[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 40 (Wednesday, April 1, 1998)]
[House]
[Pages H2031-H2032]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 RECOGNIZING THE CONTRIBUTIONS OF THE REVEREND DR. MARTIN LUTHER KING, 
               JR., ON THE 30TH ANNIVERSARY OF HIS DEATH

  Mr. CANADY of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that the 
Committee on the Judiciary be discharged from further consideration of 
the concurrent resolution (H. Con. Res 247) recognizing the 
contributions of the Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., to the civil 
society of the United States and the world and to the cause of 
nonviolent social and political change to advance social justice and 
equality for all races and calling on the people of the United States 
to study, reflect on, and celebrate the life of Dr. Martin Luther King, 
Jr., on the thirtieth anniversary of his death, and ask for its 
immediate consideration in the House.
  The Clerk read the title of the concurrent resolution.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Shimkus). Is there objection to the 
request of the gentleman from Florida?
  Mr. LEWIS of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, reserving the right to object, I 
would ask the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Canady) to explain to the 
body the purpose of the legislation.
  Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Canady).
  Mr. CANADY of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for 
yielding.
  House Concurrent Resolution 247, a concurrent resolution to recognize 
the contributions of the Reverend Martin Luther King, Jr., was 
introduced by the gentleman from Oklahoma (Mr. Watts).
  On April 4, 1968, the Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, minister, 
civil rights activist, Nobel Peace Prize winner, and world leader, was 
killed by an assassin's bullet. Dr. King's foreshortened life, which 
ended at age 39, was memorialized all over the world.
  This spring marks the 30th anniversary of Reverend King's death and 
comes at a time when Americans will be remembering and discussing Dr. 
King's work and contributions to the cause of nonviolent social and 
political change to advance social justice and equality for people of 
all races.
  This anniversary presents an excellent time to offer this resolution 
which recognizes the importance of the life and work of the Reverend 
Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. It recognizes that Dr. King's life was 
tragically taken before the full achievement of his dream and goals, 
and it calls on the people of the United States to study, reflect on, 
and to celebrate his life's work.
  Mr. LEWIS of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, continuing my reservation of 
objection, I first heard of Martin Luther King, Jr. in 1955 when I was 
15 years old growing up in rural Alabama. Three years later, in 1958, 
40 years ago, I had an opportunity to meet Martin Luther King, Jr. It 
was the beginning of a long and beautiful relationship. He was my 
friend, my leader, my brother, my hero.
  Martin Luther King, Jr., must be looked upon as one of the Founding 
Fathers of the new America. He used the philosophy and the discipline 
of nonviolence to bring about a nonviolent revolution in America. 
Martin Luther King, Jr., with the use of nonviolence, had the power, 
the ability, and the capacity to bring the dirt and the filth from 
under the American rug, out of the cracks, out of the corners into the 
open light in order for us to deal with the problem of racism and 
segregation. We live in a better nation, in a better place. We are a 
better people because Martin Luther King, Jr., lived.
  In my estimation, 30 years later, we must look upon Martin Luther 
King, Jr., as one of the founding fathers of the new America. He not 
only freed and liberated African Americans, but he freed and liberated 
all Americans. So it is fitting and appropriate that we pause tonight 
to commemorate the life and times of Martin Luther King, Jr.
  Mr. Speaker, I withdraw my reservation of objection.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from Florida?
  Mr. WATTS of Oklahoma. Mr. Speaker, reserving the right to object, I 
rise today to reflect on the life and accomplishments of Dr. Martin 
Luther King, Jr., and to encourage our colleagues to support House 
Concurrent Resolution 247, commemorating the life of Dr. King as we 
come upon the unfortunate 30th anniversary of his death.
  I do not intend to speak this evening on the death of Dr. King. The 
reason why is because Dr. King, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.'s spirit is 
alive today. Today, I want to tell you, Mr. Speaker, how I know Dr. 
King's spirit is alive in the United States of America.
  Of course, we have concrete examples of legislation that bears Dr. 
King's legacy. For starters, we have the 24th amendment to the 
Constitution which ended the poll tax. We also have the Civil Rights 
Act of 1964 and the Voting Rights Act of 1965 which further prohibits 
racial discrimination in the workplace and in the voting booth. We also 
have the Civil Rights Act of 1968 which prohibits landlords from 
refusing to sell or rent property on account of race.
  All of those effective anti-discrimination laws would probably not 
exist today had it not been for the leadership of Dr. Martin Luther 
King, Jr. However, these laws are not the only legacy Dr. King has left 
behind. Dr. King also lives on in the hopes and dreams of our young 
people.
  You have children in grade school or in college today. I want to have 
you take a look at them. I want you to consider all of the 
opportunities that are available for your kids today. Your son and your 
daughter could be a doctor or lawyer, or your kids would be astronauts 
or firemen. They can serve in the military or as elected officials.
  In these times, it is becoming easier for our children to gain 
success in these career fields without having to worry about whether or 
not their race will be an impediment to their success.
  Racism is not dead, Mr. Speaker. Let me be clear about that. However, 
discrimination and prejudice are on the run thanks to Dr. King and 
those who fought the good fight alongside him, people like my 
distinguished colleague,

[[Page H2032]]

the gentleman from Georgia (Mr. Lewis).
  Mr. Speaker, during the years in which Dr. King served as a leader of 
the civil rights groups like the Montgomery Improvement Association and 
the SCLC, he took out a tissue of truth and wiped away the dirt of 
discrimination from the American dream. Thanks to Dr. King, the 
American dream today is alive and accessible to millions of Americans 
who might otherwise been left out in the cold. This, too, is Dr. King's 
legacy.
  Dr. King's legacy can also be found in our churches every week. Mr. 
Speaker, Dr. King was a believer in the power of God to change the 
lives of Americans for the better. He served as a pastor at Dexter 
Avenue Baptist Church in Montgomery, Alabama, and at Ebenezer Baptist 
Church in Atlanta, Georgia. In short, Dr. King was a devout man of 
faith who believed that God had a place, a central place in American 
society.
  That is important to recognize as part of Dr. King's legacy. 
Nowadays, there seems to be a serious effort under way to run God out 
of America. America without God's direction is like a man who does not 
have a heart. Neither entity can survive for very long.
  Indeed, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., believed that laws were 
meaningless unless they had a moral component to them. In his Letter 
From the Birmingham Jail, Dr. King wrote, ``A just law is a man-made 
code that squares with the moral law and a law of God. An unjust law is 
a code that is out of harmony with the moral law.''
  Dr. King felt he was morally justified in fighting segregation and 
discrimination because he knew that Jim Crow laws violated God's law. 
Mr. Speaker, this evening, as we consider laws here in Congress, we 
should start holding each other up to the same standard Dr. Martin 
Luther King set for laws. We must ask, is this law we are considering a 
morally just law? Or, we must ask, would it be morally just if we did 
not pass this law?
  Every Member of Congress should remember the words of Dr. King when 
he said, human progress never rolls in on wheels of inevitability. It 
comes through the tireless efforts and persistent work of men and women 
willing to be coworkers with God.
  Indeed, Mr. Speaker, if all of us as Americans will come together, 
Republicans, Democrats, liberal, conservative, red, yellow, brown, 
black, or white, we can make our schools places where children will 
shoot for the stars instead of making schools places where our children 
are shot at. If we as Americans will all reject our prejudices and 
stereotypes and work together, we can end this horrible drug epidemic 
which is killing our young people.
  In closing, Mr. Speaker, as we all consider this great resolution 
before us, let us each resolve to examine ourselves this evening. Let 
us ask ourselves what are we doing today to keep Dr. King's legacy 
alive.
  We must ask ourselves, are we teaching our kids to respect and love 
people of all races? Are we leading by example in this area? How many 
hours have we spent with our kids this week? Are we actively 
encouraging our children in their studies and in talking with them 
about their problems? Are we showing our children that we care about 
them?
  If we are falling short in any of these areas, Mr. Speaker, we are 
stomping all over the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. However, if 
we teach our kids right from wrong, spend time with them and encourage 
our kids to love others, we are keeping Dr. King's dream alive and, at 
the same time, preserving the American dream for our children, our 
children's children, and millions of new Americans to come.
  Mr. Speaker, I withdraw my reservation of objection.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to request of the 
gentleman from Florida?
  There was no objection.
  The Clerk read the concurrent resolution, as follows:

                            H. Con. Res. 247

         
       Whereas the life work of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., 
     serves as an inspiration to all people who believe in 
     justice, equality, and human rights;
       Whereas Dr. King advanced his goals and principles with 
     determination, faith, dignity, and courage in the face of 
     life-threatening opposition;
       Whereas Dr. King raised the consciousness of the Nation to 
     fundamental injustices and inequalities in American society 
     and moved the Nation significantly forward on the long and 
     unfinished road to racial harmony and reconciliation;
       Whereas the work of Dr. King created a basis of 
     understanding and respect for individuals, communities, and 
     the Nation as a whole, to act cooperatively and courageously 
     to establish tolerance, justice, and equality among all 
     people;
       Whereas Dr. King's life and political philosophy advocated 
     the need for men and women to strive to overcome oppression 
     without resorting to violence;
       Whereas Dr. King was the recipient of the 1964 Nobel Peace 
     Prize for his unrelenting efforts to bring about social and 
     racial justice;
       Whereas Dr. King believed in, practiced, and urged others 
     to achieve political change and social equality through 
     nonviolent means and dedicated his life to achieving the goal 
     of a fully integrated society;
       Whereas there is still much work to be done in achieving 
     full reconciliation among America's racial, social, and 
     ethnic communities and in creating a colorblind society;
       Whereas Dr. King's life was tragically ended on April 4, 
     1968, before completing his work and fulfilling his dream of 
     a Nation where people are not judged by the color of their 
     skin but by the content of their character; and
       Whereas Dr. King's political philosophy and life's work 
     shine as a guiding light for all people who would live 
     peacefully together in freedom, both nationally and around 
     the world: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate 
     concurring), That the Congress--
       (1) recognizes the importance of the life and work of the 
     Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. to the civil society and 
     freedoms of the United States of America;
       (2) recognizes that Dr. King's life was tragically taken 
     before the full achievement of his goals; and
       (3) calls on the people of the United States to study, 
     reflect on, and celebrate Dr. King's life and ideals in order 
     to fulfill his dream of civil and human rights for all 
     people.

  The concurrent resolution was agreed to.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

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