Eleanor Holmes Norton: “I thank my very good friend, Representative Barbara Lee from California, who has the great honor of serving in the seat…”

“I thank my very good friend, Representative Barbara Lee from California, who has the great honor of serving in the seat that Ron held. And she has that honor because of her work with Ron and because those who lived in his district understood that Ron did not serve them alone. I think that for Barbara Lee to have risen from intern to chief of staff to Ron Dellums says everything about her service in the Congress. She is just the right person to be leading this special honor for our good friend, the dapper, the brilliant, Ron Dellums. Ms. Lee shows us that Ron had an eye for talent, and I thank her for sharing that talent now with the Nation. It is true that my district and I had a special relationship with Ron Dellums; and, therefore, a special love. Because for 14 years, he chaired the old District of Columbia Committee, which he helped me get rid of, understanding that the District deserved equality with other districts. Yet, I have to say how fortunate we were that Ron chose to use one of his committee seats for the District of Columbia. Why would Ron Dellums do that? There is not a vote in the District of Columbia for Ron Dellums--much as people would have loved to vote for him--but there wasn't a single vote because he didn't live in the District of Columbia. This was such an unselfish human being. He went where he thought he was needed.…”