[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 80 (Thursday, June 16, 2005)]
[Senate]
[Pages S6747-S6748]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

      By Mr. CHAMBLISS:
  S. 1258. A bill to designate the building located at 493 Auburn 
Avenue, N.E., in Atlanta, Georgia, as the ``John Lewis Civil Rights 
Institute''; to the Committee on Environment and Public Works.
  Mr. CHAMBLISS. Mr. President, I rise today to honor a man who has 
been at the front of our country's fight for civil rights. Born a son 
of sharecroppers in Troy, AL, John grew up to become one of the leading 
proponents fighting on the frontlines of the civil rights movement.
  John grew up listening to speeches from the Reverend Martin Luther 
King Jr., and observing many courageous acts, such as the Montgomery 
bus boycotts. Through those examples, Lewis could no longer stand idly 
by while others suffered for his sake. He was motivated to become an 
active participant in these historical events. From organizing peaceful 
demonstrations, to riding in the fronts of buses, Lewis was a key 
leader and played a dynamic role in the civil rights movement.
  From 1963-1966 Lewis served as chairman of the Student Nonviolent 
Coordinating Committee. In 1963 Lewis was named one of the Big Six 
Civil Rights leaders along with Martin Luther King Jr., James Farmer, 
Roy Wilkins, Whitney Young, and A. Phillip Randolph.
  In August 1963, John Lewis was a keynote speaker at the momentous 
March on Washington where Martin Luther King, Jr. gave his ``I Have a 
Dream'' speech. On March 7, 1965, Lewis helped the now pivotal voting 
rights march from Selma to Montgomery, AL. Sustaining physical injuries 
for the principles he believed in, John Lewis remained steadfast in his 
commitment to promoting human rights in the United States. The violent 
reactions by Alabama state troopers that day sparked an outcry and

[[Page S6748]]

eventually served to facilitate passage of the Voting Rights Act of 
1965.
  Mr. President, as a congressman, statesman, humanitarian, the Nation 
has benefited greatly from the lifelong contributions of John Lewis. I 
am proud to introduce legislation honoring John Lewis.
  There being no objection, the bill was ordered to be printed in the 
Record, as follows:

                                S. 1258

       Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of 
     the United States of America in Congress assembled,

     SECTION 1. JOHN LEWIS CIVIL RIGHTS INSTITUTE.

       (a) Designation.--The building located at 493 Auburn 
     Avenue, N.E., in Atlanta, Georgia, shall be known and 
     designated as the ``John Lewis Civil Rights Institute''.
       (b) References.--Any reference in a law, map, regulation, 
     document, paper, or other record of the United States to the 
     building referred to in subsection (a) shall be deemed to be 
     a reference to the John Lewis Civil Rights Institute.
                                 ______