E2196 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — Extensions of Remarks October 31, 2003 WIC both Cal Jr. and his brother Bill exhibited er. Freedom and democracy for an entire city The WIC program continues to be success- throughout their professional careers can be is a lot to have on one man’s shoulders, but ful in improving the nutritional status of over 7 attributed to this Ripken philosophy of hard Walter Washington carried the burden easily. million low-income women, infants, and chil- work, dedication, sincerity of effort, and com- His gifts were spectacularly broad—deep in- dren. The Healthy Children Through Better mitment. tegrity and ability that won him enormous pro- Nutrition Act of 2003 enables WIC to be more Even more, the Ripken Way embodies the fessional respect as well as personal and po- flexible in meeting the needs of women and memory of Cal Ripken, Sr. and his pure belief litical skills that evoked affection from the peo- children at risk, while promoting a highly nutri- in the joy and craft of baseball. For 37 years, ple. That combination amounts to the sum tious food package. Cal Ripken, Sr. played, coached and managed total of what it takes to lead. Few leaders This legislation: Emphasizes greater con- in the Baltimore Orioles organization. He was have it all. Walter Washington did. sumption of fruits and vegetables in the WIC responsible for developing a method of teach- Mr. Speaker, I ask that in addition to my program; Allows infants and children to be cer- ing that shaped the Orioles’ minor league sys- own statement at the time of Mayor Washing- tified for the WIC program for up to 1 year and tem and became known as ‘‘The Ripken ton’s death, I be allowed to place in the allows offices to waive the ‘‘physical pres- Way.’’ That way has become the centerpiece RECORD a Washington Post editorial and a ence’’ requirement for infants and children of the Cal Ripken Sr. Foundation and its state- personal tribute from Post editorial writer, under specific circumstances; and requires a of-the-art baseball academy. Colbert King, who was a close friend of Walter decennial review of the WIC food package. This is a family with a history of giving back Washington and who served on the Senate Mr. Speaker, as the Committee moves for- to the community—both the communities of staff when Mr. Washington was mayor. ward with the reauthorization of child and Baltimore and Aberdeen. Through the Balti- I ask the entire House to join me in paying school nutrition programs, I encourage my col- more Reads/Ripken Learning Center to the tribute to a man of historic stature in the Dis- leagues to review the set of proposals in the creation of the Cal Ripken Baseball and the trict of Columbia and in offering the profound Healthy Children Through Better Nutrition Act Cal Ripken, Sr. Foundation, the Ripkens con- respect and condolences of the House of Rep- of 2003. This legislation which has been en- tinue to give of themselves in very tangible resentatives to Mayor Washington’s wife Mary dorsed by the American School Food Service ways. The Aberdeen Complex has brought and his family. Association, the Food Research Action Cen- minor league baseball, jobs and prestige to NORTON SAYS PASSING OF WALTER ter, America’s 2nd Harvest and California the Aberdeen community. Both Cal and Bill WASHINGTON MARKS END OF HOME RULE ERA Food Policy Advocates, offers a comprehen- Ripken are actively involved in youth camps, Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton sive means for improving access to child nutri- coaches clinics, tournaments and, of course, (D–DC) today released the following state- tion programs and addressing the troubling The Cal Ripken World Series. ment on the passing of Mayor Walter E. Washington. rise in childhood obesity rates. The Healthy In a world when sport and commercialism is ‘‘The era of home rule ended today with Children Through Better Nutrition Act of 2003 so often intertwined, the Ripken family—the in- the passing of Walter Washington. Mayor reflects a commitment to the future by invest- dividuals and the family as a whole—serve as Washington simultaneously shaped the office ing in our children’s nutrition and overall incredible role models for what baseball of mayor and the practice of home rule gov- health. They deserve no less. means to this nation and what it was meant to ernance for a city that had lived without de- f be. These are real sports heroes and truly ad- mocracy for a hundred years. The District mirable people. Mr. Speaker I am honored to has a strong mayor form of government in RIPKEN POST OFFICE BUILDING introduce this legislation on behalf of this in- no small part because his service as ap- pointed mayor demonstrated that a mayor credible family from my home state and I urge could lead this city as mayors of other big HON. C.A. DUTCH RUPPERSBERGER my colleagues to vote for this bill. cities did. His service is significant for far OF MARYLAND f more than the office he held, however; Presi- IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES dent Lyndon Johnson appointed Walter COMMEMORATION FOR WALTER Thursday, October 30, 2003 Washington our first mayor because he EDWARD WASHINGTON wanted a man of great character and ability Mr. RUPPERSBERGER. Mr. Speaker, today to pave the way for an elected mayor. The I am introducing legislation to designate the HON. ELEANOR HOLMES NORTON people of the District returned the com- pliment by electing Walter Washington our postal facility in Aberdeen, Maryland as the OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA first elected mayor. Residents realized he Ripken Post Office Building in honor of the IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES Ripken family and their contributions to this had the ‘‘right stuff’ to be mayor—not only Thursday, October 30, 2003 outstanding ability and integrity but also great city in the Maryland 2nd Congressional the indispensable political skills and com- District. Ms. NORTON. Mr. Speaker, I arise today to mon touch that make people want to follow It is difficult to think of baseball and not inform the House of the passing of the first the lead of an elected official. That combina- think of the Ripken name. The accomplish- Mayor of the District of Columbia in the 20th tion of gifts proved mighty useful during the ments of Cal Ripken, Jr. are literally the stuff century. Some members will remember Walter 1968 riots. The mayor was legendary for his legends are made of. He appears throughout Washington’s service or will know him by rep- way with the President and the Congress, the record books after 21 seasons with the utation because no mayor here or, I dare say, but Walter Washington was appreciated in Baltimore Orioles—as one of only seven play- elsewhere has enjoyed more respect from this this town not only because he could talk to power but because he talked equally well to ers in baseball history to have 400 home runs body. Mayor Washington enjoyed the same bi- the powerless. and 3,000 hits. Of course, few in my home partisan admiration from the two presidents ‘‘People who missed his years as mayor state of Maryland or this nation will ever forget during his tenure, Lyndon Johnson, who ap- often got some sense of his political gifts on his Iron Man record or the number 2131—sig- pointed Mr. Washington the District’s first the public occasions when his extraordinary nifying when Cal Ripken, Jr. broke Lou mayor in 1968 and Richard Nixon who signed wit was in full form as it remained through- Gehrig’s record for consecutive games played. the Home Rule Act in 1973 giving the District out Walter’s life. Cal ended his own streak in 1998 after playing its current home rule status, complete with an ‘‘With the passing of Mayor Washington, the home rule era he shaped also passes. Per- 2,632 games consecutively. elected mayor and city council. haps, almost 30 years after Walter Wash- Bill Ripken had a 12 year major league The conventional wisdom is that home rule ington was first elected, Congress will now baseball career as a second baseman with in- for the District depended upon Mayor Wash- understand that a new era of full democracy, credible successes including a .9927 fielding ington’s performance as appointed mayor. independence and voting rights is overdue. percentage in 1992—the best of any major Few would disagree. If home rule was past ‘‘Mrs. Mary Cornelia Washington, Walter’s league second baseman that season. In the due then, more than 150 years after the city’s daughter, Bennetta Jules-Rosette and his spring of 2002, Bill Ripken was honored for founding, surely full self-government, democ- family have my condolences and the sym- his career accomplishments with an induction racy and congressional voting representation pathy of the city who loved him.’’ into the Maryland Sports Hall of Fame. are shamefully tardy in coming to the city’s ap- [From the Washington Post, Oct. 28, 2003] Those achievements alone are certainly de- proximately 600,000 residents today. Mayor WALTER E. WASHINGTON serving of admiration and acclamation, but Washington, who did more than any person to ‘‘What I would like to be remembered for is there is so much more to the Ripken family bring self-government to the District, deserved that Walter Washington changed the spirit philosophy and that is why this designation is to see its full realization before his death. of the people of this city, that he came in as for the Ripken family as a whole.