Statue to Honor United States Supreme Court Associate Justice Sandra Day O'connor and Statue to Honor United States Supreme Court Associate Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg

Floor Speech

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Mr. STANTON. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of S. 3294, a bill to honor Supreme Court Justices Sandra Day O'Connor and Ruth Bader Ginsburg with statues here in the United States Capitol.

Both overcame formidable barriers and defied the odds, paving the way for future generations of women, but Justice Sandra Day O'Connor holds a special place in the hearts of all Arizonans.

Born on a ranch in eastern Arizona, Justice O'Connor brought a tough, no-nonsense attitude with her throughout her career in public service. She blazed every trail she set foot on. And just this past Saturday, she celebrated her 92nd birthday.

Justice O'Connor served as Arizona's assistant attorney general, the first female majority leader to serve in any State senate across the United States of America, and as a Maricopa County Superior Court judge. In 1981, she took her Arizona brand of independence and pragmatism with her to the United States Supreme Court.

Justice O'Connor shattered the highest glass ceiling in the legal profession, but Arizonans most admire her for the way she made it there, with unparalleled talent, intelligence, and relentless grit.

Her independent-minded commitment to interpreting the Constitution and reaching workable decisions served our Nation and the rule of law well.

One of the things that I most admire about Justice O'Connor is what she did after she retired from the United States Supreme Court. She foresaw deep divisions in our society and our politics. She knew that we needed to improve civil discourse if we hoped to keep our democracy strong.

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Mr. STANTON. Mr. Speaker, after 25 years on the Court, she came back to Arizona and got right back to work.

She founded the Sandra Day O'Connor Institute For American Democracy in Phoenix to promote civic education, inspiring future generations to not only participate in our democracy but to contribute to it with the same degree of thoughtfulness, civility, and grace that she has throughout her amazing career.

I have been lucky enough to work with her and the institute through the Camp O'Connor civics education program for middle school students. I saw firsthand the difference that program makes in the lives of our next generation of leaders, and I saw how much Justice O'Connor truly cares about those children and about all people.

That is her legacy to me.

Justice O'Connor and Justice Ginsburg were deeply committed in their service to the American people. They are more than deserving of this recognition.

Mr. RODNEY DAVIS of Illinois.

One of the things I most appreciate about this bill is the balance that it brings in recognizing the first two women Justices of the Supreme Court, and they have very different ideologies and views. While I may have significant disagreements with Justice Ginsburg and her rulings and positions on certain issues, that doesn't mean her role in the history of this country is not worthy of being recognized. In the same way, Justice O'Connor is worthy of recognition despite the fact that I am sure many people on the other side of the aisle take issue with her beliefs and positions on certain issues.

Cancel culture is a disease infecting our society today. Those who seek to wipe out the accomplishments and contributions of historic figures simply due to opposing politics is wrong. I am certainly not going to engage in that kind of mentality even though I may not have cared for Justice Ginsburg's politics.

In fact, Justice Ginsburg herself spoke out against cancel culture. She was once asked how she could be friends with the late Justice Antonin Scalia. They held vastly different views. In her response, she quoted Justice Scalia by saying: ``I attack ideas. I don't attack people, and some very good people have some very bad ideas.''

She is also famously quoted as saying: ``Fight for the things you care about, but do it in a way that will lead others to join you.''

In short, Mr. Speaker, it is okay to fight for what you believe in. It is okay to disagree or even despise what someone else believes, but it doesn't mean they don't have a right to those beliefs.

Unfortunately, this contrasts with some of the actions of my friends on the other side of the aisle these past few years. I hope this serves as an example that we can disagree without being disagreeable, that we choose to rise above being easily offended and instead respect alternative points of view, and that the Halls of Congress are a place where everyone feels their viewpoints and beliefs are given equal credence.

Mr. Speaker, again, I appreciate the balance of this bill. I rise in support of this legislation. I urge everyone to adopt it, and I yield back the balance of my time.

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