Designating the House Press Gallery in the United States Capitol As the ``Frederick Douglass Press Gallery''
Floor Speech
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Mr. GRAVES. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution (H. Res. 137) designating the House Press Gallery, Rooms H- 315, H-316, H-317, H-318, and H-319 in the United States Capitol, as the ``Frederick Douglass Press Gallery'', as amended.
The Clerk read the title of the resolution.
The text of the resolution is as follows: H. Res. 137
[Whereas Frederick Douglass was born to an enslaved family in 1818;
[Whereas Douglass bravely escaped slavery in 1838, and spent much of his adult life as a journalist in Rochester, New York;
[Whereas Douglass published his first newspaper, The North Star, using his own money in the pre-Civil War era;
[Whereas Douglass was known for fiercely opposing slavery, championing equal rights and women's rights, and for being a forceful speaker;
[Whereas, during the Civil War, Douglass was a recruiter for the first African-American army regiment;
[Whereas Douglass met twice with President Lincoln, first about the pay and treatment of Black soldiers and then to discuss the President's desire to assist escaping slaves;
[Whereas after Douglass' Rochester home was destroyed by fire (which Douglass believed resulted from arson), he moved his family to Anacostia in Washington, DC;
[Whereas, in 1870, Douglass was asked to become editor of the New National Era, which chronicled the progress of Blacks throughout the United States, and he later bought the paper;
[Whereas Douglass was the first Black reporter allowed into the Capitol press galleries, where journalists watch lawmakers on the floors of the Senate and the House of Representatives;
[Whereas Douglass was a member of the congressional press galleries from 1871-1875;
[Whereas Douglass reported on House and Senate legislation regularly to update the African-American community during Reconstruction following the 13th, 14th, and 15th Amendments to the Constitution;
[Whereas Douglass was recorded frequently in the congressional directory and spent a significant amount of time writing and studying from the House Press Gallery;
[Whereas Douglass often visited the Capitol following his time as a member of the congressional press galleries;
[Whereas Douglass delivered the keynote speech at the unveiling of the Emancipation Memorial in Washington's Lincoln Park;
[Whereas, in 2007, Douglass was recognized by placing a plaque and painting of him in his honor in the House Press Gallery;
[Whereas, in 2012, Congress passed and the President signed Public Law 112-174, which directed Frederick Douglass' statue placement in the Capitol Visitor Center's Emancipation Hall; and
[Whereas Douglass was a pioneer in journalism who broke through glass ceilings throughout one of the most crucial times in American history, exhibited great perseverance to become an American hero, and became a legend known in the House Press Gallery: Now, therefore, be it]
Whereas Frederick Douglass was born to an enslaved family in 1818;
Whereas Douglass bravely escaped slavery in 1838, and spent much of his adult life as a journalist in Rochester, New York;
Whereas Douglass published his first newspaper, The North Star, using his own money in the pre-Civil War era;
Whereas Douglass was known for fiercely opposing slavery, championing equal rights and women's rights, and for being a forceful speaker;
Whereas, during the Civil War, Douglass was a recruiter for the first African-American Army regiment;
Whereas Douglass met twice with President Lincoln, first about the pay and treatment of Black soldiers and then to discuss the President's desire to assist escaping slaves;
Whereas after Douglass' Rochester home was destroyed by fire (which Douglass believed resulted from arson), he moved his family to Anacostia in Washington, DC;
Whereas, in 1870, Douglass was asked to become editor of the New National Era, which chronicled the progress of Blacks throughout the United States, and he later bought the paper;
Whereas Douglass was the first Black reporter allowed into the Capitol press galleries, where journalists watch lawmakers on the floors of the Senate and the House of Representatives;
Whereas Douglass was a member of the congressional press galleries from 1871-1875;
Whereas Douglass reported on House and Senate legislation regularly to update the African-American community during Reconstruction following the 13th, 14th, and 15th Amendments to the Constitution;
Whereas Douglass was recorded frequently in the congressional directory and spent a significant amount of time writing and studying from the House Press Gallery;
Whereas Douglass often visited the Capitol following his time as a member of the congressional press galleries;
Whereas Douglass delivered the keynote speech at the unveiling of the Emancipation Memorial in Washington's Lincoln Park;
Whereas, in 2007, Douglass was recognized by placing a plaque and painting of him in his honor in the House Press Gallery;
Whereas, in 2012, Congress passed and the President signed Public Law 112-174, which directed Frederick Douglass' statue placement in the Capitol Visitor Center's Emancipation Hall; and
Whereas Douglass was a pioneer in journalism who broke through glass ceilings throughout one of the most crucial times in American history, exhibited great perseverance to become an American hero, and became a legend known in the House Press Gallery: Now, therefore, be it
Resolved, [That the House Press Gallery, Rooms H-315, H- 316, H-317, H-318, and H-319 in the United States Capitol, is designated as the ``Frederick Douglass Press Gallery'']. That the House Press Gallery (Rooms H-315, H-316, H-317, H- 318, and H-319 of the United States Capitol) is designated as the ``Frederick Douglass Press Gallery''.
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Mr. GRAVES. Res. 137.
Mr. Speaker, H. Res. 137 designates the House Press Gallery as the Frederick Douglass Press Gallery.
Frederick Douglass came to Washington, D.C., in 1870 to become editor of the New National Era paper, which chronicled the progress of African Americans in the United States. He became the first African-American member of the press gallery from 1871 to 1875.
In 2007, he was honored with a plaque and painting in the House Press Gallery. This resolution today will officially name the House Press Gallery after him. I thank the gentleman from Florida, Representative Donalds, for his leadership on this bipartisan resolution.
Mr. Speaker, I urge support of the legislation and reserve balance of my time.
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Mr. GRAVES. I will take a moment to recognize someone who has made a particular impact on myself and this body, and that is Transportation and Infrastructure Republican Staff Director Jack Ruddy, who is leaving the Hill after 15 years.
Jack started out in my office as an intern. He liked it so much he decided to come back as an intern four more times. No matter what we did or how hard we tried, we just could not get rid of him. I am incredibly thankful that he stuck it out because this entire body has benefited from his public service and his expertise.
Jack has come a long way from his days as an intern. He went on to serve as my legislative director in my congressional office. For the last 6\1/2\ years, he has been with me at the T&I Committee, first as deputy staff director and, most notably, as staff director, which he led my entire team since 2022.
It is uncommon in this Chamber that a staff member makes such a lasting impact, but Jack is a very uncommon staffer. He is a trusted adviser, not only to me but to many members on the Transportation Committee on both sides of the aisle.
Over the years, he has played an integral role in shepherding through Congress numerous major legislative priorities to improve America's transportation network and build our infrastructure. This includes: the FAA Reauthorization Act of 2024 and other important aviation safety legislation; multiple water resources development acts; Coast Guard authorizations; public buildings and Federal office space reforms; and pipeline safety reauthorizations, just to name a few of the things that are out there.
It takes hard work, skill, extensive knowledge, and a deep understanding of the legislative process to get these things across the finish line, and Jack has all of those qualities.
It also takes sacrifice, and Jack, his wife, Paige, and their two boys, Joel and Barrett, know that all too well. I thank Jack and his entire family for the sacrifices that they have contributed in more ways than I can describe. Their sacrifices over the last 6\1/2\ years have contributed to the success of the T&I Committee and the House of Representatives.
Mr. Speaker, I close by saying that anybody who has ever worked with Jack knows that these things are very true: He is fair, he is pragmatic, and he knows how to get the job done. The most important thing that we know is that Jack is a true friend, and I can say that from personal experience. We are all going to miss him, and I wish him the best of luck as he begins his new chapter in life.
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Mr. GRAVES. Mr. Speaker, in closing, naming the House Press Gallery after Frederick Douglass is going to honor his commitment to the free press, his legacy, and his work reporting on the official business of Congress.
I urge support of House Resolution 137, and I yield back the balance of my time.
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