hard, and her dignity and her beauty and her 

perfection were certainly noticed. And I can tell you, the 

women talk about the grace that she had. Well, let me make 

it clear that the men also noticed that grace and that beauty 

and that charm. And so we will remember her as she moves 

on up that highway. 

The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Ellison). Under a previous order of the House, the gentleman from California (Mr. 

Sherman) is recognized for 5 minutes. 

Mr. SHERMAN. You know, it is heartwarming to sit here 

for a while and to listen to these personal tales of our good 

friend, JUANITA MILLENDER-MCDONALD. 

I first got to know JUANITA in our days as activists during 

the 1980s on the Los Angeles County Democratic Central 

Committee. Both of us entered State government in the early 

1990s; both of us came here to Congress in the mid-1990s. 

(Trim Line)

(Trim Line)

[ 42 ] 

JUANITA broke barriers. JUANITA led the charge. She was 

the first African American woman on the Carson City Council, the first African American woman to chair the Revenue 

and Taxation Committee of the California Assembly, where 

I enjoyed working with her on State tax issues. JUANITA was 

the first African American woman to give the Democratic 

Radio Address response. And finally, she was the first African American woman to serve as chair of the House Administration Committee. 

Now, her fine work on that committee has been detailed 

by so many of the prior speakers who have come to this floor. 

And the prior speakers have also spoken of her work on the 

Transportation Committee, where we in Southern California 

are so grateful to her for her efforts on behalf of the Alameda 

Corridor. 

JUANITA will be missed, of course, by her husband James, 

by her five children and by her five grandchildren. She will 

be remembered here for her record of legislative accomplishment, and she will be remembered here for the spunk she 

showed every day. And finally, she will be remembered for 

the courage she showed in these final days, because JUANITA

barely mentioned to her closest friends that she was a bit 

under the weather. Right up to the end she was fighting the 

good fight. JUANITA’s courage and strength will be remembered. 

The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under a previous order of the 

House, the gentlewoman from California (Ms. Woolsey) is 

recognized for 5 minutes. 

Ms. WOOLSEY. JUANITA MILLENDER-MCDONALD. We already miss you, your beautiful face, your elegance and grace, 

your tenacity and spirit. Your absence will leave a void that 

will never, ever be filled. And that is what we know about 

you here without question in the House of Representatives, 

so we can only guess how much you are going to be missed 

by your beloved family. They, in their grief, however, can always take solace in their pride and in their love and their 

appreciation of such an amazing woman. 

Beloved wife, mother of five, grandmother of five, member 

of the California Assembly, Member of the U.S. House of 

Representatives, and in the end, the very first African American woman to become chairwoman of a full committee. 

Because of this position, this elegant persuasive woman’s 

portrait will hang in the Halls of Congress for the rest of 

time. And over the years she will watch over the activities 

(Trim Line)

(Trim Line)

[ 43 ] 

of her House Administration Committee. And believe me, she 

will be expecting excellence. So while JUANITA rests, she expects each and every one of us to keep on going until we can 

go no more; and because of her example, we will do our very 

best. 

We already miss you, JUANITA, and we will remember you 

always. 

The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under a previous order of the 

House, the gentlewoman from Guam (Ms. Bordallo) is recognized for 5 minutes. 

Ms. BORDALLO. Mr. Speaker, I also wish to thank my 

good friend from California (Ms. Watson). 

I, too, Mr. Speaker, want to take this opportunity to associate myself with the remarks made by our colleagues this 

evening in tribute to Congresswoman JUANITA MILLENDERMCDONALD. 

On behalf of the people of Guam, I extend to her family 

our condolences. She was a strong and effective leader for 

the people of the 37th Congressional District of California, 

and we are going to miss her here in Congress. 

JUANITA took a special interest in the people of Guam. 

When I first met her, I was a freshman. She stopped me in 

the hall and she said, ‘‘Are you the new Representative from 

Guam?’’ I said, ‘‘Yes.’’ And she introduced herself and she 

said, ‘‘I want you to know that I have many people from 

Guam in my district.’’ 

She attended our liberation wreath-laying ceremony at Arlington. I will never forget it. And each time we met, whether it was here on the floor or in the hall, she would always 

ask me about the people of Guam. 

She was a strong leader. She made her mark here in Congress. And I extend to her family, her husband, her children, 

and her grandchildren, our deepest sympathies. 

God bless you, JUANITA, for everything that you did for the 

American people. 

The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under a previous order of the 

House, the gentleman from California (Mr. Schiff) is recognized for 5 minutes. 

Mr. SCHIFF. Mr. Speaker, tonight I plan to speak on the 

anniversary of the Armenian genocide; but before I do, I 

want to join my colleagues in expressing my sincere condolence at the passing of JUANITA MILLENDER-MCDONALD, 

someone who in my very first days of Congress impressed me 

(Trim Line)

(Trim Line)

[ 44 ] 

as a courageous, intelligent, dedicated public servant who, 

every time I went to her for help on an issue in her committee or outside her committee, was generous with her time 

and her energy, always ready to help, always of good cheer, 

and someone who I think enjoyed the unanimous and bipartisan respect of everyone in this body. Her memory will be 

cherished; her presence will be deeply missed. . . . 

Mrs. CHRISTENSEN. . . . Mr. Speaker, I want to pay tribute to a woman who was a champion of health for minorities 

and other people of color. The extremely sad news of Congresswoman MILLENDER-MCDONALD’s death came as a shock 

to all of us, and it is with a deep sense of loss that I join 

my colleagues who were here earlier in mourning her passing. Not only have I lost a colleague, but also a mentor, a 

sister, and a friend. 

I was honored to work alongside Congresswoman 

MILLENDER-MCDONALD as members of the Congressional 

Black Caucus together, and the Small Business Community. 

JUANITA was a true champion for minority and womenowned small businesses, and played a pivotal role in proposing and passing legislation to expand financing and contracting opportunities for our Nation’s small businesses. Her 

dedication to helping women-owned businesses was evident 

in her dedication to increasing funding to expand women’s 

business centers throughout our Nation. 

Her commitment to improving the lives of minorities is reflected in her lifelong work in affiliations with organizations 

such as the NAACP, Alpha Kappa Alpha, and a number of 

other organizations devoted to the advancement of minorities. She will also be remembered for her outstanding stewardship in the areas of transportation, education, health, and 

FEMA legislation. 

We are grateful for the leadership and the innovation that 

she brought to the Committee on House Administration, 

which led to her historic achievement as the first African 

American woman to chair a committee in Congress. 

I know that the House staff and all of the Members appreciate her role in establishing the House Fitness Center and 

creating an outlet for mental and physical activity. She has 

truly left a legacy for all of us through her distinguished 

service on this important committee. 

JUANITA will also be remembered for her passion for education, which was evident in her many eloquent speeches on 

the floor. She was truly a gifted and skilled orator. JUANITA

had the distinct ability to captivate and engage her audiVerDate jan 13 2004 11:41 Apr 29, 2008 Jkt 034800 PO 00000 Frm 00054 Fmt 6688 Sfmt 6688 C:\DOCS\JUANITA\34800.TXT CRS1 PsN: SKAYNE
(Trim Line)

(Trim Line)

[ 45 ] 

ences. Although she possessed strong and determined qualities, she personified grace, compassion, and beauty both inside and out. 

On a more personal note, it was through JUANITA, a minister’s daughter, that I began attending Thursday morning 

prayer breakfasts when I first came to Congress. Her godliness was seen in all that she did. 

JUANITA championed the cause of AIDS long before it was 

fashionable to do so. Every year she held a race in her district. And while I could never get away to attend, she always 

had all of our support, and we never missed a t-shirt or any 

of the other paraphernalia that she gave out each year. 

JUANITA always spoke of her district with great affection 

and dedication. She frequently remarked that she had the 

most diverse district in the country, and that she was able 

to bring them together. And to be reelected over and over is 

a testament to her leadership and her abiding belief that we 

are all children of God, equal in His sight and made in His 

image. Her mission was one of justice, fairness, and opportunity for all. 

One cannot speak of JUANITA MILLENDER-MCDONALD without remarking on her exquisite taste and her unequaled 

sense of style. She was always dressed to the nines and was 

always the epitome of elegance and grace. 

Mr. Speaker, although her passing leaves a void in the 

halls of Congress, her spirit and legacy will forever be with 

us. Words are not enough to express our profound sorrow. 

On behalf of my family, staff, and the people of the U.S. Virgin Islands, my deepest sympathy goes out to her husband, 

James McDonald, their children, grandchildren, extended 

family, and dedicated staff. May God bless and comfort them 

at this time in grief as we know He is welcoming our sister 

home. 

Mrs. CAPITO. Mr. Speaker . . . I would like to join with my 

colleagues in expressing my deep sorrow at the passing of 

our colleague, JUANITA MILLENDER-MCDONALD. Just briefly, 

she was a kind and gentle person. She was a great advocate 

for many things that she believed in. She was a pioneer. But, 

for me, she was just a very helpful and warm and friendly 

person. 

When I came to Congress, she had already been here for 

several years. She was the chairwoman of the Caucus on 

Women’s Issues, and I was the vice chair for the Republican 

side. JUANITA was always very helpful, always very concerned that I was making my way in my first several months 

(Trim Line)

(Trim Line)

[ 46 ] 

in Congress, and I think the way she crossed the aisle, the 

way that she treated me with kid gloves, so-to-speak, in the 

beginning of my term, is something that I will never forget. 

So my thoughts and prayers are with her. Bless her family 

during this very tough time, and know that she will be 

missed. . . . 

Mr. CLEAVER. Mr. Speaker, I would like to associate myself with the comments of the gentlewoman from West Virginia (Mrs. Capito). I too would like to express sympathy to 

Ms. MILLENDER-MCDONALD’s family and to the families of 

those young people whose lives were senselessly taken at 

Virginia Tech. . . . 

Mr. LANTOS. Madam Speaker, I come to the floor today 

with a heavy heart. The passing of the Honorable JUANITA

MILLENDER-MCDONALD is being felt by all who knew her, 

and all who were touched by her career in public service. I 

want to extend my condolences to her family, friends, and 

constituents in California’s 37th District for their great loss. 

In fact, we all have lost something in the chairwoman’s 

passing. For me, I lost a colleague, but my wife Annette and 

I also have lost a neighbor and friend. 

Much has been said in these past days about what she 

meant to California and to the Congress as a whole. When 

she won her first election to the City Council of Carson, CA, 

she committed herself to more than two decades of public 

service. As the first African American woman to chair a committee here in the House, she was a trailblazer. And as the 

so-called ‘‘mayor of Capitol Hill’’ she was charged with ensuring the smooth operation of the People’s House, while overseeing the biggest expansion of the Capitol complex as the 

Capitol Visitors Center nears completion. 

Madam Speaker, many of us are so busy that we don’t 

have time to really get to know one another. Seeing JUANITA

every morning on my way to the office was an extraordinary 

way to start off my day, and in the evening we would compare notes on our way home. I will truly miss seeing her and 

am heartbroken by her untimely passing. 

Congress has lost a singularly able and warm person 

whose contributions to the greater good for her district, the 

people of California, the country as a whole, and African 

American women will live on. Our prayers are with her family as we all mourn the passing of Chairwoman JUANITA

MILLENDER-MCDONALD. 

(Trim Line)

(Trim Line)

[ 47 ] 

Mrs. MILLER of Michigan. Madam Speaker, I wish to join 

my colleagues in expressing my sorrow over the passing of 

JUANITA MILLENDER-MCDONALD, the Representative of California’s 37th Congressional District. My thoughts and prayers go out to her constituents, her friends, and her family. 

Madam Speaker, I had the opportunity to get to know JUANITA during the 109th Congress when we both served as 

members of the Committee on House Administration. While 

some might view oversight of election law and the day-to-day 

functions of the House as relatively uninteresting, I know 

that I do not, and I know that JUANITA, who served as ranking member at the time, did not think them trivial either. 

Whatever topic was before the committee, JUANITA was 

dedicated to assuring that things were done fairly, properly, 

and effectively. She was vigorous in guaranteeing the integrity of the Federal elections process and was committed to 

ensuring that every eligible voter had free and unfettered access to the voting booth. Likewise, in her oversight of managing the House, she wanted to ensure that everyone on 

Capitol Hill had a safe and secure place to work or visit, 

while preserving the grandeur of the Capitol and the surrounding buildings. 

This tenacity was something she demonstrated throughout 

her life, not just during the decade she spent in Congress. 

After raising her five children, she continued her own education, earning a bachelor’s degree at the age of 40. She followed that up with a master’s degree in educational administration. She was no stranger to hard work, and she was not 

afraid to take on a challenge. 

One of JUANITA’s most notable accomplishments occurred 

earlier this year. In January, she became the first African 

American woman to chair a committee in the House of Representatives. It was something that made many Members of 

the House very proud, and it was a tremendous accomplishment for a woman whose life was full of monumental 

achievements. 

I think it speaks volumes of JUANITA’s dedication that she 

was here voting in this House, representing her constituents, 

until less than a month before cancer took her life. In fact, 

almost none of her colleagues were aware of her illness and 

how serious it had become until the week before she passed 

away. And through it all, she held a warm spirit and a kind 

smile. 

(Trim Line)

(Trim Line)

[ 48 ] 

Madam Speaker, I join my colleagues in sorrow for JUANITA’s passing, and I again express my condolences to JUANITA’s family, friends, and constituents. 

Ms. MATSUI. Madam Speaker, it is with a heavy heart 

that I rise today to remember a pioneering woman, a fearless 

advocate for justice and equality, and a remarkable trailblazer who was dedicated to improving the lives of others. 

Congresswoman JUANITA MILLENDER-MCDONALD embodied 

all that Members of Congress strive to be: she was a masterful navigator of Washington politics; she was a tireless 

champion for her constituents in Southern California; she 

was a focused and determined activist for the less fortunate 

all over the world. She was also a dear friend and valued colleague to those of us in Congress, and to so many others who 

were fortunate enough to know her on both a personal and 

professional level. 

As the first African American woman ever to wield the 

gavel of a full congressional committee, JUANITA was proof of 

the milestones that can be achieved through dedication, intelligence, and political acumen. Her steady rise through the 

hierarchy of California politics—from a seat on the Carson 

City Council to a position in the California State Assembly, 

and finally to the Halls of Congress—instilled in her an 

unshakeable allegiance to the people who repeatedly elected 

her. 

JUANITA’s intense loyalty to her constituents was reflected 

in their own well-placed faith that she would represent them 

in a principled and thoughtful manner. She never let them 

down; indeed, her record as a public figure was characterized 

by an attention to the needs of her constituents, by a singleminded focus on achieving equality, and by adherence to the 

principle that democratic government should help those most 

in need. 

Everything JUANITA did was colored by her passionate 

quest for equality. She used this intensity to her advantage, 

emerging as an effective and authoritative advocate for women’s rights at home and abroad. Never afraid to tackle controversial issues or to use her position as a bullhorn for reform, JUANITA’s energy and enthusiasm for advancing the 

cause of women’s rights propelled her into a leadership role 

from her earliest days in Washington. 

Innovative ideas on this score seemed to emanate from 

JUANITA. She convened a first-of-its-kind meeting between 

women Members of Congress and female Supreme Court 

Justices to discuss women’s issues. She carried the Families 

(Trim Line)

(Trim Line)

[ 49 ] 

First Agenda to more than 30 States for the first time. She 

served as the first Democratic chair of the Congressional 

Caucus for Women’s Issues. Through it all, JUANITA was 

masterful at marshaling well-known and influential individuals to her cause without ever losing sight of her goal, which 

was to help create a society committed to justice, fairness, 

and equality. 

It is fitting that JUANITA was such an outspoken and effective advocate for women’s rights, for perhaps her greatest 

strength lay in her identity as a woman. She demonstrated 

for all of us—men and women alike—that being a Member 

of Congress, a mother, and a grandmother at the same time 

was not merely a challenge. For JUANITA, it was a blessing 

to be embraced and cherished. As a grandmother myself, I 

looked to her as a role model for how to integrate the unique 

challenges of having a family with the equally exciting responsibilities that come from serving in Congress. Two of the 

most rewarding pleasures in life are raising a family and 

working for the public, and JUANITA’s life is solid proof that 

a dedicated and forthright individual can accomplish both 

with poise, grace, and dignity. 

I extend my deepest condolences to Congresswoman 

MILLENDER-MCDONALD’s family. While this week my fellow 

Members and I lost a trusted colleague, confidante, and 

friend, their loss resonates more deeply than we can know. 

Nonetheless, I know that I speak for all of Congress when 

I say that JUANITA MILLENDER-MCDONALD was someone we 

admired on a personal and professional level, someone whose 

absence will leave a void within us, and someone whose legacy of principled and determined leadership will not be forgotten. 

Mr. CONYERS. Madam Speaker, I rise today in honor of 

my close and dear friend JUANITA MILLENDER-MCDONALD, 

whom I have worked with and known for many, many years. 

I am deeply saddened by the news of her untimely passing, 

and I would like to extend my sincere condolences to the 

family, friends, and constituents of this distinguished Member of Congress. 

She came to Congress in 1996 and quickly moved up the 

ranks among her peers. Her commitment to excellence led 

her to achieve a series of political firsts, including becoming 

the first African American woman to chair the Committee on 

House Administration, the first African American woman to 

serve on the Carson City Council; the first to hold the position of chairwoman for two powerful California State AssemVerDate jan 13 2004 11:41 Apr 29, 2008 Jkt 034800 PO 00000 Frm 00059 Fmt 6688 Sfmt 6688 C:\DOCS\JUANITA\34800.TXT CRS1 PsN: SKAYNE
(Trim Line)

(Trim Line)

[ 50 ] 

bly committees in her first term, and the first African American woman to give the national Democratic response to 

President Bush’s weekly radio address. She spoke her mind 

and was not easily intimidated by political pressure, regardless of from where it came. 

Furthermore, in the 110th Congress, in addition to her 

chairwomanship, she served on eight full and sub-committees. One issue that the Congresswoman and I worked on 

closely together was the protection of one’s fundamental and 

constitutional right to vote. Our combined efforts on voting 

irregularities in Ohio ultimately led to the introduction of 

H.R. 4141 in 2005, which would amend the Help America 

Vote Act of 2002. 

She believed that there are no more important responsibilities in the People’s House of Representatives than ensuring 

that the ability to vote in free and fair elections is not compromised in any manner, which has not always been the 

case. She was a visionary, an advocate for justice for all 

Americans, and the embodiment of determination. 

JUANITA MILLENDER-MCDONALD was a role model and incredibly dedicated to the empowerment of women and youth 

as the founder and executive director of the League of African American Women, and the founder of the Young Advocates, a political leadership-training program for African 

Americans between the ages of 18 and 35. 

It has been an honor and a pleasure to serve with a distinguished woman of strength, integrity, and dynamism. Not 

only will I miss her dearly, but she will also be missed by 

the many people that she has touched throughout her service 

in Congress. 

Mr. RANGEL. Madam Speaker, I rise to enter into the 

Congressional Record remarks on the life and work of the 

Honorable Congresswoman JUANITA MILLENDER-MCDONALD. 

Congresswoman MILLENDER-MCDONALD served over six 

terms for the 37th Congressional District as a Democrat in 

the U.S. House of Representatives. She died of cancer on 

April 22, 2007 at age 68. 

Mrs. MILLENDER-MCDONALD was born in Birmingham, AL, 

on September 7, 1938. She always placed education and 

women’s rights in the forefront of her issues and values. 

After graduating from the University of Redlands with an 

undergraduate degree, she became a teacher for the Los Angeles Unified School District. When she attained her master’s degree from California State University at Los Angeles, 

she gave up her job as a teacher to be an editor and writer 

(Trim Line)

(Trim Line)

[ 51 ] 

for the school district. Her lifelong fight for women’s rights 

emerged when she became the manuscript editor for ‘‘Images,’’ a textbook designed to enhance the self-esteem of 

young women. 

Before running for local office, she was named the director 

of gender equity programs for the Los Angeles school district. 

In 1990, she was elected the first African American woman 

to serve on the Carson City Council, and in 1992 the first 

woman to represent the 55th Assembly District in the California State Legislature. In both roles she attacked the congestion and transportation problems of California’s infrastructure. As an Assemblywoman, she helped push the Alameda Corridor, a $1.8 billion public works project to lay new 

tracks and build trenches and bridges. Her concern with 

transportation continued in her national office. 

As a Member of the House, she was appointed to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure and its Subcommittees on Aviation and Surface Transportation. She also 

served on the Committee on Small Business and as one of 

the ranking members on the Subcommittee on Tax, Finance, 

and Exports. After 2 years in the House, she was named the 

Region One Democratic Whip, and was honored with the 

Watts Walk of Fame for her work on behalf of the 37th District. In 2006, the Congresswoman became the first African 

American chair of the House Administration Committee. 

For her entire life, Congresswoman JUANITA MILLENDERMCDONALD has fought for social justice. She was a leader in 

election reform, women’s rights, and transportation solutions; she was a credit to her district and to all the people 

she served as a Representative of the United States. Her 

husband, five adult children, and five grandchildren survive 

her. I commend her and her life’s work, and ask my colleagues to recognize her memory. 

Mr. SHULER. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the 

extraordinary life of Congresswoman JUANITA MILLENDERMCDONALD. I was saddened to learn of her passing after her 

courageous battle with cancer, and my thoughts and prayers 

are with her husband, James McDonald, Jr., their five children, and five grandchildren—as well as the people of the 

37th District of California. 

Congresswoman MILLENDER-MCDONALD served this Congress honorably for over six terms, during which time she 

was a tireless advocate for underserved communities in the 

United States and around the globe. Among her many accomplishments, Congresswoman MILLENDER-MCDONALD seVerDate jan 13 2004 11:41 Apr 29, 2008 Jkt 034800 PO 00000 Frm 00061 Fmt 6688 Sfmt 6688 C:\DOCS\JUANITA\34800.TXT CRS1 PsN: SKAYNE
(Trim Line)

(Trim Line)

[ 52 ] 

cured critical funding for counseling services for our servicemen and women returning from Iraq and Afghanistan, and 

was instrumental in the passage of important AIDS-prevention programs in Africa. The Congresswoman was also a 

staunch advocate for the rights of women, minorities, children, and the elderly. 

Congresswoman MILLENDER-MCDONALD will also be remembered as a preeminent leader and trailblazer. She was 

the first-ever African American or woman to chair the Committee on House Administration where she worked hard to 

ensure that all Americans would be guaranteed their rights 

at the voting booth. As the Democratic chair of the Congressional Caucus for Women’s Issues, Congresswoman 

MILLENDER-MCDONALD convened groundbreaking meetings 

with then-U.N. Secretary General Kofi Annan to discuss 

global poverty programs, as well as the New York Stock Exchange to find ways to empower women in the workplace. 

Madam Speaker, Congresswoman MILLENDER-MCDONALD

led an exemplary life of public service that included her most 

recent position as the ‘‘mayor of Capitol Hill.’’ The House 

community lost a true friend. May God rest her soul. 

Mr. LANGEVIN. Madam Speaker, I rise today to express 

my profound sorrow over the sudden loss of my colleague 

JUANITA MILLENDER-MCDONALD, who died of cancer on April 

22, 2007. JUANITA was a trailblazer throughout her life and 

in the House of Representatives, and it was an honor for me 

to serve alongside her. 

Born in Birmingham, AL, JUANITA was a former teacher in 

the Los Angeles public school system and served on the Carson City Council and in the California State Assembly before 

running for Congress in December 1995. Since then, she had 

been elected to Congress with an overwhelming amount of 

support from her constituents. The 37th District of California 

should be proud that they had such a strong and determined 

Representative in JUANITA MILLENDER-MCDONALD. 

JUANITA spoke out against injustices both in our country, 

especially on voting rights and election reform, and abroad, 

including genocide in Cambodia and Darfur, women’s rights 

and human trafficking. Her hard work and ability to lead 

earned JUANITA the chairmanship of the Committee on 

House Administration for the 110th Congress. This appointment also represented another barrier she broke through: 

JUANITA MILLENDER-MCDONALD was the first African American woman to chair a House committee. 

(Trim Line)

(Trim Line)

[ 53 ] 

Having faced many obstacles in my own life, I can truly 

appreciate the barriers that JUANITA knocked down in her 

lifetime. I know her memory will live on forever, as will the 

opportunities she helped create for those who follow in her 

footsteps. 

JUANITA is survived by her husband, James McDonald, Jr., 

five children, and five grandchildren. May we keep her loved 

ones in our thoughts and prayers as they endure this difficult period. 

Ms. ROYBAL-ALLARD. Madam Speaker, the loss this 

week of our dear friend and colleague JUANITA MILLENDERMCDONALD was a great blow to this institution and to the 

people of California’s 37th Congressional District. 

I extend my sincere condolences to her family during this 

time of sorrow, and I hope that they find some comfort in 

knowing how deeply loved and respected JUANITA was by her 

constituents and by her colleagues here in the House of Representatives. 

We honor her life and her accomplishments this week. Motivated by love of country, community and family, and inspired by her struggles as an African American leader and 

as a woman, she advocated for the rights of minorities and 

women in this country and throughout the world. 

JUANITA was no less dedicated to the more parochial needs 

of her constituents and Southern California in general. As 

the tributes from her committee colleagues highlight, she 

was a respected and effective member of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, securing billions of 

dollars for her region and her State of California. 

She worked tirelessly to secure transportation infrastructure investments, enhancing the economic security of the region and improving the quality of life for Los Angeles County 

residents. She will long be remembered by Angelenos for her 

leading role in making possible the construction of the historic Alameda Corridor. 

She was also a woman of many firsts. In the California 

State Assembly, JUANITA became the first woman, in her 

first term, to chair the powerful Insurance and Revenue and 

Taxation Committees. 

I know how proud she was to be the first African American 

woman to be named honorary curator of the Museum of 

Latin American Art in Long Beach. 

Most recently, JUANITA became the first African American 

woman to hold the distinguished position of chair of the powerful House Administration Committee in this 110th ConVerDate jan 13 2004 11:41 Apr 29, 2008 Jkt 034800 PO 00000 Frm 00063 Fmt 6688 Sfmt 6688 C:\DOCS\JUANITA\34800.TXT CRS1 PsN: SKAYNE
(Trim Line)

(Trim Line)

[ 54 ] 

gress, overseeing the operations of the House of Representatives. 

During her short term as chair, her hiring and contracting 

practices within the House of Representatives reflected her 

deep commitment to diversity. She was a dedicated proponent of minority rights, and was the founder and executive 

director of the League of African American Women, comprised of 40 African American women’s groups. 

JUANITA was also the founder of the Young Advocates, a 

political leadership-training program for African Americans 

between the ages of 18 and 35. She believed in embracing 

our youth and fought to give young people hope and opportunity for a better life. JUANITA introduced legislation directing the Secretary of Education to study and report to Congress on the troubling dropout rate among Latino, Native 

American, American Samoan and African American high 

school students. 

JUANITA will also be remembered as a strong advocate for 

human rights around the globe, speaking out against genocide in Cambodia, Darfur and other regions of the world 

where she fought against injustice and inhumanity. She 

worked with former Secretary of State Madeleine Albright 

and Ambassador John Miller to address human trafficking 

and in support of women’s rights around the world. 

JUANITA MILLENDER-MCDONALD was a dynamic Member of 

this House, who sought to maximize her influence to better 

the lives of her constituents, the residents of her county and 

State, and all the people around the world in desperate need 

of assistance. 

JUANITA was a loving wife, mother, and grandmother. And 

she was a beloved colleague and friend who will truly be 

missed. 

My husband Ed and I send our deep and sincere condolences to her husband, James, her five children, and five 

grandchildren. 

We will miss you JUANITA. 

Ms. McCOLLUM of Minnesota. Madam Speaker, I rise 

today in support of H. Res. 328, expressing the condolences 

of the House of Representatives on the death of the Honorable JUANITA MILLENDER-MCDONALD. 

Congresswoman MILLENDER-MCDONALD was a strong advocate for women and human rights, speaking out against 

injustice in our country and around the world. She was the 

first African American woman to chair a committee in ConVerDate jan 13 2004 11:41 Apr 29, 2008 Jkt 034800 PO 00000 Frm 00064 Fmt 6688 Sfmt 6688 C:\DOCS\JUANITA\34800.TXT CRS1 PsN: SKAYNE
(Trim Line)

(Trim Line)

[ 55 ] 

gress, and will be remembered for her commitment and dedication to ensuring that every American’s vote counts. 

As cochair of the Congressional Caucus for Women’s Issues 

in the 107th Congress, Congresswoman MILLENDER-MCDONALD worked tirelessly to ensure that women from both sides 

of the aisle participated in the activities of the caucus. She 

was a warm and open person, and was a true mentor to me 

during my first term in Congress. 

On behalf of the families of Minnesota’s Fourth Congressional District, we extend our prayers and sincerest condolences to her husband, Mr. James McDonald, Jr., her children, and all of her family and friends. Representative JUANITA MILLENDER-MCDONALD will be remembered and honored in the highest regard. 

Madam Speaker, please join me in paying tribute to the 

life of Congresswoman JUANITA MILLENDER-MCDONALD. 

Mr. GARY G. MILLER of California. Madam Speaker, I 

rise today to honor JUANITA MILLENDER-MCDONALD. She 

was my colleague and, more important, she was my friend. 

JUANITA and I served together in the California State Assembly and later in Congress. Each week we shared a flight 

back and forth from Southern California and we grew to be 

very good friends. 

In Congress, we partnered on the House Transportation 

and Infrastructure Committee to address the unique and 

pressing transportation needs of Southern California. We 

joined together to bring a national focus to the importance 

of Southern California’s goods movement, highway financing, 

and transit needs. As conferees for the TEA–LU Act, together we worked hard to bring historic levels of Federal 

transportation funding back to the Southern California region. 

I am saddened by the loss of a great public servant and 

colleague that fought for the needs of her constituents and 

the Southern California region with grace, dedication, and 

honor. 

I am also saddened by the loss of a dear personal friend. 

JUANITA was a kind and gentle soul who was called home 

far too soon. Her wisdom and leadership in Congress will be 

sorely missed. I join my colleagues in praying that she is in 

a better place and that her family is able to find peace in 

knowing the tremendous contributions she made to her State 

and Nation during her years of public service. 

(Trim Line)

(Trim Line)

[ 56 ] 

Mr. RUSH. Madam Speaker, on Sunday April 22, 2007, 

my dear friend and colleague Congresswoman JUANITA

MILLENDER-MCDONALD was called home. 

JUANITA was a great woman who worked passionately for 

justice and cared deeply for mankind. She was a phenomenal 

Congresswoman, a loving wife, mother and grandmother and 

a dutiful friend. 

She made time for her constituents—and didn’t just listen, 

but heard them, and spoke for them. 

Madam Speaker, JUANITA began her tenure in Congress in 

1996. She represented California’s 37th Congressional District and was a proud leader in the Congressional Black Caucus where she championed the caucus’ disparities agenda to 

advance economic development, expand access and affordability for health care, truly ‘‘leave no child behind’’ in our 

education policy and the list goes on. 

She was a true legislator. For example, she authored several pieces of legislation focusing on health care, specifically 

woman’s heart health. Legislation such as H.R. 51, a bill to 

support National Wear Red Day, and H.R. 52 the American 

Heart Month which called on women to take action and prevent heart disease were just a few examples of her legislative priorities. 

JUANITA was a trailblazer, becoming the first African 

American woman to chair the House Administration Committee for the 110th Congress. She was known as the mayor 

of Capitol Hill; overseeing the operational and safety needs 

of the Capitol compound. 

She was truly a jewel and a joy to have known. In closing, 

I’m reminded of a passage from Proverbs 31:10 KJV, which 

reads: ‘‘Who can find a virtuous woman? . . . for her price is 

far above rubies.’’ 

Congresswoman MILLENDER-MCDONALD was a great 

woman, epitomizing humanity, humility, and virtue. She will 

truly be missed. 

Mr. HASTINGS of Florida. Madam Speaker, my presence 

on this floor today is marked by a melancholy over the loss 

of a friend and dear colleague. We have lost a good friend, 

indeed a great friend, in Congresswoman JUANITA

MILLENDER-MCDONALD. I wish to extend with deepest sincerity my sympathy and condolences to her family and to her 

constituents of Long Beach, Compton, and Los Angeles. 

It is a common tradition in our society to look past the loss 

of the physical being in order to best preserve and cherish 

the personal being. However, the difficulty in this emerges 

(Trim Line)

(Trim Line)

[ 57 ] 

when we constantly find ourselves reveling in the presence 

of that person as an everyday part of our lives. Congresswoman MILLENDER-MCDONALD will be so sorely missed. She 

was and is still a part of our everyday lives. It is hard to 

fathom the idea that we will never hear her voice again—for 

her eloquence and passion in speaking, and her unforgettable laughter, will ring in our ears. The strength and tenacity that propelled her through her life’s work will continue 

to inspire us. As we continue our work in her memory, I encourage all of us to remember her as we walk through the 

hallowed Halls of Congress. If we stop and listen, we will 

hear her footsteps echo in these great marble corridors. 

JUANITA’s accomplishments and achievements in life were 

many. But as we mourn the loss of her physical self, we 

would do well to remember her compassionate self, her temperate self, which encompassed an unfailing dedication to 

public service. I most humbly thank Congresswoman 

MILLENDER-MCDONALD for her being an exemplary public 

servant. I praise her for her stalwart fight against cancer. At 

last, I am comforted by the fact that her truly unconquerable 

soul is yet unvanquished. 

Mrs. LOWEY. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the 

legacy and accomplishments of our recently passed colleague 

and dear friend JUANITA MILLENDER-MCDONALD. 

JUANITA MILLENDER-MCDONALD’s life epitomized one of a 

true leader. Her deep commitment to those she served led 

her to be the first African American woman to chair a committee in Congress. 

JUANITA MILLENDER-MCDONALD’s vision and leadership 

since 1996 will have a lasting impact on the House of Representatives. Her fight for full voting participation for all 

Americans and her tireless efforts for fair elections in the 

United States have helped millions of Americans and made 

our democracy stronger. 

Madam Speaker, I urge all of my colleagues to join me in 

paying respect to the family of JUANITA MILLENDER-MCDONALD and in honoring her career in service to our country. 

ADJOURNMENT 

Mr. CLEAVER. Mr. Speaker, pursuant to House Resolution 328, I move that the House do now adjourn in memory 

of the late Honorable JUANITA MILLENDER-MCDONALD. 

The motion was agreed to; accordingly (at 11 o’clock and 

40 minutes p.m.), under its previous order, the House adjourned until tomorrow, Tuesday, April 24, 2007, at 10:30 

(Trim Line)

(Trim Line)

[ 58 ] 

a.m., for morning hour debate, as a further mark of respect 

to the memory of the late Honorable JUANITA MILLENDERMCDONALD of California. 

TUESDAY, April 24, 2007 

The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the order of the 

House of January 4, 2007, the Chair recognizes the gentleman from Maryland, the distinguished majority leader, 

Mr. Hoyer. 

Mr. HOYER. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. 

It is with deep sadness that I rise today to note the passing of our colleague and friend, Congresswoman JUANITA

MILLENDER-MCDONALD, a dedicated public servant who 

worked tirelessly on behalf of her constituents in California’s 

37th Congressional District and a devoted Representative 

who cared deeply for those she served. 

Congresswoman MILLENDER-MCDONALD was someone who 

never allowed the conventions of her surroundings to define 

the role she would play. Because she understood that education would unlock her budding potential as a community 

leader, JUANITA achieved something extraordinary by earning a bachelor’s degree from Redlands University at the age 

of 40, and a master’s degree from California State University 

at the age of 47. 

Because she recognized her duty to give back just a little 

of what she had learned, JUANITA made our children’s future 

her life’s work by teaching math and English in the Los Angeles Unified School District. 

Because she could not sit idly by when she had much to 

offer, JUANITA turned to public service in 1990, becoming the 

first African American woman to serve on the Carson City 

Council, the first African American woman to chair two committees in the California State Assembly, and the first African American woman to chair a full committee in the U.S. 

Congress. 

And because she never let go of her abiding faith in the 

fact that our tomorrows can be better than our todays, JUANITA will be remembered as a leader who inspired action, 

drove progress, and labored diligently to improve the lives of 

people throughout our Nation. 

Mr. Speaker, the advocates of equal rights for women and 

minorities have lost a powerful voice in the U.S. Congress, 

(Trim Line)

(Trim Line)

[ 59 ] 

one that always sought to bring people together by elevating 

the bonds that unite us as Americans and as human beings. 

Children and the working poor have lost a compassionate 

ally. Men and women seeking to participate in their own 

governance have lost a steadfast guardian of voting rights 

who fought to expand the reach of democracy, not only in 

spirit but in practice as well. And defenders of human rights 

have lost a champion of their cause who never missed an opportunity to remind the free world of its obligation to help 

alleviate suffering and restore fundamental human dignity 

to those who have gone without it for far too long, such as 

those suffering in Darfur. JUANITA MILLENDER-MCDONALD

personified what it means to serve others before serving self. 

Mr. Speaker, I want JUANITA’s husband, James, and her 

children and grandchildren to know that the thoughts and 

prayers of a grateful Nation are with them as they mourn 

their loss. We join them in their mourning but we also join 

them in their joy of a life well lived. 

The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the order of the 

House of January 4, 2007, the gentlewoman from New York 

(Ms. Clarke) is recognized during morning hour debates for 

2 minutes. 

Ms. CLARKE. Mr. Speaker, I just wanted to take a moment today to express my heartfelt condolences to the family, friends, and constituents of Congresswoman JUANITA

MILLENDER-MCDONALD and pay tribute to her legacy of leadership and her profound impact on this institution, the people she served and indeed our Nation. 

Chairwoman MILLENDER-MCDONALD was a trailblazer who 

paved the way for me and many others to be elected and to 

serve in the Congress. I am ever mindful of the legacy of integrity and excellence that she has imparted to each and 

every one of us. I embrace it and can truly say that she has 

touched my life. Though we were colleagues in this body for 

a short while, we had many moments of interactions that 

were truly empowering. She never missed a moment to be 

encouraging and complimentary. 

Just a week ago or so before the chairwoman took her 

leave from the Congress, we encountered one another in this 

very Chamber. She inquired of me about how I was doing. 

My response to her was, ‘‘I’m just trying to keep up with you, 

Madam Chair.’’ She smiled her beautiful and elegant smile 

and said to me, ‘‘You’re doing it, girl.’’ 

(Trim Line)

(Trim Line)

[ 60 ] 

It has truly been a blessing for me as a freshman to have 

been acknowledged and encouraged by this truly remarkable, 

elegant, and extraordinary role model. The legacy of Congresswoman JUANITA MILLENDER-MCDONALD will never be 

forgotten. It has been imparted to all of us and it will certainly always reside with me. 

God bless you, sister. Thank you for all you have given to 

each and every one of us. Well done. 

The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the order of the 

House of January 4, 2007, the gentlewoman from California 

(Ms. Waters) is recognized during morning hour debates for 

5 minutes. 

Ms. WATERS. Mr. Speaker and Members, I come to the 

floor today to join with my colleagues in recognition of a public servant who served in this august body, who served in the 

California State Legislature, who served the city of Compton 

as a city councilwoman, who served as head of the NAACP 

in the city of Carson, who was a community activist, a legislator and not only a committed servant but a woman who 

was determined to make sure that she did everything possible to bring about justice and equality, not only for our people but for all people. 

I have known JUANITA MILLENDER-MCDONALD for over 35 

years. I knew her before she was the president of the Carson 

chapter of the NAACP. She contacted me when she became 

the president and we worked on some projects together. We 

went on to work on many projects together. When my son 

ran for the California State Legislature, she was involved 

with his campaign. We have interacted in so many ways for 

such a long period of time. 

We have been involved in some of the same kind of issues 

over the years. I can recall, it was not so many years ago 

when it was revealed that perhaps our Government had 

known about drugs that were being transported from Nicaragua into South Central Los Angeles, and, of course, that 

revelation kicked off a firestorm in this country. JUANITA

MILLENDER-MCDONALD invited the head of the CIA to come 

to South Central Los Angeles to speak to the people and tell 

them what he knew about the Contras and about the Sandinistas and our involvement with the drug trade. Did this 

Government turn a blind eye while drugs were being transported across our borders? 

It was an unusual event. Never had the head of the CIA 

been to a community to speak with the people, and people 

(Trim Line)

(Trim Line)

[ 61 ] 

were everywhere. The FBI, the CIA, everybody was standing 

on roofs all over the place. It was a spectacular event. But 

that was her style. 

JUANITA MILLENDER-MCDONALD and I not only worked on 

that issue in different ways. We have been involved in trying 

to save Martin Luther King Hospital for a number of years 

now. This has been a tough battle. This hospital was born 

out of the ashes of the insurrection of 1965 in South Los Angeles. This is an institution that is so very much needed but 

is so at risk at this point. This institution has been threatened by the Federal Government to withdraw all of its Federal funds and we have fought day in and day out, month 

in and month out, year in and year out to maintain the funding from the Federal Government so that the hospital could 

stay there for people who need it so desperately. 

JUANITA MILLENDER-MCDONALD had organized many 

meetings. She had interacted not only with CMS and the 

Federal Government but all of the county officials. Time 

after time we sat before the board of supervisors, imploring 

them to do everything that they could to straighten out the 

problems at Martin Luther King Hospital, to work harder, to 

make sure there was the management and the supervision. 

JUANITA MILLENDER-MCDONALD cared about health issues. 

Not only was she involved with trying to save Martin Luther 

King Hospital, she organized an AIDS walk that took place 

every year. She and her women’s group organized and each 

year they went to one of the stadiums in the South Los Angeles area and they held their walk. It got a lot of attention, 

but this was her way of saying to the community, not only 

do I care about AIDS, I’m willing to put some quality time 

and attention on this issue. I want you to get tested. I want 

you to get involved in learning how you can protect yourself 

from being infected with HIV/AIDS. And so it is just a small 

example of the care and commitment that she has demonstrated over the years, whether we talk about health care 

or education or voting rights that she was so very much involved in before she took her leave of absence. 

She cared about justice. She cared that this democracy 

would truly act in ways that supported the proposition that 

everybody has the right to a decent quality of life. Everybody 

must be protected by the Constitution of the United States 

of America. Everybody must enjoy the benefits of living in 

this great country. And she reached beyond with care for the 

mother continent of Africa. She was involved in those issues, 

also. 

(Trim Line)

(Trim Line)

[ 62 ] 

And so I stand here today to say JUANITA MILLENDERMCDONALD has taken her place in history and she did it her 

way. Sometimes we did it different ways, but she knew what 

she was doing and why she was doing it the way that she 

did. Her husband can be proud. Her children can be proud. 

And we can all be proud that we had the blessing and the 

opportunity to live and work with a woman of substance, a 

woman who cared, a woman who gave of herself and a 

woman who left us with dignity, a woman who never complained, a woman who never said, I feel bad, I have pain, I 

can’t do it today. She worked right up until she took a leave 

of absence just a few days ago. 

I am proud to stand here and say that I knew her, that 

I worked with her, that I have appreciated everything that 

she has contributed to our great society. 

The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the order of the 

House of January 4, 2007, the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Al 

Green) is recognized during morning hour debates for 1 

minute. 

Mr. AL GREEN of Texas. Mr. Speaker, first allow me to 

please say amen to the words of the Honorable Maxine Waters. 

Mr. Speaker, I rise to celebrate the superlative life of a superb woman, the Honorable JUANITA MILLENDER-MCDONALD. 

Indeed, she was a devoted wife, a loving mother, a superior 

scholar, a preeminent educator, and a powerful legislator. 

Notwithstanding all of this, Mr. Speaker, she had a positive air and a special flair. She was a pillar of probity. Her 

integrity was beyond reproach. She was a repository of respect. Her mere presence commanded respect. She was the 

queen of self-esteem. She was comely, courtly, and stately 

with a positive personality. 

We were truly blessed to have her among us, she will surely be missed by us, and I thank God for her. 

The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the order of the 

House of January 4, 2007, the gentleman from Alabama (Mr. 

Davis) is recognized during morning hour debates for 3 minutes. 

Mr. DAVIS of Alabama. I thank the Chair for recognizing 

me. 

Members of the House, we tend to use the term ‘‘friend’’ 

very liberally in this institution. We often apply it to anyone 

with whom we have had more than a casual or passing conVerDate jan 13 2004 11:41 Apr 29, 2008 Jkt 034800 PO 00000 Frm 00072 Fmt 6688 Sfmt 6688 C:\DOCS\JUANITA\34800.TXT CRS1 PsN: SKAYNE
(Trim Line)

(Trim Line)

[ 63 ] 

versation. JUANITA MILLENDER-MCDONALD was someone 

that I genuinely viewed as a friend, not in the way the Members of the House use that term but in the way that ordinary 

people who are watching this on television use it. 

There were a lot of days when we sat on this floor and we 

talked together. There were a lot of days when we sat on this 

floor and we exchanged confidences. There were a lot of days 

when we sat on this floor and I spoke to her of my aspirations and my goals and she spoke to me of hers. There were 

times when I spoke of my family and she spoke of her abiding, continuing faith in her family. 

Many people do not realize because she did not speak of 

it a great deal, but JUANITA was from Birmingham, AL, and 

it is a tragedy that a black woman born in 1937 or 1938 felt 

that she had to leave the State of Alabama to reach her full 

promise. JUANITA did. And it was my State’s loss. She went 

to the State of California, and so many of my colleagues have 

told the story of her wonderful ascension and her wonderful 

career there. But she always retained memories of growing 

up in the South. She always retained memories of growing 

up in a segregated environment. And much of her family remains there. 

Another thing that was not widely known, JUANITA’s 

brother, Shelly Millender, was a long-time radio talk show 

host in the city of Birmingham and I have had a long-time 

attachment to him. When I ran for this job for the first time, 

there were very few people who would welcome me onto their 

programs or into their forums. The very first one to do so 

was Shelly Millender. He did it constantly and I have always 

appreciated that. 

JUANITA’s nephew, Shelly, Jr., has become a friend of mine 

and I always enjoyed telling her how proud she should be of 

him and how well he conducts himself in the city of Birmingham. 

So, Mr. Speaker, what I want to say today, JUANITA

MILLENDER-MCDONALD was a phenomenally elegant, restrained and dignified woman. She richly deserved the title 

Madam Chairwoman that she was just beginning to wear so 

well, and I will remember my last conversation with her sitting just off this floor. It was not uncommon for us to gather 

and talk about what was going on as we left the floor. I remember her telling me during that conversation how much 

she looked forward to her work on the House Administration 

Committee. I remember her telling me how much she looked 

forward to several hearings that were upcoming. She never 

(Trim Line)

(Trim Line)

[ 64 ] 

had the chance to do that which she talked about that day. 

But I will always remember her confidence, her courage, and 

her decency. And as she and her family watch and as they 

prepare for God to take her back to her home in heaven, 

know that the time she spent here was well served and the 

legacy that she left honors her native State of Alabama, my 

State, and the State she adopted and served so ably, California. 

The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the order of the 

House of January 4, 2007, the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. 

Jackson) is recognized during morning hour debates for 3 

minutes. 

Mr. JACKSON of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I want to send condolences to the family of my colleague, Chairwoman JUANITA

MILLENDER-MCDONALD, and let them know that they are in 

my heart and in my prayers. I also want to send condolences 

to the people of the 37th Congressional District of California 

who placed their faith and trust in the strong, dedicated, and 

elegant JUANITA MILLENDER-MCDONALD. 

You have heard from some of my colleagues about the 

many firsts that JUANITA achieved here in the Congress of 

the United States, including serving as the first African 

American woman to chair a full committee in the U.S. House 

of Representatives. But I just want to take a moment to reflect upon an aspect of her strength that was not readily apparent but clearly on display long before she came to Congress. While some of us have focused on the life that she 

lived, I want to talk about the JUANITA MILLENDER-MCDONALD who did not believe in self-pity but believed in using 

what she had to make a difference. 

While many of my colleagues will come to this mike and 

talk about the life that she lived and her service to a grateful 

Nation, JUANITA MILLENDER-MCDONALD taught us something about character in her transition. No self-pity. Not a 

single Member of Congress knew that JUANITA was ailing 

and that her ailment was terminal. JUANITA did not want to 

walk around the House of Representatives and have Members of Congress feeling pity for her or feeling sad for her or 

making special speeches or concessions to her. She wanted 

all of us to recognize that we live our lives as if life is certain 

and death is uncertain, when in reality it is death that is 

certain and life that is uncertain. And, therefore, each of us 

is under an obligation to do the very best that we can with 

(Trim Line)

(Trim Line)

[ 65 ] 

the time that God has given us on this Earth and in this 

world. 

The Bible talks about serving this present age. ‘‘O may all 

my powers be engaged to do my Master’s will.’’ Clearly the 

type of ailment that ailed our colleague and our close and 

dear friend, JUANITA MILLENDER-MCDONALD, was not the 

kind of ailment that strikes one suddenly. She knew about 

it for quite some time and chose not to share it with Members of Congress. That is a statement about her dignity. It 

is a statement about her commitment to public service. It is 

a statement about character. And it is a statement about her 

strength under extraordinarily life-threatening odds. 

JUANITA MILLENDER-MCDONALD was married, she raised 

five children, and then went to college to launch an impressive and inspiring career at an age when many people start 

slowing down. She combined higher education with her native Alabama wisdom and she set out to show women and 

men in life and in death that no matter where you came 

from, you can go where you want to go. She was a living example of the power of not only keeping your eyes on the 

prize but putting in the old-fashioned elbow grease to earn 

it. 

No self-pity. She didn’t want people looking down on her 

or feeling bad about her or seeing her physical ailments. No 

self-pity. She possessed the necessary tough-mindedness 

combined with the tenderheartedness that Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., talked about. She understood, and Dr. King 

wrote: 

There is little hope for us until we become tough-minded enough to break 

loose from the shackles of prejudice, half-truths and downright ignorance. 

The shape of the world today does not permit us the luxury of soft-mindedness. A nation or civilization that continues to produce soft-minded men and 

women purchases its own spiritual death on an installment plan. 

I am proud to have had the opportunity to serve with JUANITA MILLENDER-MCDONALD, and once again I send my condolences to those who loved her. The House and the Nation 

have lost a dedicated public servant and someone who in life 

and death has taught us the meaning of character. 

The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the order of the 

House of January 4, 2007, the gentleman from Georgia (Mr. 

Lewis) is recognized during morning hour debates for 5 minutes. 

(Trim Line)

(Trim Line)

[ 66 ] 

Mr. LEWIS of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, we are here today to 

honor one of our colleagues, Representative JUANITA

MILLENDER-MCDONALD of the 37th District of California. 

Representative MCDONALD was an extraordinary woman. 

She was born in Birmingham, AL, at a time of racial violence and overt displays of the most open and systematic 

forms of racism. But she did not let that hold her down or 

hold her back. She went to college in California, she became 

a teacher in the Los Angeles school system, and throughout 

her career she used education as an instrument for change. 

She was a great teacher, and she used the power of knowledge and her commitment to human understanding to break 

down institutional barriers and to reach across the aisle. 

I think that is why she made so many strides as a Member 

of Congress. She knew gaining mutual understanding was 

the only way to build coalitions and lay all differences aside. 

That’s why her creativity and skillful leadership became 

legendary. She was the first Democrat to chair the Congressional Caucus for Women’s 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 roles as public servants didn’t matter. She believed 

all women in government shared a common bond. 

She took concerned women of Congress to meet delegates 

to the United Nations to unify the global struggle against 

the exploitation of women and girls. 

She developed the first National Teen Dating Violence 

Week as a platform for all women to speak out against a 

common problem—violence against teen girls. And she was 

the first Member to bring the head of the CIA to the city of 

Watts to address long-standing, widespread allegations of 

drug dumping in that community. 

And, of course, she was the first African American to chair 

a full committee, the Committee on House Administration. 

This committee oversees some of the great educational institutions of our Nation—the Library of Congress, the Smithsonian Institution, the Government Printing Office, and the 

Capitol Fine Arts Board. 

We can only dream about what this great teacher would 

have done in this capacity. I know she would have used the 

power of knowledge and education as an instrument of 

change. 

But beyond that, JUANITA MILLENDER-MCDONALD was an 

elegant lady. She may have moved to California, but she 

never lost her southern charm. She was always a lady—as 

(Trim Line)

(Trim Line)

[ 67 ] 

tough as 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 on the inside. She had a 

sweet, sweet 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 see Sanford 

Bishop, David Scott and me together, she would say, ‘‘What 

are you Georgia 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 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 

short. We are here today, and we’re gone tomorrow, but her 

spirit and her memory will live on for all of us. 

With the passing of Congresswoman MCDONALD, it seems 

the world is a little darker. It seems that a light has gone 

out. Maybe here in this Chamber and on this Earth a light 

has gone out. But in another part of the universe JUANITA

is shining brighter than ever before. 

The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the order of the 

House of January 4, 2007, the gentleman from New York 

(Mr. Meeks) is recognized during morning hour debates for 

2 minutes. 

Mr. MEEKS of New York. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. 

I had to come to the floor today in remembrance of a phenomenal woman, JUANITA MILLENDER-MCDONALD. My heart 

is pained and it is unbelievable that we will not see this 

great woman, at least not on this planet, again. She was a 

woman that anytime that you saw her, she stood with such 

dignity and grace. She was a woman who was honest. I can 

recall when I would go to her and ask her opinion on various 

issues. She wouldn’t tell me what I wanted to hear. She 

would tell me what I needed to hear. She would tell me what 

was indeed right. Being the father of three daughters, I can’t 

help but say, Thank you, JUANITA. Thank you for being the 

pioneer that you were. Thank you for blazing a trail, a trail 

that’s so wide for women, all women, like my three young 

daughters, so that they can walk now on that path, so that 

they now can have opportunities that were denied others because you have fought the fight. 

(Trim Line)

(Trim Line)

[ 68 ] 

In the church that I come from, the question is, have you 

helped someone, and the song says, ‘‘If you’ve helped someone, then your living shall not be in vain.’’ 

In the life story of JUANITA MILLENDER-MCDONALD, she 

has indeed helped a whole lot of somebodies and she has 

made life better for a lot of children yet unborn. She has 

made history. And in the camera of history and in the camera of life of JUANITA MILLENDER-MCDONALD, it will be recorded that she was a soldier in this thing we call life, and 

she was a leader for all human beings but in particular to 

make sure that for women, their tomorrow is better than 

their yesterday or today. 

JUANITA, we will miss you, and we know that as you see 

the good Lord, He’s saying, ‘‘Well done, JUANITA. Job well 

done.’’ 

The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the order of the 

House of January 4, 2007, the gentleman from West Virginia 

(Mr. Rahall) is recognized during morning hour debates for 

4 minutes. 

Mr. RAHALL. Mr. Speaker, I join with my colleagues in 

the words of mourning and celebration of the life of our late 

colleague, JUANITA MILLENDER-MCDONALD. She was a leader 

on many issues as we have heard stated already. And foremost among those in my opinion was her leadership and her 

vision as the first African American female chairman of a 

major committee here on Capitol Hill. She had a plan for 

how this City on a Hill would operate in a smoother and 

more efficient manner. And while she may not be with us to 

see that vision carried out, it is my hope that we will carry 

it out in memory of her. So to her husband and to her children and to her grandchildren, I hope that her memories will 

serve as a source of inner strength, inspiration, courage, and 

love for the rest of their lives. . . . 

The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the order of the 

House of January 4, 2007, the gentleman from Louisiana 

(Mr. Jefferson) is recognized during morning hour debates 

for 21⁄2 minutes. 

Mr. JEFFERSON. I thank the Chair. 

The 17th century poet John Donne speaks to death thusly: 

‘‘Death be not proud,’’ he says, ‘‘though some have called you 

mighty and dreadful, for thou art not so. And those thou 

thinkest thy doth overthrow die not, poor death. A short 

sleep past, we wake eternally and death shall be no more.’’ 

(Trim Line)

(Trim Line)

[ 69 ] 

This is the confidence in her Christian faith with which 

our sister, JUANITA MILLENDER-MCDONALD, lived and with 

which she passed from this earth. This is what she meant 

when she told her family that she was going home. This is 

what we saw and at which we marveled as we observed her 

peace on display in the final hours that she worked amongst 

us, giving not a hint of distress or brokenheartedness or loss 

of confidence. Her grace and elegance in her final months 

and years when she knew well her earthly fate is a lesson 

in how to live and how to leave this life for those of us who 

still live on this side. 

Chairwoman JUANITA MILLENDER-MCDONALD was serious 

about her work. I had the pleasure of finding this out firsthand when I was chair of the Congressional Black Caucus 

Foundation and JUANITA was chair of the CBCF’s annual 

legislative weekend. She helped to organize this event, which 

drew over 40,000 African American leaders to Washington, 

with great attention to detail, taxing all of us—sometimes we 

thought then too much—to meet our responsibilities and on 

time. But the result was a magnificent event heralded by all 

of us as one of our very best. This House got only a glimpse 

of her profound organizational skills as she had the chance 

to serve us only a short time in her post as chair of the Committee on House Administration. It would have been wonderful for we who work here and for our Nation if we had been 

privileged to see more. 

As it is now, we welcome our sister to her rest in the 

bosom of her Lord and we pray for comfort and peace for 

James, her husband, and their five children and grandchildren, and we thank her for her friendship and commitment to the House, to her constituents, and to her country. 

She served us proudly and well, and she will be well remembered. 

PRAYER 

The Chaplain, the Reverend Daniel P. Coughlin, offered 

the following prayer: 

In the end it is faith that proves victorious. Days come and 

go. Wars and famine cry out for justice, charity and peace. 

It is faith which helps us all respond to every call. It is faith 

that strengthens Your people for the struggle and, in the 

end, brings promise beyond the sacrifice. 

Lord God, as faith inspired the apostles and martyrs and 

all who have gone before us, let living faith now find expresVerDate jan 13 2004 11:41 Apr 29, 2008 Jkt 034800 PO 00000 Frm 00079 Fmt 6688 Sfmt 6688 C:\DOCS\JUANITA\34800.TXT CRS1 PsN: SKAYNE
(Trim Line)

(Trim Line)

[ 70 ] 

sion in us through acts of love that will excite hope, especially in the hearts of the poor and the fragile. 

Help the Members of Congress and all Americans make 

decisions today that will build a justice that will not fail tomorrow. With faith, enable them to set aside goods of the 

present moment in the hope of attaining eternal good. With 

faith, it is possible to hope to change the present for the future. 

We pray for the Honorable JUANITA MILLENDER-MCDONALD and all Your servants who have served You and Your 

people in public service. With faith, they can leave this place 

and find in You eternal reward. The free children of God are 

always on the move, both now and forever. 

Amen. 

MESSAGE FROM THE SENATE 

A message from the Senate by Ms. Curtis, one of its clerks, 

announced that the Senate agreed to the following resolution: 

S. RES. 165 

Resolved, That the Senate has heard with profound sorrow and deep regret the announcement of the death of the Honorable JUANITA MILLENDERMCDONALD, late a Representative from the State of California. 

Resolved, That the Secretary communicate these resolutions to the House 

of Representatives and transmit an enrolled copy thereof to the family of the 

deceased. 

Resolved, That when the Senate adjourns or recesses today, it stand adjourned or recessed as a further mark of respect to the memory of the late 

Representative. 

THURSDAY, April 26, 2007 

The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under a previous order of the 

House, the gentleman from Maryland (Mr. Cummings) is recognized for 5 minutes. 

Mr. CUMMINGS. Mr. Speaker, on Monday we will lay to 

rest a truly gifted friend, colleague, and public servant, the 

Representative from California’s 37th Congressional District, 

JUANITA MILLENDER-MCDONALD. So today I would like to 

pay tribute to her legacy. 

In 1997 Glamour magazine wisely named Congresswoman 

MILLENDER-MCDONALD as ‘‘one of 11 women who will change 

the world.’’ And even though she has left us before her time, 

(Trim Line)

(Trim Line)

[ 71 ] 

her very significant and meaningful impact on the world is 

known. 

Although Congresswoman MILLENDER-MCDONALD has 

crossed over, her actions will continue to reverberate for us 

and for generations yet unborn. 

We both came to the Congress as a result of special elections in 1996. She came on March 25 and I was sworn in on 

April 26. As a close colleague, I was proud to see her take 

the helm of the House Administration Committee, which 

deemed her the ‘‘mayor of Capitol Hill.’’ And, indeed, she 

was. In fact, she was the first African American woman to 

chair a House Committee. 

Further, within this committee, she was a leader in addressing issues of voting irregularities and voter disenfranchisement. 

I also worked closely with her on the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee for 11 years. And most 

recently, as Congress worked with the passage of the 

SAFETEA–LU bill, a major piece of legislation addressing 

highways, transit, and other public legislation, she was indeed a strong advocate for her district and for her State. 

When I served as chairman of the Congressional Black 

Caucus, I asked her to serve as the chairperson of the Annual Legislative Weekend, and she did so with class. 

The year 2003, when she served as head of the Annual 

Legislative Weekend, was a very difficult year for all of us. 

The caucus had several issues to confront: Widespread unemployment, the war in Iraq, and coping with the negative 

effects of the Bush administration policies. Still, amidst 

these tough times, she led a 4-day conference entitled, ‘‘Collective Leadership—Challenging a Bold New World.’’ 

That conference reenergized our constituencies to fight for 

that better world that she fought for every day. 

Congresswoman MILLENDER-MCDONALD changed the 

world by being a pioneer, and she paved a path for many to 

follow. She was the first African American woman to serve 

on the Carson City Council. She was the first to hold the position of chairperson of two very powerful California State 

Assembly committees, Insurance and Revenue and Taxation, 

in her first term. 

Here in Washington she gave a voice to the voiceless by 

speaking out against genocide in Cambodia, Darfur, and 

other regions of the world. She also addressed global HIV/ 

AIDS, which was a major issue for her, and she organized 

an annual 5K AIDS walk in her district. 

(Trim Line)

(Trim Line)

[ 72 ] 

During the 108th Congress, she drafted language that was 

incorporated into the U.S. Leadership Against HIV/AIDS, 

Tuberculosis and Malaria Act, which authorized funding to 

reduce mother-to-child transmissions of HIV/AIDS and gave 

priority in awarding of funds to organizations focused on 

family survival. 

In the 109th Congress, she introduced legislation to amend 

the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 that would establish a 

network of pediatric centers in certain developing countries 

to provide treatment and care for children with HIV/AIDS. 

She fought tirelessly for women’s rights and empowering 

women to be all that they can be. 

As the first Democratic chair of the Congressional Democratic Caucus for Women’s Issues, she led the caucus on two 

groundbreaking meetings, the first 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. 

She also worked to give women who served our country in 

uniform during wartime the recognition which they richly 

deserved. In this regard, she initiated the first annual Memorial Day tribute to women in the military at the Women’s 

Memorial in Arlington National Cemetery, and led the fight 

to secure $15 million for the maintenance of that memorial. 

Congresswoman JUANITA MILLENDER-MCDONALD did indeed change the world, and she will not be forgotten. My 

prayers go out to her husband and her family. 

TUESDAY, May 1, 2007 

APPOINTMENT OF MEMBERS TO THE COMMITTEE TO ATTEND FUNERAL OF THE LATE HONORABLE JUANITA MILLENDERMC DONALD 

The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to House Resolution 

328, and the order of the House of January 4, 2007, the 

Chair announces the Speaker’s appointment of the following 

Members of the House to the committee to attend the funeral of the late Honorable JUANITA MILLENDER-MCDONALD: 

The gentleman from California, Mr. Stark 

The gentlewoman from California, Ms. Pelosi, and the 

members of the California delegation: 

Mr. George Miller 

Mr. Waxman 

(Trim Line)

(Trim Line)

[ 73 ] 

Mr. Lewis 

Mr. Dreier 

Mr. Hunter 

Mr. Lantos 

Mr. Berman 

Mr. Gallegly 

Mr. Herger 

Mr. Rohrabacher 

Mr. Doolittle 

Ms. Waters 

Mr. Becerra 

Mr. Calvert 

Ms. Eshoo 

Mr. Filner 

Mr. McKeon 

Ms. Roybal-Allard 

Mr. Royce 

Ms. Woolsey 

Mr. Farr 

Ms. Zoe Lofgren 

Mr. Radanovich 

Mr. Sherman 

Ms. Loretta Sanchez 

Mrs. Tauscher 

Mrs. Capps 

Mrs. Bono 

Ms. Lee 

Mr. Gary G. Miller 

Mrs. Napolitano 

Mr. Thompson 

Mr. Baca 

Ms. Harman 

Mrs. Davis 

Mr. Honda 

Mr. Issa 

Mr. Schiff 

Ms. Solis 

Ms. Watson 

Mr. Cardoza 

Mr. Nunes 

Ms. Linda T. Sa ́nchez 

Mr. Daniel E. Lungren 

Mr. Costa 

Ms. Matsui 

Mr. Campbell 

(Trim Line)

(Trim Line)

[ 74 ] 

Mr. Bilbray 

Mr. McCarthy 

Mr. McNerney, and 

Mr. Conyers, Michigan 

Mr. Lewis, Georgia 

Mr. Faleomavaega, American Samoa 

Mr. McDermott, Washington 

Ms. Norton, District of Columbia 

Mr. Jefferson, Louisiana 

Mr. Bishop, Georgia 

Ms. Corrine Brown, Florida 

Ms. Eddie Bernice Johnson, Texas 

Mr. Scott, Virginia 

Mr. Watt, North Carolina 

Mr. Thompson, Mississippi 

Ms. Jackson-Lee, Texas 

Mr. Cummings, Maryland 

Mr. Hinojosa, Texas 

Ms. Kilpatrick, Michigan 

Mr. Kucinich, Ohio 

Mr. Meeks, New York 

Ms. Berkley, Nevada 

Mr. Gonzalez, Texas 

Mr. Holt, New Jersey 

Mrs. Jones, Ohio 

Mr. Davis, Alabama 

Mr. Meek, Florida 

Mr. Scott, Georgia 

Mr. Butterfield, North Carolina 

Mr. Cleaver, Missouri 

Mr. Al Green, Texas 

Ms. Moore, Wisconsin 

Ms. Clarke, New York 

Mr. Ellison, Minnesota 

Mr. Johnson, Georgia 

Mr. CONYERS. . . . We celebrated the life yesterday of our 

dearest colleague JUANITA MILLENDER-MCDONALD as she 

was memorialized in Los Angeles. What a dynamic, unusual, 

amazing circumstance of a young girl from Alabama transporting herself to the first elected chairwoman of color of the 

House Administration Committee. . . . 

(Trim Line)

(Trim Line)

[ 75 ] 

*Congresswoman MILLENDER-MCDONALD had just started her seventh term. 

WEDNESDAY, May 16, 2007 

Mr. BONNER. Madam Speaker, it is with great sadness 

that I rise today to honor the memory of former California 

Congresswoman JUANITA MILLENDER-MCDONALD and her 

lifetime of dedication to the people of California and the 

United States. I was deeply saddened to learn our colleague 

passed away so suddenly. We have not only lost a wonderful 

friend but an individual who during her lifetime made countless contributions toward the betterment of our Nation. 

A native of Alabama—there is some dispute as to whether 

she was born in Gee’s Bend or Birmingham—JUANITA’s ties 

to her home State remained strong throughout her life. In 

fact, just a few short years ago, she was extremely involved 

with her family reunion which was held in Monroeville, in 

Alabama’s First District. She was always so very proud of 

her family and naturally, they are so very proud of her. 

JUANITA began her career as a teacher in Los Angeles. She 

was also the editor-writer for the Los Angeles Unified School 

District and worked as a manuscript editor for ‘‘Images,’’ a 

textbook designed to enhance the self-esteem of young 

women. She began her political career in 1990, when she 

was elected to the Carson City Council. Just 2 years later, 

she was elected to the California State Assembly. 

In 1996, JUANITA was elected to represent the 37th District of California in the U.S. House of Representatives. 

Throughout her six* terms, she was a champion of election 

reform and women’s health issues. She made history in the 

110th Congress when she was named chairwoman of the 

House Administration Committee becoming the first African 

American woman to chair a House committee. 

We are privileged to have known and worked with such a 

passionate and loyal individual. JUANITA will be greatly 

missed and always remembered. Madam Speaker, I ask my 

colleagues to join me in remembering a dedicated public 

servant. 

JUANITA MILLENDER-MCDONALD will be deeply missed by 

her family—her husband, James McDonald Jr., her five children, and five grandchildren—as well as the countless 

friends she leaves behind. Our thoughts and prayers are 

with them all at this difficult time. 

(Trim Line)

(Trim Line)

[ 77 ] 

Proceedings in the 

Senate 

MONDAY, April 23, 2007 

SUBMITTED RESOLUTIONS 

SENATE RESOLUTION 165—RELATIVE TO THE DEATH OF REPRESENTATIVE JUANITA MILLENDER-MC DONALD, OF CALIFORNIA 

Mr. REID (for himself, Mr. McConnell, Mrs. Feinstein, 

Mrs. Boxer, Mr. Akaka, Mr. Alexander, Mr. Allard, Mr. Baucus, Mr. Bayh, Mr. Bennett, Mr. Biden, Mr. Bingaman, Mr. 

Bond, Mr. Brown, Mr. Brownback, Mr. Bunning, Mr. Burr, 

Mr. Byrd, Ms. Cantwell, Mr. Cardin, Mr. Carper, Mr. Casey, 

Mr. Chambliss, Mrs. Clinton, Mr. Coburn, Mr. Cochran, Mr. 

Coleman, Ms. Collins, Mr. Conrad, Mr. Corker, Mr. Cornyn, 

Mr. Craig, Mr. Crapo, Mr. DeMint, Mr. Dodd, Mrs. Dole, Mr. 

Domenici, Mr. Dorgan, Mr. Durbin, Mr. Ensign, Mr. Enzi, 

Mr. Feingold, Mr. Graham, Mr. Grassley, Mr. Gregg, Mr. 

Hagel, Mr. Harkin, Mr. Hatch, Mrs. Hutchison, Mr. Inhofe, 

Mr. Inouye, Mr. Isakson, Mr. Johnson, Mr. Kennedy, Mr. 

Kerry, Ms. Klobuchar, Mr. Kohl, Mr. Kyl, Ms. Landrieu, Mr. 

Lautenberg, Mr. Leahy, Mr. Levin, Mr. Lieberman, Mrs. Lincoln, Mr. Lott, Mr. Lugar, Mr. Martinez, Mr. McCain, Mrs. 

McCaskill, Mr. Menendez, Ms. Mikulski, Ms. Murkowski, 

Mrs. Murray, Mr. Nelson of Florida, Mr. Nelson of Nebraska, 

Mr. Obama, Mr. Pryor, Mr. Reed, Mr. Roberts, Mr. Rockefeller, Mr. Salazar, Mr. Sanders, Mr. Schumer, Mr. Sessions, 

Mr. Shelby, Mr. Smith, Ms. Snowe, Mr. Specter, Ms. 

Stabenow, Mr. Stevens, Mr. Sununu, Mr. Tester, Mr. Thomas, Mr. Thune, Mr. Vitter, Mr. Voinovich, Mr. Warner, Mr. 

Webb, Mr. Whitehouse, and Mr. Wyden) submitted the following resolution; which was considered and agreed to: 

S. RES. 165 

Resolved, That the Senate has heard with profound sorrow and deep regret the announcement of the death of the Honorable JUANITA MILLENDERMCDONALD, late a Representative from the State of California. 

(Trim Line)

(Trim Line)

[ 78 ] 

Resolved, That the Secretary communicate these resolutions to the House 

of Representatives and transmit an enrolled copy thereof to the family of the 

deceased. 

Resolved, That when the Senate adjourns or recesses today, it stand adjourned or recessed as a further mark of respect to the memory of the late 

Representative. 

Mr. BINGAMAN. Madam President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate proceed to the immediate consideration 

of S. Res. 165, submitted earlier today. 

The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will report the resolution by title. 

The legislative clerk read as follows: 

A resolution (S. Res. 165) relative to the death of Representative JUANITA

MILLENDER-MCDONALD, of California. 

There being no objection, the Senate proceeded to consider 

the resolution. 

Mr. BINGAMAN. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent 

that the resolution be agreed to; that the motion to reconsider be laid upon the table; and that any statements relating to the resolution be printed in the Record. 

The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered. 

The resolution (S. Res. 165) was agreed to. 

ADJOURNMENT UNTIL 10 A.M. TOMORROW 

Mr. BINGAMAN. Madam President, if there is no further 

business today, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate 

stand adjourned under the provisions of S. Res. 165 as a further mark of respect to the memory of the late Representative JUANITA MILLENDER-MCDONALD. 

There being no objection, the Senate, at 5:26 p.m., adjourned until Tuesday, April 24, 2007, at 10 a.m. 

TUESDAY, April 24, 2007 

Mrs. BOXER. Mr. President, today I honor the memory of 

Representative JUANITA MILLENDER-MCDONALD, a kindhearted woman whose remarkable life touched so many of 

us. 

JUANITA was a loving mother, and a dedicated public servant who approached her work with an upbeat attitude and 

can-do spirit that was an inspiration to us all. 

(Trim Line)

(Trim Line)

[ 79 ] 

Her passing is a tragic loss for California, the 37th Congressional District she so ably represented, and the many 

Members of Congress with whom she has worked over the 

years. 

JUANITA’s career broke through so many barriers for 

women and African Americans. Her rise as the first African 

American woman to chair a congressional committee was 

only the latest of many firsts in her career. 

In her over six terms of service in the House of Representatives, she fought valiantly for the rights of women, for the 

security of our Nation, and for the protection of human 

rights across our Nation and the world. 

JUANITA’s efforts to reach across the aisle made her one of 

the most effective Members of Congress, but it was her bold 

initiatives that embodied the courage with which she followed her convictions. 

In her first year in Congress, JUANITA immediately demanded the attention of the Nation when she brought thenCIA director John Deutsch to Watts to address a newspaper 

report that the CIA was using profits from domestic crackcocaine sales to fund CIA-backed Contras in Nicaragua. 

JUANITA’s commitment to the health of our communities 

has been profound, and her efforts addressed the needs not 

only of her constituents, but to the victims of disease around 

the world. 

She led the charge to enact the Mother-to-Child HIV/AIDS 

Transmission Act that has become the foundation of President Bush’s $15 billion African AIDS initiative. For nearly a 

decade, JUANITA coordinated the annual AIDS Walk in her 

district to help continue to inform the community and raise 

awareness of this deadly disease. 

During her tenure as the ranking member of the Committee on House Administration, JUANITA fought to ensure 

that every ballot that is cast is counted, and that all of the 

citizens of our country would know their voting rights. 

JUANITA has been inspiring young women since the beginning of her career as an educator in California, when she 

served the Los Angeles Unified School District as a career 

counselor and edited ‘‘Images,’’ a State textbook which encouraged young women to pursue non-traditional careers. 

As the Democratic chair of the Congressional Caucus for 

Women’s Issues, she sought to address the plight of women 

globally, brought together the women of Congress with the 

first female Supreme Court Justices to discuss issues important to women across the Nation, and sought recognition for 

(Trim Line)

(Trim Line)

[ 80 ] 

the women in uniform who have served our country in times 

of war with the first annual Memorial Day Tribute to 

Women in the Military at the Arlington National Cemetery’s 

Women’s Memorial. 

On so many issues, I have been fortunate enough to consider JUANITA a valuable ally and friend, but I will especially 

miss her work as a leading voice on the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee. As the Representative 

of a district with two of the busiest ports in the United 

States, JUANITA was a passionate supporter of the effort to 

ensure that the movement of goods is safe, secure, and efficient. 

Through these past years, JUANITA and I worked together 

to keep the C–17 production line from being mothballed by 

President Bush and furloughing hundreds of employees. 

I know that JUANITA’s presence will be sorely missed by 

communities which she served so tirelessly. Today I send my 

sincere condolences to her husband James, her five children, 

her staff, and all those who knew and loved her. Together we 

will continue her important work. 

MESSAGE FROM THE HOUSE 

At 2:25 p.m., a message from the House of Representatives, delivered by Ms. Niland, one of its reading clerks, announced that the House has passed the following bills, in 

which it requests the concurrence of the Senate: . . . 

The message further announced that the House has agreed 

to the following resolution: 

H. Res. 328. Resolution relative to the death of the Honorable JUANITA

MILLENDER-MCDONALD, a Representative from the State of California. 

(Trim Line)

(Trim Line)

Congresswoman 

Juanita Millender-McDonald 

September 7, 1938–April 21, 2007 

Proverbs 31:8 

Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves, for the 

rights of all who are destitute. 

Monday, April 30th, 2007 

12:00 p.m. 

Second Baptist Church 

2412 Griffith Avenue 

Los Angeles, California 

(Trim Line)

(Trim Line)

[ 82 ] 

A Tribute to a Woman of Integrity 

JUANITA MILLENDER-MCDONALD was the youngest of five 

children born to the Reverend Shelly and Everlina Dortch 

Millender on September 7, 1938, in Birmingham, Alabama. 

As the great-granddaughter and granddaughter of A.M.E. 

ministers and the daughter of a Baptist minister, her life’s 

work would be deeply rooted in faith and guided by high 

moral values. Her accomplishments, iron clad commitment 

and generosity were simply a manifestation of the teachings 

and qualities reflective of her father’s training. 

At the age of three when her mother died, her father assumed the rare role of matriarch. Gently, quietly, and sternly, he raised five children alone and instilled in them a 

strong work ethic. JUANITA’s drive for perfection, hard work 

and leadership qualities were shaped by this philosophy. 

From an early age, what she did and how she did it was always kept to herself, yet her results spoke for themselves. 

She could very well be labeled a ‘‘quiet warrior.’’ 

She attended Carrie A. Tuggle Elementary School and 

graduated from Holy Family Catholic High School with honors. She married James McDonald, Jr., and the couple 

moved to Southern California soon after. They raised five 

very active children even as she pursued a successful career 

within the Los Angeles Unified School District. In 1981, she 

earned her Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration from the University of Redlands and Master of Arts 

in Educational Administration from California State University at Los Angeles. 

JUANITA’s political career began in 1990 when she was 

elected and served as a Carson City Council member and 

Mayor Pro Tempore within her first term. In 1992, she catapulted into the State Assembly where she served as chairwoman of two powerful California State Assembly committees (Insurance and Revenue and Taxation) during her two 

terms. 

JUANITA continued her legacy of achievement parlaying 

her political successes into winning a seat in Congress in 

1996. When U.S. House of Representatives Speaker Nancy 

Pelosi named her Chairwoman of the House Committee on 

Administration, she became the first African American 

woman in history to chair a full House committee. As Chairwoman of this committee, she oversaw the operation of the 

House of Representatives; the Library of Congress; the 

Smithsonian Institute; the National Zoo and all federal elecVerDate jan 13 2004 11:41 Apr 29, 2008 Jkt 034800 PO 00000 Frm 00092 Fmt 6688 Sfmt 6688 C:\DOCS\JUANITA\34800.TXT CRS1 PsN: SKAYNE
(Trim Line)

(Trim Line)

[ 83 ] 

tions. She was the first African American woman to give the 

national Democratic response to President Bush’s weekly 

radio address, and the first to be named Honorary Curator 

of the Museum of Latin American Art in Long Beach. 

JUANITA was nationally known as an unwavering advocate 

for women, families, people of color and small business. As 

co-chair of the Congressional Women’s Caucus, she supported initiatives that promoted women’s wellness and celebrated their achievements. 

Her legislative proposals included, but were not limited to 

‘‘Preventing Mother-to-Child HIV/AIDS Transmission Act,’’ 

the ‘‘Women and Heart Disease Resolution,’’ and the ‘‘Empowering Women Business Owners Act.’’ Among her many 

sponsored initiatives, two bills stand out as an example of 

her commitment to underrepresented populations: ‘‘The Second Chance Voting Rights Act of 2000’’ which aimed to restore the voting rights to former inmates and ‘‘The Healthy 

People, Healthy Choices Act’’ to address the devastating impact of obesity in minority communities. She was a firm believer in diversity, access and equal opportunity. Gaining 

international headlines and drawing national attention to 

the inner city substance abuse problem, JUANITA was instrumental in bringing CIA Director John Deutch to Watts to address allegations of Agency involvement in the international 

drug trade. Covered by ABC’s Nightline, the meeting 

sparked national debate over the role of the federal government in addressing the issue. 

JUANITA served on several community, professional and 

civic boards, including the National Association of Female 

Executives, the National Women’s Political Caucus, the 

Southern Christian Leadership Conference of Southern California and the National Association for the Advancement of 

Colored People. She was on the Board of Trustees for Second 

Baptist Church and an active member of Alpha Kappa Alpha 

Sorority, Inc. She was founder and executive director of the 

League of African American Women, an organization of 40 

African American Women groups responsible for the annual 

‘‘AIDS Walk for Minority Women and Children.’’ The African 

American Women’s Health and Education Foundation will be 

the ongoing legacy for continued support of and research on 

AIDS prevention. 

Considering all these firsts and tremendous accomplishments, JUANITA’s most significant impact was made on her 

family. She was a symbol of generations and generations of 

proud people who overcame adversity in a world that did not 

(Trim Line)

(Trim Line)

[ 84 ] 

always understand the circumstances of women and people 

of color. JUANITA raised her children and grandchildren to 

never settle for mediocrity. She influenced her brothers, sisters, nephews, nieces and cousins to persevere and be fully 

engaged in the pursuit of their passions. 

JUANITA is survived by her husband James McDonald and 

their five children, Valerie, Angela (Juan), Sherryll, Derrick, 

Keith (Lori) and five grandchildren, Ayanna, Ramia, Myles, 

Blair and Diamond; her sisters Dicksey Marie (Vernon) and 

Nora (Herbert), brother Shelly (Brenda); her nephews and 

nieces, Wanda (Ted), Yolanda, LaMont (Debra), James, 

Galen, Michelle, Mark (LaVeda), Derrick, Vikki (Christopher), Herbert (Toni), Yuri, Shelly III (Darlene), Eryka 

(Randall); grand nephews and nieces, LaMont II, Dejeana, 

David, Andrew, William, Jr., Courtney (Gerald), Angelina, 

Kendall, Cameron, Austin, Alexandra, Shelby, Shelly IV, 

Shelby, Randall, Jr., and Ryan; uncles and aunt, William 

Dortch (Vivian), Oliver Webb and Reba McCants; father-inlaw, James McDonald, Sr. (Vera) and sister-in-law, Quincy 

Ballard along with a host of cousins and many friends. She 

was preceded in death by her father, mother and brother 

William. 

(Trim Line)

(Trim Line)

[ 85 ] 

CONGRESSWOMAN 

JUANITA MILLENDER-MCDONALD 

Order of Service 

Organ Prelude 

‘‘His Eye is on the Sparrow’’ 

Instrumental and Combined Choirs 

The Second Baptist Church Consoling Choir and the Los 

Angeles Inner City Mass Choir 

Processional 

Pastor William S. Epps 

Opening Prayer 

Reverend Gregory Morris 

Musical Selection 

‘‘Amazing Grace’’ 

Combined Choirs 

Scripture Readings 

Ms. Sheryl Lee Ralph 

Old Testament 

Proverbs 31:8–11 

New Testament 

1 Corinthians 15:10 

2 Timothy 4:7–8 

Prayer of Comfort 

Reverend Leslie R. White 

Greeting 

The Honorable Antonio Villaraigosa 

Mayor, City of Los Angeles 

Musical Selection 

‘‘Precious Lord’’ 

Combined Choirs 

Acknowledgements 

Valerie J. McDonald 

(Trim Line)

(Trim Line)

[ 86 ] 

Family Reflections 

Sherryll McDonald 

Michael C. McDonald 

Grandchildren with Angela McDonald-Thomas 

and Lori McDonald 

Wanda Levatter 

Musical Selection 

‘‘Then My Living Shall Not Be in Vain’’ 

Ms. Marie Marsh 

Tributes 

The Honorable Nancy Pelosi, House Speaker 

The Honorable Jerry Lewis 

The Honorable Carolyn Kilpatrick 

Mr. Jimmie Lee Solomon 

Dr. Helene Gayle 

Musical Selection 

‘‘I Won’t Complain’’ 

Ms. Marie Marsh 

Tributes 

The Honorable Willie L. Brown, Jr. 

The Honorable Grace Napolitano 

The Honorable Diane E. Watson 

The Honorable Mervyn M. Dymally 

Chief Anthony Batts 

Mr. David Crippens 

Eulogy 

Pastor William S. Epps 

Musical Selection 

‘‘In the Upper Room’’ 

Consoling Choir 

Benediction 

Pastor William S. Epps 

Recessional 

Upon conclusion of this service, 

please remain seated until the family, 

Congressional Delegation and dignitaries have departed. 

By request of the family, the interment is private. 

(Trim Line)

(Trim Line)

[ 87 ] 

Active Pallbearers 

Military Service Honor Guard 

Honorary Pallbearers 

Michael Christopher McDonald 

Myles McDonald 

Roderick Keith McDonald 

Lambert Adouki 

Steve Bagby 

The Honorable Steve Bradford 

Terry Carter 

Lamont Chappell 

James Chappell 

Galen Chappell 

Mark Chappell 

The Honorable Larry Forester 

Derrick Freeman 

The Honorable Mike Gipson 

Larry Grant 

The Honorable Isadore Hall 

Vincent Harris 

Andrew Hudson 

Ted Levatter 

Andre Lewis 

James D. Lites 

Kevin Martin 

Marcus Mason 

Herbert Mathews Jr. 

Bandele McQueen, Esq. 

Shelly Millender III 

Patrick Patterson 

Paul Patterson 

Ian Patton 

Terry Stinson 

E. Dotson Wilson 

Gary Winuk 

Henry Dixon 

Rodney Emery 

Hasan Christian 

(Trim Line)

(Trim Line)

[ 88 ] 

Acknowledgments 

The family wishes to acknowledge the many expressions of sympathy 

and condolence they have received. The outpouring of support 

has been overwhelming. We ask that you continue to pray 

for us. May God’s continuous blessings be yours. 

Praise her for the many fine things she does. These good 

deeds of hers shall bring her honor and recognition from 

people of importance. 

Proverbs 31:31 

When I must leave you for a little while, please do not 

grieve and shed wild tears, and hug your sorrow to you 

through the years but start out bravely with a gallant smile 

and for my sake and in my name live on and do all things 

the same. Seek not your loneliness on empty days but fill 

each waking hour in useful ways. Reach out your hand in 

comfort and cheer. And I in turn will comfort you and hold 

you near and never be afraid to die for I am waiting for 

you in the sky. 

Valerie J. McDonald. On behalf of my family (immediate 

and extended), I want to acknowledge the many expressions 

of sympathy and condolence we have received during these 

very difficult times. The outpouring of support has been 

overwhelming and it truly warms my heart to know that my 

mother had such an impact on so many people. I cannot 

thank everyone by name at this time, but would like to 

thank the following persons for their ongoing communications and concerns: 

Pastor Epps and my Second Baptist Church family 

Sybil Brown 

The cities of Carson, Compton, Long Beach, Signal Hill 

and Los Angeles 

Councilman Mike Gipson 

Councilwoman Jan Perry 

The county of Los Angeles and the offices of Supervisors 

Yvonne Braithwaite Burke and Gloria Molina 

(Trim Line)

(Trim Line)

[ 89 ] 

Time Warner 

The office of Senator Mark Ridley-Thomas 

The University of Southern California 

The office of Assembly Member Laura Richardson 

I would also like to acknowledge the work and support of 

those whose efforts have assisted us immensely: 

My mother’s staff, specifically Mary Gaddis and Josephine Martin who have worked tirelessly since joining 

her office over 15 years ago. 

Marcus Mason, Bandele McQueen, Terry Carter and 

Carmen Taylor all of whom made sure the people in 

the 37th Congressional District continued to receive 

the service my mother always demonstrated and demanded. 

Top Sergeants Vincent Harris and Terry Stinson who assisted in making sure my family was insulated from 

any unwarranted activity, helping us to focus on the 

matters of importance to my mother and her constituents. 

They collectively assisted the DC and district offices in 

making the transition from the Office of Congresswoman 

MILLENDER-MCDONALD to the Offices of the 37th Congressional District. Your friendship and love cannot be measured 

and we thank you. 

You know, my mother lived in an era of great change. 

During her lifetime, she witnessed Jackie Robinson break 

the color barrier in major league baseball, the collapse of Jim 

Crow segregation, and the emergence of opportunities unavailable to previous generations. 

She took stock of ‘‘firsts’’ by trumpeting the achievements 

of others and chronicling her own accomplishments. That’s 

why the presence of the first female Speaker of the U.S. 

House of Representatives, the Honorable Nancy Pelosi 

means so much to us. Likewise, she would want me to acknowledge the first female and African American Chief Clerk 

of the U.S. House of Representatives, Lorraine Miller. And 

finally, she would ask me not to forget to mention former 

California Assembly Speaker Willie Brown, Jr., who was her 

first Speaker and whose mentorship she respected. 

I personally want to thank Representatives Grace 

Napolitano, Carolyn Cheeks Kilpatrick, Barbara Lee, Diane 

E. Watson, and Sanford Bishop. Their phone calls almost 

every day reached out to my entire family, especially my 

(Trim Line)

(Trim Line)

[ 90 ] 

dad, to inquire about his emotional, physical and spiritual 

well-being. 

I want to acknowledge Sergeant at Arms, Wilson 

Livingood and Ted Daniel and the Capitol Police for their assistance in providing the continuity of this service. 

To my aunts Nora and Dicksey, thank you for supporting 

my mother her entire life. When mom needed an ear to listen, precinct walkers, telephone callers or donors to her campaign, you were there. Yesterday, Representative Diane Watson, the California Teacher’s Association, the AKAs, the Carson Women’s Club, the Fannie Lou Hammer Queen Mothers 

Society, and the League of African American Women presented resolutions to my mother at a memorial organized by 

Aunt Dicksey, allowing several members of mom’s constituency to express their feelings. Thank you. 

I’m sure I have forgotten to mention many names so 

please forgive me and accept my thanks on behalf of my family for your love, kindness and compassion. 

Wanda Levatter. Good afternoon, my name is Wanda 

Chappell-Levatter. I am D. Marie Chappell-Battle’s eldest 

child, and I am also the eldest child of the family’s baby 

boomer generation. Upon being informed of my aunt’s death, 

I was also told that she wanted me to speak. My Aunt JUANITA honors me here today. It is both a privilege and an 

honor for me to represent all of her nieces and nephews. 

The core family name is Millender, but we along with our 

cousins carry many different last names such as McDonald, 

Chappell, Mathews, Levatter, Brown, Thomas, Dortch, Freeman, etc. So many last names that I can’t list them all. 

Our names are from all over the world—Dutch, French, 

Russian, English, etc. Names that point to our slave heritage 

as well as our ancestors’ legacies. I am saying this all to acknowledge the fact that JUANITA MILLENDER-MCDONALD’s 

name was unusual from the start. When she was born she 

was a star! She was given a Spanish first name—Juanita. 

Millender is a name of Dutch descent. And McDonald, her 

married name, is a Scottish surname. 

How apropos is it that JUANITA, born a black Southern female, had names from everywhere. But be assured that she 

summed her name up by being an American. A great, allAmerican woman. A leader in her neighborhood, her community, the State of California, and our great country. Yes, a 

leader, but first a leader in our American family. 

(Trim Line)

(Trim Line)

[ 91 ] 

Aunt JUANITA loved her family—Uncle James, Val, Angie, 

Sherrie, Chris, Keith, her son-in-law, Juan, and her beloved 

daughter-in-law Lori. When the grandchildren, Ayanna, 

Myles, Ramia and Blair came along, she was ecstatic and the 

quintessential, doting grandmother. 

She loved her older siblings, D. Marie, Nora, Shelly Jr. 

(Buddy), and Harvey. Being only 3 years old when her mother passed away, JUANITA was raised by her older siblings 

and their dad who remained a widower until his death in the 

1980s. 

In the same loving manner, she instinctively loved each 

and every one of her nieces and nephews, along with a multitude of cousins, many of whom are here today from all over 

the Nation. Speaking for 14 nieces and nephews, 11 grandnieces and nephews, and 1 great-grandnephew, Baby 

Charles, is virtually an impossible task. 

I did gather some information from a few of my relations, 

but decided otherwise. Since I have known my aunt the longest—she was a pre-teenager when I was born—I decided to 

keep it simple. I give you my impressions and the memories 

she has left me. 

Maya Angelou wrote, ‘‘Love life, engage in it, give it all 

you got! Love it with a passion, because life truly does give 

back, many times over what you put into it!’’ 

JUANITA was all of that and more. She was ferocious if 

someone was unfair to an individual. She spoke up, and let 

you know what was on her mind. She did not let people get 

away with anything. She championed children, women, men, 

minorities, the handicapped, the disenfranchised, etc. Her 

voice rang out in the State legislature and in the House of 

Congress for fairness, decency, and compassion for those less 

fortunate. 

JUANITA was eloquent, dignified, witty, clever, and very 

strong-willed. Even the illness that she eventually succumbed to had a formidable battle on its hands. She was determined to fight it until the end. And she did. She literally 

worked until just days before her death. 

My impressions? They are simple compared to her great 

accomplishments, but nevertheless, they are mine. 

I loved the way when she heard something funny how she 

would chuckle at first and would eventually laugh out loud, 

clap her hands and reply with either, ‘‘that’s a good one’’ or 

‘‘child, please!’’ 

I loved how when she was a teenager she loved to drink 

RC Cola—Royal Crown Cola—a habit that must have disVerDate jan 13 2004 11:41 Apr 29, 2008 Jkt 034800 PO 00000 Frm 00101 Fmt 6688 Sfmt 6688 C:\DOCS\JUANITA\34800.TXT CRS1 PsN: SKAYNE
(Trim Line)

(Trim Line)

[ 92 ] 

appeared in her twenties, but something I remember about 

her with endearment. I thought it was so cool! 

I loved the way she would wave at me when we both went 

to Holy Family in Birmingham. I was in kindergarten, and 

she was in high school. I’d only see her on rainy days when 

the whole school was in the big gymnasium. I loved getting 

her attention. 

I loved watching ‘‘American Bandstand’’ with her when it 

originated from Philadelphia and learning how to do the 

stroll, the cha-cha-cha, the mashed potato, and the twist 

from her. 

I loved the way she said, ‘‘Daddy’’ when referring to my 

grandfather. I loved that she married in this church and remained a member throughout her life. 

I loved how she engaged my brother, James, a special 

needs child and/or others who were challenged. She never 

forgot their limitations, but recognized the goodness and 

strengths of each of them. 

I loved how she calmed me down at my wedding when the 

florist arrived late. She was loving, patient, and very sensible. 

I loved the way she embraced my husband and other inlaws as they married into the family. I loved the more than 

50 Thanksgiving meals in which everyone partook in both 

family games and passionate and very heated political debates. When we left those events, we were all stirred up, 

shook up, and overly stimulated. 

I loved being a witness to her and her two sisters, D. 

Marie and Nora. They were the mighty three, the formidable 

trio, the matriarchs of the family—the Millender sisters. 

When they were involved in anything—step back, keep your 

mouth shut, and get out of the way! They took no prisoners. 

They were on a mission to change the world. Even I, the first 

born, never encroached upon that holy order. I knew my 

place. And I stood back in awe. 

I loved how my aunt took me out on my 21st birthday to 

the ‘‘space’’ restaurant at LAX. I enjoyed my first adult fine 

dining experience there with JUANITA. Despite my natural 

inclination to just order a hamburger and to be a kid, she 

told me that I was older now and needed to know the ways 

of the world. 

Upon her insistence, I had my first drink, a daiquiri. I also 

enjoyed the first and the only time I ever tasted filet mignon. 

I remember it because it tasted like butter. JUANITA laughed 

about it years later because within a few weeks of that meal, 

(Trim Line)

(Trim Line)

[ 93 ] 

I became a lifelong vegetarian. But boy do I remember that 

meal! It was special! One of the few times I was with her by 

myself. 

It was obvious that she was preparing me for adulthood. 

She never said what I should or should not do, but I knew 

what was expected of me. I was expected to work hard, to 

be self-sufficient, intelligent, informed, witty, charming, and 

above all, polite. 

Last, I loved how she died on her own terms, at her home, 

in her own bed. JUANITA, Maya Angelou’s words really do 

sum up the life you lived. You loved life, engaged in it with 

a passion and in every way you gave it all you had to give. 

Life in turn, gave back to you many times over what you put 

into it. I love you, we love you, and I will now take the liberty to call you by the name that only your brothers and sisters, Yolanda, LaMont and myself were allowed to call you. 

Our words of endearment, Baby Sister. 

Hon. Nancy Pelosi, Speaker of the House. On behalf of all 

Members of Congress, I rise to pay tribute to Chairwoman 

JUANITA MILLENDER-MCDONALD, who passed away Saturday 

night. I offer the deepest sympathies to her family who loved 

her so dearly—her husband, James McDonald, Jr., her five 

children, and her five grandchildren. 

As the first African American woman to chair a committee 

in Congress, JUANITA MILLENDER-MCDONALD was a trailblazer, always advocating for the full participation of all 

Americans in the success and prosperity of our country. She 

was a strong defender of the right of every eligible voter to 

have full access to the polls, and a tireless proponent of fair 

elections that ensured that every vote would be counted. 

As chair of the House Administration Committee, Chairwoman MILLENDER-MCDONALD’s deep commitment to diversity was manifested in her actions on hiring and contracting 

within the House of Representatives. She enjoyed her role as 

the ‘‘mayor’’ of Capitol Hill, and was known for asking tourists in elevators ‘‘are you finding everything OK?’’ and listening closely to their response. 

After her family, the people of California’s 37th District 

were always first and foremost in Chairwoman MILLENDERMCDONALD’s mind and her work here in Congress. She saw 

it as a priority to make sure they had every opportunity. She 

worked to strengthen the economy and create jobs there, and 

she saw it as a priority to secure the two ports adjacent to 

her district. 

(Trim Line)

(Trim Line)

[ 94 ] 

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. 

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. We have all lost an effective leader and spokeswoman, and many of us have lost a dear friend. 

When we look around this Chamber, it’s almost impossible 

to imagine it without JUANITA here fighting the fight, and 

doing so looking magnificent. The dignity, the grace, the 

beauty, the thoughtfulness that she brought to the tasks at 

hand were a model for others. Young people would come to 

the Capitol and observe her in action and learn from her. 

We also learned from her how to have dignity at the end 

of life. Many of us knew that she had had bouts of illness, 

but we really didn’t know how serious it was and how close 

she was to what she said, her daughter told me, ‘‘going 

home.’’ Valerie said to me last night, she said, ‘‘I want to 

make all these arrangements so that I can go home.’’ 

I hope it is a comfort to Chairwoman JUANITA MILLENDERMCDONALD’s family and friends that so many people mourn 

their loss and are praying for them at this sad time. Many 

of us will travel to California to say goodbye to JUANITA, to 

speak to her in that familiar way. 

It’s been an honor to call her colleague—I know we all 

agree on that. And for many of us it was a privilege also to 

call her friend. 

Goodbye, my friend. 

Hon. Carolyn Kilpatrick, Congresswoman. On behalf of 

the entire body of the Congressional Black Caucus, we wish 

to extend our sincerest condolences to the family of Congresswoman JUANITA MILLENDER-MCDONALD. JUANITA was 

not only our colleague, but she was also a woman of supreme 

character, a devoted leader, and a dear friend. 

History will record her as the first African American 

woman to chair a full committee in the U.S. House of Representatives; our hearts will revere her as a fearless leader 

(Trim Line)

(Trim Line)

[ 95 ] 

who vowed to enhance our local and global communities 

through tireless service and timely advocacy. 

Most were unaware of Congresswoman McDonald’s stellar 

background. A portrait of her life includes a gallery of 

groundbreaking distinctions, including being the first African 

American woman to serve on the Carson City Council; the 

first African American woman to render the national Democratic response to President Bush’s weekly radio address; the 

first to be named honorary curator of the Museum of Latin 

American Art in Long Beach; and the first Democratic chair 

of the Congressional Caucus for Women’s Issues. Undoubtedly, serving in the U.S. House of Representatives was the 

right stage for this shining star. 

Congresswoman JUANITA MILLENDER-MCDONALD will be 

sorely missed. Her lasting commitment to making America 

honor its promise will remain unbridled. The CBC will continue to carry on the work of Congresswoman McDonald as 

we change course, confront crises, and continue the legacy. 

Jimmie Lee Solomon, MLB Executive Vice President, 

Baseball Operations. To the family, colleagues, and friends of 

Congresswoman JUANITA MILLENDER-MCDONALD, I am deeply honored to be here today to add my voice to those mourning her loss, celebrating her memory, and recognizing her 

outstanding legacy of service. 

When I was asked to speak, I must admit that I wondered 

initially if I was qualified to do so, especially in the company 

of so many who had known her so much better. And so much 

longer. 

However, as I reflected on the impact of my experience 

with Congresswoman MILLENDER-MCDONALD, I knew that I 

had to be here. 

It was important to share with you personally yet another 

dimension of her passionate commitment, and tireless dedication to making a difference for her district and its young 

people—all qualities that I came to know firsthand. 

In late February 2006, it was my privilege to introduce the 

Congresswoman at the opening of major league baseball’s 

first urban youth academy on the campus of Compton Community College. From the outset of my career in major 

league baseball, it had been my dream to bring to America’s 

inner-city communities a state-of-the-art facility where disadvantaged minority youth could not only learn to play baseball, but receive exposure and training for career opportunities both on and off the field. 

(Trim Line)

(Trim Line)

[ 96 ] 

And no one outside the major league baseball family was 

a more effective ally in transforming this ambitious dream 

into a bricks-and-mortar reality than JUANITA MILLENDERMCDONALD. 

When the Congresswoman first heard that we were looking at the Los Angeles area as a site for the academy, she 

approached me about considering Compton. Well, we came, 

we saw. And we were conquered by an extraordinary ambassador for California’s 37th District. 

The Congresswoman’s enthusiasm and optimism about the 

area’s potential redefined ‘‘straight outta Compton’’ into a 

badge of district pride. And now it has become a tremendous 

source of pride for major league baseball as well. 

I don’t know whether she fully embraced our vision of 

what the academy could mean to Compton’s at-risk youth because of her years as a teacher, her work as a community 

activist, or simply her personal sensitivities as a mother and 

grandmother. But what we do know is that she ‘‘got it’’ and 

consistently lent her unwavering support and political savvy 

to facilitate the project, even as obstacles emerged along the 

way. 

It was during those times that we saw the full measure of 

a woman who parted the waters for us without getting a 

drop on her elegant attire, a lioness who never lost any of 

her Southern-bred charm and graciousness in the heat of the 

fray. And we will never forget her efforts on our behalf. 

To that end, I am pleased to announce that on August 9th 

of this year, major league baseball will dedicate the entire 

plaza concourse at the Compton Academy to Congresswoman 

JUANITA MILLENDER-MCDONALD, with the installation of a 

bronze plaque inscribed to a woman who may well be considered ‘‘the Godmother of the Academy.’’ 

The plaque will be positioned at a vista where it can easily 

be seen and read by each person who enters so that all may 

know that this facility would not have been possible without 

her strategic assistance. 

As I contemplate the passing of this remarkable woman, 

I am reminded of a father who had two sons—one named 

Life and the other named Death. Life was an active child full 

of energy and abundance. He would put the mementos of everything he did in a box he kept under his bed. In that box 

were pictures, stories, souvenirs—anything that served as a 

reminder of what he had done that day. Life was a wonderful child who brought his father great joy. 

(Trim Line)

(Trim Line)

[ 97 ] 

Now Death was just the opposite. Death was mischievous 

and always up to something disruptive that would get attention. Death would steal, openly cheat, and take advantage of 

anyone around him. Death wanted and created chaos wherever he went. 

One day Life returned from his day’s activities, went into 

his room and looked under his bed, but his box was gone! 

Life was hysterical and cried uncontrollably. 

When the father heard the commotion, he came into the 

room and asked Life what was wrong. Life sobbed, ‘‘My box 

and all the things I collected are gone!’’ 

The father said, ‘‘Life, I have known you and your brother 

all of your lives. And I have been keeping my eye on that 

conniving Death. Yesterday, he took your box. But I had 

been watching him, so before he did that, I took all your 

things and set them aside in my room. So when Death came, 

all he got was an empty box.’’ 

Our Father, God, is much like the father in the story. He 

has known JUANITA MILLENDER-MCDONALD, and the great 

works she did to fulfill his plans for her life and all of us 

here today. Each in our own way are indeed testaments and 

memoirs of the life she lived. 

So when death came to her home in Carson on April 22, 

her spirit had already soared to join her Heavenly Father in 

a joyous homecoming. And all he got was an empty box. 

Thank you. 

Hon. Diane E. Watson, Congresswoman. Congresswoman 

JUANITA MILLENDER-MCDONALD left a legacy of dedicated 

service to her constituents, colleagues, and people of the 

United States. As the historic first African American female 

to chair a committee of the House of Representatives, JUANITA used her position as chairwoman of the House Administration Committee to correct oversights from the past and 

initiate new programs. She established a lasting legacy 

through her many good works. I salute JUANITA in spirit as 

I did in life. 

The Juanita I Knew 

By Congresswoman Diane E. Watson 

A stylish lady with a soft touch and with might . . . 

Who in every instant revealed an intelligent insight; 

Raised in a family where character was built 

By a father who knew where her future would tilt; 

She stayed true to her values with tolerance and grace 

And modeled strict principles for all to embrace; 

(Trim Line)

(Trim Line)

[ 98 ] 

To honor her father she would carry his name 

In the middle of her signature to much acclaim; 

A lady whose hard work truly reflected a family 

Upbringing where much was expected; 

JUANITA took on her new chairmanship with all great vigor 

And made much progress in spite of the rigor; 

Few had known that her time would be short; 

But she took on the responsibility without even a thought; 

She left life on her own terms; 

From her stoic behavior we can all learn for God only knows 

When the clock is to be set; 

But we now know that JUANITA has been sent to her final rest; 

So sleep on JUANITA, we’ll remember you with love. 

David Crippens, Chair, Trustee Board, Second Baptist 

Church. Our prayers and love go out to the husband, James; 

to the children, Angela, James Jr., Keith, Chris, Sherryll, 

and Valerie; to the grandchildren; to her sisters, Dr. D. 

Marie Millender-Battle, and Ms. Nora Millender-Matthews; 

and to the extended family. 

Congresswoman MCDONALD, or if you will permit me, JUANITA, was a true sister of the members of this congregation 

and a true daughter of Second Baptist Church. She represented to the community what this church has been about 

for 122 years! 

Second was established to be a spiritual home to the 

church members. And throughout its history, Second has always reached out to be of service to the broader community. 

As a member of our trustee board, JUANITA was involved 

in one of the most momentous decisions that this church has 

ever made: the decision to stay and serve this neighborhood. 

The trustee board, with the congregation’s approval, voted to 

preserve and restore this 81-year-old historic structure. This 

work will commence this summer. 

In so doing, we honor the legacy of the visionary people 

who founded the church, and we look forward to the bright 

future of Los Angeles. 

JUANITA used her vision, her character, and her great 

strength as a leader to contribute mightily to the same 

bright future. 

On a personal note, JUANITA was the one who brought my 

wife and me to this marvelous congregation some 18 years 

ago. She expected me to get involved. She always held me accountable for that involvement. I can hear her say, ‘‘Now, 

David.’’ 

The congregation voted to honor her legacy to the trustee 

board and to the church by naming her trustee emeritus. 

(Trim Line)

(Trim Line)

[ 99 ] 

This is no small accolade for a person who lived life to the 

fullest. She expected the same of others: not to see obstacles 

but to search out the possibilities. 

JUANITA’s life was like a stone thrown into a pond. The 

splash makes ripples in the form of circles, radiating out 

from the center. All of us here today are part of those everwidening circles of her influence. 

Congresswoman JUANITA MILLENDER-MCDONALD’s time on 

this Earth truly personified Pastor Epps’ words to those who 

join this congregation: ‘‘Service is the price you pay for the 

space you occupy.’’ 

William S. Epps, Pastor. Death like a thief in the night 

came and took the life of one we have known. Unaware of 

the extent of the challenges she was facing with her health, 

those who heard the news were in shock. The public would 

later come to know what the family already knew; JUANITA

was in a fight for her life in which she would fall as a victim. 

She bravely accepted what she could not change and faced 

the outcome of her inevitable demise courageously. She 

eased out of time quietly leaving behind a trail that traces 

the steps her life tells. 

JUANITA MILLENDER was born on September 7, 1938. She 

exited this ephemeral reality on April 21, 2007. She lived to 

be 68 years, 7 months and 14 days. That translates into 

25,063 days, 3,580 weeks and 823 months. The name 

JUANITA from the Hebrew origin means gift of God or God 

has been gracious and from the Spanish origin it means 

God’s gift or God has been gracious. As we come to commemorate the life and celebrate the legacy of JUANITA

MILLENDER-MCDONALD I want to use as our focus God has 

been gracious. We are thankful for God’s gift to us in, 

through, and with JUANITA MILLENDER-MCDONALD. I just 

want to talk to you about what JUANITA was as an expression of God’s graciousness. 

Saint Iranaeus, that second century theologian, who 

helped to shape the early development of Christian theology 

and direct the course of the church’s beliefs, is credited with 

a statement that has lingered in the hearts of many about 

how faith finds expression. His work continues to inform 

modern scholarship about the priceless and timeless contribution of the thinking of his day. He is credited with the 

saying ‘‘the glory of God is a human fully alive.’’ God wants 

people who are fully alive, not people who cower in fear but 

people who are not afraid to live to the fullest and make the 

(Trim Line)

(Trim Line)

[ 100 ] 

most out of life. After all God made us to live life fully and 

abundantly. 

JUANITA was a human being fully alive and therefore the 

glory of the Lord was revealed and seen in her as God’s 

gift—the expression of God’s graciousness. She was the quintessential woman for JUANITA epitomized what it meant to 

be a human who lived life fully. She embodied the characteristics of womanhood in all of their fullness. She did not sacrifice any aspect of what it meant to be a woman. She started as a daughter, the youngest of five siblings, became a 

young lady, a wife, a mother, an aunt, a grandmother, an educator, a legislator at the municipal, State and Federal levels, a consummate stateswoman, an advocate for the poor 

and disenfranchised, a lady of exceptional and rare grace, 

poise, and dignity. You can truly say of JUANITA that she is 

often imitated but never duplicated. She was truly one of a 

kind. 

There is a person from the pages of sacred writ who comes 

to mind when I consider the gift we have had as an expression of God’s graciousness in JUANITA. In Judges, chapter 4 

and verse 4, it says, ‘‘at that time Deborah, a prophetess, 

wife of Lappidoth, was judging Israel.’’ Let me paraphrase it 

to read, at that time JUANITA, God’s gift, an expression of 

God’s graciousness, the wife of James, the mother of 

Sherryll, Valerie, Angela, Chris, and Keith was in the legislature. 

JUANITA was a present-day Deborah. We are simply told a 

few things about Deborah that frames the picture I want to 

paint for you on this occasion of our friend. We are told that 

Deborah was a prophetess, the wife of Lappidoth and a judge 

in Israel. Deborah was a prophetess. She is described by the 

faith that shapes her life. A prophetess in that day was a 

person who was in touch with the reality of the Spirit of God 

to the extent that others recognized that there was something special about her. Her ability, capacity, honesty, and 

judgment were trusted. What she said carried weight and 

meant something. She was authentic and real and people believed in her. When she appeared people recognized her. 

When she stood her appearance was commanding. When she 

spoke people listened. She was a rare and exceptional breed 

indeed. 

JUANITA was a person of faith. Her faith was the driving 

and motivating force behind her life. She was the greatgranddaughter and granddaughter of A.M.E. ministers and 

the daughter of a Baptist minister. Her life’s course was deVerDate jan 13 2004 11:41 Apr 29, 2008 Jkt 034800 PO 00000 Frm 00110 Fmt 6688 Sfmt 6688 C:\DOCS\JUANITA\34800.TXT CRS1 PsN: SKAYNE
(Trim Line)

(Trim Line)

[ 101 ] 

termined by the faith that shaped her and all that she did, 

and became. Her faith informed her identity. Her faith provided the lens through which she interpreted information/reality. Her faith assisted her in integrating her insights. Her 

faith inspired her involvement. ‘‘She spoke up for those who 

could not speak for themselves, for the rights of all who are 

destitute’’ (Proverbs 31:8). It was her faith that was the catalyst that propelled her to reach to do what she did because 

her faith became a mandate for her in the words of Jim Wallis, ‘‘to change the wind.’’ Can you do it, I don’t know, but 

I have to try. Will you make it, I am not sure, but I have 

to try. What if it doesn’t work, all I know is in the words of 

the poet, ‘‘I have to fill the unforgiving minute with sixty seconds worth of distant run.’’ I have to do what I can. 

Deborah was the wife of Lappidoth. She is described by 

the relationship she had chosen by which she would be identified. Her relationship with her husband was one of the defining aspects of her life by which she was remembered. 

JUANITA was the wife of James. She was a person for 

whom family was important. She did not live in isolation 

with a singularity of focus but chose to recognize the multiplicity of life’s emphases. Relationships are a part of life. Our 

lives are described by our relationships. JUANITA was the 

wife of James. She was proud to be James’ wife with all of 

the benefits that it afforded her. She had the security of a 

warm, loving environment where she could conceive and rear 

five children in the confines of a home where she was accepted, admired, and appreciated. As James’ wife she became the 

mother of Sherryll, Angela, Valerie, Christopher and Keith 

in a relationship of trust of faith that actualizes itself in the 

symbolic of becoming no more twain but one flesh. She was 

the wife of James. She was her parents’ daughter, her siblings’ sister, her students’ teacher, her staff’s manager, her 

constituents’ representative, her colleagues’ co-worker, her 

friends’ friend, her children’s parent and her husband’s wife. 

Her life was described by her relationships and her relationships were defined by her faith. 

Finally, Deborah was a judge in Israel. Deborah was one 

of the early charismatic leaders of ancient Israel. She was 

among a small group of persons whose contributions are recorded in the seventh book of the Bible called Judges. She 

was the only one of her kind in the list as the others were 

men. It has been said that the best man for the job is a 

woman. Deborah was an outstanding person, able to arouse 

the scattered tribes of Israel to a sense of unity and loyalty 

(Trim Line)

(Trim Line)

[ 102 ] 

to God in their early struggles against the Canaanites. This 

sense of unity was of critical importance for the establishment and continuing life of the nation of Israel. 

JUANITA was a legislator at every level of government. She 

served as a member of the Carson City Council and mayor 

pro tempore. She served in the State Legislature of the State 

of California for two consecutive terms chairing the California State Assembly Committees on Insurance and Revenue and Taxation. She served in the U.S. Congress, being 

named most recently as the chairwoman of the House Committee on Administration by Speaker of the House Nancy 

Pelosi, becoming the first African American woman to chair 

a full House committee. 

She is among an elite group. You can count the African 

American women in the Congress of the United States (10 in 

number, now minus 1). They have emerged against the odds 

to shape the policies of a Nation that is still struggling with 

equality for all of its citizens. They are the last hope that we 

will continue to move forward and not retreat to the days of 

yesteryear when discrimination was acceptable. 

JUANITA was a heroine of human rights (a feminist). Unfortunately, in politically conservative circles any reference 

to feminist or feminism is taboo. The term with what it represents let it be told is the reason for the decline in the family, morals, and values of the contemporary society. You are 

aware that the term simply means that you advocate for the 

equal rights, political and social, for women and everybody 

who is disenfranchised. A friend of mine, a feminist by the 

way, told me that the first feminist she ever met was her 

dad. I hope you get the point. A woman does not have to sacrifice being feminine to be a female. She can be like Deborah 

in a man’s world, a judge exercising discretion in delicate 

matters, prudence in perplexing situations and wisdom in 

the most extreme of circumstances. 

Well, let me close. I just want to close with what is part 

of the faith tradition of which JUANITA was a part; the tradition that shaped her understanding and guided her life of 

faith, her family life and her professional life. 

She was a Christian. That shaped how she lived her life 

and how she faced her death. She faced death courageously 

like one who in the words of the poet could ‘‘wrap the drapery of her couch about her and lie down to pleasant dreams.’’ 

She could say ‘‘Death, be not proud.’’ You have not won a victory. You have merely opened a door through which I have 

passed. You are potent but not omnipotent. There are some 

(Trim Line)

(Trim Line)

[ 103 ] 

things you cannot do. We have that saying around here. We 

know that death is limited. There are some things that death 

cannot do. Death cannot cancel the contribution that a person makes in a lifetime nor limit the length of the legacy 

that a loved one leaves behind. Death cannot erase the experience we hold dear nor mar the memories that we keep 

near. 

Death and life had a meeting at a place shaped like a 

skull-shaped hill called Golgotha, known as Calvary. It was 

there that an innocent person was murdered. The state and 

people of faith formed what could be nothing less than an 

unholy alliance because they were threatened by the activity 

and growing popularity of an itinerant preacher named 

Jesus. Surreptitiously they planned how they could prevent 

the progress they saw being made. They wanted to retard 

the influence that Jesus had garnered by virtue of who he 

was and what he did. They made up charges and had a fabricated trial. They convicted an innocent man on trumped up 

charges in a kangaroo style court. After convicting him falsely, they mocked him, scourged him and put him to death on 

a cross. Preachers of another time would say, ‘‘they hung 

him high and stretched him wide and out there he died.’’ 

Those who came to that sight could not do anything but 

show up and watch. They stood on the periphery of the place 

where the awful spectacle occurred and shook their heads 

and shed their tears. After he died, Joseph of Arimathea 

went to Pilate to ask for the body of Jesus. Then he took his 

body and wrapped it in a linen cloth and laid it in a rockhewn tomb. That is what you do when you can’t do anything. 

You accept graciously the privilege to pay a tribute of respect 

to a life well spent. You adhere to the custom of your community, the ritual of your religion and the tradition of your 

tribe. The women who had come with him from Gallilee followed, and they saw the tomb and how the body was laid. 

Then they returned and prepared spices and ointments. 

They waited Friday, and Saturday. Early on Sunday morning while it was yet dark, the women who had prepared 

their spices and ointments threaded their way through the 

darkened streets of a sleeping city to the tomb where Jesus 

had been buried. When they got there they found that the 

stone had been rolled away and Jesus was not there. An angelic announcement informed them about what had happened. Jesus was raised from the dead with all power in 

Heaven and in Earth in his hand. Thus, the composer says, 

‘‘Death where is your sting? Sting where is your grave? 

(Trim Line)

(Trim Line)

[ 104 ] 

Grave where is your victory?’’ He got up. God raised him up. 

He got up with all power in his hand. 

In Christ, God changed death from a period to a comma, 

the grave from a terminal point to a thoroughfare that leads 

to eternal life. So when we lay down for death’s long sleep 

we simply move beyond the boundaries of time and space 

down the corridors of infinity to be with God in eternity. 

So we say sleep on JUANITA, we will see you in the morning. There is a morning coming unlike any we have seen before. It will be like the first morning when God brooded over 

a wide abyss of nothingness and by the sheer essence of 

God’s presence called a moratorium on nothing and declared 

that something would be the order of the day. In that morning the clouds will roll back as a scroll, Jesus will descend 

in the middle of the air, summoning the earth and sea to 

give up their dead. All who sleep in him will be given bodies 

like Jesus’ own glorious body. Then we are told that the last 

enemy to be destroyed is death. Death will be summoned. 

Imagine the demise of death. The one who has caused so 

many to sorrow will meet with the ultimate end that has 

been the bane of our existence. Death will be no more. Then 

we will all form a long and lordly train and proceed down 

the corridors of infinity to a grand coronation. 

One composer says: 

When I get home, how happy I will be. 

When I get home my Savior’s face I’ll see. 

When I get home, I never more shall more roam. 

You know bells will be ringing and saints will be singing when I get home. 

I’ll greet my friends and loved ones and all who have gone before. 

Put on my golden slippers and walk the streets of gold. 

I will join the choir of angels praising the Father and the Son. 

You are talking about a glorious meeting loved ones greeting when I get 

home. 

You are talking about joy; oh what joy, when we all get home to glory. 

We will rest beneath a sun lit sky. 

In that land, in that land, we shall sing and never die. 

We will sing hallelujah; shout hallelujah, bye and bye. 

Sleep on JUANITA we will see you in the morning. There 

is more to life than we can see and still more existence that 

is yet to be. 

(Trim Line)

(Trim Line)

[ 105 ] 

UNUM

E PLURIBUS

A CELEBRATION OF THE LIFE OF

The Honorable 

JUANITA MILLENDER-MCDONALD

California’s 37th District 

SEPTEMBER 7, 1938–APRIL 21, 2007 

United States Capitol 

Statuary Hall 

Thursday, May 17, 2007 

10:00 a.m. 


congress.#15 34800.002
(Trim Line)

(Trim Line)

[ 106 ] 

‘‘It is imperative that we continue to speak out for positive 

change. As women our voices and initiatives will enable us 

to achieve the lives we want—and deserve.’’ 

—Representative Juanita Millender-McDonald 

Program 

Prelude 

United States Army String Quartet 

Master of Ceremonies 

The Honorable Diane E. Watson 

United States House of Representatives 

Opening Prayer 

The Honorable Emanuel Cleaver 

United States House of Representatives 

Reading 

Proverbs 31:8–11 and I Corinthians 15:10 

The Honorable Sheila Jackson-Lee 

United States House of Representatives 

Tributes 

Ms. Barbara A. McKinzie 

International President, Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, 

Incorporated 

The Honorable Carolyn C. Kilpatrick 

United States House of Representatives 

Congressional Black Caucus Chairwoman 

The Honorable David E. Dreier 

United States House of Representatives 

Musical Selection 

‘‘Precious Lord’’ 

Officer Melissa A. Recchiuti 

United States Capitol Police 

Family Reflection 

Ms. Valerie J. McDonald 

(Trim Line)

(Trim Line)

[ 107 ] 

Tributes 

The Honorable James E. Clyburn 

Majority Whip of the United States House of Representatives 

The Honorable Steny Hoyer 

Majority Leader of the United States House of 

Representatives 

The Honorable Nancy Pelosi 

Speaker of the United States House of Representatives 

Benediction 

The Reverend Daniel P. Coughlin 

Chaplain of the United States House of Representatives 

Barbara A. McKinzie. Good morning to our honored Members of Congress, family of our beloved soror, and others assembled: 

To the family, we grieve with you in the loss of one so special. We are gathered here in white as a symbol of our Ivy 

Beyond the Wall memorial service. Servant leadership is the 

journey of choice of each and every Alpha Kappa Alpha 

woman. Some of us are blessed to reach heights that others 

only dream of and certainly, our soror, JUANITA, was truly a 

blessed servant leader. She was a light of grace, dignity, and 

hope. Let us honor her memory by being lights of grace, dignity, and hope and thereby never forgetting her contributions. 

In Alpha Kappa Alpha we have a tradition of saying, ‘‘For 

if I’ve been an AKA, life owes me naught, I’ve lived my day.’’ 

Our prayers and thoughts will be with the family in their 

grief. 

Carolyn C. Kilpatrick. To our sister, the queen, the leader, 

the dignified, the courageous: we promise to you we will 

never let you down. We promise to you we will continue to 

build the kingdom that God asked us to build as we walk the 

halls of Congress. We say to you our sister, rest in peace. We 

shall continue to lift up our mighty race, and we will, in 

Godspeed, take you with us always. 

On behalf of the entire body of the Congressional Black 

Caucus, we wish to extend our sincerest condolences to the 

family of Congresswoman JUANITA MILLENDER-MCDONALD. 

JUANITA was not only our colleague, but she was also a 

(Trim Line)

(Trim Line)

[ 108 ] 

woman of supreme character, a devoted leader, and a dear 

friend. 

History will record her as the first African American 

woman to chair a full committee in the U.S. House of Representatives; our hearts will revere her as a fearless leader 

who vowed to enhance our local and global communities 

through tireless service and timely advocacy. 

Most were unaware of Congresswoman MILLENDERMCDONALD’s stellar background. A portrait of her life includes a gallery of groundbreaking distinctions, including 

being the first African American woman to serve on the Carson City Council; the first African American woman to 

render the national Democratic response to President Bush’s 

weekly radio address; the first to be named honorary curator 

of the Museum of Latin American Art in Long Beach; and 

the first Democratic chair of the Congressional Caucus for 

Women’s Issues. Undoubtedly, serving in the U.S. House of 

Representatives was the right stage for this shining star. 

Congresswoman JUANITA MILLENDER-MCDONALD will be 

sorely missed. Her lasting commitment to making America 

honor its promise will remain unbridled. The CBC will continue to carry on the work of Congresswoman MILLENDERMCDONALD as we change course, confront crises, and continue the legacy. 

David E. Dreier. This is a very sad occasion for me personally. JUANITA MILLENDER-MCDONALD was both my friend 

and my neighbor. We were next-door neighbors here in 

Washington, DC, and we had neighboring districts in Southern California. 

In fact, in JUANITA’s first re-election, there was a mix up 

of sample ballots in our two districts. Several of my precincts 

got ballots with JUANITA’s name on them, and several of her 

precincts got ballots with my name on them. I was very concerned JUANITA was going to win both districts. 

JUANITA, as we all remember, would call everyone ‘‘babe.’’ 

I always thought she just didn’t know my name . . . until she 

needed an amendment, and then it was ‘‘Dreier, I need a 

rule.’’ 

As we worked together over the years on a number of 

issues of importance to Southern California, I grew to have 

a great deal of respect for her as a trailblazer on so many 

issues. One issue that I know she was very proud to champion was the Alameda Corridor Project. 

(Trim Line)

(Trim Line)

[ 109 ] 

As a senior Democrat on the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, JUANITA championed this critical 

project with great enthusiasm, and worked tirelessly in a bipartisan way—always willing to share credit in order to help 

accomplish what needed to be done. Becoming the first 

woman to ever chair the Committee on House Administration was the culmination of a career marked by commitment 

and leadership. 

She was a very proud alumna of the University of Redlands. She went to the University at age 40 and got her degree. I have tremendous admiration for the tenacity that 

drove her to obtain her degree at mid-life, and pursue a very 

distinguished career in public service. Many of us have commented on what a shock her passing was. We all knew that 

JUANITA was not well, but very few knew the seriousness of 

her illness. Her ability to carry on and persevere for so long 

through such adversity is a testament to her strength and 

dedication to her constituents. 

Her passing is a tremendous loss to my State of California 

and to this institution. I will miss my neighbor. 

James E. Clyburn. Congresswoman JUANITA MILLENDERMCDONALD was known for her spirit and commitment to this 

body through her work as chairwoman of the House Administration Committee, the Transportation and Infrastructure 

Committee, the Congressional Black Caucus and the Congressional Caucus for Women’s Issues among other groups. 

She was highly regarded for her work to correct voting irregularities and voter disenfranchisement, ending human trafficking, defending women’s rights across the globe, and stopping genocide in Cambodia, Darfur, and other countries 

where human rights are threatened. 

She was a dear friend with whom I shared a love of history and a passion for politics. We often reminisced about 

our Southern roots and experiences as PKs (preachers’ kids). 

She will be sorely missed by our Members and for me her 

death is a personal loss as well. Our thoughts and prayers 

are with her family and friends during this difficult time. 

Steny Hoyer. Our friend and colleague, Congresswoman 

JUANITA MILLENDER-MCDONALD, had a God-given gift for 

public service. And in the words of Tennyson, she never once 

let it ‘‘rust unburnished, not to shine in use.’’ 

JUANITA personified what it means to serve others before 

serving yourself. 

(Trim Line)

(Trim Line)

[ 110 ] 

Early in life, she chose to put the hopes and dreams of her 

children before her own—working hard to ensure that they 

would enjoy every opportunity she and her husband, James, 

could provide. 

And when her children were children no more, JUANITA

turned her attention to her community—fighting injustice 

and inequity, and working tirelessly on behalf of those who 

had yet to realize the American dream. 

Because JUANITA understood that education was the key to 

unlocking her budding potential as an agent for change and 

social justice, she achieved something extraordinary by returning to school in her forties and earning a bachelor’s degree from Redlands University and a master’s degree from 

California State University. 

And once she had prepared herself for the challenges 

ahead, she touched thousands of lives as a teacher in the Los 

Angles Unified School District, the first African American 

woman to serve on the Carson City Council, the first African 

American woman to chair two committees in the California 

State Assembly, and, eventually, the first African American 

woman to chair a full committee in the U.S. Congress. 

To the people of California’s 37th District—as well as everyone who had the pleasure of knowing her during her time 

in the People’s House—JUANITA was an inspiration—someone who never allowed the conventions of the world around 

her to dictate the role she would play. 

She was a pioneer in every sense of the word. And she will 

be deeply missed. 

F. Scott Fitzgerald once defined America as a ‘‘willingness 

of the heart.’’ And JUANITA MILLENDER-MCDONALD was a 

leader who understood precisely what Fitzgerald was talking 

about. She was always willing to give of herself for the benefit of others—and I am eternally grateful for the opportunity to work so closely with her for so many years. 

Nancy Pelosi. Good morning. Thank you, Congresswoman 

Watson, for bringing us together this morning so that we 

once again can express our love and pay tribute to our dear 

friend, our girlfriend, JUANITA MILLENDER-MCDONALD, or as 

she liked to be called, Madam Chairwoman. 

It is an honor to join all of you, so many of her friends, 

her sorority sisters, James, Dr. Chappell, to you and certainly to Valerie and to the wonderful family. Yes, we loved 

seeing those children here in the Capitol. When they weren’t 

here she talked about them all the time. One only had to 

(Trim Line)

(Trim Line)

[ 111 ] 

visit her office to see as a mother, a grandmother and a wife 

what was important to her. 

I told my colleagues when we came back from the funeral—the mayor of Los Angeles was there for the full 3 

hours, the Speaker of the House, Willy Graham, the former 

Speaker was there, representatives of every aspect of the official religious community life of her district and our State 

were there. But the greatest tribute of all was not what was 

said by the elected officials. The most beautiful tributes, of 

course, came from her children. But the greatest tribute to 

me, as a grandmother, was that her grandchildren cried at 

her funeral. It was so moving, wasn’t it, Valerie? We were 

all so touched. They accepted the flag in her honor. Their 

tears were shed. You could see their personal closeness to 

her. 

As has been said, JUANITA was raised in the segregated 

South. Growing up, JUANITA saw voting rights being denied 

in Birmingham, AL. She blazed a trail to become the first African American woman to chair a committee in the Congress. 

It was historic, and it was on merits. We are all very proud 

of her. In doing so, she brought us closer to the ideal of 

equality that is America’s heritage and hope. She became 

one of our Nation’s great champions so that every vote 

counts and that every person who is eligible to vote can vote. 

It was about the legitimacy of our democracy, it was about 

the fairness of our system, and it was about the respect that 

we all had for her. 

It is fitting that we are gathered here in Statuary Hall, 

and I just want to depart from what I’ve intended to say because the spirit is moving me to a different direction, Madam 

Chair. The chair of the Congressional Black Caucus, Congresswoman Kilpatrick, always tells us to speak where the 

spirit moves us; she always does. When I was hearing the 

‘‘Beautiful Precious Lord’’ song that was sung so beautifully, 

all I could think of was that JUANITA is calling the Lord 

‘‘Precious’’ right now, because she called all of us ‘‘Precious.’’ 

She called the mayor of Los Angeles ‘‘Precious.’’ She called 

Senator Boxer ‘‘Precious.’’ I don’t know if she called Senator 

Feinstein ‘‘Precious,’’ but she may have. So I’m sure she’s 

calling the Lord ‘‘Precious’’ right up there. 

But what I wanted to tell you was, and Mr. Clyburn and 

I have discussed this, while we are in Statuary Hall, it is appropriate that we are paying tribute to her here. Valerie, she 

loved you so much. When President Lincoln made his second 

Inaugural Address, which some considered his greatest 

(Trim Line)

(Trim Line)

[ 112 ] 

speech, it was the first time that blacks came to an inauguration as free people, as a class and met. Of course, it was 

the Emancipation Proclamation, and then they came. For a 

couple of days before the inauguration it was raining and 

storming, and the streets were full of mud. Of course, they 

were dirt roads to begin with, but they were full of mud, and 

it was a mess. Washington was a mess. People sought shelter in the Capitol when they came to attend the inauguration of President Abraham Lincoln. And so the white folks 

who came had on their foul weather gear. They just had on 

their worst clothes, because it was such terrible weather, 

and they didn’t want to get their clothes dirty. 

But the blacks who came, came in their Sunday finest. 

They were dressed beautifully. So beautifully that, 160 years 

later, the author who wrote the book on Lincoln’s greatest 

speech commented that this was the remarkable thing about 

Lincoln’s second inaugural. He didn’t live much longer after 

his Inaugural Address, but what he saw at his inaugural 

was black Americans coming as free people dressed to the 

hilt. And Chairwoman MILLENDER-MCDONALD honored that 

tradition. It was right here in Statuary Hall where people 

sought shelter and slept against these columns. All of you in 

the sorority who honor that tradition—and I see that you 

do—note that it has strong roots in our democracy, in our 

having freedom extended to people and being accepted with 

the greatest dignity. It was with the greatest dignity that 

Chairwoman MILLENDER-MCDONALD served here. 

She was the mayor of Capitol Hill, as mentioned by Congresswoman Jackson-Lee. She went around talking to everyone. She, of course, loved the people of her congressional district. After her family and her faith, they were her first priority. Millions of people around the world have lost an advocate for justice. JUANITA spoke out forcefully against the 

genocide in Darfur and was a powerful advocate for the rise 

of women everywhere. 

We’ve talked about mayors and Senators and 

Congresspeople and the rest. Three trainloads of Members of 

Congress went to her funeral. That was recognized by all 

who attended that beautiful tribute of love and respect for 

her. I thought it was interesting that no matter how exalted 

her friends were and all the tributes she received from her 

former colleagues in the State legislature, the mayor of Los 

Angeles, and others, this tribute came from Albert Cary 

Caswell. He’s a worker here in the Capitol. When she died, 

he extended his sympathies, and he said, ‘‘I wrote a poem for 

(Trim Line)

(Trim Line)

[ 113 ] 

Chairwoman MILLENDER-MCDONALD. I loved her.’’ An ordinary worker in the Capitol. While she was receiving tributes 

from Lorraine Miller, the new Clerk at the House, who 

brought these three trainloads of Members of Congress to 

her funeral, I thought it was important for her friends there 

and here today to hear from someone considered an ordinary 

worker in the Capitol. Certainly not ordinary. He wrote a 

poem: 

Black is beautiful, 

And JUANITA, so were you 

A woman of character through and through 

One of dignity, as are you 

So dignified, who strived 

Who so ever held her head up high so true 

A freedom fighter who so fought for all 

Who, like King and Parks, worked 

For a far, far better world that they so saw 

It’s time to rest a fine lady our Nation blessed 

And now an angel of our Lord 

To fight the good fight as the shining light 

And as an angel forevermore. 

‘‘An angel forevermore’’: our precious JUANITA MILLENDERMCDONALD. 

Daniel P. Coughlin. Almighty and merciful God, eternal 

Shepherd of Your people, You are forever the just reward for 

those who serve You faithfully and the consolation of those 

who love sincerely, tender in moments of understanding and 

strong when strength is needed. 

Shower with consolation the family, constituents, colleagues, staff and friends of Congresswoman JUANITA

MILLENDER-MCDONALD. 

As love and justice have bound them together in this life, 

may eternal hope and loving trust strengthen their steps in 

the way of peace and draw all to Your everlasting truth. 

Almighty and merciful Lord, in this life as in every life, attentive to Your Word, the Holy Scriptures are fulfilled. 

Today we commend to You our sister, JUANITA, in the sure 

and certain hope that together with all who have lived and 

died calling upon Your holy Name, she will live with You 

and rise in glory on the last day. 

We give you thanks for all the blessings which Your Divine 

Providence bestowed upon JUANITA in this life both in family 

and service in the 37th District of California and the Nation 

here in the House of Representatives. 

These signs of goodness are a lasting memorial to her legacy and a sign of our oneness in Your sight. 

(Trim Line)

(Trim Line)

[ 114 ] 

O Lord our God, Spirit dwelling in broken and healing 

hearts, Your days are without end and Your mercies beyond 

counting, keep us who remain here a little while longer 

mindful that life is short. Help us to comfort one another 

with assurances of faith. Guide our days on earth in the 

ways of holiness and justice, that we may serve You together 

and one day be reunited with our sister and with You in the 

great and glorious marriage feast of the Resurrected Lamb, 

our Lord and Savior. 

Thank you for gathering here to celebrate the life and 

memory of JUANITA MILLENDER-MCDONALD. 

Let us go now in the peace of the Lord, for it is in God 

we trust as we walk into the future. 

Æ