[Congressional Record Volume 152, Number 9 (Tuesday, January 31, 2006)]
[House]
[Pages H5-H14]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




    HONORING THE LIFE AND ACCOMPLISHMENTS OF MRS. CORETTA SCOTT KING

  Mr. SENSENBRENNER. Mr. Speaker, I offer a resolution (H. Res. 655) 
honoring the life and accomplishments of Mrs. Coretta Scott King and 
her contributions as a leader in the struggle for civil rights, and 
expressing condolences to the King family on her passing, and ask 
unanimous consent for its immediate consideration in the House pursuant 
to the following order: the resolution shall be considered as read; the 
previous question shall be considered as ordered on the resolution and 
the preamble to its adoption without intervening motion except 1 hour 
of debate equally divided and controlled by the chairman and ranking 
minority member of the Committee on the Judiciary; and notwithstanding 
the operation of the previous question, the Chair may postpone further 
consideration of the resolution to a time designated by the Speaker.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. LaHood). Is there objection to the 
request of the gentleman from Wisconsin?
  There was no objection.
  The Clerk read the title of the resolution.
  The text of the resolution is as follows:

                              H. Res. 655

       Whereas Coretta Scott King was an inspirational figure and 
     a woman of great strength, grace, and dignity who came to 
     personify the ideals of the Civil Rights Movement, for which 
     she and her husband fought.
       Whereas Coretta Scott was born on April 27, 1927, to 
     parents Obadiah and Bernice Scott, was raised in rural 
     Alabama, graduated valedictorian from Lincoln High School, 
     and received a B.A. from Antioch College in Yellow Springs, 
     Ohio;
       Whereas Coretta Scott came of age in the segregated South, 
     took an active interest in the emerging Civil Rights Movement 
     as an undergraduate, and joined the Antioch chapter of the 
     NAACP, and the Race Relations and Civil Liberties Committees 
     of Antioch College;
       Whereas Coretta Scott won a scholarship to study concert 
     singing at Boston's New England Conservatory of Music;
       Whereas while in Boston, Coretta Scott met Martin Luther 
     King, Jr., who was a graduate student studying for his 
     doctorate at Boston University;
       Whereas after Coretta Scott and Martin Luther King, Jr. 
     were married on June 18, 1953, Mrs. Coretta Scott King 
     completed her degree in voice and violin at the New England 
     Conservatory of Music, and the young

[[Page H6]]

     couple moved in September 1954 to Montgomery, Alabama, where 
     Martin Luther King, Jr. had accepted an appointment as Pastor 
     of the Dexter Avenue Baptist Church.
       Whereas their first child, Yolanda, was born in 1955, just 
     two weeks before the beginning of the Montgomery bus boycott, 
     during which the King house was bombed;
       Whereas the Kings had four children: Yolanda Denise, Martin 
     Luther, III, Dexter Scott, and Bernice Albertine;
       Whereas during Dr. King's lifetime, Mrs. King served as an 
     equal partner in the Civil Rights Movement, balancing the 
     demands of raising their four children, serving as a pastor's 
     wife, and speaking before church, civic, college, fraternal, 
     and peace groups;
       Whereas Mrs. King established and performed in more than 30 
     successful ``Freedom Concerts'' that combined prose and 
     poetry narration with musical selections to increase 
     awareness and understanding of the Movement and the Southern 
     Christian Leadership Conference, of which Dr. King served as 
     the first president;
       Whereas Mrs. King stood side-by-side with her husband 
     during many civil rights marches and on other notable 
     occasions, including a 1957 trip to Ghana to mark that 
     country's independence, a 1959 trip to India to visit sites 
     associated with Mahatma Gandhi, and a 1964 trip to Oslo, 
     Norway, to accept Dr. King's Nobel Peace Prize;
       Whereas just four days after her husband's assassination on 
     April 4, 1968, Mrs. King led a march of 50,000 people through 
     the streets of Memphis, Tennessee, and later that year took 
     his place in the Poor People's March to Washington, D.C.;
       Whereas Mrs. King devoted her energy to carrying on her 
     husband's legacy of nonviolence and his work to create an 
     America in which all people have equal rights;
       Whereas Mrs. King dedicated herself to developing and 
     building the Atlanta-based Martin Luther King, Jr. Center for 
     Nonviolent Social Change as an enduring memorial to her 
     husband's life and their dream of nonviolent social change 
     and full civil rights for all Americans and, as its founding 
     President, Chair, and Chief Executive Officer, she guided the 
     creation and housing of the largest archive of documents from 
     the Civil Rights Movement;
       Whereas Mrs. King was instrumental in seeing her husband's 
     birthday honored as a Federal holiday, an occasion first 
     marked in 1986;
       Whereas Mrs. King received honorary doctorates from over 60 
     colleges and universities and authored three books;
       Whereas Mrs. King worked to advance the cause of justice 
     and human rights around the world and spoke out on behalf of 
     a number of important issues, including racial and economic 
     justice, women's and children's rights, religious freedom, 
     full employment, health care, and education; and
       Whereas Mrs. Coretta Scott King was a civil rights icon and 
     one of the most influential African Americans in history, and 
     her work brought us closer to achieving the ``Beloved 
     Community'': Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the House of Representatives honors the life 
     and accomplishments of Mrs. Coretta Scott King and her 
     contributions as a leader in the struggle for civil rights, 
     and expresses condolences to the King family on her passing.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under a previous order of the House, the 
gentleman from Wisconsin (Mr. Sensenbrenner) and the gentleman from 
Michigan (Mr. Conyers) each will control 30 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Wisconsin (Mr. 
Sensenbrenner).
  Mr. SENSENBRENNER. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume 
to the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Hastert), the distinguished Speaker 
of the House.
  Mr. HASTERT. Mr. Speaker, I was truly saddened this morning when I 
learned of the death of Coretta Scott King.
  My experience with the Kings goes back to 1960 as a freshman student 
of North Central College, wide-eyed from the country, not really 
knowing all of the new social issues that were before us. But yet Dr. 
Martin Luther King came to that little town, came to that college 
accompanied by his wife. It made a great impression on a college 
freshman.
  The word that comes to my mind as I think about this great woman is 
``devotion": devotion to her husband, devotion to her family, and 
devotion to the cause of civil rights. Standing side by side with her 
husband, Dr. Martin Luther King, she helped bring America to an 
understanding that ``all men are created equal.''
  In my first year as Speaker, we had a Congressional Gold Medal award 
ceremony honoring the Little Rock Nine. It took place just a few feet 
from here in the rotunda of this Capitol building. Coretta Scott King 
was there. As I gazed across the room, I saw her stoic and yet gentle 
presence. Stoic, yet gentle, qualities that reminded me also of her 
husband and the struggles he and his wife had to overcome so that we as 
a Nation could overcome our shortcomings and our prejudices.
  Even after the hate-inspired death of her husband, she called for 
love and understanding and found meaning and purpose in the continuing 
of her husband's work. It is not surprising that she did so, because it 
was her work too.
  While I wish we had her with us for more years to come, to teach and 
bear witness to future generations, it is fitting that we honor her 
death on the 31st of January, the day before our Nation begins its 
month-long celebration of the accomplishments of African Americans. She 
now becomes a permanent part of that history.
  A few hours ago, Senate Majority Leader Frist and I ordered the flags 
on this Capitol building be lowered to half staff. It is a small way in 
which we can say on behalf of a grateful Nation thank you, Coretta 
Scott King, thank you for picking up the torch of civil rights and 
taking it across the country and the world. We are a better Nation 
because you and your husband passed our way. May God welcome you home, 
and may he hold your family close in this time of sorrow.
  Mr. CONYERS. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as she may consume to the 
gentlewoman from California (Ms. Pelosi), the minority leader of the 
House.
  Ms. PELOSI. Mr. Speaker, I thank the distinguished gentleman from 
Michigan (Mr. Conyers), and a civil rights leader in his own right, for 
yielding me this time.
  This is an unusual phrase I am going to use today, but I wish to 
associate myself with the eloquent remarks of the Speaker of the House, 
Mr. Hastert, in praise of the life and leadership of Coretta Scott 
King.
  Mr. Speaker, I am proud to rise here today to also join the Speaker 
in honoring Coretta Scott King. She was not only the keeper of the 
flame; she was one of our Nation's greatest civil rights leaders in her 
own right. For all of her life, Coretta Scott King was her own woman. 
She grew up in rural and segregated Alabama in a hardworking and 
ambitious Scott family. She followed her sister, who was the first 
African American ever to attend Antioch College in Ohio; and after, 
Coretta moved to Boston to pursue a music career. It was there that she 
met a young preacher through a friend.
  We all know who that young preacher was to become, but what we do not 
know is who he might have been without Coretta by his side. The wise 
man that he was, Martin Luther King was not just looking for a wife, he 
said, but for a partner; and he was taken with her immediately.
  It took Coretta a little longer, 6 months of deliberations before she 
accepted his marriage proposal. To the shock of Dr. King's father, but 
probably to no surprise of anyone who knew her, she asked that the 
phrase ``obey thy husband'' section be removed from their marriage 
vows.
  Of their work together, Dr. King would later say, ``I wish I could 
say that I led her down this path. But I must say, we went down this 
path together because she is as actively involved and concerned when we 
met as she is now.''
  A year after they were married, Martin Luther King and Coretta Scott 
King had to decide where to move after Dr. King completed his studies 
in Boston, whether to stay in the North or move back to the South. The 
year was 1954 and the South was deeply divided by the issue of race.
  The newlywed couple had both grown up in the segregated South. They 
knew the racial injustice that permeated the South, the indignities of 
sitting in the back of the bus and drinking from separate water 
fountains.
  Yet they chose to return to the heart of what they wanted to change, 
and they accepted the pastorate at Dexter Avenue Baptist Church in 
Montgomery, Alabama, going straight to the heart of what was wrong, 
with the aim to make it right.
  In the years that followed, Coretta Scott King marched alongside her 
husband, Dr. Reverend Martin Luther King, for that very cause. They 
marched together in Selma to demand voting rights for African 
Americans, and aren't we all proud to call Mr. John Lewis a colleague, 
who was also on that march, that very historic march so long ago. Dr. 
and Mrs. King marched together in Washington to demand a Federal law to 
protect the civil

[[Page H7]]

rights of all Americans, and they marched together the night before Dr. 
King was killed. They marched together in Memphis for the sanitation 
workers facing entrenched discrimination.
  In immediate days following the tragedy, Coretta Scott King kept 
marching, carrying the aspirations of the civil rights movement with 
her. She led the Poor People's March to Washington. That was the first 
time I saw her while I watched that march coming into Washington, and I 
have been a fan of hers ever since. She marched in South Africa 
standing against apartheid. And for nearly 40 years of her life that 
came after Dr. King's death, she marched for civil rights everywhere 
and to root out injustice anywhere it existed.
  Because of her singularity of purpose and sheer tenacity, Coretta 
Scott King often triumphed. The Martin Luther King, Jr., Center for 
Nonviolent Social Change and the Martin Luther King holiday both stand 
today as testament to her vision, her determination, her efforts, and 
indeed, her leadership. But her work is not yet completed.
  On the day of her death and on the eve of Black History Month, we 
must recommit to finishing her work.
  It is with great sadness and respect that I extend deepest 
condolences to Mrs. King's four children, Yolanda, Martin, Dexter, and 
Bernice; her family; and to the multitudes of her friends and 
supporters throughout the world. I hope it is a comfort to them that 
the entire Nation mourns their loss and is praying for them at this sad 
time.

                              {time}  1615

  Mr. SENSENBRENNER. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may 
consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of House Resolution 655, a 
resolution that honors the life and the accomplishments of Mrs. Coretta 
Scott King, her contributions as a leader in the struggle for civil 
rights, and express condolences to the King family on her passing.
  Mrs. Coretta Scott King, wife of the late Reverend Dr. Martin Luther 
King, Jr. was one of our country's most visible members of the civil 
rights movement, carrying on her husband's legacy with courage, wisdom 
and dignity. Her life serves as an example of her devotion to making 
our country, and the world, a better place.
  Having experienced firsthand the evils of segregation, Mrs. Coretta 
Scott King dedicated herself to helping all Americans realize racial 
equality and justice. She committed herself to her education, earning 
valedictorian honors from Lincoln High School, earning a Bachelor of 
Arts from Antioch College, and earning a scholarship to the prestigious 
New England Conservatory of Music located in Boston, Massachusetts, 
where she eventually met her husband.
  As the spouse and partner of the late Reverend Dr. Martin Luther 
King, Jr., Mrs. Coretta Scott King gained recognition in her own right, 
remaining active in the civil rights movement while devoting herself to 
her family.
  Her steadfast devotion to her husband's legacy after his 
assassination helped bring his message of nonviolent change to millions 
of Americans. She led the campaign to recognize her late husband's 
birthday as a national holiday and to establish the Martin Luther King, 
Jr. Center for Nonviolent Social Change, the first institution 
established in memory of an African American. This center also houses 
our country's largest archives of documents from the civil rights 
movement.
  Mrs. King's commitment and devotion to equal justice should serve as 
a reminder of the foundation and principles upon which this country was 
founded and should inspire us all to work to ensure that these 
guarantees are recognized by all Americans.
  I encourage my colleagues to join me in honoring Mrs. Coretta Scott 
King's life, her accomplishments and her contributions to our country 
by voting in favor of this resolution.


                             General Leave

  Mr. SENSENBRENNER. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all 
Members may have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend 
their remarks and include extraneous material on House Resolution 655 
currently under consideration.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. LaHood). Is there objection to the 
request of the gentleman from Wisconsin?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. SENSENBRENNER. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. CONYERS. Mr. Speaker, I yield as much time as he may consume to 
the gentleman from Georgia (Mr. Lewis), a civil rights leader, one who 
has been in the struggle since the beginning. I remember him from 1963 
and he had been in it long before.
  Mr. LEWIS of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I rise today with a heavy heart to 
honor the life and accomplishment of Mrs. Coretta Scott King. The 
passing of Coretta Scott King is a tragic loss for the movement of 
peace, justice and equality around the world. She was a leader in her 
own right. She was the glue that held the civil rights movement 
together. Long before she married Dr. King, she was an activist for 
peace and nonviolence.
  Mr. Speaker, it is very difficult for me to speak about this 
beautiful, charming, graceful and dignified woman who became the 
personification of the best that America had to offer.
  She grew up as I did in rural Alabama where segregation and racial 
discrimination were real. She tasted the bitter fruits of racism, but 
she did not give up. She did not give in. She did not give out. She 
received a very good education at Antioch College and the New England 
Conservatory School of Music.
  She met Martin Luther King, Jr. while they were both studying in 
Boston. She fell in love. They got married and they returned to the 
South, the capital of the old confederacy, the City of Montgomery.
  He became the pastor of a little old church, the Dexter Avenue 
Baptist Church in Montgomery. This little red brick church stood in the 
shadow of the Capitol building of the State of Alabama.
  Dr. King thought he would live the life of a Baptist minister, and 
Coretta thought, well, she would be a preacher's wife. But they decided 
to respond to the courage of Rosa Parks on December 1, 1955, when she 
refused to give up her seat on a city bus in Montgomery. Dr. Martin 
Luther King, Jr., emerged as a leader in the modern day civil rights 
movement and Coretta was by his side every step of the way.
  I first met Mrs. King in 1957 when I was only 17. I was a student in 
Nashville, Tennessee. She was traveling around America, especially in 
cities of the South telling the story of the Montgomery movement 
through song. She was so beautiful, so inspiring, she would sing a 
little, and she would talk a little, and through her singing and talks 
she inspired an entire generation.
  At times when Dr. King could not be present or had another 
commitment, Coretta was there to speak, to sing, or to encourage. She 
marched with us in 1963 at the march on Washington. In 1965 she marched 
with us from Selma to Montgomery.
  She was not just a celebrity. She was a very, very warm person. She 
had the ability, she had the capacity to forget about her own 
circumstances and get involved in the circumstances of others.
  For the past 20 years she has sent me a birthday card on every single 
birthday, or she might send me a book or note. I still have every 
single one of those cards and the books. I will cherish them always.
  After the assassination of her husband she did not hide in some dark 
corner. She did not become bitter or hostile. A few days after the 
assassination she led more than 50,000 people through the streets of 
Memphis, and later she would travel with many of us through the South, 
through the heart of the deep South, through the Black Belt of Alabama, 
through the Delta of Mississippi, through southwest Georgia, through 
North Carolina and South Carolina, urging people to register and to 
vote.
  She went all out to create a living memorial, a living monument to 
Dr. King called the Martin Luther King Center for Nonviolent Social 
Change. She lobbied the Congress. She organized and mobilized the 
American people to make Dr. King's birthday a national holiday, and 
because of her effort generations yet unborn will learn of his message 
of peace, and they will hear about his struggle for equal justice in 
America.

[[Page H8]]

  Mr. Speaker, Coretta Scott King must be looked upon as one of the 
founding mothers of the new America, for through her action, through 
her deeds, she helped liberate us all. This Nation is a better place 
because she passed this way.
  But Coretta Scott King, my friend, my big sister, and sometimes she 
acted like she was my mother, must be looked upon not just as a citizen 
of America, but as a citizen of the world. This world is a better place 
because of Mrs. King.
  Mr. Speaker, she will be deeply missed. I urge all of my colleagues 
to support this resolution.
  Mr. CONYERS. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself as much time as I may 
consume.
  Today we mourn the loss of a dignified and peaceful woman who showed 
us by example how to pursue change in the world, despite the costs of 
that struggle.
  My friends in the Congress, I have known Coretta King since I went 
south during the civil rights movement as a lawyer. She was a vibrant, 
consistent, totally dedicated partner with her husband. She helped him 
stay strong, especially in the beginning when there were so many 
threats and challenges to the revolutionary idea that we would start a 
civil rights movement in the South itself. Many people tried to 
dissuade Martin from that course. As a child of the segregated South, 
she agreed that the movement should begin at the seat of Jim Crow.
  When faced with the loss of her husband, Coretta remained able to 
advance their vision of a free and equal America. She continued her 
husband's legacy by devoting her life to advancing racial and economic 
justice and for the rights of women, children, the poor, and the 
homeless. She also fought for employment, education and health care 
opportunities for all. Most notably, this woman stood for equality and 
peace, the very virtues to which her husband had dedicated his life.
  It was with Coretta's approval that 4 days after Martin's 
assassination on April 4, 1968, that I introduced a bill to name a 
holiday in his honor. Coretta was at the heart of this effort, as well 
as were many others to continue the life and work of King. In 1969, I 
joined Coretta at the King Center in Atlanta to kick off the campaign 
for a national holiday. She orchestrated a national grassroots movement 
that urged passage of this legislation and would come to Congress in 
1979 and 1980 and 1981 and 1982 and 1983 to testify before the Congress 
and urge support of the King holiday. It was with her diligence and 
perseverance that that holiday bill was passed in 1983 and first 
observed in 1986.
  Today, upon the passing of Mrs. King, we will pledge to continue the 
King legacy as she has for the past 37 years. As the life and work of 
the Kings touched millions during their lifetime in this country and 
around the world, we here in Congress must ensure that their lives 
continue to impact millions more in the coming years, and that is why I 
am so proud to join the rest of us in supporting and urging passage of 
the King resolution.
  Mr. Speaker, I would now yield to the gentleman from North Carolina 
(Mr. Watt), the distinguished chairman of the Congressional Black 
Caucus.
  Mr. WATT. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of the resolution honoring 
the life and memory of Mrs. Coretta Scott King and would like to pull 
up some information from the resolution itself that other people may 
not focus on because we are tempted sometime to think of Mrs. King as 
simply the spouse, the wife of Dr. Martin Luther King, and I think it 
would be a grave, grave mistake for people to do that.
  So I first point to the part of the resolution that says, Whereas 
Mrs. King received honorary doctorates from over 60 colleges and 
universities and authored three books. That in and of itself is 
something that, aside from her commitment to the civil rights movement 
and her companionship and partnership with Dr. Martin Luther King, 
would in and of itself be deserving of particular note.
  Second, I pull up the fact that, as has been pointed out by my 
colleague, Representative John Lewis, Coretta Scott came of age in the 
segregated South and took an active interest in the emerging civil 
rights movement. This coming of age in the segregated South is 
something that I think we should not allow to go unnoticed because 
either, in many ways like slavery or the movement itself, either 
segregation or slavery tramped down people or it made them stand up and 
raise their shoulders and raise their sights. And when you find 
somebody like a John Lewis and a Coretta Scott King who fall into the 
latter category, it is important to take note of that fact.
  So then I go to the first paragraph of the resolution, and when I 
first read the resolution, I kind of pushed back from the first 
paragraph because it says Whereas Coretta Scott King was an 
inspirational figure and a woman of great strength, grace and dignity, 
I think most of us focus primarily, if we knew Coretta Scott King, on 
the grace and dignity part of that, and had I kind of an off the top of 
the head reaction would be I would put grace first and I would put 
dignity second and then I would put the word ``strength.'' But when you 
note that she grew up in the segregated South, it is really appropriate 
the way this has been drafted to put the strength part of that three-
part prong equation first.

                              {time}  1630

  I think it is something that says here is a woman that is strong and 
willing to fight and yet still has grace and dignity.
  Finally, Mr. Speaker, I would just like to read, on behalf of the 
members of the Congressional Black Caucus, the press release and make a 
final point. It says: ``The Congressional Black Caucus released the 
following statement: `The Congressional Black Caucus extends its 
sincere condolences to the family of Coretta Scott King, the First Lady 
of the Civil Rights Movement. Mrs. King, who became a symbol of 
strength and resolve during the life of Dr. Martin Luther King, after 
his death was an inspiration to millions of people around the world who 
sought justice and equality. She has remained the carrier of the 
freedom flame for almost 38 years since Dr. King's death.' ''
  And then the following paragraph is what I want to focus on. It says: 
`` `Mrs. King's death marks the end of an era, but certainly not the 
end of the continued struggle that she was such an integral part of and 
that African Americans face daily for equity and parity in education, 
health care, and employment security.' ''
  I do not think we should lose sight of that last part because the 
struggle goes on and we would honor Coretta Scott King's memory by 
keeping that struggle alive until we reach full equality. As we 
approach the State of the Union address tonight, let us not miss the 
point that this lady fought and lived and died for the struggle for 
equality.
  I thank the gentleman for yielding.
  Mr. CONYERS. Mr. Speaker, it is my privilege now to yield such time 
as he may consume to the gentleman from Maryland (Mr. Hoyer), the 
honorable Democratic whip of the House, who I happen to know worked 
with Rosa Parks. And I am delighted that he came to several of her 
farewell memorial tributes and that he is with us on the floor today 
for the resolution for the late Coretta Scott King.
  Mr. HOYER. Mr. Speaker, I thank my friend for yielding me the time. 
And I thank the chairman and the ranking member for bringing this 
resolution to the floor.
  I was honored to stand many a time on the west wing of the Capitol of 
the United States as Mr. Conyers led the effort to ensure that America 
recognized the extraordinary contributions of one of America's greatest 
sons, Martin Luther King, Jr., and that we set a day aside to recognize 
not only his contributions but to recommit ourselves to the objectives 
that he lived for and died for. And I want to congratulate Mr. Conyers 
and thank him for the contributions that he has made to live out that 
commitment of Dr. King's.
  Our Nation has lost a true hero. Coretta Scott King was one of the 
most eloquent and determined civil rights activists in our history, 
both as a partner to her husband, Dr. King, in the fight for equality 
and justice in the United States and as a keeper of his legacy after 
his assassination in Memphis on April 4.
  Mrs. King's grace, of which Mr. Watt spoke and of which the 
resolution speaks, was experienced by all who met her. Her tenacity 
ensured that the civil rights movement that she helped to pioneer has 
continued to stay in the

[[Page H9]]

forefront of America's consciousness. She worked closely with John 
Conyers and many others in this body and around the world.
  A dedicated mother of four children, all of whom I have had the 
privilege of knowing for some period of time, Coretta Scott King became 
a symbol of peace and human rights and justice and equality not just 
here in the United States but around the world. After her husband's 
death, she devoted her energy to carrying on Dr. King's legacy of 
nonviolence and his work to create an America in which all people were 
judged not on the color of their skin but on the content of their 
character.
  She inspired activists from South Africa to Latin America. And what 
is perhaps one of her greatest accomplishments, she worked with John 
Conyers and so many others to ensure that we set aside a day to 
recognize the contributions, recognize the message, and to recommit 
ourselves to living out the promises that America made but which Dr. 
King so eloquently told America we were not living out, that we had 
made the promises but we were not keeping them, in that extraordinary 
speech in August of 1963.
  Each year this day serves as a reminder to Americans that we must 
keep working towards equality and justice for all citizens. That is 
what Coretta Scott King's life was about. It teaches younger Americans 
about the harrowed journey the country has traveled to fulfill the 
promise of civil rights.
  In addition, she was the driving force in the founding of the Martin 
Luther King, Jr. Center for Nonviolent Social Change in Atlanta. 
Nonviolent social change. Ghandi changed a nation; Martin Luther King, 
Jr. changed the world. He and Nelson Mandela and others who believed 
that by peaceful demonstration, by peaceful action, they could change 
the world and move mountains.
  In addition, Coretta was the driving force in making sure that Martin 
Luther King, Jr. Day was not a holiday, not a day off, but a day of 
focus, a day of commitment.
  Coretta Scott King's poise and determination are qualities that we 
would all appreciate, admire, and remember each time we met her and 
talked to her. She carried on Dr. King's legacy, but she had a legacy, 
certainly, of her own: an extraordinarily accomplished musician; a 
wonderful and bright, intelligent woman; a leader of our country in her 
own right.
  Today I want to join my colleagues, Mr. Conyers and Mr. Sensenbrenner 
and all of our colleagues, to express our heartfelt sympathies to Mrs. 
King's children, Yolanda, Martin Luther III, Dexter, and Bernice, as 
well as all of her family and friends.
  Today a Nation mourns the loss of a great leader and recognizes her 
extraordinary contributions to making America a better place.
  Mr. SENSENBRENNER. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume 
to the gentleman from Connecticut (Mr. Shays).
  Mr. SHAYS. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding to me.
  At a time like this, I tend to think of who are the people I respect 
the most and who are the people that have had impact over the world and 
my country as I have grown up and become an adult. I think of someone 
like Winston Churchill. I think of someone like Martin Luther King. I 
think of someone like Coretta Scott King. I think of someone like 
Nelson Mandela. And I think about my colleague John Lewis. These are my 
heroes. And it is interesting to me that most of them are men and women 
of color.
  I think of, when I was first elected in 1987, whom did I want to 
meet? I wanted to meet our President, Ronald Reagan; and I wanted to 
meet a man called John Lewis, who, when I was in college, led a civil 
rights movement with Martin Luther King and crossed the Selma Bridge. 
There were only two people I wanted to meet: one was Ronald Reagan and 
the other was John Lewis.
  I think of Martin Luther King, Sr., whom some people refer to as 
Daddy King, who lost his younger son A.D., in a drowning; and then he 
lost his older son, Martin Luther King, Jr., in an assassination; and 
then he lost his wife in a bombing in our country. This precious 
woman's life was snuffed out. And I think of Martin Luther King, Sr., 
eulogizing his wife and saying, I have lost two sons; I have lost my 
wife. And then he looked out in the audience, and he said, in so many 
words, but I am a grateful man because I have my daughter, Christine, 
and her family and I have Coretta and her family. And the focus of his 
presentation was how grateful he was to have her. Well, he had her; we 
all had Coretta Scott King. We all had her, and we have all been 
blessed by her leadership.
  Coretta Scott King was a hero of the civil rights movement as a 
partner to Martin Luther King, clearly; but in her own right she played 
an absolutely instrumental role in her husband's work and carried on 
his legacy of fighting for human rights and equality. Their legacy is 
one of lasting change, making for a Nation that is freer, more 
compassionate, and more accepting. And while I was not by their side, I 
got to see what they did in my lifetime.
  I have had a number of opportunities to meet her and be in her 
presence, including my trip in 2005 with John Lewis and others to 
Birmingham, Montgomery, and Selma, where I heard her speak for the last 
time. She led by quiet example, and her personal strength was truly an 
inspiration. Yes, she was a woman of extraordinary grace. She was 
dignified. But she had a presence that said, I have experienced so much 
in my life and I want a different country.
  And we are a different country. We are not where she may want us to 
be, but we are a different and better country because of Coretta Scott 
King and the other heroes that I love deeply.
  Mr. CONYERS. Mr. Speaker, it is our understanding that there will be 
continuation of the debate on this resolution tomorrow.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. LaHood). The gentleman is correct.
  Mr. CONYERS. Until then, Mr. Speaker, I would like to yield such time 
as she may consume to the distinguished gentlewoman from California 
(Ms. Waters), a member of the Judiciary Committee and a civil rights 
leader when she was in State government and a civil rights leader 
today, to close on our side.
  Ms. WATERS. Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank John Conyers for 
organizing our ability to be on the floor today to remember the life 
and times of Dr. Coretta Scott King.
  Let me just say that Coretta Scott King was a friend of mine. We have 
worked on so many projects together. We have been in countless meetings 
together. And not only did I know her well; I held her in high esteem, 
the greatest respect for a woman of dignity, a woman who conducted 
herself in such a respectful fashion, a woman who was well disciplined, 
and a woman who suffered a lot. A woman who suffered during the years 
that she was raising her small children, having to literally put up 
with the threats and the intimidation. A woman who took care of the 
children, raised them in her husband's absence because Dr. Martin 
Luther King, Jr., was out fighting for civil rights. He was out putting 
himself on the line so that this country could be a better place for us 
all. So Coretta Scott King had to be mother and father, and she did a 
wonderful job of it. She raised her children, and they are wonderful 
children.
  Yolanda King is a wonderful woman who lives in Los Angeles who is an 
actress and who has devoted her time to putting on plays that will help 
further the cause of civil rights, equality, and justice. Martin Luther 
King III was an elected official and headed SCLC, did a fine job of it; 
and I traveled to Georgia to give him support at some of the dark hours 
of the organization. And, of course, there is Dexter, a fine young man 
who has a responsibility for making big decisions as it relates to the 
King Center and all of the intellectual property that is associated 
with it. And even when it is very difficult, they are going to get 
through whatever they need to get through in order to make sure that 
Dr. Martin Luther King is remembered in the way that he should be 
remembered.

                              {time}  1645

  Then, of course, there is a young daughter, Bernice, who decided that 
she wanted to walk in her father's footsteps as a minister. I have seen 
her on many occasions, not only at the White House, but in churches all 
over America, a young woman who is a fine minister and preacher and a 
teacher. So

[[Page H10]]

Coretta Scott King and Dr. Martin Luther King did a fabulous job, and 
Coretta Scott King instilled in her children the values that will hold 
them in good stead.
  Let me just close by saying I was pleased to be an honoree at the Dr. 
Martin Luther King Center just a few years ago when I was invited by 
the family to come and to remember Dr. Martin Luther King at the King 
Day events that are held in Atlanta, and I am very appreciative of 
that, because I had an opportunity to spend some time with Coretta 
Scott King in a way that I had not been able to do before.
  I can recall that we ended up in a little diner, at Pascal's, the 
favorite soul food restaurant in Atlanta, where we had an opportunity 
to talk about a lot of things, and we revisited the time that Buthelezi 
came to Atlanta. I was so opposed to him coming, and Coretta tried to 
talk sense into me and said, ``Well, we all support Nelson Mandela and 
we all know that Buthelezi is a person that was opposed to the work of 
Mandela, but we must be bigger than Buthelezi, we must be bigger than 
that, and we must understand that we must try to use an opportunity to 
influence him.''
  She was that kind of person. She would think through very carefully 
her response and her responses to information that was out about 
whatever work she was doing, and she always responded in such a fashion 
that not only caused people to respect her, but it also showed the 
patience that she had, the ability to take people with all their faults 
and still not be bitter.
  So the world is going to miss her. John Conyers is absolutely 
correct; she put her work into making sure that Martin Luther King 
memorials were organized and committees were organized all over this 
country, all over this world, and that they literally celebrated his 
birth and they carried out his work, and they continue to do that, and 
it was because of her traveling from city to city, from town to town, 
from legislature to legislature, that she has these Martin Luther King 
committees all over the country.
  So today we pay our respects, and we just say farewell to her. We 
will always remember her, and we will always know that because of her, 
Martin Luther King was able to do what he was able to do; because of 
her, her children are doing what they are able to do; because of her, 
many of us are able to see things a little bit differently and honor 
the work of Dr. Martin Luther King and support nonviolence.
  Mr. CONYERS. Mr. Speaker, I yield 30 seconds to another Member person 
to testify in terms of this House Resolution tonight, Congresswoman 
Diane Watson, a member of the Congressional delegation, but, more than 
that, she was a distinguished State senator from California and she was 
one of the few in this body who have been named an ambassador.
  Mr. SENSENBRENNER. Mr. Speaker, I yield the gentlewoman from 
California 2 minutes.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. LaHood). The gentlewoman from California 
is recognized for 2\1/2\ minutes.
  Ms. WATSON. Mr. Speaker, I thank Chairman Sensenbrenner for yielding 
me time, and Congressman Conyers for never letting down on your 
struggle to recognize the movers and shakers for civil rights and 
always being on point in an expeditious way.
  I extend my condolences to the King family. We have lost a national 
treasure and a civil rights icon.
  Mrs. King was a loving partner and an inspiration to her husband, Dr. 
Martin Luther King, Jr., and her husband's untimely death placed a 
tremendous responsibility on her shoulders. She not only excelled at 
raising her four children, but also worked tirelessly to preserve the 
vision of her late husband. She carried on Martin Luther King's legacy 
with grace, love and a strong sense of spirituality.
  Dr. King left a gift to the world in Coretta, who continued to travel 
throughout the United States and abroad to reinforce his vision of 
civil and human rights, not only for all Americans but indeed all 
citizens of the world. She understood the demonstrative power of one of 
Martin's most cherished phrases, ``We shall overcome.''
  Mrs. King was indeed an angel among us. She enhanced the civil rights 
movement with her dignified and gracious presence. We are saddened by 
her passing, but also rejoice in a life full of meaning and purpose.
  Mr. SENSENBRENNER. Mr. Speaker, I yield 10 minutes to the gentleman 
from Michigan (Mr. Conyers) and ask unanimous consent that he be 
allowed to yield portions of that time to whomever he chooses.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from Wisconsin?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. CONYERS. Mr. Speaker, I thank the chairman.
  I am pleased to yield 3\1/3\ minutes to a member of the Committee on 
the Judiciary from Houston, Texas (Ms. Jackson-Lee).
  Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I thank the distinguished 
ranking member of the Committee on the Judiciary, I thank the leader of 
the House, Leader Pelosi, and the Speaker of the House for giving us 
this opportunity to take a moment in history to be able to simply say 
thank you; to be able to, for a moment, honor a woman who did not pause 
and mourn as they buried her husband in April of 1968, as many of us 
would have thought.
  I start from that moment, because many have already recounted what a 
beautiful person Coretta Scott King was and for me continues to be. We 
already know of her beautiful voice, of the partnership, where she 
stood alongside of Martin Luther King, of the beautiful children, 
Martin, Dexter and her beautiful girls. So we know that she has been 
all that you would want a woman to be, particularly in the context of 
our history.
  But I think it is important to be able to say simply ``thank you,'' 
as she rose to take the call, to carry forth the dream and the mantle.
  I think there is something more that we need to say thank you to 
Coretta Scott King for. As you know, and I see one of the able 
Representatives, as I heard John Lewis and my good friend Ms. McKinney, 
who has the honor and privilege of representing the area, all those of 
us who live outside that great State of Georgia say that we honored and 
admired what she did by holding together the legacy of Dr. King, the 
words of Dr. King, the papers of Dr. King, minimally to many people, 
but now that we have lost both, what a richness that we will be able 
now to go to a place that was her expanded vision, and that of course 
was the vision to hold together this wonderful legacy, years, decades 
of history. We thank you for that, Coretta.
  We thank you also for rejecting wealth and prestige, not being 
honored and worshipped, being put on a pedestal, and for traveling 
around the country, place after place after place, person after person, 
and being yourself and letting us touch you, letting us feel that 
warmth, Dr. King's spirit, your spirit, your relationship with a man 
and a cause, and beginning to understand and know you for yourself that 
you could have been and were the leader that you were and knowing that 
it was not just the fact that you were Martin Luther King's wife, but 
you were Coretta Scott King.
  We are reminded of the words when you spoke about hatred, when you 
said it is not the hated that feel the venom of hatred, but it is the 
hater. So we take to heart your message.
  The moment I heard this, I had to stop, broken in tears and spirit. I 
just wondered where would we go and what would we be, because there 
were many leaders, but you brought together a spirit, a humble spirit.
  So I simply wanted to rise today on the floor to be able to say thank 
you to your family for sharing you, to thank you for being the woman 
that you are, for you taking to heart a dream and saying to us it 
should never die.
  I do say that today we had the moving forward of the Supreme Court. 
It gives us only a greater cause to fight for justice. And I promise 
you, not on behalf of Sheila Jackson-Lee, but really on behalf of the 
constituents of the Eighteenth Congressional District, and I know also 
many colleagues in this place, that we will link arms and that the 
dream will never die. Coretta Scott King will be one of the icons of 
history and that your spirit will live on, and that we in our own 
actions will walk the walk and talk the talk and never step away from a 
fight for equality and justice for all.

[[Page H11]]

  To Coretta Scott King, we love you, and your spirit will be in us 
forever. May God provide rest to your soul and may God bless your 
family.
  Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H. Res. 
655, honoring the life and accomplishments of Mrs. Coretta Scott King 
and her contributions as a leader in the struggle for civil rights, and 
expressing condolences to the King family on her passing.
  With sadness, I recognize the passing last night of Coretta Scott 
King, a courageous and heroic individual who sacrificed her life so 
Americans might relish in the gift of equal justice. Coretta Scott King 
and her late husband, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., were Americans of 
monumental strength and stature through their lives. They will be 
remembered for their ceaseless efforts to advance race relations, civil 
rights, social justice and human rights. Her immense contributions to 
our national community will never be forgotten.
  Corretta Scott King once said, ``Hate is too great a burden to bear. 
It injures the hater more than it injures the hated.'' Whether 
segregation, sexual orientation, the rights of the poor or the rights 
of women, Mrs. King was a consistently strong and resonant voice for 
those who were desperately in need of help.
  I have known Coretta Scott King over the last several years, and she 
had a rare gift to motivate others to carry on the legacy of equality, 
the idea of freedom, and social justice which was first accomplished by 
her husband and partner, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. She will truly be 
an unspeakable loss. It is our duty in her honor to never waver in the 
face of injustice and degradation.
  As a member of the House Judiciary and Homeland Security Committees, 
my thoughts can't help but turn to today's confirmation of Justice 
Alito to the U.S. Supreme Court. I have had concerns about Justice 
Alito's past judicial record. I am still apprehensive, and I would like 
to take this opportunity to point out what I believe is a test of civil 
liberties presented today.
  The tragic passing of Coretta Scott King, a formidable human rights 
and civil liberties activist, and the concurrent confirmation of 
Justice Alito, may foreshadow difficult times ahead for American 
freedoms. Much of what Coretta Scott King fought for is now threatened 
by Justice Alito's confirmation to the U.S. Supreme Court. His dubious 
record on voter's rights, discrimination issues, civil rights, civil 
liberties, reproductive freedom, the right to privacy and environmental 
protections, among others, fly in the face of the life and work of 
Coretta Scott King. The passing of Coretta Scott King and the 
confirmation of Justice Alito should be a wake-up call to America.
  Dr. and Mrs. King will forever hold an esteemed place in my heart and 
the hearts of all Americans. As an African American woman, and a Member 
of Congress, I shall endeavor in my own way to continue their fight for 
equality and justice every day.
  I rise in strong support of this proposed legislation, and urge my 
colleagues to follow suit.
  Mr. CONYERS. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to yield 3\1/3\ minutes to the 
gentlewoman from Ohio (Mrs. Jones), an attorney, a prosecutor, a member 
of the Committee on the Judiciary and a staunch advocate for civil 
rights.
  (Mrs. JONES of Ohio asked and was given permission to revise and 
extend her remarks.)
  Mrs. JONES of Ohio. Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank the gentleman 
from Michigan for yielding me time.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise today in celebration of the life of Coretta Scott 
King. This morning, I woke, like many of you, to hear of the sad news 
of the passing of Mrs. King. As I watched the news and read the papers, 
I came across an article that said ``Coretta Scott King played a major 
backup role in the civil rights movement until the death of her 
husband, Martin Luther King.'' The words ``backup role'' stood out to 
me, because in my mind she always has been very much at the forefront. 
For so long she was simply known as the widow of Dr. Martin Luther 
King, but she was so much more.
  Oftentimes we hear of the many great men who led the civil rights 
movement, but it was women who were in the heart and soul of that 
movement.
  I am reminded that in the City of Cleveland there were several 
ministers that were involved with Dr. King. One of them, Dr. Hoover, 
another, Dr. Otis Moss, another minister, and one of the daughters of 
those ministers, her name is Carol Hoover, ultimately became the head 
of the Chamber of Commerce in the City of Cleveland.

                              {time}  1700

  And the reason I mention Carol Hoover is because Carol Hoover gave me 
my only opportunity to sit in a living room and have a long 
conversation with Mrs. King.
  And the thing that I remark about that opportunity was she was very 
soft spoken. She was so very, very regal in her style, and so very 
confident and comfortable in helping me understand what my role was in 
public life.
  I will never forget that opportunity that Carol Hoover gave me, and I 
will never forget Mrs. Coretta Scott King. If only we had a few more 
women like Coretta Scott King who handled tragedy so very well, but 
stood up, continued to raise a family, and helped us lift up her 
wonderful, wonderful husband.
  As we celebrate the life of this great woman let us continue to 
remember the work that she did. Let us encourage our children to 
understand what she went through in order to be such a great leader, 
and let us to continue to pray for all of her family.
  It is because of Coretta Scott King that the legacy of Rev. Dr. 
Martin Luther King lives on to this day. It was Coretta whose hard work 
and determination led to the founding of the Martin Luther King, Jr. 
Center for Nonviolent Change and the establishment Martin Luther King's 
birthday as a national holiday. It is for these reasons and so many 
others that we honor and celebrate this great woman and her 
contributions to this country.
  She was the pillar of her family. Supporting her husband while 
raising four children during what were tumultuous times in our nation's 
history. Those of us who are mothers know that raising a child, 
particularly black children then and even in today's society is not an 
easy task. She was truly phenomenal.
  It is important that we understand that the dream of equality for all 
people was not just Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King's Dream but it was a 
shared dream of both he and Coretta Scott King. It was through her 
vision as well that today we are closer to that dream.
  As a tribute to this woman, I encourage everyone to help keep both 
Coretta and Dr. King's dream alive by working for peace and justice for 
all people.
  Mr. CONYERS. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the distinguished 
gentlewoman from the District of Columbia (Ms. Norton), who has 
distinguished herself in the field of law, in the executive branch of 
our government, and has also appeared in the Supreme Court on a number 
of occasions on behalf of civil rights issues.
  Ms. NORTON. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for his kindness in 
yielding. My condolences first to Yolanda and Martin the Third, and 
Dexter and Bernice. I come to the floor to speak of Coretta Scott King, 
the woman, and of Coretta, my friend.
  Mr. Speaker, I hope that we will remember Coretta as I am sure she 
wanted to be remembered, as a movement woman, fully engaged from the 
outset in the work of her husband, except it was their work.
  King himself said, ``I did not bring Coretta to this work, she was 
there.'' These two people found each other, these southerners who went 
north for education, precisely because, alone and in the North with few 
blacks and whites who believed that they did, they were fully at one 
with each other.
  Coretta Scott King did not come to the movement by marriage. She once 
herself said she was married to the movement as well as to Martin. She 
therefore is not like most widows of great men. Of course, she carried 
on his legacy, but anyone who watched how ceaselessly and magnificently 
she worked for the essence of his legacy, nonviolence and universal 
human rights, will of course understand that Coretta Scott King 
deserves to be remembered, in justice, for her own extraordinary work.
  I cannot help but also remember Coretta the friend, the friend who I 
would lolly-gag on the phone and laugh and talk about any old thing, 
not about the movement, but any old thing, particularly in the 1970s 
and 1980s at the height of her movement work. The last time we spoke, 
we sat underneath the Lincoln Memorial in those rooms preparing to go 
up to unveil the marker where King gave his 1963 March on Washington 
speech. May she be remembered for herself and her great work.
  Mr. CONYERS. Mr. Speaker, I would like to yield the balance of our 
time to the gentleman from Montgomery, Alabama (Mr. Davis) who in 
closing will perhaps yield as much of his time as he can to the 
gentlewoman from Georgia (Ms. McKinney) where Mrs. Coretta Scott King 
resided for so many years.
  Mr. SENSENBRENNER. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman 
from Alabama (Mr. Davis).

[[Page H12]]

  The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. LaHood). The gentleman from Alabama is 
recognized for 3\1/2\ minutes.
  Mr. DAVIS of Alabama. Mr. Speaker, I thank Mr. Conyers for yielding 
to me. Mr. Conyers, you mentioned that I was born in Montgomery. 
Coretta Scott King was born in Marion, which is in the heart of my 
Congressional District. I am honored to stand here today as the person 
who still represents some of her family in the State of Alabama.
  I only met her once as a younger Member of this institution and as 
someone who was not around to participate in the glorious days of the 
movement. I only met her once, at a Congressional Black Caucus in 2002. 
And I was a little bit in awe of her, Mr. Conyers, because when you 
grow up in the State of Alabama, Coretta Scott King is a heroine, and 
she has a very, very special place all over this country.
  There are two things I want to say about her today. When she was born 
in Marion in 1929, she could not have conceived, her parents could not 
have conceived, and as she grew into young womanhood, she could not 
have conceived that the person who represented her City of Marion would 
one day be an African American. That would not have crossed her mind.
  And when she formed her partnership with Martin Luther King, they had 
all kinds of dreams for this country. I wonder if they ever anticipated 
that they would accomplish the things that they did, the holiday, the 
King Center, the Civil Rights Act, the Voting Rights Act. They were big 
dreamers, but I do not know if they could even have seen those things.
  So that is the first aspect of Coretta Scott King that we are to 
acknowledge today, that she had an opportunity to see her South and her 
country transformed in ways that were inconceivable, and she lived to 
see it. She lived to tell about it. She lived to appreciate it and to 
breathe it.
  The second point that I want to make is, every time I saw her on 
television as a young man, every time I saw her, I was always struck by 
the power of her quiet dignity, and I mention that, Mr. Speaker, 
because we live in an age where sometimes our side thinks we have to 
outshout the other side, they think they have to outshout our side.
  What this wonderful women appreciated is that there is a power and a 
force to quiet, persuasive argument. And she kept updating the legacy. 
In the 1980s it meant arguing against apartheid, and then arguing 
against the ugly rise of southern conservatism. It meant in the 1990s 
arguing for fair welfare policies. In the early 21st century it meant 
arguing for more enlightened policy around the world. She kept updating 
the legacy, and as she kept updating the legacy she freshened it and 
she put her own touch on it.
  I conclude with just that observation. My colleague from Ohio was so 
right. My colleague from the District was so right. This woman was not 
a backstage figure, she was a co-anchor and a co-pillar of this 
movement.
  Mr. Speaker, I yield the balance of my time to the gentlewoman from 
Georgia (Ms. McKinney).
  Mr. SENSENBRENNER. Mr. Speaker, I yield 5 minutes to the gentlewoman 
from Georgia.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The gentlewoman from Georgia is recognized 
for 5\3/4\ minutes.
  (Ms. McKINNEY asked and was given permission to revise and extend her 
remarks.)
  Ms. McKINNEY. Mr. Speaker, I would like to extend my condolences to 
Martin King, III, Yolanda, Dexter, and Bernice King, and to the entire 
King family.
  I was shocked and saddened this morning when I heard the news as 
well. I had the opportunity to speak this year at the Martin Luther 
King ceremonies held annually at Ebenezer Church. And for the first 
time in many, many years, our queen mother, Ms. Coretta Scott King, was 
not there with us personally at the church, but she was looking at the 
proceedings and the ceremony on television.
  One thing is fairly clear from the proceedings of the House today, 
and that is that the King family is loved by this body, by these 
Members, by the American people, by the African American community in 
particular, and the progressive community in general because it was the 
King family and their sacrifices that moved our country forward. They 
moved America forward. And so, I am so proud to represent Stone 
Mountain, Georgia, that same Stone Mountain, Georgia, that Dr. King 
spoke of in 1963, but today it is represented by an African American 
Congresswoman. It is represented by me.
  This country can change. This country's leaders can change. This 
country can raise to its highest ideals if we have the will to do so. 
And Dr. King and Mrs. King and the King family continue to shine the 
light on America finding that will to do the best that it can do, to be 
the best that it can be.
  Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentlewoman from the U.S. Virgin Islands 
(Mrs. Christensen).
  (Mrs. CHRISTENSEN asked and was given permission to revise and extend 
her remarks.)
  Mrs. CHRISTENSEN. Mr. Speaker, I will be very brief. I associate 
myself with all of the accolades that have been given before.
  I rise, Mr. Speaker, to bring the condolences of the people of the 
Virgin Islands and the people of the Caribbean to this beautiful woman, 
Coretta Scott King, a woman of courage, a woman of strength, a woman of 
compassion, and a woman of history. She worked side by side with her 
husband, the Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., and we are forever 
grateful for both of their sacrifice and both of their service.
  Ms. McKINNEY. Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentlewoman from California 
(Ms. Millender-McDonald).
  Ms. MILLENDER-McDONALD. Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank the 
chairman and the ranking member for this time that they have allotted 
to recognize an American icon, a woman of great distinction, of grace, 
of courage, one whom I have known for a long time because she was my 
soror, an AKA. And we met many times to talk about issues of women, 
women's suffrage, we talked about sexual exploitation of women around 
this world and human indignities.
  As I heard about her passing I could not help but to reflect on the 
many times that we have spent together and on the courage that I drew 
from her and the strength that I drew from her, because this woman 
showed us so much, so much class, so much leadership, and so much 
strength in moments of tragedy.
  And this is why I come together with my friends from across the 
aisle, and on both sides, to talk about the legacy of Mrs. Coretta 
Scott King, the aptly named first lady of the civil rights movement. 
She was the embodiment of a living soul who chose to help others 
without regard for self. Coretta Scott King was her husband's most 
ardent supporter during his darkest days and his most shining triumphs.
  She spent the years after Dr. King's tragic assassination as the 
beacon of life toward equality and human rights for women and for all 
Americans. Fighting alongside her husband, however, through the many 
blessed years of their marriage, Coretta Scott King faced hardships, 
derision and physical violence.
  In 1956, Mrs. King was in her home with her baby daughter when 
someone attempted to end her life and her husband's life, who was on a 
crusade. They threw a bomb into their home. The bomb did not injure her 
nor her child, but she could have rightfully ended her involvement on 
that particular issue at that time.
  Thirteen years later her husband was brutally murdered in his quest 
for a social revolution.

                              {time}  1715

  Mrs. King stood strong only days later and led thousands of people 
marching in her husband's honor. The world is a better place, Mr. 
Speaker, because she was a giant of a woman, a crusader for justice and 
a courageous woman in the face of enormous adversity and tragedy.
  Coretta Scott King campaigned tirelessly wherever she saw oppression 
or injustice. She celebrated Dr. King's legacy and created one of her 
own. Women's rights groups, people who fight against hunger, 
unemployment, disenfranchisement, and racism owe her a debt of 
gratitude. She embraced her husband's method of peaceful resistance and 
applied it in her crusade against the violence that corrupts our 
Nation.

[[Page H13]]

  Coretta Scott King was an activist, an icon, and a great wife and 
mother. America was so influenced by her, Mr. Speaker. She will 
continue to live in our memory and in our spirit as we further her work 
of nonviolence.
  Mr. RAHALL. Mr. Speaker, today we mark with sadness the passing of 
Coretta Scott King, a true patriot in the American Civil Rights 
Movement. But we also celebrate, together, a life well-lived and 
remember with fondness the accomplishments of a remarkable woman who, 
with the sound of a gunshot on April 4, 1968, moved swiftly and 
strongly from the role of supporting preacher's wife to torchbearer of 
her husband's mission for equality.
  Mrs. King herself once said, following her husband Rev. Martin Luther 
King Jr.'s death, ``Because his task was not finished, I felt that I 
must rededicate myself to the completion of his work.'' And that she 
certainly did.
  Whether meeting with such pivotal figures in the civil rights 
movement as the Rev. Wyatt Tee Walker, her husband's former chief of 
staff, and Betty Shabazz, widow of Malcolm X, or marching with 
activists from across America, Mrs. King made it clear from early on 
that the dream of Martin Luther King would live on, as would his 
legacy.
  She lobbied for over 10 years to have her husband's legacy honored 
and President Reagan finally granted her wish in 1983, when he signed 
the federal holiday into law.
  And determined to ensure Americans did not forget her husband or his 
dream of a colorblind society, she created a memorial and a forum in 
the Martin Luther King Jr. Center for Nonviolent Social Change in 
Atlanta.
  Mrs. King was the matriarch of a movement, a dedicated and loving 
mother to a family in the face of loss, and a model to us all.
  I join my colleagues in support of a House resolution honoring Mrs. 
King and her contributions and expressing condolences to the King 
family on her passing.
  May we all honor her legacy by collectively taking up the torch she 
carried so high for so long.
  Mr. TOM DAVIS of Virginia. it is with great sadness that I rise today 
to honor the life of Coretta Scott King.
  Born April 27, 1927, in Marion, Alabama, Mrs. King led a life of 
activism beside her husband during the civil rights movement, and 
carried on his work after he was killed in 1968. Coretta Scott King is 
a great American heroine who possessed the determination to make the 
seemingly impossible, possible. Soon after her husband's death, she 
stated, ``I'm more determined than ever that my husband's dream will 
become a reality.''
  Mrs. King came from humble beginnings; her father ran a country 
store, and she worked as a waitress to put herself through college. Her 
strength and resolve guided her through many difficult times as a young 
widow left to raise four children on her own, but her determination 
propelled her to achievements of great significance. For almost a 
decade, she pushed Congress for a national holiday in observance of her 
late husband's birthday. She was ultimately successful in 1983 when 
Congress passed and the president signed legislation creating the 
holiday. The first national celebration of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. 
Day occurred in 1986. In 1969, she founded the Martin Luther King Jr. 
Center for Nonviolent Social Change in Atlanta to serve as a living 
memorial to the Rev. Dr. King's legacy. Additionally, she spoke out 
against the promotion of violence by movie and television companies.
  Mr. Speaker, in closing, I would like to express my heartfelt 
condolences to the King family and call upon my colleagues to forever 
remember her legacy and message.
  Mr. VAN HOLLEN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to join all Americans and 
others around the world in mourning the death of Coretta Scott King, a 
woman who worked to create change so that all Americans would have the 
opportunity to experience true freedom and justice. Mrs. King walked 
alongside her husband the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. until his 
untimely death. It was her courage and steadfast resolve in the 
aftermath of this tragedy that led to the launching of the Martin 
Luther King, Jr. Center for Nonviolent Social Change and the 
designation of Martin Luther King Day as a federal holiday.
  As we prepare to begin our observance of Black History Month 
tomorrow, it is important that we recommit ourselves to continuing the 
work that Dr. and Mrs. King began more than 40 years ago. I extend my 
deepest sympathies to Mrs. King's family. I hope that they can find 
solace in knowing that all Americans are grieving the loss of this 
courageous woman.
  Mr. SERRANO. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to bid a last farewell to Mrs. 
Coretta Scott King, a woman of great character and conviction who 
worked tirelessly to make the dream of her husband a reality.
  Although we know her as the widow of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., that 
label is far too small to encompass the life of this remarkable woman. 
Born April 27, 1927 in Marion, Alabama, to Bernice McMurry Scott and 
Obeadiah Scott, Coretta was an accomplished student, graduating at the 
top of her high school class while becoming an exceptional musician. 
Although her parents worked hard to ensure that she was protected from 
the hardships of the segregated South, she was very aware of the fact 
that she and all blacks were deprived of many rights. In her 1969 
autobiography, ``My Life With Martin Luther King Jr.'' Coretta stated: 
``From the first, I had been determined to get ahead, not just for 
myself, but to do something for my people and for all people.'' Little 
did she know that fate would have her help shape the mind of a world 
leader.
  She met a young King in Boston while he was a student at Boston 
University and she a student at the New England Conservatory. After 
receiving her degree in voice and violin, the young couple moved to 
Montgomery, Alabama. Fifteen months later on December 1, 1955, a woman 
by the name of Rosa Parks refused to move to the back of a city bus . . 
. and the rest is history.
  Over the next 13 years she and her husband pushed our nation to tear 
down the walls of oppression and to reach for its great potential. By 
1968 she had lived a life worth writing about, but it was the woman she 
became after the assassination of her husband in 1968 that will define 
her legacy.
  Only months after his death, she created the Martin Luther King Jr. 
Center for Nonviolent Social Change as a living memorial to her 
husband's life and dream. Leading marches, giving speeches and meeting 
with various world leaders, Coretta devoted all her energies to 
alleviating the pain and suffering of the disenfranchised at home and 
abroad. She probably will be most remembered for her successful 
campaign to establish a national holiday to honor the life and works of 
her husband.
  Mr. Speaker, throughout our history, great men and women have come 
and gone from these halls of Congress. However, their contributions to 
the American discourse did not die with them because we as a body have 
picked up where they left off, just as those who come after us will 
undoubtedly do. We all know that none of us are more important than 
this institution and what it represents. Coretta realized the same was 
true of her husband's dream. Though he was a great man, his dream was 
greater than him.
  Had she allowed it to die with him, we all would have suffered a 
great disservice. Through her tireless work post-1968, she has ensured 
that our nation will never forget the dream of Dr. King, and more 
importantly, that we will never stop working towards its fulfillment.
  For her great service to America and her unyielding spirit, I ask 
that my colleagues join me in paying tribute to Mrs. Coretta Scott King 
and in bidding her a final farewell.
  Mr. LANGEVIN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay my respects to Coretta 
Scott King, a great woman who passed away yesterday. Mrs. King, the 
widow of slain civil rights leader Martin Luther King, Jr., worked 
alongside her husband in promoting the dream of equality for all. Mrs. 
King continued the legacy of her husband after his death by remaining a 
vocal proponent of civil rights and founding the Martin Luther King Jr. 
Center for Nonviolent Social Change in Atlanta, Georgia.
  Unfortunately, our nation has become increasingly divided about how 
to promote freedom and equality, both here at home and abroad. We have 
again experienced an increased number of hate crimes, more than half of 
which targeted victims because of race. As the costs of fuel, health 
care, and college education rise, we have been told we should cut 
important social programs. Such misguided priorities are falsely 
justified under the guise of fiscal responsibility, even though 
millionaires grow wealthier at the expense of the poor.
  However, it is when we are most frustrated and disheartened by the 
world around us that Dr. and Mrs. King's message is most important. As 
we begin National Black History Month, we must remember the vital 
contributions that Dr. and Mrs. King made to the civil rights movement 
and let them inspire us to continue our nation's march toward equality. 
We must remember their heroism, compassion and a determination to make 
this country a better place. We must harness their passion to improve 
all aspects of our society, from education to health care to the 
economy. Our job, not just today but every day, is to act in such a 
manner that moves our nation a little further along that path to 
freedom. We do so with the hope that we, our children, and our 
grandchildren may experience the America that Dr. and Mrs. King 
envisioned for all of us.
  Mrs. King will be greatly missed and our thoughts and prayers go out 
to her family, friends and all those who mourn her loss.
  Ms. SOLIS. Mr. Speaker, today we celebrate the life and mourn the 
passing of Coretta Scott King. Following the assassination of her 
husband, Dr. Martin Luther King in

[[Page H14]]

1968, Coretta Scott King worked tirelessly to keep the ideology of 
equality for all people alive. A civil rights leader in her own right, 
she created the King Center for Non-Violent Social Change in Atlanta, 
Georgia, in order to continue her husband's work. She fought with 
dignity and a quiet strength to end hunger, unemployment, voting rights 
violations and racism. We must continue to follow in the footsteps of 
Coretta Scott King and work to achieve equality though peaceful 
protests in order to improve our country for future generations.
  Mr. SENSENBRENNER. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. LaHood). Pursuant to the order of the 
House of today, further proceedings on the resolution will be 
postponed.

                          ____________________