[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 125 (Wednesday, August 1, 2007)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1677]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




REAUTHORIZING THE UNDERGROUND RAILROAD EDUCATIONAL AND CULTURAL PROGRAM

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                               speech of

                       HON. STEPHANIE TUBBS JONES

                                of ohio

                    in the house of representatives

                         Monday, July 30, 2007

  Mrs. JONES of Ohio. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of 
H.R. 2707 which acknowledges the necessity to continue funding the 
Underground Railroad Educational and Cultural Program. Reflecting upon 
the nearly four hundred years of slavery, another century and a half of 
severe violations of American civil rights and continued hardship 
experienced by minorities everywhere, I feel that this measure warrants 
our support. The time has come for tolerance and understanding to 
triumph over racism and bigotry.
  Our society is one that was formed by those who sought and dared to 
believe in freedom. Though these individuals committed transgressions 
of their own, they set the cornerstone for a union of states based on 
eminent documents and progressive ideals. Just to whom the notions of 
liberty, prosperity and happiness applied, would have to be settled in 
an undiplomatic nature, yet thankfully and virtuously the rights of all 
men prevailed. Before the Compromise of 1820 was agreed upon, a network 
now known as the Underground Railroad began to take form between those 
that wanted to gain and to give the ability to live freely.
  Now legally armed with the rights and privileges endowed to all men 
and women, we find our society struggling to remain committed to not 
only remembering the plight of those who struggled to gain their 
freedom but what freedom explicitly implies. The struggle of protecting 
one's civil rights and the capability to act in one's best interests 
now faces our nation. We have developed as a people but must not stop 
or even slow our progression forward. The themes of our Founding 
Fathers must ring in our ears and our souls as loudly today as they did 
through the fights for our national and personal independence.
  This legislation provides continued support for organizations such as 
the National Underground Freedom Center and the magnificent 
professionals who are dedicated to improving our community through 
education. I would like to thank my colleagues for their time and 
continued support for this institution of which I am proud to have been 
an original co-sponsor of its founding legislation back in 1999. This 
leg insures that The Underground Freedom Center and other institutions 
of the like will continue to educate and inspire generations to come.

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