To designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 101 East Market Street in Long Beach, California, as the "Juanita Millender-McDonald Post Office".

Thank you.

Mr. Speaker, I am proud to speak today about a friend and predecessor who served some of the same communities that I now represent.

Today, we are voting on a piece of legislation that will recognize the life and legacy of the late Congresswoman, Juanita Millender- McDonald, by designating the United States Postal Service facility located at 101 East Market Street, in Long Beach, as the Juanita Millender-McDonald Post Office.

Many of my colleagues in the House had the opportunity to serve alongside Congresswoman Millender-McDonald. They remember her forceful personality and her unyielding advocacy on behalf of her constituents. However, Juanita, who left us so suddenly and too early, was a remarkable woman who broke barriers and who had many impressive achievements even before entering Congress.

By age 26, Juanita Millender-McDonald was a mother of five. She was already in her forties when, after raising her children, Valerie, Angela, Sherryll, Michael, and R. Keith, she went back to school and earned both her bachelor's and master's degrees with the support of her loving husband, James.

She became a teacher in the Los Angeles Unified School District and later became the manuscript editor for Images, a textbook aimed at promoting the self-esteem of young women, and the director of gender equality programs for the school district.

She broke down barriers for women and minorities and made history by becoming the first African American woman elected to the Carson City Council and, in 2007, became the first African American woman to chair a congressional committee, the Committee on House Administration.

While serving for more than a decade in the House of Representatives, she also served on the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee and the Small Business Committee, the committees on which I now currently serve, and she was an active member of the Congressional Black Caucus.

From her days in the California Assembly to serving here in the House, Juanita Millender-McDonald dedicated her career to advocating for the Los Angeles public school system, job training, women's equality, women's health, and combating the drug epidemic that was tearing apart her community. Her advocacy on behalf of the victims of genocide and human trafficking serves as a lasting testament to her dedication to creating a better world.

Congresswoman Millender-McDonald worked tirelessly for her constituents, taking only a week of leave before she succumbed to cancer.

By designating a United States Postal Service facility in my district as the Juanita Millender-McDonald Post Office, we honor an exemplary woman with an incredible public service record.

It is my hope that honoring her now will allow her life and accomplishments to inspire further residents, not only of Long Beach but Americans across the land.

Mr. Speaker, I am proud to speak today about a friend and predecessor who served some of the same communities that I now represent.

Today we are voting on a piece of legislation that will recognize the life and legacy of the late Congresswoman Juanita Millender-McDonald, by designating the United States Postal Service facility located at 101 E. Market Street in Long Beach, as the Juanita Millender-McDonald Post Office.

Many of my colleagues in the House had the opportunity to serve alongside Congresswoman Millender-McDonald and remember her forceful personality and her unyielding advocacy on behalf of her constituents.

However, Juanita, who left us so suddenly and too early, was a remarkable woman who broke barriers and had many impressive achievements even before entering Congress.

By age 26, Juanita Millender-McDonald was a mother of five. She was already in her forties, when, after raising her children, she went back to school and subsequently earned bachelor's and master's degrees and did additional studies towards a PhD.

She became a teacher in L.A. USD and later the manuscript editor for Images, a textbook aimed at promoting the self-esteem of young women, and the director of gender equity programs for the school district.

She broke down barriers for women and minorities and made history by becoming the first African-American woman elected to the Carson City Council, and in 2007 became the first African-American woman to chair a Congressional Committee--the House Administration Committee.

While serving for more than a decade in the House of Representatives, she also served on the Transportation & Infrastructure Committee and the Small Business Committee--the committees on which I now serve--and was an active member of the Congressional Black Caucus.

From her days in the California Assembly to serving here in the House, Juanita Millender-McDonald dedicated her career to advocating for the Los Angeles public school system, job training, women's equality and women's health, and combating the drug epidemic that was tearing apart her community. Her advocacy on behalf of the victims of genocide and human trafficking serves as a lasting testament to her dedication to creating a better world.

Congresswoman Millender-McDonald worked tirelessly for her constituents, taking only a week of leave before she succumbed to cancer.

By designating a United States Postal Service facility in my district as the Juanita Millender-McDonald Post Office, we honor an exemplary woman with an incredible public service record.

I know her family, including her husband James McDonald, Jr.; children, Valerie, Angela, Sherryll, Michael and R. Keith; and grandchildren, Ayanna, Myles, Ramia, Blair and Diamond, are so proud of her great legacy.

It is my hope that honoring her now will allow her life and accomplishments to inspire further residents not only of Long Beach but Americans across the land.

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 5687) to designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 101 East Market Street in Long Beach, California, as the ``Juanita Millender-McDonald Post Office.''

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous materials on the bill under consideration.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

I rise in support of H.R. 5687, introduced by Representative Janice Hahn of California, to designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 101 East Market Street in Long Beach, California, as the Juanita Millender-McDonald Post Office.

Juanita Millender-McDonald represented California's 37th District in the House of Representatives for over a decade, serving from 1996 until her untimely death. During her time in Congress, she was known for her commitment to protecting international human rights, and she worked to aid victims of genocide and human trafficking. Representative Millender-McDonald was also the first African American woman to chair the House Administration Committee. Sadly, she passed away on April 22, 2007, at age 68, due to colon cancer.

Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in memorializing Juanita Millender-McDonald's public service by supporting this bill.

I reserve the balance of my time.

I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. President, as in legislative session, I ask unanimous consent that the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee be discharged from further consideration of H.R. 5687 and the Senate proceed to its immediate consideration.

I ask unanimous consent that the bill be read a third time and passed, and the motion to reconsider be considered made and laid upon the table with no intervening action or debate.

Mr. Speaker, I support this legislation.

At this time, I yield such time as she may consume to the gentlewoman from

California, Representative Hahn, the sponsor of this legislation.

Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from Mississippi (Mr. Thompson), my good friend who is the ranking member of the Homeland Security Committee.

I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of legislation naming this facility after Ms. Juanita Millender-McDonald, a wonderful lady. She served this institution well up until her final moments. Most of us were not aware of the terminal illness she had. She served with grace, dignity, and honor, and our respect. She will be missed.