Shirley Chisholm Congressional Gold Medal Act
Floor Speech
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.
Lee), who is also the sponsor of this bill.
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Ms. WATERS. Clarke).
Ms. CLARKE of New York. 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.
Mrs. LEE CARTER. Mr. Speaker, I thank Chairwoman Waters and Congresswoman Barbara Lee for their tremendous leadership.
Mr. Speaker, I rise to support S. 4243, the Shirley Chisholm Congressional Gold Medal Act, in honor of the legendary Shirley Anita Chisholm, the first Black woman elected to Congress in 1968.
Her historic election was not just a victory for New York's 12th District, but for all of us, affirming that these Halls belong to everyone, regardless of race, gender, or background. During her seven impactful terms, she championed equity in education, economic opportunity, and social justice, and she advocated for marginalized communities.
Her courage inspired generations, including my late mother, Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee, who carried forward her fight for justice and equality. There was no place she would have rather been than supporting her sisters in voting on this medal, so I am honored to be able to vote in her honor and memory and support S. 4243, the Shirley Chisholm Congressional Gold Medal Act.
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Ms. WATERS. Mr. Speaker, I have no further speakers, and I am prepared to close if the gentleman from North Carolina has no further speakers.
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Ms. WATERS. 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).
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