[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 153 (Thursday, November 17, 2005)]
[House]
[Pages H10786-H10789]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




      PLACEMENT OF STATUE OF ROSA PARKS IN NATIONAL STATUARY HALL

  Mr. NEY. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on 
House Administration be discharged from further consideration of the 
bill (H.R. 4145) to direct the Architect of the Capitol to obtain a 
statue of Rosa Parks and to place the statue in the United States 
Capitol in National Statuary Hall, and ask for its immediate 
consideration in the House.
  The Clerk read the title of the bill.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from Ohio?
  Ms. MILLENDER-McDONALD. Mr. Speaker, reserving the right to object, I 
yield to the gentleman from Ohio to explain the purpose of this 
legislation.
  Mr. NEY. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of House Resolution 
4145, a bill to direct the Joint Committee on the Library to obtain a 
statue of Rosa Parks and to place the statue in the United States 
Capitol in National Statuary Hall.
  Mr. Speaker, Mrs. Rosa Louise Parks is widely recognized as the 
mother of the civil rights movement. She did the unthinkable on 
December 1, 1955, when she refused to give up her seat on that bus in 
segregated Montgomery, Alabama. However, it was this simple act that 
inspired a young reverend, Martin Luther King, Jr., to lead a 381-day 
boycott of that city's bus system, thus providing the spark to ignite 
the civil rights movement.
  Before she provided the inspiration for the civil rights movement, 
she was already working to break down the decades of Jim Crow laws by 
being an active member in the local Montgomery chapter of the NAACP. In 
1992, she explained why she did not give up her seat that day. ``The 
real reason of my not standing up was I felt that I had a right to be 
treated as any other passenger. We had endured that kind of treatment 
for too long.''
  In the aftermath of the boycott, Mrs. Parks and her husband found it 
difficult to find work and endured a hostile environment in Alabama. 
Therefore, she and her husband Raymond Parks moved north to Detroit in 
1957. A year after my colleague from Michigan, Representative John 
Conyers, was first elected to the House, he made the brilliant decision 
to hire Mrs. Parks as a legislative aide. She worked for him until her 
retirement in 1988. By then she had founded the Rosa and Raymond Parks 
Institute for Self-Development. This nonprofit organization is 
committed to working with Detroit's youth to build leadership skills 
and inspire them to continue her work on civil and human rights. She 
spent the remainder of her life's work focusing on this organization.
  In 1999, the United States Congress first honored Mrs. Parks in the 
Rotunda of the Capitol by awarding her with the Congressional Gold 
Medal, our Nation's highest expression of national appreciation for 
distinguished achievements and contributions. Just 2 weeks ago, the 
United States Congress honored Mrs. Parks in the Rotunda again by 
allowing the Nation to pay its final respects to this great and unique 
American by allowing her remains to lie in honor in the Rotunda. The 
United States Congress should eternally recognize the significant 
contribution she made in advancing civil and human rights in this 
country.
  Mr. Speaker, I can think of no better way than by commissioning a 
statue of Mrs. Parks and placing it in National Statuary Hall. I want 
to commend Jesse Jackson, Jr., of Illinois, Mike Rogers of Alabama, and 
all the Members that have signed on to this important house resolution. 
I want to thank our ranking member, Juanita Millender-McDonald of 
California, for her work on this to expedite it and the Speaker of the 
House and his staff and the staff of House Administration on both sides 
to make sure that this moved as fast as it could here. It is important, 
because I think that Rosa Lee Parks did something for every American in 
this country that day. I think it is something that we all recognize 
changed the entire nature of the country. I think that placing the 
statue in Statuary Hall is a great and deserving honor. Again I want to 
thank Jesse Jackson, Jr., and Mike Rogers for this fine resolution.
  Ms. MILLENDER-McDONALD. Mr. Speaker, further reserving the right to 
object, I rise to join the chairman in support of this resolution which 
would allow a statue of the late Rosa Louise Parks to be placed in the 
U.S. Capitol. I would first like to congratulate my colleague from 
Illinois, Jesse Jackson, Jr., and his partner, Mike Rogers, for their 
hard work in building the ground swell of support which this bill has 
as well as thanks to the chairman of the Committee on House 
Administration, my colleague, Mr. Ney; the Speaker; and the 
distinguished Democratic leader, Nancy Pelosi, for working so 
diligently with me to bring this bill to the floor.
  Rosa Louise Parks was a great woman who simply sat down in order for 
us to stand up here today. I believe that it is only fitting that we 
honor this great American by placing a life-sized statue of her in the 
U.S. Capitol

[[Page H10787]]

for all to see. I urge my colleagues to bestow upon Rosa Louise Parks 
this honor and include among the collection of statues here in the 
Capitol the very first statue of an African American woman. Support 
this resolution in honor of the mother of the civil rights movement, 
Rosa Louise Parks. Once this bill has been passed by Congress and has 
been signed into law, I look forward to my role as a member of the 
Joint Committee on the Library in overseeing the commissioning of the 
statue. It will be a high honor for me to be part of this effort to 
further pay tribute and honor to this heroine of mine and to all 
Americans who is also from my home State of Alabama.
  Mr. Speaker, I would like to now yield to the distinguished 
Democratic leader, the Honorable Nancy Pelosi.
  Ms. PELOSI. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentlewoman for yielding and I 
thank her for her leadership on this very important matter. I want to 
join Congresswoman Millender-McDonald in applauding the Speaker for 
making this accommodation so the legislation could move quickly and be 
enacted into law and that the statue hopefully soon will be standing in 
Statuary Hall and so that this law can be passed in time for the 50th 
anniversary of Rosa Parks' courageous action which occurs in December.
  I want to join Congresswoman Millender-McDonald in commending the 
gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Ney) as well and our distinguished colleague, 
Mr. Jesse Jackson, Jr., who was the author of this legislation. By the 
time we all got to Rosa Parks funeral, we already had over 100 
cosponsors of the bill and this action tonight will deliver on the 
promise that many of us made at that funeral. I considered it a great 
privilege to speak there. On behalf of the Democrats and the 
Republicans in the Congress, I said that we would soon have a promised 
statue in the Capitol. Congressman John Conyers of Detroit has been a 
godfather to all of this effort and he deserves a great deal of 
recognition and credit for this.
  I said at the time that Rosa Parks loved young people. That was her 
focus. While we were all praising her for her past actions, she was 
always concerned about the impact on the future for America's children. 
She was the mother of the modern civil rights movement. She was the 
mother of modern society because she made such a change in America with 
her courage. She came to the Capitol to receive the Congressional Gold 
Medal. It was a proud day for all of us. She brought luster to that 
award by accepting it. She came here, as was mentioned, to lie in 
state, the first woman to lie in state in the Rotunda of the Capitol 
and she will return to the Capitol in a statue to be an ongoing 
inspiration.
  We in Congress think we have a special relationship with Rosa Parks. 
She will live here with us as a constant inspiration of her courage and 
inspiration to future generations. When they visit the Capitol they 
will be sure to see, observe and be inspired by the life, the courage 
and the incredible contribution of Rosa Parks. I commend all of my 
colleagues, Congresswoman Millender-McDonald, Congressman Conyers, and 
Congressman Jackson for their role in making this possible. It is an 
honor to be part of this effort. I look forward to the day when all of 
us can converge on this Capitol for the unveiling of this magnificent 
statue.

                              {time}  0200

  Ms. MILLENDER-McDONALD. Thank you so much, Madam Leader.
  Mr. Speaker, further reserving the right to object, I yield to the 
godfather, the Honorable John Conyers.
  Mr. CONYERS. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentlewoman from California for 
yielding to me. This is a proud, especially pleasing evening for me. 
There has been so much outpouring of affection and respect and 
understanding of the contribution of Rosa Louise Parks that I am 
absolutely amazed by it and flattered by it.
  Here is a woman who was, true, honored during her lifetime in many 
unusual ways; but it seems to me, and I think the leaders here on the 
floor tonight are especially cognizant of them, I know that they were 
all at one or more of the memorial services. First of all, she had 
three in three different States, in which Presidents, past Presidents, 
members of the Federal Government and religious leaders of all faiths 
came together.
  I must say, I have been astounded by the outpouring of affection and 
recognition for her contributions. I want to thank the gentleman from 
Ohio (Mr. Ney) for the incredible devotion and dedication he has put 
behind the resolution that we are taking up tonight. I appreciate it so 
much.
  We, of course, appreciate the author, the gentleman from Illinois 
(Mr. Jackson), because his father played such a critical role in the 
development of the civil rights movement and its continuation. He has a 
story that I never ask him to repeat too much, because I was the one 
that introduced Reverend Jesse Jackson to Dr. Martin Luther King in 
Chicago. I had no idea of the momentous consequences that were going to 
flow from that.
  The fact of the matter is that Rosa Parks had no idea that the 
consequences of her determination to end this form of segregation, 
which she despised so much, was going to have the consequences that 
flowed from it, namely, that it would bring Martin Luther King, Jr., 
into the picture and re-create the modern civil rights movement.
  I am very pleased to be here. I wanted to just close by thanking all 
of the Members of Congress and the other body who came to the memorial 
service. I see everyone on the floor here attended that service in 
Detroit at Greater Grace Church, where we had a tremendous turnout, 
just as there was in Washington D.C., not only at the church, but at 
the rotunda itself, and even before that in Montgomery, Alabama.
  I have been so renewed in my faith in my civil rights struggle by the 
way the Members of the Congress, through many other legislative acts, 
and now this one, have responded to this great person who will now take 
her place in history in a way that I think will keep the memory of her 
contributions to the civil rights movement alive.
  I again express my thanks to the author of this resolution, Mr. 
Jackson, and the leaders, both the chairman and the ranking member of 
the subcommittee.
  Ms. MILLENDER-McDONALD. Mr. Speaker, I would now like to yield to the 
gentlewoman from Texas (Ms. Jackson-Lee).
  Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentlewoman very 
much for yielding. What a special time and a moment. I know that our 
preference would be to be able to sing praises and to salute Rosa Parks 
for a very long time on this floor. I think it is important that we 
have the opportunity to hear from the author of this legislation.
  I might share just a few moments of appreciation to you, Madam 
Ranking Member, for steadfastness and perseverance and the swift hand 
and the partnership you have with the chairman of this committee, who 
has, through his own love of history, managed to create more history in 
this Congress over the last sessions of his tenure as chairman with the 
hanging of a number of paintings. Now he joins in the celebratory 
announcement of the placing of the statue of Rosa Parks in the National 
Statuary Hall of the United States Congress.
  Just as a reminder for those of us who grew up just a few short years 
ago, I can tell you that there was much lacking in the study of African 
American history in our school books. In fact, I might say to you that 
through my primary and secondary training, and primary and secondary 
schools, there was no study of African American history. I might say 
that there was Black History Month, yes, and there would be little 
cutout features and stories, maybe; but when I opened the book, I could 
not find the place that would tell me the story of a Rosa Parks or 
Martin Luther King or maybe even W.E.B. DuBois.
  This legislation today has a special place for all of America. Rosa 
Parks's history is well known. We know that she first sat down in the 
back of a bus and then moved to the front of the bus so that others 
might stand and others might run and others might win. We know that she 
left Montgomery, Alabama; but I think we should be well aware that she 
left because there was no place for her there. The chiding, the 
chastising, the attacks on her life, the threats forced her to leave 
and go to Detroit, Michigan and what a refuge to

[[Page H10788]]

find the Honorable John Conyers where she could find refuge in a job 
that lasted her until her retirement.
  Then the founding of the Raymond and Rosa Parks Institute focused on 
one issue, and we heard it over and over again in the funeral services, 
and that was to help children. So it is appropriate that the Honorable 
Jesse Jackson and Mike Rogers would come to the floor with this great 
legislation. The history of Jesse Jackson and his family but also his 
history of himself and being a student of history and recognizing the 
value of the Constitution and the presence of the 13th, 14th, and 15th 
amendments that freed us from slavery, also gave us equal rights that 
Rosa Parks had so much of that that she deserved this honor. I might 
say to you that one of the themes that came out of her funeral was that 
when there was trouble, there was wrongness, Rosa Parks stood in the 
way.

                              {time}  0215

  I hope that this statue symbolizes the importance of America never 
forgetting her history. Rosa Parks was long-standing, determined, 
persistent, a demeanor that lit the world but also set the world on the 
right path.
  We must remember Rosa Parks because, in fact, she brought about the 
ending of an America that was locked in the shackles of segregation. 
America was held hostage by discrimination, but it was through her 
determination and commitment and courageousness that she was able to 
break the shackles of segregation in a Nation that had found itself 
locked and forever committed to such a terrible way.
  So I am excited about the fact that this legislation is on the floor, 
but more importantly, it will mean that no child that lives in America 
will ever have to worry about a history book that does not recount the 
story of Rosa Parks. For all they need do is come to the United States 
Congress as they have done over the years in school trips with their 
parents, with church groups and parishes and synagogues and mosques and 
simply walk up those steps and walk into Statuary Hall and look up and 
there at a statue of Rosa Parks and her story will be told.
  This is a great day for America. It is a great day for the history of 
this Nation. It is a great day for our children.
  I thank the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Jackson) for his leadership, 
and the gentleman from Alabama (Mr. Rogers), the gentleman from Ohio 
(Mr. Ney), and the gentlewoman from California (Ms. Millender-
McDonald). It is a great day for America.
  Ms. MILLENDER-McDONALD. It is an honor to see a new generation 
emerge, one who is walking in the footsteps of his own father. It is 
great to have the co-author of this legislation here. Mr. Speaker, I 
yield to the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Jackson).
  Mr. JACKSON of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, let me thank the gentlewoman 
from California (Ms. Millender-McDonald) for yielding.
  At the outset, I would like to thank the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. 
Hastert) and his staff, specifically Ted Van Der Meid, the majority 
leader, the gentleman from Missouri (Mr. Blunt), the minority leader, 
the gentlewoman from California (Ms. Pelosi) and her staff, 
specifically Jerry Hartz, Lorraine Miller and William Little.
  This legislation simply would not be possible without the leadership 
of the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Ney), the chairman of the House 
Administration Committee, and his staff, their extraordinary 
steadfastness and leadership for which we are all grateful, along with 
the ranking member, the gentlewoman from California (Ms. Millender-
McDonald) and her staff, specifically George Shevlin and Matt Pinkus.
  I especially want to thank my new friend and co-sponsor, the 
gentleman from Alabama (Mr. Rogers) who, along with his staff, worked 
closely with me and my staff to garner support for this bill. I would 
like to thank the more than 200 bipartisan co-sponsors of this bill.
  Mr. Speaker, it is my privilege to rise today to speak on this very 
important legislation that will honor the life and work of the late 
Mrs. Rosa Parks by placing a statue of her in National Statuary Hall. 
Everyone knows the story of how Mrs. Parks helped spark the modern 
civil rights movement when she refused to give up her seat on a legally 
segregated bus that fateful day, December 1, 1955, leading to the 
Montgomery bus boycott and the emergence of Martin Luther King, Jr.
  From the beginning Mrs. Parks led a life dedicated to social change, 
becoming an active member of the Montgomery, Alabama chapter of the 
NAACP which in the 1940s and 1950s was considered a dangerous 
organization. It could cost you your job and even your life.
  In 1943, along with State president of the NAACP, she mobilized a 
historic voter registration drive in Montgomery and was later elected 
NAACP chapter secretary. Mrs. Parks was a courageous woman who 
possessed the firm and quiet strength necessary to challenge injustice.
  Following the 1954 Brown Supreme Court decision which provided equal 
protection under the law's legal framework, her refusal to give up her 
seat eventually led to the 1964 Civil Rights Act, the 1965 Voting 
Rights Act, the 1968 Open Housing Act, all of which helped make America 
a better Nation.
  Rosa Parks remained a committed activist until the end of her life. 
In the 1980s, she worked in support of the South African anti-apartheid 
movement, and in Detroit in 1997 she founded the Rosa and Raymond Parks 
Institute for Self-Development, a career counseling center for African 
American youth.
  With dignity, with grace and courage Rosa Parks inspired generations 
and helped to make the world a more just and compassionate place. In 
life she received the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 1996 and the 
Congressional Gold Medal in 1999, the highest honors our Nation bestows 
on civilians.
  This placing of a Rosa Parks statue in National Statuary Hall is a 
testament to the fact that the long arc of history bends towards 
freedom, justice and equality.
  When Statuary Hall was created by law in 1864, African Americans 
could not be citizens of the United States. Indeed, the term ``African 
Americans'' did not exist. Under that law it was impossible for us to 
be considered favorite sons and favorite daughters of States. When Rosa 
Parks takes her place in Statuary Hall, she takes with her Frederick 
Douglass. She takes with her the United States coloreds troops. She 
takes with her Harriet Tubman and Sojourner Truth. She takes them 
there.
  She takes with her countless, nameless people of African descent, who 
from slavery to today, sacrificed for an America many would never live 
to see.
  As Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., who half statue is not Statuary Hall 
would implore us, Now is the time.
  Let me once again, Mr. Speaker, close by thanking the many people who 
have worked so hard on a bipartisan basis to bring this bill to the 
floor. The gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Ney), the gentlewoman from 
California (Ms. Millender-McDonald), House leadership, the minority 
leader, the gentlewoman from California (Ms. Pelosi) and the gentleman 
from Maryland (Mr. Hoyer). Their staffs, Jerry Hartz, Lorraine Miller, 
William Little. The staff of the gentlewoman from California (Ms. 
Millender-McDonald), specifically George Shevlin and Matt Pinkus. And 
also in his absence, the distinguished gentleman from Alabama (Mr. 
Rogers), who, along with his staff, made it very possible for this bill 
to be on the floor today.
  I would also like to thank Senator Kerry and his staff for 
introducing the companion bill in the other body and Senators McConnell 
and Dodd for their leadership on this important issue.
  From my staff, Mr. Charles Dujon and Sandi Pessin who have labored 
late into the night to make the co-sponsors of this legislation 
comfortable with the language that places Mrs. Parks in National 
Statuary Hall. Again, I thank my colleagues for their support. I urge 
Members to join me in honoring this extraordinary woman and voting yes 
on this important legislation.
  Ms. MILLENDER-McDONALD. Mr. Speaker, this shows that the future 
generations will have hope now in this young Member of Congress.
  Mr. Speaker, further reserving the right to object, I rise in strong 
support of this bill to honor an individual who chose to assert her 
civil rights and her human rights at a critical moment in our history 
and by doing so she has changed America forever.
  I would like to thank my chairman, the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Ney) 
for his devotion, his steadfastness, his

[[Page H10789]]

dedication, and his commitment to all people. I would like to thank all 
of those, the leadership of the House on both sides, for ushering this 
bill to the floor.
  Rosa Louise Parks richly deserves this honor.
  Mr. Speaker, further reserving the right to object, I yield to the 
gentleman from Ohio.
  Mr. NEY. Mr. Speaker, I just wanted to say again thank you to 
everyone, George Shevlin, Paul Vinovich of our staff, Ted Van Der Meid 
and also to the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Jackson) and the gentleman 
from Alabama (Mr. Rogers) for doing this and, of course, to our ranking 
member.
  We have had a lot of firsts recently in the short tenure of our 
ranking member. We have had the African American Museum. We have had 
the portrait of Mr. Ray, and we are about to embark on some other 
portraits, and also the first female Member and the first Hispanic 
Member. I think it is commendable to the House to look at the great 
diversity of our country.
  Another thank you tonight. Thank you to Rosa Parks for what she did 
for this Nation.
  I just want to close my comments with when I studied African American 
history, I can remember a quote that I had learned and I used it for 
years in many events and occasions because it fits in with just about 
anything you do, whether you are a soldier fighting or somebody 
struggling for civil rights. It is by Langston Hughes, a great African 
American poet and author, who said, ``Dream your dreams but be willing 
to pay the sacrifice to make them come true.''
  Rosa Parks was a little woman with a big ball of thunder that day and 
courage, and she dreamed her dream of an America that cared about all 
its people in an equal way, and she paid a sacrifice to make that dream 
come true.
  Ms. MILLENDER-McDONALD. Mr. Speaker, I withdraw my reservation of 
objection.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Kuhl of New York). Is there objection to 
the request of the gentleman from Ohio?
  There was no objection.
  The Clerk read the bill, as follows:

                               H.R. 4145

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

     SECTION 1. PLACEMENT OF STATUE OF ROSA PARKS IN NATIONAL 
                   STATUARY HALL.

       (a) Obtaining Statue.--The Architect of the Capitol shall 
     enter into an agreement to obtain a statue of Rosa Parks, 
     under such terms and conditions as the Architect considers 
     appropriate consistent with applicable law.
       (b) Placement.--Not later than 2 years after the date of 
     the enactment of this Act, the Architect shall place the 
     statue obtained under subsection (a) in the United States 
     Capitol in a suitable permanent location in National Statuary 
     Hall.

     SEC. 2. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

       There are authorized to be appropriated such sums as may be 
     necessary to carry out this Act, and any amounts so 
     appropriated shall remain available until expended.


       Amendment in the Nature of a Substitute Offered by Mr. Ney

  Mr. NEY. Mr. Chairman, I offer an amendment in the nature of a 
substitute.
  The Clerk read as follows:

       Amendment in the nature of a substitute offered by Mr. Ney:
       Strike all after the enacting clause and insert the 
     following:

     SECTION 1. PLACEMENT OF STATUE OF ROSA PARKS IN NATIONAL 
                   STATUARY HALL.

       (a) Obtaining Statue.--Not later than 2 years after the 
     date of the enactment of this Act, the Joint Committee on the 
     Library shall enter into an agreement to obtain a statue of 
     Rosa Parks, under such terms and conditions as the Joint 
     Committee considers appropriate consistent with applicable 
     law.
       (b) Placement.--The Joint Committee shall place the statue 
     obtained under subsection (a) in the United States Capitol in 
     a suitable permanent location in National Statuary Hall.

     SEC. 2. ELIGIBILITY FOR PLACEMENT OF STATUES IN NATIONAL 
                   STATUARY HALL.

       (a) Eligibility.--No statue of any individual may be placed 
     in National Statuary Hall until after the expiration of the 
     10-year period which begins on the date of the individual's 
     death.
       (b) Exceptions.--Subsection (a) does not apply with respect 
     to--
       (1) the statue obtained and placed in National Statuary 
     Hall under this Act; or
       (2) any statue provided and furnished by a State under 
     section 1814 of the Revised Statutes of the United States (2 
     U.S.C. 2131) or any replacement statue provided by a State 
     under section 311 of the Legislative Branch Appropriations 
     Act, 2001 (2 U.S.C. 2132).

     SEC. 3. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

       There are authorized to be appropriated such sums as may be 
     necessary to carry out this Act, and any amounts so 
     appropriated shall remain available until expended.

  Mr. NEY (during the reading). Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent 
that the amendment in the nature of a substitute be considered as read 
and printed in the Record.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from Ohio?
  There was no objection.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the amendment in the 
nature of a substitute offered by the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Ney).
  The amendment in the nature of a substitute was agreed to.
  The bill was ordered to be engrossed and read a third time, was read 
the third time, and passed.
  The title of the bill was amended so as to read: ``A Bill to direct 
the Joint Committee on the Library to obtain a statue of Rosa Parks and 
to place the statue in the United States Capitol in National Statuary 
Hall, and for other purposes.''.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

                          ____________________