Shirley Chisholm Congressional Gold Medal Act

Floor Speech

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Mr. HORSFORD. Mr. Speaker, first, let me commend the ranking member, our chairwoman, Maxine Waters, for her leadership on this issue and the courtesy of the chairman, Mr. McHenry, for working in a bipartisan way on this important issue.

I rise today in support of S. 4243, the Shirley Chisolm Congressional Gold Medal Act.

Representative Shirley Chisolm was an advocate for justice in American politics. In 1968 she broke through barriers as the first Black woman elected to this body, representing New York's 12th District.

She declared herself unbought and unbossed, and in her time in Congress, she introduced over 50 pieces of legislation, fought to end the Vietnam war, and championed civil rights, women's rights, and economic justice.

She was one of the 13 founding members of the Congressional Black Caucus, but the only woman. Today, the CBC has 60 members, the largest in our history, with 31 Black women.

It is because of the legacy of progress of Representative Shirley Chisolm that we posthumously award the Congressional Gold Medal to Shirley Chisholm.

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Mr. HORSFORD. Posthumously awarding her the Congressional Gold Medal is a tribute to her achievements and the recognition of her legacy to advance equality and justice.

Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to honor this remarkable American and vote ``yes'' on S. 4243.

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