California Representative Juanita Millender-McDonald, who was 68, died of cancer this morning. Earlier this week, she announced that she would be taking a a four to six-week leave of absence from Congress to deal with her illness.

“Juanita Millender-McDonald was a trailblazer, always advocating for the full participation of all Americans in the success and prosperity of our country,” House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said in a statement. “The dignity with which she faced her illness was an indication of the determination with which she always served the people of her district. They have lost an effective leader and spokeswoman, and I have lost a dear friend.”

Millender-McDonald has been a member of Congress since 1996, representing the heavily-Democratic 37th district of California that includes South Central Los Angeles, Compton, and Long Beach.
In the 110th Congress, she had been serving as Chairwoman of the House Committee on House Administration, which oversees the House of Representatives, the Library of Congress, and the procedures of federal elections.

The staff here at OpenCongress extend our sincere condolences to the friends and family of Mrs. Millender-McDonald.