Diane Watson

Ms. WATSON

Ms. WATSON. Mr. Speaker, it is with great sadness and a deep sense of loss that we received the word of the passing of Roscoe Lee Brown on April 11, 2007. Mr. Brown was a distinguished Californian whose deeds and life merit the grateful acknowledgment of his community, his State, the Nation and the world. Roscoe was born on May 2, 1925, in Woodbury, New Jersey. He graduated from Lincoln University in Pennsylvania in 1946, earned his post- graduate degree at Middlebury College, and did graduate studies at Columbia University. In college, Roscoe was also a star athlete, winning the world championship in the 800 meters in 1951. After finishing his college and post-graduate career, Roscoe returned to Lincoln, where he taught French and comparative literature. At a dinner party in 1956, Roscoe announced his decision to become an actor, auditioned for and won a role in Julius Caesar the next day at the newly formed New York Shakespeare Festival, and found his life-long artistic passion, performing five more roles with that company. In 1961, Roscoe appeared with James Earl Jones in the original off- Broadway cast of Jean Genet's landmark play, ``The Blacks.'' He won an Obie for his role in ``The Old Glory,'' received the Los Angeles Drama Critics Circle Award for both ``The Dream on Monkey Mountain'' in 1970, and ``Joe Turner's Come and Gone'' in 1989. He wrote and directed ``An Evening of Negro Poetry and Folk Music,'' 1966, returned to Broadway in Tommy Tune's 1983 ``Kicking the Clouds Away,'' and earned a Tony nomination in August Wilson's ``Two Trains Running.'' That was 1992. In 1962, Roscoe made his debut in films, appearing in ``The Connection.'' He has also appeared in ``The Comedians'' in 1967; ``Up Tight!'' in 1968, Hitchcock's ``Topaz'' in 1969, ``The Liberation of L.B. Jones,'' ``Superfly,'' ``Uptown Saturday Night,'' ``Logan's Run,'' ``Legal Eagles,'' ``The Mambo Kings'' and ``Dear God.'' Roscoe's television career included memorable appearances on all the top 1970 sitcoms, including ``All in the Family,'' ``Maude,'' ``Sanford and Son,'' ``Good Times,'' and ``Barney Miller.'' He replaced Robert Guillaume on ``Soap,'' and in 1986 he won an Emmy guesting on ``The Cosby Show.'' His resonant baritone was heard in documentaries, live-action fare and animated films, as well as the spoken-word arena with such symphony orchestras as the Boston Pops and the Los Angeles Philharmonic. For many years he and actor Anthony Zerbe toured the United States in ``Behind the Broken Words,'' an evening of poetry and dramatic readings. Roscoe Lee Brown was a person of exceptional talent and accomplishments. He was among the first generation of African-American actors who sought to ply their craft during a period that rarely acknowledged or provided opportunity to persons of color. It can truly be said that the Denzel Washingtons and other younger black actors in movies and television stood on the backs of giants like Roscoe Lee Brown, who blazed a trail for them through perseverance, hard work, and uncommon displays of exceptional talent. May he rest in peace.

Ms. WATSON

Ms. WATSON. Madam Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Georgia (Mr. Bishop).

Ms. WATSON. Madam Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentlelady from Texas, Eddie Bernice Johnson.

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

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. WATSON. Madam Speaker, I yield 1\1/2\ minutes to Ms. Marcy Kaptur from Ohio.

Ms. WATSON. Madam Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from North Carolina (Mr. Butterfield).

Ms. WATSON. Madam Speaker, I am very pleased to give 3 minutes to the gentlewoman from California (Ms. Zoe Lofgren).

Ms. WATSON. Madam Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentlewoman from California, Linda Sanchez.

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

Ms. WATSON. Madam Speaker, I am pleased to yield 5 minutes to the gentlewoman from California (Mrs. Capps).

Ms. WATSON. Madam Speaker, I call on the gentlewoman from Michigan (Ms. Kilpatrick), the Chair of the Congressional Black Caucus, for 3 minutes.

Ms. WATSON. Madam Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentlelady from Texas (Ms. Jackson-Lee).

Ms. WATSON. Madam Speaker, with pleasure I yield 3 minutes to Ms. Barbara Lee from California.

Ms. WATSON. Madam Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentlewoman from California, Hilda Solis.

Ms. WATSON. Madam Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentlewoman from Ohio, Stephanie Tubbs Jones.

Ms. WATSON

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 Millender-McDonald. 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 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 as well as her constituents and as well as 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 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.

Ms. WATSON

Ms. WATSON. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material in the Record on H. Res. 328.

Ms. WATSON

Ms. WATSON. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks.

Ms. WATSON

Ms. WATSON. Madam Speaker, this Wednesday, April 19, 2007 marks the 12th anniversary of the Oklahoma City bombing that claimed 168 lives and left over 800 injured. 19 of the victims were children. On the occasion of the 12th anniversary of the Oklahoma City bombing, I want to acknowledge those who lost their lives as well as the family and friends left behind. I further acknowledge the selfless sacrifice and courage Oklahoma City family members made in their embrace of 9/11 family members following the attacks on the World Trade Center in 2001. The exchange that has taken place since that time is great evidence of how Americans come together in time of need. Let us never forget those who lost their lives on this day of infamy as well as the living who have been so profoundly affected by this national tragedy.

Ms. WATSON

Ms. WATSON. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 988) to designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 5757 Tilton Avenue in Riverside, California, as the ``Lieutenant Todd Jason Bryant Post Office''.

Ms. WATSON. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks.

Ms. WATSON. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, H.R. 988 is legislation introduced by Representative Ken Calvert to designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 5757 Tilton Avenue in Riverside, California, as the Lieutenant Todd Jason Bryant Post Office. On October 31, 2003, somewhere in the Iraqi desert between Fallujah and Baghdad, First Lieutenant Todd Jason Bryant was killed when his Humvee was struck head-on by a rocket-propelled grenade. His life was taken instantly at age 23. He was assigned to C Company, 1-34 AR where he assumed duties as platoon leader, 3rd Platoon. First Lieutenant Todd Bryant received the Bronze Star, the Purple Heart, the Meritorious Service Medal, the National Defense Service Medal, and the Army Service Ribbon for his distinguished service to his country. First Lieutenant Todd Bryant is survived by his wife, Jenifer, his parents, Larry and Linda Bryant, his brother, Major Timothy Bryant, USMC, and his sister, Tiffany Bryant. The memory of this jovial fun-loving man will live on forever through his family and friends. Jenifer Bryant said, ``There was a lot more to him than just a soldier. He was my best friend. His goal in life was to make people think that he was the most hilarious man alive.'' I support H.R. 988 and urge its passage. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Ms. WATSON. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Ms. WATSON. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.