Congressman Charles B. Rangel released the following statement on the death of Congressional colleague Rep. Juanita Millender McDonald, who passed away on Sunday, April 22 at the age of 68 at her Carson, California home:

I am sure that I join with thousands of Americans who are stunned and saddened by the death of Rep. Juanita Millender-McDonald.

It has been well-documented that Juanita was a political trailblazer on all three levels of government. She went from being a veteran campaign volunteer to being the first African American to be elected to the Carson City Council and later to chair two committees in the California State Assembly. This past January, she became the first African American woman in history to chair a committee in Congress, serving as head of Committee on House Administration.

Juanita was a reformer, an empowering role model for not just African Americans and women but for all Americans. I cannot imagine the pain that she must have gone through the last months of her life, as she battled the cancer that would eventually take her life. Yet the courage and grace that she showed in the face of death though was not surprising. She showed that grace and strength daily. It was borne out of a tremendous amount of love for life and the belief that all of us -- no matter what race, class, ethnicity, gender or sexual orientation -- should have an equal opportunity to make our dreams happen. That in this and any democracy, everyone should have a chance to have their voices heard and their votes counted.

Such a loss could not have come at a more crucial time in our nation's history. Yet, I am sure Juanita would not want us to mourn too long, knowing that the fight for social justice and against other ills like hunger and poverty is far from over. In fact, she would expect us to just pick up where she left off and use her life as a blueprint and inspiration to stand up for what is right and do more good.

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