[Congressional Record Volume 149, Number 97 (Friday, June 27, 2003)]
[Senate]
[Page S8863]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

      By Mr. LEVIN (for himself, Mr. Warner, Mr. Biden, Mr. Hollings, 
        Mr. Bingaman, Ms. Stabenow, Mr. Kennedy, Mr. Lautenberg, Mr. 
        Pryor, Ms. Landrieu, Mrs. Clinton, Ms. Mikulski, Mr. Durbin, 
        Mr. Dodd, Mr. Lieberman, Mr. Corzine, Mr. Miller, Mr. Kerry, 
        and Mr. Jeffords):
  S. 1368. A bill to authorize the President to award a gold medal on 
behalf of the Congress to Reverend Doctor Martin Luther King, Jr. 
(posthumously) and his widow Coretta Scott King in recognition of their 
contributions to the Nation on behalf of the civil rights movement; to 
the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs.
  Mr. LEVIN. Madam President, joined by a number of my colleagues in 
the Senate, I am today introducing legislation, S. 1368, that will 
authorize the President to award a Congressional Gold Medal to Reverend 
Doctor Martin Luther King, Jr., posthumously, and his widow, Coretta 
Scott King, in recognition of their countless contributions to the 
Nation as leaders of the civil rights movement. A companion bill is 
being introduced in the House by Congressman John Lewis of Georgia. 
This medal is one small way for Congress to recognize and honor this 
couple's distinguished record of public service, sacrifice, and 
commitment to protect the dignity of a people and awaken the conscience 
of a country.
  Dr. King embraced all Americans in his quest to make a living reality 
of equality of opportunity and economic and social justice for all 
humankind, those fundamental principles in our Constitution. The vision 
of equality which guided his life and contributed to his death is 
indelibly woven into the fabric and history of our Nation. This medal 
will pay tribute to Dr. King's many great accomplishments: from his 
courageous application of the doctrine of nonviolent civil disobedience 
to combat segregation to his leadership in the Montgomery bus boycott, 
from his efforts on behalf of 1964 Civil Rights Act and 1965 Voting 
Rights Act to his soaring speeches that inspired a nation to action. 
For these and for all his other contributions, Dr. King deserves our 
highest honor.
  Mrs. Coretta Scott King joined her husband in his lifework and has 
continued his legacy to this day. Like Dr. King, Mrs. King was a leader 
in our country's civil rights movement, striving through nonviolent 
means to promote social change and attain full civil rights for 
African-Americans and other discriminated people. Mrs. King worked to 
preserve Dr. King's memory and ideals by, among other things, 
developing and building the Martin Luther King, Jr. Center for 
Nonviolent Social Change in Atlanta, establishing the ``Freedom 
Concerts'' organization to increase awareness of the Southern Christian 
Leadership Conference, and leading a campaign to recognize Dr. King's 
birthday as a national holiday. Mrs. King's continuing contributions to 
our nation also merit her receipt of this award.
  Here in America we have come a long way towards achieving Dr. King's 
dream of liberty, justice and equality for all. But we still have work 
to do. Let us rededicate ourselves to continuing the struggle that he 
died for and that Mrs. King continues to work for. The Congressional 
Gold Medal is a fitting tribute to these two heroes who tirelessly 
fought to create a united America.
  I hope that my colleagues will join Senators Warner, Biden, Hollings, 
Bingaman, Stabenow, Kennedy, Lautenberg, Pryor, Landrieu, Clinton, 
Milkulski, Durbin, Dodd, Lieberman, Corzine and me in commemorating the 
efforts of the late Reverend Doctor Martin Luther King, Jr. and his 
widow, Coretta Scott King, by supporting this legislation.
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