Nancy Pelosi: “I thank our dear friend, Congresswoman Watson, for bringing us together around this very sad and necessary resolution…”

“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 passed away Saturday night. 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 okay,' and listening closely to their response.”