Honoring The Life And Work Of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

Floor Speech

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Mr. AL GREEN of Texas. Madam Speaker, I would like to express my support for H. Res.1002, a resolution honoring the life and work of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. which encourages the continued commitment to Martin Luther King, Jr. Day as a national day of service.

Martin Luther King, Jr. Day is a holiday marking the birth of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., which is celebrated on the third Monday of January each year.

President Ronald Reagan declared Dr. King's birthday a national holiday and signed it into law on January 15, 1983. Not only does January 15 mark the day this Civil Rights Leader was born, but it is one of four United States federal holidays to commemorate an individual person in this country.

Dr. King was the chief architect for nonviolent activism in the Civil Rights movement, which successfully protested racial discrimination in federal and state law.

During the time of the Civil Rights movement, many challenges and controversies arose, but Dr. King's commitment to democracy, freedom, and equality did not waver.

Dr. King challenged us to give back to a community we have accepted so much from. With his leadership, our nation made great strides against racial discrimination and toward increased civil rights.

It is in the spirit of solidarity that we recognize Dr. King's Day as a national day of service which was first encouraged by Congress in 1994 through passage of the King Holiday and Service Act. On this day, our nation has the opportunity to bond together and serve our local and global community, with no expectation of reward in return. The dream is a special type of service our nation needs. This type of service not only brings our nation together, but it creates an environment of people committed to helping one another achieve the dream.

I urge my colleagues to support H. Res. 1002.

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