Hidden Figures Congressional Gold Medal Act

Mr. Speaker, today I am joined by my good friend from Oklahoma, Representative Frank Lucas, in introducing the Hidden Figures Congressional Gold Medal Act. The contributions of women mathematicians and engineers to the warfighting effort during World War II and the nation's space program have for too long gone unrecognized. While hundreds of women helped bring about one of the nation's crowning technological achievements, landing the first man on the moon, their names are largely lost to history.

From the 1930s to the 1970s, women at NASA and its precursor organization, NACA, submitted their work anonymously, were paid less than their male peers, and had few opportunities for career advancement. In addition, women of color working in the West Area Computing Unit were initially subjected to the indignity of segregated bathrooms, dining facilities, and water fountains.

The popular book by Margot Lee Shetterly, entitled Hidden Figures, and the subsequent film adaptation, have finally helped bring their incredible and inspiring stories to light. Despite the numerous challenges they faced, women like Katherine Johnson, Mary Jackson, Dorothy Vaughan, and Christine Darden persevered. Their accomplishments will, I hope, inspire young girls to consider careers in STEM fields. The positive attention being paid to their individual stories and the stories of the hundreds of women working alongside them is well deserved and long overdue.

This bill will bestow Congress's highest civilian honor in appreciation of the achievements of Katherine Johnson, Mary Jackson, Dorothy Vaughan, Christine Darden, and all the women mathematicians and engineers at NACA and NASA who devoted their talents in service to the nation during this important time in our history.

I want to thank Senator Coons for his leadership in championing the effort to honor these women in the Senate with his legislation, S. 3321. Our bill builds on Senator Coons' bill by extending the honor to the hundreds of lesser-known women who worked alongside the four women made famous by the Hidden Figures book and movie.

While I am grateful that this book and movie have shone a light on these women and their experiences, I think it's important to acknowledge that the term Hidden Figures is a bit misleading. These women and their talents were never hidden from us. As is far too often the case when women--and especially women of color--are involved, we as a society chose to overlook them.

I urge my colleagues to join us in rectifying this oversight and help us give these women the recognition they deserve.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs be discharged from further consideration of S. 3321 and the Senate proceed to its immediate consideration.

I further ask that the Coons substitute amendment at the desk be considered and agreed to; the bill as amended, be considered read a third time and passed; the title amendment at the desk be agreed to; and the motions to reconsider be considered made and laid upon the table with no intervening action or debate.