[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 164 (Sunday, December 18, 2005)]
[House]
[Pages H12283-H12285]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




              SOJOURNER TRUTH BUST ACCEPTANCE AND DISPLAY

  Mr. POMBO. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on 
House Administration be discharged from further consideration of

[[Page H12284]]

the bill (H.R. 4510) to direct the Joint Committee on the Library to 
accept the donation of a bust depicting Sojourner Truth and to display 
the bust in a suitable location in the rotunda of the Capitol, 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 California?
  There was no objection.
  The Clerk read the bill, as follows:

                               H.R. 4510

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

     SECTION 1. FINDINGS.

       Congress finds as follows:
       (1) Sojourner Truth was a towering figure among the 
     founders of the movement for women's suffrage in the United 
     States, and no monument that does not include her can 
     accurately represent this important development in our 
     Nation's history.
       (2) The statue known as the Portrait Monument, originally 
     presented to Congress in 1920 in honor of the passage of the 
     Nineteenth Amendment guaranteeing women the right to vote and 
     presently exhibited in the rotunda of the Capitol, portrays 
     several early suffragists who were Sojourner Truth's 
     contemporaries but not Sojourner Truth herself, the only 
     African American among the group.

     SEC. 2. ACCEPTANCE AND DISPLAY OF BUST OF SOJOURNER TRUTH IN 
                   ROTUNDA OF CAPITOL.

       (a) Acceptance of Donation of Bust.--Not later than 2 years 
     after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Joint 
     Committee on the Library shall accept the donation of a bust 
     depicting Sojourner Truth, subject to such terms and 
     conditions as the Joint Committee considers appropriate.
       (b) Display.--
       (1) In general.--The Joint Committee shall place the bust 
     accepted under subsection (a) in a suitable permanent 
     location in the rotunda of the Capitol.
       (2) Placement near portrait monument.--It is the sense of 
     Congress that the most suitable location for the placement of 
     the bust accepted under subsection (a) is a location which is 
     adjacent to the statue known as the Portrait Monument.

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

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

       Strike all after the enacting clause and insert the 
     following:

     SECTION 1. FINDINGS.

       Congress finds as follows:
       (1) Sojourner Truth was a towering figure among the 
     founders of the movement for women's suffrage in the United 
     States, and no monument that does not include her can 
     accurately represent this important development in our 
     Nation's history.
       (2) The statue known as the Portrait Monument, originally 
     presented to Congress in 1920 in honor of the passage of the 
     Nineteenth Amendment guaranteeing women the right to vote and 
     presently exhibited in the rotunda of the Capitol, portrays 
     several early suffragists who were Sojourner Truth's 
     contemporaries but not Sojourner Truth herself, the only 
     African American among the group.

     SEC. 2. ACCEPTANCE AND DISPLAY OF BUST OF SOJOURNER TRUTH IN 
                   CAPITOL.

       (a) Acceptance of Donation of Bust.--Not later than 2 years 
     after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Joint 
     Committee on the Library shall accept the donation of a bust 
     depicting Sojourner Truth, subject to such terms and 
     conditions as the Joint Committee considers appropriate.
       (b) Display.--The Joint Committee shall place the bust 
     accepted under subsection (a) in a suitable permanent 
     location in the Capitol.

  Ms. MILLENDER-McDONALD. Mr. Speaker, I am happy that tonight this 
House will pass a bill that enjoys strong bipartisan support of 221 
cosponsors that honors the contribution of another woman suffragist--
Sojourner Truth. Sojourner Truth was a towering figure among the 
founders of the movement for women's suffrage in the United States.
  Over 1,000 civic, religious, political, cultural, fraternal, 
business, and labor organizations and the National Congress of Black 
Women (NCBW), support this legislation.
  Specifically, this legislation directs the Joint Committee on the 
Library to accept the donations for a bust depicting Sojourner Truth 
and to display it in an appropriate location within the Halls of 
Congress.
  One of the initial proponents of the ``Honor Sojourner Truth'' 
initiative, was the late Dr. C. Delores Tucker and past President of 
the NCBW, who fought for Congress to pass this legislation.
  Recognition of Sojourner Truth as one of the great women's rights 
leaders is well deserved.
  Mr. Speaker, it has been a pleasure working with you on this very 
important legislation, and the sponsors of this legislation, 
Congresswoman Sheila Jackson-Lee, who worked tirelessly for the passage 
of this important legislation and to fulfill a promise made to Dr. 
Tucker.
  Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of my 
bill, H.R. 4510 which would direct the Joint Committee on the Library 
to accept the donation of a bust depicting Sojourner Truth and to 
display the bust in a suitable location in the Capitol. No one has been 
more instrumental in helping to bring this vision of mind to reality 
than the late Dr. C. Delores Tucker who was a close and valued friend 
for many years. Her crusade for women's and civil rights served not 
only as an inspiration to women, minorities, and other traditionally 
disadvantaged groups, but to all of society, and her lifelong service 
indeed worked for its betterment. From her devout involvement in the 
Democratic Party to her founding of the Philadelphia Martin Luther 
King, Jr. Association for Non-Violent Change, she embodied the tenacity 
and courage necessary to eradicate the disparities and bigotry that 
continues to constrain the attainment of equality. Of her many 
endearing qualities were the fact that her service was never for 
personal gain and that it was boundless--she never hesitated to travel 
the extra mile to help others. This was evident in her singular work as 
the lead advocate to urge the recognition and honor of abolitionist 
Sojourner Truth with the addition of her likeness to the statue 
commemorating women's suffrage in the United States Capitol. Tonight I 
am sure she is smiling with joy because it is due to her determined, 
passionate, and powerful efforts that have ultimately resulted in us 
honoring Sojourner Truth.
  I would also like to thank Representatives Bob Ney, Juanita 
Millender-McDonald and Diane Watson. Their efforts are truly worth 
mentioning for they have been major contributors in making this 
monumental moment. In particular, Representative Watson worked very 
hard to see that the suffrage movement in the House would include all 
women who contributed to the movement including an ex-slave named 
Sojourner Truth. It is also important that I mention that 
Representative Millender-McDonald also worked closely with the late Dr. 
C. Delores Tucker to see this vision become a reality.
  As noted in the beginning of my statement, this long overdue 
legislation directs the Joint Committee on the Library to accept the 
donation of a bust depicting Sojourner Truth and to display it in an 
appropriate location within the Halls of Congress. In a prior iteration 
of this legislation in the 108th Congress, H.R. 601, we were able to 
obtain 82 cosponsors in the House, and its companion bill in the 
Senate, S. 2600, gleaned 20 bi-partisan cosponsors. The key distinction 
between those bills and the measure before us now is the fact that the 
latter does not purport to alter the existing ``Portrait Monument'' in 
any way; nor does it require the receipt of any monies or for Congress 
to address any tax consequences.

  Let me now take some time to speak on the women we honor tonight. 
Sojourner Truth was born in 1797 in Ulster County, a Dutch settlement 
in upstate New York. Her given name was Isabella Baumfree. She was one 
of 13 children born to slave parents. She spoke only Dutch until she 
was sold from her family around the age of eleven. Because of the cruel 
treatment she suffered at the hands of her new master she learned to 
speak English quickly, but would continue to speak with a Dutch accent 
for the rest of her life. Sojourner Truth was sold several times and 
suffered many hardships under slavery, but her mother endowed her with 
a deep, unwavering Christian faith that carried her through these 
trials for her entire life. Forced to submit to the will of her third 
master, John Dumont, Sojourner Truth married an older slave named 
Thomas. Thomas and Sojourner Truth had five children. She stayed on the 
Dumont farm until a few months before the state of New York ended 
slavery in 1828. Dumont had promised Sojourner Truth freedom a year 
before the state emancipation. When Dumont reneged on his promise, 
Sojourner Truth ran away with her infant son.
  Sojourner Truth eventually settled in New York City, working as a 
domestic for several religious communes. Sojourner Truth was inspired 
by a spiritual revelation that would forever change her life. She 
changed here name from Isabella Baumfree to Sojourner Truth and walked 
through Long Island and Connecticut, preaching ``God's truth and plan 
for salvation.'' After months of travel, she arrived in Northampton, 
MA, and joined the utopian community ``The Northampton Association for 
Education and Industry,'' where she met and worked with abolitionists 
such as William Lloyd Garrison, Frederick Douglass and Olive Gilbert. 
Her dictated memoirs were published in 1850 as The Narrative of 
Sojourner Truth: A Northern Slave. She eventually added abolitionism 
and women's suffrage to her oratory, often giving personal testimony 
about her experiences as a slave. In 1851, she spoke at a Women's 
Convention in Akron, Ohio. The legendary phrase, ``Ain't I a Woman?'' 
was associated with Sojourner Truth after this speech.
  After the Civil War ended, she worked tirelessly to aid the newly-
freed southern slaves.

[[Page H12285]]

She even attempted to petition Congress to give the ex-slaves land in 
the ``new West.'' Sojourner Truth continued preaching and lecturing 
until ill health forced her to retire.
  As I close, it goes with out saying that Sojourner Truth was a great 
advocate for women and all humankind. She achieved a great deal despite 
the many hardships she faced. It is because of this that Sojourner 
Truth truly deserves to be honored and depicted in the Halls of 
Congress as a member of the suffrage movement.
  I urge all my colleagues to support this legislation.
  Mr. POMBO (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 California?
  There was no objection.
  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 accept the donation of a bust 
depicting Sojourner Truth and to display the bust in a suitable 
location in the Capitol.''.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

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