[Pages H6283-H6288]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                   PAYING TRIBUTE TO SHIRLEY CHISOLM

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under the Speaker's announced policy of 
January 9, 2023, the gentlewoman from Florida (Mrs. Cherfilus-
McCormick) is recognized for 60 minutes as the designee of the minority 
leader.


                             General Leave

  Mrs. CHERFILUS-McCORMICK. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that 
all Members may have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their 
remarks and include any extraneous material on the subject of this 
Special Order hour.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentlewoman from Florida?
  There was no objection.
  Mrs. CHERFILUS-McCORMICK. Mr. Speaker, it is with great honor that I 
rise today to anchor the CBC Special Order hour. For the next 60 
minutes, members of the CBC have an opportunity to honor the legacy of 
Congresswoman Shirley Chisolm, an individual of great importance to the 
Congressional Black Caucus, Congress, the constituents we represent, 
and all Americans.
  Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentlewoman from New York (Ms. Clarke).
  Ms. CLARKE of New York. Mr. Speaker, let me thank my dear colleague, 
Congresswoman Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick, along with her partner, 
Congressman Jonathan Jackson, for anchoring this evening's Special 
Order hour honoring Shirley Chisolm.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise today on this special occasion to celebrate and 
commemorate the 100th birthday of the late Congresswoman Shirley Anita 
St. Hill Chisholm and in commemoration of her lifetime of extraordinary 
trailblazing achievement.
  Shirley Chisolm was a woman who truly lived her American Dream out 
loud, unapologetically, and with audacity. Her special brand of 
leadership and her charismatic persona in concert with her audacious 
eloquence and sheer elegance brought to the world our fight for justice 
through the embodiment of a petite woman from Brooklyn.
  As the only Black woman in the New York State congressional 
delegation, also a Brooklynite, and the Member who holds the very same 
seat in part that Shirley Chisholm once held, I am not only duty bound 
to prioritize the marginalized and overlooked and protect the 
underserved and left behind, I am compelled to do so.
  My Congress Member, Congresswoman Shirley Chisolm, did the same for 
me. She championed my cause, she paid it forward, and she pulled me up, 
just as she did for all Americans. You see, Mr. Speaker, Congresswoman 
Shirley Chisolm was a woman who dared to be a catalyst for change.
  From her first day in the New York State Assembly to her last in the 
United States House of Representatives and beyond, Congresswoman 
Shirley Chisolm fought to deliver justice, fairness, and equality to 
all Americans.
  We are all very fortunate that her life's work, which pioneered 
progress

[[Page H6284]]

and restructured the status quo, altered the very chemistry of this 
body and has provided us a blueprint that we need to do the same.
  Remembering the name and remembering the accolades of Shirley Chisolm 
does more than memorialize her life and legacy. It proves to the 
millions of Black girls and women in this country that if they achieve, 
if they strive for their greatness, if they better their country and 
this world, then they too may be remembered eternally by the Nation 
they devoted their lives to bettering. They, too, may be remembered for 
all time as the trailblazers and changemakers of their day.
  We know all too well that progress has never happened by accident. It 
takes leaders, and in many cases, it takes Black women leaders. 
Thankfully, today we have countless of them to lean on and to learn 
from.
  Together, I believe we have a moral mandate and an opportunity to not 
just examine racial inequalities that span every sector and every 
segment of our society, but the responsibility to tell the truth about 
how we got here. By celebrating the late Shirley Anita St. Hill 
Chisholm, we are fulfilling that responsibility.
  It is indeed my honor to stand here. Both of us were born in the 
month of November. Both of us are daughters of Caribbean immigrants. 
Both of us love to dance and love to dress. Shirley Chisolm was a 
trailblazer, Shirley Chisolm was a changemaker, and Shirley Chisolm 
will forever be remembered.
  Mrs. CHERFILUS-McCORMICK. Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentlewoman 
from Alabama (Ms. Sewell).
  Ms. SEWELL. Mr. Speaker, I join my colleagues of the Congressional 
Black Caucus in paying tribute to the one and only Shirley Chisolm as 
we celebrate what would have been her 100th birthday.
  The first Black woman ever elected to Congress, Shirley Chisolm is an 
icon and a trailblazing public servant whose contributions to our 
Nation shall never be forgotten.
  As a founding member of the Congressional Black Caucus, she took a 
bold stand against injustice for all. She used her position on the 
House Agriculture Committee to expand food assistance for vulnerable 
families, and she championed policies to advance equality for women and 
African Americans.

  Shirley Chisolm has always been one of my greatest sheroes, and I am 
fortunate to have met her before she passed. As a senior at Princeton 
University, I had the opportunity to interview Ms. Shirley Chisolm for 
my senior thesis titled ``Black Women in Politics: Our Time Has Come.''
  As luck would have it, it started to snow just as I sat down with 
her. My 30-minute interview turned into 4 hours with Shirley Chisolm.
  Shirley Chisolm shared the challenges and struggles that she 
encountered as the first African-American woman ever elected to 
Congress. She spoke about the importance of defining yourself for 
yourself. She taught us that if you are not given a seat at the 
decisionmaking table, then bring a folding chair.
  Most importantly, she inspired little Black girls like myself to have 
a voice in the world. Today, when I am feeling distraught, when I am 
frustrated on the House floor, when I am upset that I wasn't able to 
deliver for my constituents, I walk by that glorious portrait of 
Shirley Chisolm in the Nation's Capitol. Her hand is on her hips, her 
finger is pointed. She is, indeed, unbossed and unbought.
  Mr. Speaker, when I see that glorious portrait, I have to tell you 
that I get a pep in my step. I get a glide in my stride. She fought the 
good fight and so must we.
  Shirley Chisolm's career paved the way for countless Black women to 
follow in her footsteps, and I know that it is because of her amazing 
leadership and leadership like hers that I get to walk the Halls of 
Congress as Alabama's first African-American Congresswoman.
  I join my colleagues in celebrating the 100th birthday of the 
legendary Shirley Chisolm. May we never forget the minds that she 
changed, the change that she sparked, and the countless Americans whom 
she inspired.
  Mrs. CHERFILUS-McCORMICK. Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentlewoman 
from California (Ms. Lee).
  Ms. LEE of California. Mr. Speaker, I want to thank the gentlewoman 
from Florida for yielding and for her tremendous and steady leadership 
in bringing us all together during these very important Congressional 
Black Caucus Special Order hours.
  Yes, Congresswoman Chisolm made history as the first Black woman to 
be elected to the United States Congress. She was the first. I am the 
20th. That is since 1789, mind you, when the first Congress went into 
session.
  She also was the first Black woman and the first woman to run for the 
Presidency of the United States of America.
  Throughout her seven terms representing New York's 12th Congressional 
District, and mine just happens to be California's 12th Congressional 
District, Shirley worked across the aisle to advocate for her 
constituents and to pass bipartisan reforms. She focused on tackling 
issues of food insecurity and economic justice.
  She was known as Fighting Shirley. She was a fearless advocate for 
American families who served as the founding member of the 
Congressional Black Caucus.
  There are a couple of stories I would just like to mention tonight. 
When I came to Congress, there had been no real recognition of Shirley 
Chisolm, and I decided to introduce a resolution to honor her. I called 
her from right back there, the Cloakroom, and, of course, the 
resolution was on suspension. On suspension, of course, the first night 
we come back into session, there weren't very many Members here, but 
there were maybe two or three Democrats and maybe one or two 
Republicans.
  Connie Morelli from Maryland was on the floor to speak on behalf of 
the resolution. As I was talking to Shirley, I told her to turn on C-
SPAN to watch it. She was very upset.
  She said: Barbara, where are the Republicans?
  She said: I worked very closely with the Republicans constantly. 
Nobody is there.
  I said: Shirley, you remember that on suspension votes, this is the 
first night we are coming back, and believe you me, Republicans are 
supporting this resolution.

                              {time}  1945

  She was pretty antsy and upset about that, so I pulled it from 
suspension that night--it was the first and probably the only bill I 
have ever pulled from suspension--and called for a recorded vote. At 
the recorded vote, all green lights came up. There wasn't one red 
light, so I ran back and talked to her.
  I said: Okay, Shirley, now look. Look at that board. Not one 
Republican voted ``no.''
  She was relieved. I mean, that is just how serious she took her 
bipartisan work. She was so happy to see everybody voting on her 
behalf, remembering her legacy that night.
  Another story that I think is very important for all of us to 
remember is, as the public comes into the Capitol, they see this 
beautiful portrait of Shirley in the hall, and a young African-American 
artist from Compton, California, painted that.
  I thank Speaker Emerita Nancy Pelosi and the late Congresswoman 
Juanita Millender-McDonald from California, who was the chair of the 
House Administration Committee. They fought like you would not believe 
to get this portrait authorized and appropriated and painted.
  I take this moment to remember Juanita Millender-McDonald tonight 
because there is no way we would have had that portrait had she not 
been chair of that House Administration Committee, and our Speaker 
leading the Democrats and working with Juanita to make that happen.
  Of course, to my Delta sisters here: Remember that day when we 
unveiled the portrait. There were many, many Delta members, and her 
sorors were there the day we unveiled that picture.
  Fast forward to the postal stamp. Everything has been very difficult. 
If you are a woman, a woman of color, sometimes everything gets a 
little challenging. We tried to have Shirley Chisholm's legacy 
memorialized in a postal stamp.
  I introduced the legislation. It had to be bipartisan. We received 
the bipartisan support. Then, after about 5

[[Page H6285]]

years, I was told I couldn't do it. To have a postal stamp in someone's 
honor, you have to wait 10 years until after they pass. I was never 
told that upfront, so we had to start all over again, but we finally 
got it done.
  If you don't have one of the Shirley Chisholm legacy historical 
stamps, please try to get the Postal Service to get you one because 
they are beautiful stamps, and they really exemplify her beauty and her 
strength.
  Finally, I will say one personal thing about Shirley because she was 
the catalyst for my career in public service.
  When I met her, I was a student at Mills College. Like so many young 
people today, I was intentionally, mind you--intentionally disconnected 
with the political system. It wasn't that I was apathetic. It wasn't 
that I didn't understand what was going on. It was that I did not 
believe that it worked for me, a young Black mother raising two 
children on her own on public assistance. I was very active. I was 
president of the Black student union.
  When I met and spoke with Shirley, she took me to task. She called me 
Little Girl until the day she died. I was 26 then.
  She said: Little Girl, you are not registered to vote?
  I said: No, ma'am.
  She said: Why not?
  I told her why not. I said I didn't believe in politics. It just 
wasn't working for me.
  Finally, she convinced me that I needed to get involved, and I ended 
up, bottom line, organizing her northern California Presidential 
primary out of my Mills College class with two students, Sandre Swanson 
and Sandy Gaines.
  I went on to Miami as a Shirley Chisholm delegate, where I met Mr. 
Clyburn, and the rest is history. I got an A in the class, actually. I 
was going to flunk that class because part of the work was to do field 
work, and I was refusing to work in the guy's campaigns.
  I say that it is important to remember that she flipped the script, 
and she left the indelible legacy on American politics, all while 
holding the door open for the rest of us to step through. Throughout 
her life, she did remain unbought and unbossed.
  Hopefully, this week, the House and the Senate will finally honor her 
with the Congressional Gold Medal. She deserves it, and I thank the CBC 
and the gentlewoman again for her leadership and for giving us a chance 
to really salute our Heavenly sister, Shirley Chisholm.
  Mrs. CHERFILUS-McCORMICK. Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentlewoman 
from Ohio (Mrs. Beatty).
  Mrs. BEATTY. Mr. Speaker, I thank my CBC colleagues and anchors for 
tonight's Special Order hour.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise today, as many of my colleagues have done, to 
celebrate the 100th birthday of a titan of American democracy, Shirley 
Anita Chisholm.
  Born 100 years ago, as we have heard, Shirley Chisholm shattered 
barriers as the first Black woman elected to Congress and the first 
Black woman to serve on the House Rules Committee.
  She was fearless, fighting for equity, early childhood education, 
labor protections, domestic workers, and programs like SNAP and WIC, 
Mr. Speaker, that we are still fighting for today. During this very 
Congress, we are debating something that she has left us a legacy with. 
Maybe we should go back in time and revisit what she did for our farm 
bill.
  Her advocacy also inspired Title IX, the Equal Rights Amendment, and 
generations of women to lead in boardrooms, classrooms, and right here 
in these Chambers.
  She did not stop there. In 1972, she stood before America and 
declared her candidacy for President, not for the glory of winning, but 
to make room at the table for those silenced too long.
  Mr. Speaker, it thrives in every Black person who refuses to wait 
their turn and every leader who prioritizes people over politics. I can 
tell you as chair emerita of the Congressional Black Caucus, the body 
that she cofounded with 12 other Black men, I stand on her shoulders. 
The Congressional Black Caucus stands on her shoulders. I might go as 
far as saying America stands on her shoulders.

  Little girls come and tour the United States Capitol, and they see 
that painting, the same painting, Mr. Speaker, that, on the day I was 
sworn in on this floor, I went to and touched the frame and said the 
two most powerful words we can say: Thank you, Shirley Chisholm.
  Now I stand here in this room, in this Chamber, where Shirley 
Chisholm stood. I am so proud, as we heard my colleague, Barbara Lee, 
say, yes, she was a proud member of our beloved sorority, Delta Sigma 
Theta Sorority. Today, I serve with eight Black women who are members 
of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, many of them in this Chamber right now.
  I leave us with her words, and whether this Nation acknowledges her 
words, they stand strong with not just us as Black women, but White and 
Brown women; stand with little girls who she told: If they don't give 
you a seat at the table, bring a folding chair.
  The significance of that is so valuable because it is talking about 
how we have been denied to be at that table. If you are not in the 
room, you don't have a voice. Shirley Chisholm gave us that voice.
  Mr. Speaker, today, I thank my colleagues of the Congressional Black 
Caucus for allowing us to be in her chambers, stand in her footsteps, 
and make a commitment and a pledge that we will always have a seat at 
the table because we will bring a chair.
  I thank my colleagues for holding this Special Order hour.
  Mrs. CHERFILUS-McCORMICK. Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentlewoman 
from New Jersey (Mrs. Watson Coleman).
  Mrs. WATSON COLEMAN. Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleagues from the 
Congressional Black Caucus for taking this time to acknowledge this 
champion.
  Today, I rise in recognition of the late Shirley Chisholm, who was 
born 100 years ago last Wednesday. A child of immigrants raised in 
Brooklyn, Shirley Chisholm would go on to become the first Black woman 
elected to Congress and the first woman ever to seek the nomination for 
President from either major American political party.
  The values she championed throughout her career still serve as noble 
guiding principles for us all today. She ran unequivocally, 
unashamedly, and unreservedly on antipoverty, antiwar, and antiracist 
platforms. She spoke plainly, forcefully, and with a moral clarity that 
cut through the smoke-filled rooms where men made deals for us on 
behalf of themselves.
  Now maybe more than ever, our country is in need of the strength of a 
Shirley Chisholm. As I close, I will say everyone has a Shirley 
Chisholm story, and I thank God I have one, too.
  I spent the day with her talking about the building of the 
Congressional Caucus on Black Women. She asked me--no. She said to me: 
Bonnie, I need you down here in D.C. to work with us on the national 
level. Little did we know what God has prepared for you.
  I am because she was. I am grateful to God.
  Mrs. CHERFILUS-McCORMICK. Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentlewoman 
from Ohio (Ms. Brown).
  Ms. BROWN. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentlewoman for pulling the CBC 
together for this Special Order hour along with the gentleman from 
Illinois (Mr. Jackson).
  I am honored to join my CBC colleagues in recognition of the 100th 
birthday of the great Shirley Chisholm here in the House Chamber.
  It is so appropriate that we are here because this is one of the 
places where Shirley made history. On January 3, 1969, she was the 
first Black woman to walk into this Chamber as a Member of Congress. 
That was the 91st Congress of the United States, meaning that the first 
90 Congresses, dating back to 1789, had not featured a Black woman.
  Of course, most Congresses had not featured many women or many Black 
Representatives at all. In fact, the same day that Congresswoman 
Chisholm was sworn in, my predecessor, representing northeast Ohio, the 
Honorable Louis Stokes, another founding member of the CBC, also took 
office, being the first Black Member of Congress from Ohio after 166 
years of statehood.
  That is why I have so much pride when I look at my colleagues because 
we are here now, and it started with Shirley Chisholm.
  Shirley Chisholm served, legislated, and lived like she was making up 
for

[[Page H6286]]

lost time, making up for all the times that people like her had been 
shut out of the conversation or left out of the room. That is why her 
legacy is so strong today.
  She wasn't just a first. She wasn't just a historical footnote. She 
was a fighter. Shirley Chisholm was someone who came here on day one 
and demanded to be heard and demanded that her constituents be heard. 
She fought, unbought and unbossed, for the nutrition benefits, for 
people in need, for childcare, for universal healthcare, and for 
justice for Black women and Black Americans and all people in this 
country.
  These fights are not over. As we head into a new Congress next year 
along with a new President, it is clear that many of these same battles 
will be fought anew.
  Therefore, as we celebrate Congresswoman Chisholm's 100th birthday, 
let us all draw strength from her example and the courage to carry on 
her legacy.
  Mrs. CHERFILUS-McCORMICK. Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentlewoman 
from California (Ms. Kamlager-Dove).

                              {time}  2000

  Ms. KAMLAGER-DOVE. Mr. Speaker, I give thanks and appreciation to the 
gentlewoman from Florida for holding it down during this Special Order 
hour for the CBC, and I thank the gentleman from Illinois for doing the 
same.
  Mr. Speaker, today, we stand on the shoulders of a giant, a giant who 
stood just 5 feet 3 inches tall but had the power to shake the Nation.
  Shirley Chisholm wasn't just the first Black woman elected to 
Congress. She was a force of nature who shattered barriers and dared 
anyone to stop her. Spoiler alert: They couldn't.
  In a world that told her no at every turn, Shirley said: Watch me. 
Watch me.
  She ran for Congress. She won. She became the first Black woman to 
serve in this very body, a body that, let's be clear, wasn't exactly 
rolling out the red carpet and still kind of doesn't.
  Did that stop her? Absolutely not. She showed up, took her seat, and 
if there wasn't a seat, Shirley brought her own folding chair, slammed 
it down, and said: Let's get to work.
  She made history. Along the way, she didn't just break the rules; she 
rewrote them. She fought for civil rights, women's rights, and economic 
justice. She did it all without ever compromising who she was or in 
what she believed.
  Shirley didn't come to Congress to blend in. She came to lead, to 
challenge, and to remind the world that power belongs to those bold 
enough to claim it.
  And lead she did, fearlessly, unapologetically, and always with her 
eyes on a better and more just future.
  Her campaign slogan, Unbought and Unbossed, wasn't just a catchy 
phrase; it was her truth. In a world that told her to ``wait your 
turn,'' she declared: My turn is right now.
  When she ran for President, she didn't just run to win. She ran to 
pave the way for the rest of us. Her courage made it possible for 
people like me, for people like all of us in CBC, to serve. Her voice 
ensured that our voices would one day be heard. Her fierce advocacy for 
women, Black Americans, and the marginalized taught us a vital lesson: 
If they won't give you power, you take it.
  In my office, where her portrait graces the walls, I am reminded 
daily that it is not enough to be in the room. You must shake it. You 
must demand justice. Most importantly, you must never let anyone tell 
you to wait your turn.
  As Shirley said: If they don't give you a seat at the table, bring a 
folding chair.
  I thank Madam Shirley Chisholm. We got our chairs, and we are just 
getting started.
  Many of the women here shared their story. I don't have a story 
because I am too young, but I will tell you, in my home, Shirley 
Chisholm was a legend. To be in the same Chamber where she stood, where 
she fought, where she won, where she declared that we deserve to be 
here, it is an awesome experience and feeling every single time we are 
here to know we have shared the same space with the great, the 
legendary, the most powerful, Shirley Chisholm.
  It is why her photos are on all of my walls in the office because I 
want everyone, when they come to see me, I want them also to see her.
  Mr. Speaker, I thank Shirley Chisholm for her honor, and we carry her 
legacy forward: Unbought, unbossed, and unstoppable.
  Mrs. CHERFILUS-McCORMICK. Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentlewoman 
from Virginia (Ms. McClellan).
  Ms. McCLELLAN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to celebrate the incredible 
life and legacy of Shirley Chisholm, whose 100th birthday we celebrated 
over the weekend.
  Unbought and unbossed, Shirley was the first Black woman to serve in 
this body, a body that was not built for her. She swore an oath to 
support and defend the U.S. Constitution, a document that did not 
include her in we the people.
  In the year of my birth, she became the first Black woman to run for 
President of the United States. Her bravery and determination broke 
barriers and paved the way for so many Black women in politics, 
including myself, saying: ``If they don't give you a seat at the table, 
bring a folding chair.''
  As the first Black woman elected to represent the Commonwealth of 
Virginia, elected 55 years after her historic election, I stand on her 
shoulders.
  Sometimes, sitting in my office, I look at her portrait that is also 
on my wall and reflect on the fact that, in many ways, I and the other 
31 Black Members of Congress today are fighting many of the same fights 
that she fought. She had to fight them alone.
  We fight to include women in the Constitution through the equal 
rights amendment still today. We fight to feed the hungry through the 
SNAP program still today. We fight to extend worker protections that 
most people take for granted, like minimum wage for domestic workers, 
still today. We fight those fights from a position of more power than 
she could have dreamed of because of her.
  She left us a legacy to build on. Today, the entire Congressional 
Black Caucus, but especially the 32 women, are grateful to Shirley 
Chisholm for her incredible service and countless contributions to our 
Nation.
  We will continue to build on the progress and momentum that Shirley 
created until we no longer have to bring a folding chair, but the table 
is big enough to include everyone touched by the policies we adopt in 
this body.
  Mrs. CHERFILUS-McCORMICK. Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentlewoman 
from Texas (Mrs. Lee Carter), who is the daughter of Sheila Jackson 
Lee, for the first time.
  Mrs. LEE CARTER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to celebrate the 
incredible legacy of an iconic American trailblazer and a tireless 
advocate for justice, the Honorable Shirley Anita Chisholm.
  I thank the gentlewoman from Florida, the gentleman from Illinois, 
and, of course, the members of the Congressional Black Caucus for 
hosting this Special Order hour in honor of this indelible and 
phenomenal woman, one of many firsts.

  I am so proud of Congresswoman Shirley Chisholm, who shattered 
barriers when she became the first Black woman elected to the United 
States Congress in 1968. Her historic election wasn't just a victory 
for her district. It was a victory for all of us, and I stand here with 
humility, thinking that I am walking and standing in the same Chamber 
in which she stood.
  It was a powerful affirmation that the Halls of the most powerful 
democracy should belong to everyone regardless of race, gender, or 
background. She forged new pathways for Black women like me, my 
daughter, and all those who came after her. She set a tone in politics 
demanding inclusivity and diversity by unapologetically challenging 
systemic racism, sexism, and corruption.
  During her seven impactful terms in the U.S. House of 
Representatives, she championed causes often overlooked by standing up 
for marginalized communities, women, children, and the working class.
  In 1972, when she broke yet another barrier, becoming the first Black 
woman to seek the Presidential nomination of a major political party, 
her bold and visionary candidacy challenged the status quo and 
redefined what leadership in America could look like.
  She was an incredible inspiration to my late mother, Congresswoman 
Sheila Jackson Lee, and she was one of her

[[Page H6287]]

most revered sheroes. She spoke of her often.
  Much like Chisholm, Congresswoman Jackson Lee worked tirelessly for 
the people, advocating for her district's most pressing issues, from 
education to healthcare, affordable housing, and job creation.
  Mr. Speaker, I am so proud and look forward to supporting and voting 
for the Shirley Chisholm Congressional Gold Medal Act, which will honor 
her trailblazing career and outstanding contributions to our Nation 
and, might I say, our world.
  When asked about her own legacy, Chisholm once stated, ``I want to be 
remembered as a woman . . . who dared to be a catalyst for change.''
  Indeed, she was what she dared so boldly to be, and we are grateful 
to her for that.
  Today, I thank her for her courage, her strength, her resilience, and 
her steadfast commitment to justice and fairness.
  As a mother, former educator, and now Congresswoman myself, standing 
in the very Halls she hailed, I give special thanks to her for always 
standing up and speaking up for the power that we all possess.
  Let us celebrate and honor her legacy by recommitting ourselves to be 
catalysts for change, not only in our communities, but in this hallowed 
Chamber and across our Nation.
  Mrs. CHERFILUS-McCORMICK. Mr. Speaker, may I inquire as to the time 
remaining.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The gentlewoman from Florida has 16 minutes 
remaining.
  Mrs. CHERFILUS-McCORMICK. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I 
may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, in continuance of honoring the life and legacy of 
Congresswoman Shirley Chisholm, I wish to highlight her unflinching 
devotion to the American people.
  No matter how daunting it was or had seemed to onlookers to be the 
first and only Black woman in Congress, Congresswoman Chisholm 
rightfully earned the nickname ``Fighting Shirley'' for her 
determination in empowering underserved communities.
  She fought hard and fast for the least represented in the United 
States, introduced over 50 pieces of legislation geared toward reviving 
her constituents and the Nation's, and relieving them of injustice.
  She was regarded as being deeply in touch with the Nation as she 
advocated for policies that uplifted citizens out of poverty and 
empowered them through job training and education. She advocated for 
our veterans and introduced legislation to increase their benefits so 
that those who served our country would not suffer from inflation.
  Her determination to create a nation where every American could 
succeed lives through us all. Let us continue to honor her legacy by 
continuing the fight to deliver justice for the American people.
  It is my honor to be here today serving in the CBC. Because of 
Shirley Chisholm we women are here today. The CBC has over 31 women who 
are in Congress today, increasing in the next Congress. We are here 
today, each one of us, holding a piece of Shirley Chisholm, hoping to 
actually fulfill her dream of one day pushing this Nation forward, 
where all of our children and the American people can live together in 
a city and in every nation where we have equality, justice, and a clear 
education for everyone.
  Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Jackson), my 
co-chair.
  Mr. JACKSON of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I thank the Congresswoman from 
the great State of Florida for yielding.
  Mr. Speaker, the Honorable John James of the great State of Michigan, 
it is my privilege and pleasure to stand before you today to speak on 
behalf of the Honorable Shirley Chisholm, a woman who has come from 
such depths to such heights that everyone should be reminded of her 
greatness and the trail that she had to blaze. She had no path to find. 
She had to, indeed, blaze a trail.
  If you think about it, since 1789 to 1969, after 180 years, it was 
the first time an African-American woman was able to be called a 
Representative.
  African-American women have been at the bedrock, the foundation, of 
this Nation and oftentimes had gone without recognition. Think about 
the indignities that women have experienced in the past and in the 
present.
  We are still fighting the same fights for dignity, for a woman to 
have rights over her body.
  Now, the corridors are filled with so many men who have had 
transgressions against women. I thought those fights were behind us, 
but we are still fighting for a woman to be believed in these same 
corridors.
  Think about it. It wasn't until 1993 that female Senators actually 
had a place to give their bodies comfort because there was no restroom 
off of the Senate floor. We have come a long way, but we have so much 
further to go.

  It was only in 2011, not that long ago, that they finally built 
restrooms off of this House floor on the second floor so that women 
could relieve their bodies.
  We have a very long way to go to understanding the issues that they 
face, the believability that they should be given the assumption of, as 
now people are seeking nomination and are still being hurled with these 
accusations because they won't give women a fair voice.
  Mr. Speaker, I am thankful for the lovely legacy of the Honorable 
Shirley Chisholm. If you can imagine, being born in 1924 at the height 
of lynching in the United States of America, but something did not put 
out that burning fire inside of her soul that she would have the 
audacity, the unmitigated gall, to want to be President of these United 
States, to know that she, indeed, could serve. From that was a spark 
that could not be quenched out, a flame that has lit so many other 
women. I say thank God for her.
  As we commemorate, as we hold aside a special time to remember a 
woman who was a trailblazer, let's remember that she didn't follow a 
path. There was no path for her to follow. She has since laid a path so 
that so many others could matriculate and ascend to the height of their 
full potential.
  It is at this time, Mr. Speaker, the Honorable Congressman  John 
James, that I will turn this back over to my colleague, the Honorable 
Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick, from the great State of Florida.

                              {time}  2015

  Mrs. CHERFILUS-McCORMICK. Mr. Speaker, I thank Jonathan Jackson for 
that passionate speech.
  Mr. Speaker, today we recognize Shirley Chisholm's tireless 
commitment to justice and equal opportunity.
  During her time in office, Congresswoman Chisholm consistently fought 
against racial discrimination and systemic inequalities endured by all 
African Americans. She was a vocal supporter of the Voting Rights Act 
of 1965 and the Fair Housing Act of 1968, working to create an America 
where everyone could thrive regardless of race.
  She was a trailblazer who fought for the inclusion of women and 
African Americans in positions of power. Her election to Congress 
inspired generations of Black women, showing them that they, too, could 
hold public office.
  Shirley Chisholm has a special place in my heart, being a Caribbean 
woman born in Brooklyn, raised in Queens, and later moved to Florida. 
Seeing her do that inspired all women to know that was possible. Today 
in Congress, we proudly stand 31 strong Black women, and we are about 
to welcome the highest number of Black women in history for the 119th 
Congress.
  Congresswoman Chisholm advocated for economic opportunities for 
marginalized communities, believing economic mobility was key for 
empowering African Americans and building a strong America. Her 
tireless commitment to underserved communities is still inspiring 
today.
  As we honor Congresswoman Shirley Chisholm, we must continue to 
uphold her values and strive to create the America she envisioned.
  Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentlewoman from California (Ms. Lee).
  Ms. LEE of California. Mr. Speaker, I just wanted to add another 
dimension to this discussion regarding Congresswoman Shirley Chisholm. 
Her parents were from the Caribbean. Her father was from Guyana and her 
mother was from Barbados. Congresswoman Chisholm grew up in Barbados, 
even though she was born in New York.
  She had a very profound world view. She understood we all were 
connected to each other. Very recently, in honor

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of her 100th birthday, for the very first time an American's portrait 
was unveiled in the Parliament of Barbados. This is a significant 
historical fact for all of us to remember.
  Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentlewoman again for giving us a chance to 
lift her spirit up tonight. I wish a happy heavenly 100th birthday to 
Shirley Chisholm.
  Mrs. CHERFILUS-McCORMICK. Mr. Speaker, before we close, I once again 
recognize Barbara Lee for all her hard work in Congress. It is so 
fitting that we celebrate 100 years of Shirley Chisholm and have 
Barbara Lee with us. She will be sorely missed. I know Shirley Chisholm 
is looking down right now and is so proud of Barbara.
  Because of Barbara Lee and her mentorship, we have a sisterhood in 
Congress with the CBC women, a sisterhood, a bond that can't be broken. 
I thank Barbara Lee for her mentorship, her sisterhood, for everything 
she has done.
  I can't help but think that Shirley Chisholm is looking down at all 
of us and saying how proud she is that we have gotten here. We have a 
lot of work to do. What she started has to be finished, I hope by our 
generation, by working together and all of us recognizing her hard work 
on both sides.
  Mr. Speaker, you have heard from my distinguished colleagues about 
Ms. Shirley Chisholm, all issues of great importance to the 
Congressional Black Caucus, our constituents, Congress, and all 
Americans.
  I yield back the balance of my time.

                          ____________________