also leaving us will be congresswoman diane watson who was also manier to, whom i affectionately have referred to as lady di, due to her grace and elegance. congresswoman watson began her career as a school psychologist. upon entering politics she's been a tireless advocate for consumer protection and health care. she was a member of the california assembly and an ambassador to the federated states of micronesia during the clinton administration. congressman davis has also faithfully served on capitol hill, a former federal prosecutor, congressman davis has led a career in public service, he served on the house ways and means committee and has been a strong advocate for improvements in health care and education throughout the years. and finally hailing from the great state of florida, congressman kendrick meek will be leaving us. he is one half of a historic mother-to-son succession to the u.s. house of representatives and affectionately known as my brother. after years in law enforcement, congressman meek continued in public service by entering politics. he became can -- he came to c

time to our retiring colleague from california, herself with diplomatic experience, ambassador diane watson. one minute. the speaker pro tempore: the gentlewoman from california is recognized for one minute. ms. watson: mr. speaker, i take great honor in coming and saluting ambassador holbrooke. he was a person that we can all be proud of because among ambassadors he stood above them head and shoulders and represented the will and the morality of our country around this globe. being a member of that elite corps is something that will always remain deep in my heart and my mind and i had the privilege of serving two years as an ambassador myself. during the six weeks of training that we had, ambassador holbrooke was always held as the standard by which we perform our duties for the united states of america. i offer my condolences to his family and his broad global family from the state of california. i'm very proud to have served with him in that department for the short period of time, but oh, what an experience. may god bless the family and i know he's up there presiding over all of the mat

and then finally karen, this big of a california house, and is now elected to congress to fill diane watson see. so that's a pretty horrible message to our members. he goes there are so few women of color in the congress, we like that message. we are out there helping to expand the number of women of color in the united states congress. people are responding to that message. and so we now have a big new marketing campaign that we are going to be unveiling. i guess i am unveiling it now. but coming up in 2012. there are six women united states senators up for reelection in 2012. did you realize that? that's a lot. and those are all women who are strong advocates for choice and for women's health, and are probably all the things that a lot of us believe in. and so our mission this cycle is going to be to keep the seat of those women, protect those women, get them reelected. and i think it's going to be a very powerful message to our members who are kind of not happy about what happened in 2010, maybe not so happy with president. oh, my god, what are we going to do? well, we have a mission. we

of time to our retiring colleague from california, rself with diplomatic experience, ambassador diane watson. one minute. the speaker pro tempore: the gentlewoman from california is recognized for one minute. ms. watson: mr. speaker, i take great honor in coming and saluting ambassador holbrooke. he was a person that we can all be proud of because among ambassadors he stood above them head and shoulders and represented the will and the morality of our country around this globe. being a member of that elite corps is something that will always remain deep in my heart and my mind and i had the privilege oferving two years as an ambassador myself. during the six weeks of training that we had, ambassador holbrooke was always held as the standard by whiche perform our duties for the united states of america. i offer my condolences to his family and his broad global family from the state of california. i'm very proud to have served with him in that department for the short period of time, but oh, what an experience. may god bless the family and i know he's uphere presiding over all of e matters tha

and then finally karen, this big of a california house, and is now elected to congress to fill diane watson see. so that's a pretty horrible message to our members. he goes there are so few women of color in the congress, we like that message. we are out there helping to expand the number of women of color in the united states congress. people are responding to that message. and so we now have a big new marketing campaign that we are going to be unveiling. i guess i am unveiling it now. but coming up in 2012. there are six women united states senators up for reelection in 2012. did you realize that? that's a lot. and those are all women who are strong advocates for choice and for women's health, and are probably all the things that a lot of us believe in. and so our mission this cycle is going to be to keep the seat of those women, protect those women, get them reelected. and i think it's going to be a very powerful message to our members who are kind of not happy about what happened in 2010, maybe not so happy with president. oh, my god, what are we going to do? well, we have a mission. we