[Congressional Record Volume 145, Number 20 (Thursday, February 4, 1999)]
[House]
[Pages H451-H452]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




     LEGISLATION TO AWARD A CONGRESSIONAL GOLD MEDAL TO ROSA PARKS

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under a previous order of the House, the 
gentlewoman from Indiana (Ms. Carson) is recognized for 5 minutes.
  Ms. CARSON. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to offer legislation to award a 
Congressional Gold Medal to Rosa Parks.
  Rosa Parks is the Mother of America's Civil Rights movement. Her 
quiet courage that day in Montgomery, Alabama, touched off a new 
American revolution that opened new doors of opportunity and brought 
equality for all Americans close to a reality.
  In 1955, Rosa Parks touched off the bus boycott in Montgomery, 
Alabama, when she was arrested for refusing to yield her seat at the 
front of the bus to a white man. Bone-weary from a long day at work, 
Rosa Parks was on her way home. The only seat available on the bus was 
in the ``white'' section. Outraged by her arrest, the black community 
in Montgomery launched a bus boycott demanding racial integration of 
the bus system.
  The bus boycott introduced Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. to America as 
a civil rights leader. Led by Dr. King, African-Americans took

[[Page H452]]

car-pools to their destinations in Montgomery and pushed the bus system 
to the brink of financial ruin. After months of running nearly-empty 
buses, Montgomery relented and agreed to integrate the system. For the 
first time bus riders, no matter what their color, could sit anywhere 
they wanted.
  The movement sparked in Montgomery culminated in the Civil Rights 
Act, the Voting Rights Act and a new affirmation of the equal rights 
promised to all Americans by the Constitution.
  The quiet courage of Rosa Parks changed the course of American 
history and came to symbolize the power of non-violent protest. In the 
44 years since that cold winter Montgomery day, the Nation has derived 
immense benefit from her leadership and that of those she inspired. 
Rosa Parks continues to dedicate her life to the cause of universal 
human rights and has become a living icon for freedom in America.
  My legislation will authorize the President to award Rosa Parks a 
gold medal, on behalf of Congress. It will authorize the U.S. Mint to 
strike and sell duplicates to the public.
  Today is Rosa Parks' 86th birthday. It is time for Congress and the 
entire nation to join me in recognizing Rosa Parks' significant and 
historic contributions to American society. February is Black History 
month. This is the time for us to finally give Rosa Parks the 
recognition she has so long deserved.

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