[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 16 (Tuesday, February 15, 2005)]
[House]
[Page H614]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




          THE LIFE AND TIMES OF THE HONORABLE SHIRLEY CHISOLM

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under a previous order of the House, the 
gentlewoman from Florida (Ms. Corrine Brown) is recognized for 5 
minutes.
  Ms. CORRINE BROWN of Florida. Mr. Speaker, on behalf of the 
constituents of the Third Congressional District of Florida, I am 
honored to share my thoughts with you about this amazing lady.
  Upon her passing, let's pause to reflect upon her life and times, and 
how she has influenced our world today. During her hard fought rise to 
the halls of Congress and her permanent place in the history of our 
Nation; she was on time to fight for truth, justice, humanity, and the 
rights of the have-nots; she was where she needed to be to raise the 
consciousness of a nation, and shed light on the plight of others.
  She led a battle that was personal, one that was rooted deep in the 
soul of the oppressed, the forgotten and the disenfranchised. Hers was 
a fight to make this Nation live up to its promise--liberty and 
equality for all. This great battle was more than just politics--it was 
a fight to garner the hopes of the few and infuse them with the dreams 
of the many. This was the struggle for the humanity of human kind; the 
reminder that the prize was always in view, yet denied by those who 
sought to keep their dreams squandered.
  As a founding Member of the Congressional Black Caucus, Shirley 
Chisholm was a driving force behind the Caucus' mission to serve as the 
`Conscience of the Congress,' and the fight to include women, children, 
and people of color in the public policy debate that so deeply affects 
their own lives. It is from her example and spirit that we continue to 
fight for the ideals that she held so close.
  Shirley Chisholm joins the ranks of countless other civil rights 
leaders to whom we owe our strength. Today, we bless and honor her by 
keeping her struggle, and our struggle, alive. I will miss her dearly, 
and both she and her family will always remain in my thoughts and 
prayers.

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