IV 111th CONGRESS 1st Session H. RES. 926 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES November 19, 2009 Mr. Towns submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on House Administration RESOLUTION Honoring former Representative Shirley Chisholm, on the occasion of the 85th anniversary of her birth, for her dedication and for providing an example of selfless service.

Whereas Shirley Chisholm was the first Black female to be elected to the House of Representatives and served her Brooklyn, New York, district for 7 terms; Whereas Shirley Chisholm was the first woman to run for the Democratic nomination for President and was the first Black major-party candidate for President in 1972; Whereas Shirley Chisholm dedicated her life to social justice by speaking for those who were often forgotten and refusing to take no for an answer; Whereas Shirley Chisholm was fiercely dedicated to equal rights, early childhood education, and child welfare; Whereas Shirley Chisholm was a champion for the political voice of women by becoming a cofounder of the New York City Chapter of the National Organization for Women, which was the organization's first chapter; Whereas Shirley Chisholm believed in empowering all voters and established the Unity Democratic Club in 1960, which helped to galvanize Black and Hispanic voters in New York City; Whereas Shirley Chisholm was a founding member of the Congressional Black Caucus in 1971 and the Congressional Women’s Caucus in 1977; Whereas Shirley Chisholm in 1977 became the first African-American woman to serve on the powerful Rules Committee of the House of Representatives; and Whereas Shirley Chisholm would have turned 85 years of age on November 30, 2009: Now, therefore, be it

That the House of Representatives honors former Representative Shirley Chisholm, on the occasion of the 85th anniversary of her birth, for her dedication and for providing an example of selfless service.