Placement of Statue of Rosa Parks in National Statuary Hall

PLACEMENT OF STATUE OF ROSA PARKS IN NATIONAL STATUARY HALL -- (House of Representatives - November 17, 2005)

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Ms. PELOSI. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentlewoman for yielding and I thank her for her leadership on this very important matter. I want to join Congresswoman Millender-McDonald in applauding the Speaker for making this accommodation so the legislation could move quickly and be enacted into law and that the statue hopefully soon will be standing in Statuary Hall and so that this law can be passed in time for the 50th anniversary of Rosa Parks' courageous action which occurs in December.

I want to join Congresswoman Millender-McDonald in commending the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Ney) as well and our distinguished colleague, Mr. JESSE JACKSON, Jr., who was the author of this legislation. By the time we all got to Rosa Parks funeral, we already had over 100 cosponsors of the bill and this action tonight will deliver on the promise that many of us made at that funeral. I considered it a great privilege to speak there. On behalf of the Democrats and the Republicans in the Congress, I said that we would soon have a promised statue in the Capitol. Congressman JOHN CONYERS of Detroit has been a godfather to all of this effort and he deserves a great deal of recognition and credit for this.

I said at the time that Rosa Parks loved young people. That was her focus. While we were all praising her for her past actions, she was always concerned about the impact on the future for America's children. She was the mother of the modern civil rights movement. She was the mother of modern society because she made such a change in America with her courage. She came to the Capitol to receive the Congressional Gold Medal. It was a proud day for all of us. She brought luster to that award by accepting it. She came here, as was mentioned, to lie in state, the first woman to lie in state in the Rotunda of the Capitol and she will return to the Capitol in a statue to be an ongoing inspiration.

We in Congress think we have a special relationship with Rosa Parks. She will live here with us as a constant inspiration of her courage and inspiration to future generations. When they visit the Capitol they will be sure to see, observe and be inspired by the life, the courage and the incredible contribution of Rosa Parks. I commend all of my colleagues, Congresswoman Millender-McDonald, Congressman Conyers, and Congressman Jackson for their role in making this possible. It is an honor to be part of this effort. I look forward to the day when all of us can converge on this Capitol for the unveiling of this magnificent statue.

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