Support for H.R. 431--Congressional Gold Medal for Selma Foot Soldiers

Floor Speech

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Ms. WILSON of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I stand today in strong support of H.R. 431, a bill that will bestow the Congressional Gold Medal upon the courageous Foot Soldiers who participated in ``Bloody Sunday,'' ``Turnaround Tuesday,'' and the final March from Selma to Montgomery, Alabama in 1965.

As we commemorate the 50th anniversary of their displays of courage and determination, I am inspired by the thousands of citizens, from all walks of life--including my good friend and colleague, Congressman John Lewis--who came together to march for equal voting rights for future generations.

I commend these brave men and women for following their conviction and sacrificing their blood, sweat, and tears to bring about the change that this country so desperately needed.

However, Mr. Speaker, our work is not yet done!

It was only two years ago, when the Supreme Court gutted the Voting Rights Act by ruling Section 5 unconstitutional. Since this ruling, we have seen an unprecedented number of bills introduced in state legislatures intended to restrict the precise right that the men and women we are honoring today fought to gain.

Not only are minority and low-income Americans' voting rights under assault, but the persistent opportunity gaps in employment, education, life skills, and career preparation continue to make the American Dream elusive for far too many Americans.

We must follow the example of these brave Foot Soldiers, and continue to fight injustice and inequality to create economic opportunities for everyone.

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