The Congressional Record is a unique source of public documentation. It started in 1873, documenting nearly all the major and minor policies being discussed and debated.
“NOMINATION OF BILL LANN LEE TO BE ASSISTANT ATTORNEY GENERAL FOR CIVIL RIGHTS” mentioning the U.S. Dept. of Justice was published in the Senate section on pages S11894-S11895 on Nov. 6, 1997.
The publication is reproduced in full below:
NOMINATION OF BILL LANN LEE TO BE ASSISTANT ATTORNEY GENERAL FOR CIVIL
RIGHTS
Ms. MIKULSKI. Mr. President, I rise today in support of the nomination of Bill Lann Lee to be Assistant Attorney General for Civil Rights at the Department of Justice. I'm here today because I believe that Bill Lann Lee should be favorably reported out of the Senate Judiciary Committee. He should have his day. He should have a vote on the floor of the Senate.
I've heard of Bill Lann Lee for a number of years. I've heard about this exceptional person, who brings a great deal of legal competency, energy, and vitality to advocating for those who have been left out of the mainstream. Contrary to what my Republican colleagues have asserted, Mr. Lee has used the law for the benefit of all Americans. It is so obvious from his record that he loves the law and uses it as a tool to help those in our society who need help.
I was troubled when I heard his nomination was being stalled in the Senate Judiciary Committee. Once again a capable person in the field of civil rights law, a person of color, was being stalled in the Senate Judiciary Committee.
I feel so strongly about this nomination and about what Mr. Lee's advocacy has meant for not only people of color but for women, for the disabled, and those who are either overlooked or undermined by the law. I felt so strongly that I organized the Democratic women of the Senate to write a letter to Chairman Orrin Hatch asking to free Mr. Lee from the Senate Judiciary Committee.
But because it is the Senate Judiciary Committee my letter used language far more judicious than that which is being used against Mr. Lee. My letter, which is signed by all the Democratic women Senators, urges favorable consideration of Mr. Lee's nomination. We bring to Chairman Hatch's attention that Mr. Lee has dedicated his entire career to enforcing civil rights laws.
He has 23 years of professional experience ranging from cases dealing with employment discrimination, providing access to health care, helping children who have been victims of lead poisoning, to making public transportation accessible for the disabled, and then guess what, fighting for something called equal access to education.
Isn't this exactly who we want to be heading up the Civil Rights Division at the Department of Justice--someone who has practiced mainstream civil rights law, who believes in opportunity for everyone, and who has pursued this under the law?
We have sent this letter; I don't know what the response will be, but I will tell you once again it's the fall, so it must be the Senate Judiciary Committee. Once again, someone comes before the Senate Judiciary Committee with incredible legal competence, who is willing to serve the Nation and to come forth before the Senate Judiciary Committee only to once again face a humiliating experience.
We don't want Bill Lann Lee to be the Anita Hill of 1997. I think it's outrageous that once again we have someone with a great background who is going to be stymied and humiliated. This is not what America is all about.
We've heard about Mr. Lee's exceptional background. The hard work of his family, their willingness to fight for this country, and Mr. Lee's work to fight in the courtrooms to make sure the law works for everyone.
It is not fair that after having an exemplary professional record, to be a person of judicial temperament, to bring these great qualities to this position, Mr. Lee has to face this. Now I don't think that the U.S. Senate should be a forum for attacking Chinese-Americans. I just don't think that's right. We have seen them attacked in hearings on campaign finance and now we hear them being attacked in the Senate Judiciary Committee. I will tell you when talking to the Asian Pacific-
American constituents that I represent, they are concerned when their best and brightest come forward for an appointment to the Justice Department, he's being brushed aside and all the Republicans want to focus on is campaign finance.
I think it is outrageous. Now let me tell you Bill Lann Lee has applied for a job at the Justice Department. He is not applying to be a member of a radical right wing foundation. He is applying for a job at the Justice Department. And this is what his qualifications are all about.
If Mr. Lee were applying for a radical right wing foundation maybe the criteria the Senate Judiciary Committee is using would be appropriate, but it is not appropriate to use radical right wing foundation criteria for a nomination to the Justice Department.
If the Republicans want to attack President Clinton, there's lots of ways to attack President Clinton. If they want to attack civil rights law then do it through the legislative process but do not attack a nominee who comes forth, who is willing to put his life aside and the practice that he's developed working with the NAACP, to serve this Nation.
I don't know how many additional nominations President Clinton can bring to the Senate. One, because they are either stalled out or people are humiliated when they come forth, or two, there is going to be an increasing unwillingness to attract qualified nominees.
I want Bill Lann Lee to know that I'm on his side and so are the Democratic women of the Senate. We would love to see him at the Civil Rights Division in the Department of Justice. Not because he would favor some but because he would fight for the women of this country, for the people of color in this country, for the people that need civil rights advanced within the Justice Department.
And to the people of the Asian Pacific-American community I say not to lose heart. We're so proud of Bill Lann Lee. We're so proud of what you do for America, but we're not proud at all of the Senate Republican controlled Judiciary Committee.
I ask to have printed in the Record a copy of the letter supporting Mr. Lee's nomination from the Democratic women of the Senate. I urge my colleagues on the Senate Judiciary Committee to favorably report Mr. Lee's nomination and let him have a vote in the full Senate.
The letter follows:
U.S. Senate,
Washington, DC, November 4, 1997.Hon. Orrin G. Hatch,Chairman, Senate Committee on the Judiciary, Washington, DC.
Dear Chairman Hatch: We are writing to urge you to favorably report the nomination of Bill Lann Lee to be Assistant Attorney General for Civil Rights at the Department of Justice. We understand that the markup on this nomination is scheduled for Thursday, November 6 in the Senate Judiciary Committee.
Mr. Lee has dedicated his entire career to enforcing our nation's civil rights laws. He has more than 20 years of experience in a wide-range of areas in civil rights law, including employment discrimination, access to health care, prevention of lead poisoning, public transportation equity, and equal access to education.
The Assistant Attorney General for Civil Rights must enforce our nation's civil rights laws for everyone. Mr. Lee is a problem-solver and consensus builder. His work has helped Americans regardless of age, race, and gender. He has enabled thousands of Americans to shatter the glass ceiling.
Mr. Lee has practiced mainstream civil rights law. He does not believe in quotas, which are illegal. He believes in opportunity. To achieve this goal, he has pursued flexible and reasonable remedies that in each instance were approved by a court.
Numerous civil rights groups, women's groups, and elected officials from both parties support Mr. Lee's nomination. The next Assistant Attorney General for Civil Rights will have to address a number of potentially divisive issues. There is no doubt that Mr. Lee has the integrity, competence, and experience to lead this division.
In addition, Mr. Lee has agreed to recuse himself from involvement with the California Proposition 209 case, if he is confirmed. This action is entirely appropriate and should help clear the way for his confirmation.
We urge you to support his nomination and report it favorably.
Sincerely,
Barbara A. Mikulski, Barbara Boxer, Patty Murray, Mary L.
Landrieu, Carol Moseley-Braun, Dianne
Feinstein.
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