H. Res. 180

In the House of Representatives, U. S., 

March 6, 2007.

Whereas Leo McCarthy was born in Auckland, New Zealand, 

on August 15, 1930; 

Whereas Leo McCarthy immigrated to the United States with 

his parents at the age of three and settled in San Francisco, California; 

Whereas Leo McCarthy earned his undergraduate degree 

from the University of San Francisco and his law degree 

from San Francisco Law School; 

Whereas Leo McCarthy served the United States in an intelligence unit of the Strategic Air Command of the United 

States Air Force from 1951 to 1952 during the Korean 

War; 

Whereas Leo McCarthy was elected to the San Francisco 

Board of Supervisors in 1963 and again in 1967; 

Whereas Leo McCarthy was elected to the California Assembly in 1968 and served until 1982; 

Whereas Leo McCarthy led the California Assembly with 

honor and distinction as its Speaker from 1974 until 

1980; 
2

•HRES 180 EH 

Whereas Leo McCarthy instituted reforms in the California 

Assembly to provide more accountability and greater public access; 

Whereas Leo McCarthy was a champion of coastal protection 

and secured passage of the California Coastal Act; 

Whereas Leo McCarthy worked to secure permanent financing for the Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) system; 

Whereas Leo McCarthy was elected Lieutenant Governor of 

the State of California three times, serving from 1982 

through 1994; 

Whereas Leo McCarthy established the Feminization of Poverty Task Force, comprised of women leaders from business executives to former welfare recipients to develop 

ways to overcome economic barriers that confront women; 

Whereas Leo McCarthy helped implement the Greater Avenues for Independence (GAIN) program to help welfare 

recipients move into the workforce; 

Whereas Leo McCarthy collaborated with business leaders 

and advocates to publish ‘‘Child Care: The Bottom Line’’ 

to educate businesses about the economic and productivity benefits of employer-provided child care; 

Whereas Leo McCarthy sponsored the Nursing Home Patients’ Protection Act, which made landmark improvements in the treatment of patients in nursing homes; 

Whereas Leo McCarthy drafted and sponsored a resolution 

declaring breast cancer an epidemic in California and 

called for Federal action; 

Whereas Leo McCarthy sponsored the Mammography Quality 

Assurance Act to create new standards governing mammography facilities and technology; 
3

•HRES 180 EH 

Whereas Leo McCarthy worked to promote minority and 

women-owned businesses, publishing and distributing 

100,000 copies of the award-winning guide, ‘‘Starting 

and Succeeding in Business: A Special Publication for 

Small, Minority, and Women-Owned Businesses’’; 

Whereas Leo McCarthy established the Task Force on the 

Seriously Mentally Ill to develop an alternative service delivery system to assist Californians suffering from severe 

mental illnesses; 

Whereas Leo McCarthy sponsored the Chemical Safety Act to 

facilitate toxic waste prevention and cleanup; 

Whereas Leo McCarthy established the Lieutenant Governor’s Commission on the Prevention of Hate Violence 

to investigate the causes of hate crimes and identify innovative ways of promoting tolerance; 

Whereas Leo McCarthy, serving as acting Governor, led the 

State of California through the initial turmoil of the 

1989 Loma Prieta earthquake; 

Whereas Leo McCarthy served on the University of California 

Board of Regents and the California State University 

Board of Trustees; 

Whereas Leo McCarthy was twice a candidate for the United 

States Senate; 

Whereas Leo McCarthy was appointed to the National Gambling Impact Study Commission; 

Whereas Leo McCarthy was a beloved mentor to generations 

of public servants; 

Whereas Leo McCarthy founded the Leo T. McCarthy Center 

for Public Service and the Common Good at the University of San Francisco; 
4

•HRES 180 EH 

Whereas Leo McCarthy was, for 51 years, the beloved husband of Jacqueline Burke McCarthy; 

Whereas Leo McCarthy was the father of two daughters and 

two sons, and grandfather of 11; 

Whereas Leo McCarthy earned the highest respect of the people of California for his record of accomplishment on 

their behalf; and 

Whereas the House of Representatives has learned of the 

death of Leo McCarthy on February 5, 2007: Now, 

therefore, be it 

Resolved, That the House of Representatives—

(1) expresses its profound sorrow and deep condolences to the McCarthy family on the occasion of the 

death of Leo McCarthy on February 5, 2007; and 

(2) directs the Clerk of the House of Representatives to transmit a copy of this resolution to the family 

of Leo McCarthy. 

Attest:

Clerk.