The United States House of Representatives has passed a bill sponsored by Congressman Rangel to designate a new State Department building in New York City after Ronald H. Brown, the late Commerce Department Secretary and New York resident who died in a plane crash in 1996.  The legislation now awaits action in the Senate.

The 26-story building, located at 799 United Nations Plaza across the street from the United Nations (U.N.) General Assembly, would house the United States delegation to the U.N., which carries out the nation's participation in the world body.

"I want to thank Ron Brown's family, his community, and the Central Harlem community for the support that they have given to this bill, as well as the community who loved and respected him all of his life," said Congressman Rangel in remarks he made on the House floor.  The Congressman noted Brown's connections to New York where he grew up and earned a law degree at St. John's University. 

"My relationship to him was really outstanding since, while I was in school, I was the desk clerk at a rather famous hotel in Harlem called the Theresa Hotel," added Congressman Rangel.  "Ron Brown’s father was the manager of that hotel, so I got to know Ron at a very, very early age, and was able to see the remarkable career that he staked out for himself."

Congressman Rangel said the designation in Brown's name is fitting.  "As Secretary of Commerce under the Clinton administration, he became one of the greatest ambassadors that the American government ever had abroad," he said.  "It wasn’t that he was just extending trade and getting people to buy our goods and services.  It’s that he was extending love, attention, and sensitivity, especially in the developing countries where we had not spent the time that we should have.  He not only sold our wares, but he was able to sell our reputation as a country that wanted to help other countries."

Brown also served as deputy executive director at the National Urban League, helped revive and reunite the Democratic Party as the Democratic National Committee Chairman, and was instrumental in the election of President Bill Clinton.  Brown was the first African American to chair a national political party and serve as Secretary of Commerce.  As Secretary, he effectively utilized and expanded the role of the Department and was known for his amiable political style and his deft skill in negotiations.  He effectively promoted U.S. trade, expanded foreign markets for American businesses, placed a focus on Africa, and spurred domestic job growth and economic development. 

The Department of State requested that Ron personally undertake an official Commerce Department trade mission to boost economic reconstruction of the war torn region of former Yugoslavia.  On April 3, 1996, he died on that mission when the plane carrying him crashed on the coast of the Adriatic Sea.
 

■