Carolyn Cheeks Kilpatrick: “as most Americans know, March is the month for women. It is Women's History Month in the United States. I first want to…”

“as most Americans know, March is the month for women. It is Women's History Month in the United States. I first want to commend the five women in Aberdeen last week who came forward and recanted their stories that they had been raped by their drill sergeants. I think that was an outstanding tribute to women, and I think their courage for coming forth and telling the truth must be congratulated. Today the Senate started their hearings for a fine African-American woman, Alexis Herman, to become the next Secretary of our Labor Department. We are almost in the second quarter of 1997. Nearly 3 months have passed and we do not have yet the President's nominee for the Department of Labor. I commend the Senate for beginning the hearings for Ms. Alexis Herman. Ms. Herman, like me, is an African-American woman. Ms. Herman is a lover of education and is well documented and degreed like myself. Ms. Herman is a civil rights activist for men and women, black and white in this country, and her record speaks for itself. With all that said, that is not why I believe Alexis Herman ought to be confirmed. She is qualified. She is dedicated, and she will provide for this U.S. Labor Department what we need, which is a strong fighter for jobs, one who will make opportunities available for our young people, one who will give her best to see that our Labor Department reaches its goal of full employment in America. I strongly support Ms. Herman.”