Shirley Chisholm Congressional Gold Medal Act

Mr. Speaker, first of all, let me take a moment to thank Speaker Johnson, Minority Leader Jeffries, Majority Leader Scalise, and Chairman McHenry for their leadership.

Of course, I thank our ranking member, Maxine Waters, whom I met during the Shirley Chisolm campaign, for her tremendous leadership and her friendship.

I thank Congresswoman Clarke, Congressman Donalds, Congressman Lawler, and Congressman Issa for their support. I thank everyone, all Democrats and Republicans, for their support. Also, I am deeply grateful to Senators Butler and Warnock and all the Members of the Senate for their leadership on the Senate companion bill.

Let me take a moment to thank my team, the team of our leadership, Congresswoman Waters, Congressman McHenry, and especially Jordan Smith for their support. I especially thank Jordan Smith for her expertise and for her hard work in making sure that she worked with everyone, all staff, as a team to get this bill to the floor. I thank her so much for her hard work.

Mr. Speaker, it brings me really great joy today that the House is voting on our bill to honor my mentor, friend, and the first Member of Congress who brought a new lens and experience which had never been included in this body since the first Congress went into session in 1789. Congresswoman Chisolm made history as the first Black woman to be elected to the United States Congress and the first Black woman to run for the Presidency of the United States.

Now I am the 20th Black woman elected to Congress since 1789. Congresswoman Waters is the seventh Black woman elected since 1789. Because of Shirley Chisolm, I am. Because of Shirley Chisolm, there are 31 Black women serving in the House of Representatives and one Black woman now serving in the United States Senate. There have been two elected Black women in the United States Senate, one appointed, and that is Senator Butler, and that is since 1789.

Throughout her seven terms representing New York's 12th Congressional District, Shirley worked across the aisle to advocate for her constituents and pass bipartisan reforms. She focused on tackling issues of food insecurity and economic justice.

Known as Fighting Shirley, she was a fearless advocate for American families and served as a founding member of the Congressional Black Caucus.

As many of our colleagues know, Shirley was the catalyst for my career in public service. I met her when I was a student at Mills College in Oakland. Like so many young people today, I was intentionally disconnected from the political system. I did not believe that it worked for me, a young Black woman and a single mother raising two children on her own and on public assistance and food stamps.

However, when I met and talked to Shirley Chisolm, I quickly saw that she represented a new and unique kind of political leadership in Congress. She stood up for people of color, for Black people, for women, for marginalized communities, for low-income people, for people who lived in rural communities and urban communities, for working families, and for everyone. She spoke on issues that I really hadn't heard Members of Congress talk about on a national stage before.

When I told Shirley that I was not registered to vote, she took me to task. She called me little girl until the day she died.

She got me involved in her campaign, and the rest is history. The path she paved had never been tread before. She carved out a new trail for all of us. She flipped the script and left an indelible legacy on American politics, all while holding the door open for the rest of us to step through.

Throughout her life, she remained unbought and unbossed, and as my 26 years in this body comes to an end, this is really personally a full circle moment for me for which I am deeply grateful.

The Congressional Gold Medal serves as the Nation's highest expression of gratitude for distinguished service and achievements. It is critical for the next generation of leaders to see the first Black woman elected to Congress get the recognition that she deserves.

We celebrated what would have been Congresswoman Chisolm's 100th birthday this past Saturday as Congresswoman Waters mentioned, so it is past time Congress recognized her legendary career and honored her with a Congressional Gold Medal.

Let me mention a couple of things I mentioned last night at the Congressional Black Caucus' Special Order. I thank Chairman Steven Horsford for his leadership in helping us bring this bill to the floor.

First of all, Shirley Chisolm really fought for everyone, and she prided herself on bipartisan cooperation.

Mr. Speaker, she prided herself on bipartisan work. Actually, when I introduced the first resolution honoring her, I called her from the Cloakroom. She couldn't understand why there were no Republicans except Connie Morella on the floor speaking on behalf of the resolution.

She was really upset because she said: Has so much changed that the Republicans don't know me? They don't remember I worked with them?

I explained to her that the bill was on suspension, that it was the first night we came in, and that we had bipartisan support. However, she was pretty upset about that because she really wanted Democrats and Republicans to vote for this resolution.

Mr. Speaker, the first and only time I pulled a bill from suspension was that night. I pulled it from suspension and called for a recorded vote so she could see all of the green buttons that were punched, all of the lights. So I ran back, and I called her.

I said: See, Shirley, Republicans and Democrats remember you. They remember your legacy, and you didn't have one ``no'' vote on this.

Finally, I will just say, Caribbean-American Heritage Month is June, and, again, Shirley Chisolm inspired me with my work in the Caribbean. Congresswoman Yvette Clarke is a daughter of the Caribbean and, of course, exemplifies Shirley Chisolm's spirit. President Bush signed my resolution which established June as Caribbean-American Heritage Month to honor the legacy and highlight the good work of Caribbean Americans and to bring closer the ties with America and the Caribbean.

Again, bipartisanship, Shirley Chisolm wanted to get the job done. She encouraged all of us to work together, to fight for what we believed, but to also understand we had to work together to make life better, quite frankly, for everyone.

So Miss C, some of us called her Shirley, some of us called her Miss C, I thank you for paving the way and for being that catalyst for change. This Congressional Gold Medal is for you, and happy 100th heavenly birthday.

Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentlewoman for yielding to me, and I want to respond to Chairman McHenry and thank the gentleman for bringing up the story about George Wallace. I have an addendum to the story.

I was working in her campaign during that period, and I was furious that she would go to visit segregationist and racist George Wallace. I called her, and I was about ready to leave the campaign because, to me, that was so inconsistent with who she was.

She took me to task again, and she said: Little girl, we have to remember we all are human beings, first of all. This is the right thing to do. He is paralyzed, and you never know what might happen when I go visit him.

I will tell you what happened when she visited him. I have to say hello and salute Peggy Wallace Kennedy, who is a friend and who lives in Birmingham, Alabama. Peggy, several years ago, told me the story of what happened in that hospital room.

If my colleagues have seen the film ``Shirley,'' that really accurately depicts what happened, what Peggy told

me, but Shirley Chisholm went and visited George Wallace. She chilled me out a little bit. I stayed with the campaign, thank God.

She talked to him, she prayed with him, and she encouraged him to look at his ways, his views, and his horrible treatment of Black people.

Peggy told me that he prayed. She prayed.

Fast-forward to after he got out of the hospital. He went to Dexter Avenue Baptist Church in his wheelchair. Of course, I say too little, too late, but he went down the aisle and apologized to the people of Alabama for what he had done as a segregationist and the Governor of Alabama.

Again, I say too little, too late.

Finally, she carried many bills fighting for domestic workers and fighting for low-income wage workers and fighting for people who were marginalized and didn't have a shot at the American Dream.

Mr. Speaker, George Wallace helped her get cosponsors for her bills and helped her become a very effective legislator, and the rest is history.

Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman so much for bringing up that story. That was a pivotal point in my life because she taught me a lot, and she taught me to try to look beyond what is. I thank our Speaker also for his leadership and for his assistance in helping us bring this to the floor.

Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of S. 4243, the Shirley Chisolm Congressional Gold Medal Act, sponsored by Representative Barbara Lee.

Today we will vote to honor former Representative Shirley Chisolm with a Congressional Gold Medal for her activism, independence, and groundbreaking achievements in politics as the first African-American woman elected to serve in Congress. I am proud to be an original cosponsor of this bill.

Shirley Chisolm was born in Brooklyn, New York, and was the oldest of four daughters to immigrant parents. In fact, Chisolm lived in Barbados between the ages of 5 and 9 and always considered herself Barbadian. Last week, I was pleased to join Minority Leader Jeffries and many members of the Congressional Black Caucus as we celebrated Chisolm along with the people of Barbados. It was such a great time, and I am thankful that we continue this celebration in Congress today.

Chisolm graduated from Brooklyn College cum laude in 1946 where she also excelled on the debate team. Her professors encouraged her to consider a political career. She knew she would face difficulties as an African-American woman, but that did not stop her. In 1964, Chisholm became the second African American to serve in the New York State legislature. In 1968 she was elected to the 91st Congress as the first African-American woman Member.

As the first African American and the first woman to chair the Financial Services Committee, I am grateful for trailblazers like Shirley Chisolm who created space in politics for Americans like me.

During her congressional term, Congresswoman Chisolm introduced more than 50 pieces of legislation, focusing on gender and racial equality and ending the Vietnam war. In 1971 she became a cofounder of the National Women's Political Caucus and founding member of the Congressional Black Caucus, which I am proud to be a member of.

In the 1972 Presidential election, Shirley Chisolm became the first African-American candidate to seek a major party's nomination for President of the United States. She was also the first woman to run for the Democratic Party's Presidential nomination. However, discrimination followed her campaign. Shirley Chisolm was blocked from participating in televised primary debates and was only allowed to make one speech after taking legal action. Students, women, and people of color followed her campaign closely.

After her bid for the Presidency, Chisolm continued serving in the House of Representatives until she retired in 1982, 10 years before I began my first term as a Congresswoman.

She once said: ``If they don't give you a seat at the table, bring a folding chair.''

Today we will honor Chisholm not just with a seat at the table but with the highest honor Congress can bestow.

Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this bill.

Mr. Speaker, I yield 5 minutes to the gentlewoman from California (Ms. Lee), who is also the sponsor of this bill.

Mr. Speaker, I yield an additional 2 minutes to the gentlewoman.

Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from Nevada (Mr. Horsford), who is also the chair of the Congressional Black Caucus.

Mr. Speaker, I yield an additional 30 seconds to the gentleman from Nevada.

Mr. Speaker, I yield 1\1/2\ minutes to the gentlewoman from New York (Ms. Clarke).

Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentlewoman from Texas (Mrs. Lee Carter).

Mr. Speaker, I have no further speakers, and I am prepared to close if the gentleman from North Carolina has no further speakers.

Mr. Speaker, I thank Chairman McHenry for his generosity. I thank the gentleman for his support. This is one of the last actions my colleague may be taking prior to the closing of this session, and I want the gentleman to know we are very appreciative for the fact that he has taken the time to not only be here, but to share his time in a very generous way to Ms. Lee.

Mr. Speaker, this important bill will award a Congressional Gold Medal in commemoration of Shirley Chisholm, an unbought and unbossed advocate for women and people of color.

Today, we will vote to award this high honor to a woman who dared to be a catalyst for change. I thank Representative Barbara Lee for her work on this important bill, and, of course, again, I am proud to be an original cosponsor of this bill.

Mr. Speaker, I am going to urge my colleagues to support this bill, and I yield the balance of my time to the gentlewoman from California (Ms. Lee).

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (S. 4243) to award posthumously the Congressional Gold Medal to Shirley Chisholm.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on the bill.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of S. 4243, a bill that would posthumously award the Congressional Gold Medal to Shirley Chisholm.

On November 5, 1968, Shirley Chisholm, the daughter of Caribbean immigrants, became the first African-American woman in our Nation's history elected to Congress. As she liked to put it, she was ``the first Black woman Congressman.''

Mr. Speaker, 2 years later, she became a founding member of the Congressional Black Caucus. A year after that, she became the first woman and first African American to run for one of the two major parties' Presidential nominations.

Shirley Chisolm has a much longer list of achievements that are quite impressive.

Born on November 30, 1924, in Brooklyn, New York, Chisholm began her career in early childhood education before turning her focus to politics.

Throughout her political career, Chisholm was a no-nonsense advocate. She was willing to fight for her working-class constituents and call out perceived injustices.

Representative Chisholm once remarked: ``I did not come to Congress to behave myself and stay away from explosive issues so I can keep coming back.''

Now, my ranking member on the Financial Services Committee, the former chair of the Financial Services Committee, is equally unbashful in her approach in Congress, and I welcome that. At this point, I will allow the ranking member of the committee to say her words on one of her mentors.

Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, if I may, I yield 2 additional minutes to the gentlewoman from California (Ms. Lee).

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time for the purposes of closing.

Mr. Speaker, I have no further speakers, but I will give my ranking member the final word on this subject.

I close with one story that has an impact on me about Shirley Chisholm. We know the story of George Wallace, segregationist, racist, Governor of Alabama, running for the Presidential nomination.

Shirley Chisholm was running for the same nomination. When George Wallace was shot five times while campaigning and then paralyzed, who showed up at the hospital but Shirley Chisholm?

I think of myself as a charitable person. I think of myself as someone who could rise above. We all think that we have that in us, but imagine that. Imagine that somebody who is campaigning to take your rights away, to ensure that you don't have rights that are duly yours under the Constitution, and Shirley Chisholm was the one who showed up at the hospital.

Talk about the charity and the spirit of that. That is so much bigger and so much greater than what we get to see in our common day.

It is those special moments that give a perspective on who this person was. I didn't have the opportunity to know her, but I do get to pass her portrait here in the Capitol Building, and her portrait says it all. It absolutely says it all about who she was. I did not know her, but walking by that portrait, it is very clear who she was.

When she says that she was unbought, unbossed, it is so clear in that portrait.

When she retired in 1983, she returned to education, but she made an indelible mark on this institution, such that, in just her eight terms in this place, she had a lasting impact, such that we have a generation of lawmakers who look at her as an exemplar of who they hope to be and a symbol of what America can be.

Mr. Speaker, I urge adoption of S. 4243 to honor Shirley Chisholm with the Congressional Gold Medal, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I thank the chairman, Mr. McHenry, and the ranking member for bringing this legislation to the floor.

I thank Congresswoman Barbara Lee for her tenacity in making sure that we would see this come to fruition.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today as one of the many women who stand on the shoulders of Shirley Anita Chisolm and in strong support of S. 4243, the Shirley Chisolm Congressional Gold Medal Act.

We honor the first African-American woman elected to Congress and a trailblazer whose life and work continue to inspire generations of leaders. Congresswoman Shirley Chisolm was a woman who had the audacity to be a catalyst for change unbossed and unbought.

From her candidacy for President of the United States to her first day in the New York State Assembly, Shirley Chisolm paved the way for Black Americans, Caribbean Americans, women, and marginalized communities overlooked in our political system.

She showed us what was possible and, in doing so, raised the standard of what it means to be a woman who is unbought and unbossed.

She was a daughter of Brooklyn, my soror, both of us made in the Brooklyn Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., and above all, a daughter of progress.

This Congressional Gold Medal serves as a testament and a symbol of her achievements as a political trailblazer and advocate for those who were too often left behind.

It is our responsibility to ensure her legacy is not just remembered, but built upon.

Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this bill. Let us honor Shirley Anita St. Hill Chisholm for her courage, her vision, and her unmatched contributions to Congress, the Congressional Black Caucus, and our Nation at large.

As she so powerfully said: ``If they don't give you a seat at the table, bring a folding chair.''

Today, let us solidify her seat and honor her rightful place in history.

Mr. Speaker, first, let me commend the ranking member, our chairwoman, Maxine Waters, for her leadership on this issue and the courtesy of the chairman, Mr. McHenry, for working in a bipartisan way on this important issue.

I rise today in support of S. 4243, the Shirley Chisolm Congressional Gold Medal Act.

Representative Shirley Chisolm was an advocate for justice in American politics. In 1968 she broke through barriers as the first Black woman elected to this body, representing New York's 12th District.

She declared herself unbought and unbossed, and in her time in Congress, she introduced over 50 pieces of legislation, fought to end the Vietnam war, and championed civil rights, women's rights, and economic justice.

She was one of the 13 founding members of the Congressional Black Caucus, but the only woman. Today, the

CBC has 60 members, the largest in our history, with 31 Black women.

It is because of the legacy of progress of Representative Shirley Chisolm that we posthumously award the Congressional Gold Medal to Shirley Chisholm.

Posthumously awarding her the Congressional Gold Medal is a tribute to her achievements and the recognition of her legacy to advance equality and justice.

Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to honor this remarkable American and vote ``yes'' on S. 4243.