[Congressional Record Volume 155, Number 12 (Wednesday, January 21, 2009)]
[House]
[Pages H394-H398]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
{time} 1230
OBSERVING THE BIRTHDAY OF MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR.
Mr. CONYERS. Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to
the resolution (H. Res. 73) observing the birthday of Martin Luther
King, Jr., and encouraging the people of the United States to observe
the birthday of Martin Luther King, Jr., and the life and legacy of Dr.
Martin Luther King, Jr., and for other purposes.
The Clerk read the title of the resolution.
The text of the resolution is as follows:
H. Res. 73
Whereas Reverend Doctor Martin Luther King, Junior, was
born January 15, 1929;
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Whereas Dr. King attended segregated public schools in
Georgia, and began attending Morehouse College in Atlanta,
Georgia, at the age of 15;
Whereas in February of 1948, Dr. King was ordained in the
Christian ministry at the age of 19 at Ebenezer Baptist
Church, in Atlanta, Georgia, and became Assistant Pastor of
Ebenezer Baptist Church;
Whereas Dr. King was awarded a Bachelor of Arts degree in
1948 from Morehouse College, a Bachelor of Divinity degree in
1951 from Crozer Theological Seminary in Pennsylvania, and a
Doctor of Philosophy degree in theology in 1955 from Boston
University;
Whereas in Boston, Massachusetts, Dr. King met Coretta
Scott, his life partner and fellow civil rights activist;
Whereas on June 18, 1953, Dr. King and Coretta Scott were
married and later had two sons and two daughters;
Whereas in 1954, Dr. King accepted the call of Dexter
Avenue Baptist Church in Montgomery, Alabama, and was pastor
from September 1954 to November 1959, when he resigned to
move back to Atlanta to lead the Southern Christian
Leadership Conference;
Whereas Dr. King led the Montgomery, Alabama, bus boycott
for 381 days to protest the arrest of Rosa Parks and the
segregation of the bus system of Montgomery, during which
time Dr. King was arrested and the home of Dr. King was
bombed;
Whereas Dr. King responded to arrests and violence with
non-violence and courage in the face of hatred;
Whereas the Montgomery bus boycott was the first great
nonviolent civil rights demonstration of contemporary times
in the United States;
Whereas on December 13, 1956, the Supreme Court declared
laws requiring segregation on buses unconstitutional;
Whereas between 1957 and 1968, Dr. King traveled more than
6,000,000 miles, spoke more than 2,500 times, and wrote five
books and numerous articles supporting efforts around the
country to end injustice and bring about social change and
desegregation;
Whereas from 1960 until his death in 1968, Dr. King was co-
pastor with his father at Ebenezer Baptist Church;
Whereas on August 28, 1963, Dr. King led the March on
Washington, DC, the largest rally of the civil rights
movement, during which, from the steps of the Lincoln
Memorial and before a crowd of more than 200,000 people, Dr.
King delivered his famous ``I Have A Dream'' speech, one of
the classic orations in American history;
Whereas Dr. King was a champion of nonviolence, fervently
advocated nonviolent resistance as the strategy to end
segregation and racial discrimination in America, and in
1964, at age 35, became the youngest man to be awarded the
Nobel Peace Prize in recognition for his efforts;
Whereas through his work and reliance on nonviolent
protest, Dr. King was instrumental in the passage of the
Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Voting Rights Act of 1965;
Whereas the work of Dr. King created a basis of
understanding and respect and helped communities, and the
United States as a whole, to act cooperatively and
courageously to restore tolerance, justice, and equality
between people;
Whereas on the evening of April 4, 1968, Dr. King was
assassinated while standing on the balcony of his motel room
in Memphis, Tennessee, where he was to lead sanitation
workers in protest against low wages and intolerable working
conditions;
Whereas Dr. King dedicated his life to securing the
fundamental principles of the United States of liberty and
justice for all United States citizens;
Whereas Dr. King was the leading civil rights advocate of
his time, spearheading the civil rights movement in the
United States during the 1950s and 1960s and earning world-
wide recognition as an eloquent and articulate spokesperson
for equality;
Whereas in the face of hatred and violence, Dr. King
preached a doctrine of nonviolence and civil disobedience to
combat segregation, discrimination, and racial injustice, and
believed that people have the moral capacity to care for
other people;
Whereas Dr. King awakened the conscience and consciousness
of the United States and used his message of hope to bring
people together to build the ``Beloved Community'', a
community of justice, at peace with itself;
Whereas in 1968, Representative John Conyers introduced
legislation to establish the birthday of Martin Luther King,
Jr. as a Federal holiday;
Whereas Coretta Scott King led the massive campaign to
establish Dr. King's birthday as a Federal holiday;
Whereas in 1983, Congress passed and President Ronald
Reagan signed legislation creating the birthday of Martin
Luther King, Jr. holiday, which is now observed in more than
100 countries;
Whereas Dr. King's wife and indispensable partner, Coretta
Scott King, was a woman of quiet courage and great dignity
who marched alongside her husband and became an international
advocate for peace and human rights;
Whereas Coretta Scott King, who had been actively engaged
in the civil rights movement as a politically and socially
conscious young woman, continued after her husband's death to
lead the United States toward greater justice and equality,
traveling the world on behalf of racial and economic justice,
peace and non-violence, women's and children's rights, gay
rights, religious freedom, full employment, health care, and
education until her death on January 30, 2006;
Whereas the values of faith, compassion, courage, truth,
justice, and non-violence that guided Dr. and Mrs. King's
dream for America will be celebrated and preserved by the
Martin Luther King, Jr., National Memorial on the National
Mall between the Lincoln Memorial and the Jefferson Memorial
and in the new National Museum of African American History
and Culture that will be located in the shadow of the
Washington Monument;
Whereas Dr. King's actions and leadership made the United
States a better place and the American people a better
people;
Whereas 45 years after Dr. King delivered his historic ``I
have a dream'' speech, millions of United States citizens
gathered on the National Mall on January 20, 2009, to witness
the historic Inauguration of the 44th President of the United
States, Barack Obama, the first African-American President of
the United States; and
Whereas the historic Inauguration of President Barack Obama
dramatized the change that Dr. King helped to usher in for
the creation of a more perfect union: Now, therefore, be it
Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
(1) observes the 80th birthday of Martin Luther King, Jr.;
(2) pledges to advance the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther
King, Jr.; and
(3) encourages the people of the United States to--
(A) observe the 80th birthday of Martin Luther King, Jr.,
and the life of Dr. King;
(B) commemorate the legacy of Dr. King, so that, as Dr.
King hoped, ``one day this Nation will rise up and live out
the true meaning of its creed: `We hold these truths to be
self-evident; that all men are created equal' ''; and
(C) remember the message of Dr. King and rededicate
themselves to Dr. King's goal of a free and just United
States.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from
Michigan (Mr. Conyers) and the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Smith) each
will control 20 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Michigan.
General Leave
Mr. CONYERS. I ask unanimous consent that all Members have 5
legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and include
extraneous material on the resolution under consideration.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the
gentleman from Michigan?
There was no objection.
Mr. CONYERS. I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Members of the House, last Thursday, January 15, marked the 80th
birthday of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., who was born in 1929. On
Monday, January 19, the Dr. King Federal holiday was observed. I
commend my colleague, the gentleman from Georgia, Mr. John Lewis, for
introducing again this bipartisan House Resolution that calls upon all
Americans on this occasion ``to advance the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther
King, Jr.''
I also acknowledge the many colleagues of the Judiciary Committee on
both sides of the aisle that have joined us in supporting this
resolution; in particular, the ranking member from Texas, our friend,
Mr. Smith.
For over 40 years now, we have commemorated the life and work of the
Nation's greatest civil rights leader, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
Since 1986, we have recognized Dr. King with a Federal holiday in his
honor, a holiday that I and others here have worked so hard to achieve.
Last year, we paid tribute to Dr. King upon the 40th anniversary of
his assassination. Today, we once again celebrate Dr. King on the event
of his birthday. On these anniversaries, the Congress has called upon
the Nation's citizens to practice justice, equality, and peace in all
aspects of his life, the very principles that Dr. King stood for.
Today, we make the same request of not just our colleagues, but of
our citizens, recognizing that today is very different. We advance Dr.
King's legacy by realizing that some of Dr. King's dream has been
achieved.
Just yesterday, our Nation witnessed the first African American in
history to take the oath of office for President of the United States.
Our 44th President, President Obama, is a testament to Dr. King's
pursuit and struggle for equality. And in his short life, Dr. King laid
the foundation for a society that would guarantee that all men are
created equal. It is on the shoulders of Dr. King and Rosa Parks and
Andrew Young and Harry Belafonte, all close colleagues of Dr. King, who
were in the
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forefront of the civil rights movement. And that is why we stand here
today, witnesses to history, with our first African American President.
President Obama spoke movingly yesterday when he asked that we mark
his inauguration in remembrance of who we are and how far we have
traveled; why men and women and children of every race and every faith
can join in celebration across the magnificent Mall; and why a man
whose father, less than 60 years ago, might not have been served at a
local restaurant, can now stand before you to take the most sacred oath
that was given to him yesterday.
In celebrating the great legacy of Dr. King's work, we must recognize
that his legacy does not end here. Continuing his mission of justice
means bringing an end to racial and economic injustices, like those we
have seen in so many aspects of the current financial and fiscal crisis
that we are confronted with.
Advancing his mission of equality means eliminating the disparities
that exist in so many aspects of our society; health care, housing,
education, employment. And so pursuing his mission of peace means
bringing an end to the wars that still persist and allowing our Nation
to be an example of a peaceful democracy.
Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. SMITH of Texas. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may
consume.
Madam Speaker, the first thing I want to say is that it's good to be
on the House floor with the chairman of the Judiciary Committee to talk
about the subject at hand. This bill commemorates the 80th anniversary
of the birth of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Dr. King was the leader of
a historic nonviolent revolution in the United States. Over the course
of his life, he fought for equal justice and led the Nation toward
racial harmony.
While advancing this great movement, Dr. King's home was bombed and
he was subjected to relentless personal and physical abuse. Despite
this violence, Dr. King responded in peace and with strong conviction
and sound reason.
As a pastor, Dr. King's religious beliefs were essential to the
success of his nonviolent efforts. It is doubtful that such a long and
enduring movement could have survived without the power of religious
inspiration behind it.
From 1957 to 1968, Dr. King traveled over 6 million miles and spoke
over 2,500 times about justice and equal freedom under the law. During
that time, he led large protests in Birmingham, Alabama, that drew the
attention of the world.
On August 28, 1963, Dr. King led a peaceful march of 250,000 through
the streets of Washington, D.C. And it is here in this city where he
delivered a speech that spoke for all Americans, regardless of the
color of their skin. In his ``I Have a Dream'' speech, Dr. King called
the march the ``greatest demonstration for freedom in the history of
our Nation.''
``I have a dream,'' he said, ``that my four little children will one
day live in a Nation where they will not be judged by the color of
their skin, but by the content of their character.'' Dr. King opened
the door of opportunity for millions of Americans. He lived for the
causes of justice and equality.
On the evening of April 4, 1968, while standing on the balcony of his
hotel room in Memphis, Tennessee, Dr. King was assassinated. But a
single vicious act could not extinguish Dr. King's legacy, which
endures to this day. Because of him, America is a better, freer Nation.
I urge all my colleagues to join us in celebrating and honoring the
life of Dr. King on the occasion of the 80th anniversary of his birth.
Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. CONYERS. Madam Speaker, I am pleased to recognize the gentleman
from Georgia, who I met before he became a Member of this distinguished
body. As a matter of fact, before I became a Member of this
distinguished body. I am pleased now to recognize the gentleman from
Georgia (Mr. Lewis) for such time as he may consume.
Mr. LEWIS of Georgia. Madam Speaker, I want to thank the chairman and
the ranking member for supporting this resolution.
Madam Speaker, yesterday, the American people shared and participated
in a historic moment, the inauguration of Barack Obama as the 44th
President of the United States. What the American people witnessed
yesterday would not have been possible without the leadership and the
vision of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. The teaching and philosophy that
Dr. King believed in and lived by brought us to this moment in history.
Without Martin Luther King, Jr., there would be no President Barack
Obama.
Martin Luther King, Jr. was a man I knew personally, and regarded as
a brother, a friend, a colleague, a prophet, my hero, and just a simple
human being, filled with love, peace, and compassion for all humankind.
I will never forget my first impression of him. As a black child
growing up in the heart of rural Alabama, I tasted the bitter fruits of
segregation and racial discrimination, and I didn't like it. I saw
those signs that said, ``White Men, Colored Men; White Women, Colored
Women; White Waiting, Colored Waiting.'' I used to ask my parents, my
grandparents, and my great grandparents, Why segregation? Why racial
discrimination? They said, That's the way it is. Don't get in trouble.
Don't get in the way.
But one day, when I was only 15 years old, I heard the voice of
Martin Luther King, Jr. on an old radio. He was talking about the
discipline and the philosophy of nonviolence; he was talking about the
Montgomery bus boycott and the ability of a committed and determined
people to make a difference in our society. I felt like he was talking
directly to me, saying, John Lewis, you too can make a difference in
our society.
In 1958, at the age of 18, I traveled from Troy to Montgomery to meet
with him and Reverend Ralph Abernathy, and that was the beginning of a
long and beautiful relationship. After that, our paths, which would
cross often, in the sit-ins; during the Freedom Rides in 1961, the year
that Barack Obama was born; as a board member of the Southern Christian
Leadership Conference, his organization; organizing the 1963 march on
Washington, and in Mississippi during the summer of 1964; in the march
from Selma to Montgomery in 1965; at the Riverside Church in New York
City in 1967, Mr. Chairman, when you spoke out against the war in
Vietnam; and in preparation for its ultimate course, the Poor People's
Campaign in 1968, when he was planning to come to Washington.
As I grew to know Dr. King and the life of the movement, my
admiration for the man also grew. He was a spokesperson not just for
blacks, but for all of those who had been left out and left behind. He
spoke to the hearts and consciences of all of us who believed
nonviolence and love offer a more excellent way.
This good man, this God-fearing man, gave us hope in a time of
hopelessness. This good man, this man of God, this son of America, this
citizen of the world, produced light in dark places. Martin Luther
King, Jr. had the ability to bring the dirt and the filth from under
the American rug, out of the cracks and the corners, into the open
light, in order for us to deal with it.
Martin Luther King, Jr., more than any other American of the 20th
century, had the power to bring people together, more people together,
to do good; black and white, rich and poor, young and old, Protestant,
Catholic, and Jews. His message was love, his weapon was truth. His
message was creative nonviolence. His goal was the beloved community, a
community of justice, a community at peace with himself.
This man that I marched with, worked with, and went to jail with,
this man that I got to know, was so sensitive and so caring. He
personified the very best of humankind. He was a gentle man who used
the teaching of the Great Teacher and the tools of Gandhi. In a sense,
he spoke a strange language, the philosophy of passive resistance to
evil and the use of nonviolence in a struggle for good.
In a sense, he was a radical, far too advanced in his concepts of
love and peace for the violent times in which he lived.
Dr. King taught us that the method of nonviolence was the key to
building
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a Beloved Community, a society based on simple justice that values the
dignity and the worth of every human being.
I say to you, my friends, 41 years ago, Martin Luther King was taken
from us by an assassin's bullet. But murder could not kill the dream of
peace. It could not kill the dream of an open society. It could not
kill the dream of a Beloved Community. The movement that Martin Luther
King, Jr. led, the movement that he sustained, was too necessary, too
noble, too right to ever die.
We know that his voice is stilled today, but perhaps today more than
ever before we know that his message still rings in the hearts of
America.
Forty years later, we must rededicate ourselves to the struggle that
was his struggle and continue to seek the goals that were his goals.
{time} 1245
I want to close, Madam Speaker, by saying, as we assemble here we
must understand that his dream has not yet been fulfilled. We have come
a distance, but we still have a distance to go before we build a
beloved community in America.
If Dr. King were here today, I believe he would have said that the
election of Barack Obama is not an end, it is not even a beginning, it
is a significant down payment on making his dream a reality.
Mr. SMITH of Texas. Madam Speaker, this bill came up a little earlier
than we expected and we are waiting for additional speakers to arrive
on the floor, so I will reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. CONYERS. How much time is left?
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The gentleman from Texas has 17 minutes, and
the gentleman from Michigan has 8\1/2\ minutes.
Mr. CONYERS. I yield 4 of those 8\1/2\ minutes to the distinguished
gentlelady from Texas, Sheila Jackson-Lee.
(Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas asked and was given permission to revise
and extend her remarks.)
Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas. Madam Speaker, this is a moment to pause as
we speak on the floor of the House in this enormously symbolic year, a
very special time to honor Dr. Martin Luther King.
I would like to thank my chairman, John Conyers, for the role he has
played, both in the fact that Dr. King saw fit to endorse him in his
first run for Congress out of the great city of Detroit; he probably
envisioned a man that would be a fighter for justice, and he has not
been disappointed. My colleagues have just listened to John Lewis, who
remains the conscience of this Nation and of this Congress. Oh how he
must have felt yesterday as he saw the continuum of a dream.
I stand here as a former staffer of the Southern Christian Leadership
Conference, having had the opportunity to work under the tutelage of
the soldiers, the foot soldiers of Dr. Martin Luther King, being
reminded of traveling up and down Auburn, and finding that almost
storefront building that represented and embodied all of the cerebral
thought, all of the brain power, all of the love, all of the courage,
all of the strength of those who found guidance in Dr. King. And so
this is a particularly important resolution, for many have asked those
of us who look like me whether or not the dream has been completed.
I will say that there is a man that now sits in the White House who
holds the dream, and he has given us our roadmap. And that roadmap is
that we are in this together, that we are the wind beneath his wings,
that America has always been and should be a One America. And we are
reminded of Dr. King's words in 1963, where he talked about not looking
at anyone for their color or their religion. Isn't this great and
wonderful that we have now come full circle to have the words and his
dreaming come to a point where we are now comfortable with not looking
at each other by the color of our skin or our ethnicity.
And so, yes, the dream is continuing. But Dr. Martin Luther King, and
the reason I rise today, was a prophet in his time. For many, they are
not used to using that term. He told us about economic hard times and
the desire to give everyone an opportunity for education and their day
in the sun and the economic opportunity, and look at us today. Our
President is now trying to lead us in the message of Dr. King; that as
long as anyone suffers, any of our brothers and sisters are not able to
have food on the table or a job, to look into the bright future, to
give a child a chance to be an astronaut or a president or a teacher,
then Dr. King's dream must continue.
And as I have talked to Martin Luther King III and visited with the
sister of Dr. King and the daughter of Dr. King, they agree that we are
in this fight together; that the Judiciary Committee has its role in
this Congress to ensure that the rule of law is followed, that we
torture no more.
Oh what a great day yesterday was and the day before, the
commemoration of Dr. King's birthday. But isn't it greater now that
America stands one and united, not off in the shopping centers on his
birthday, but now understanding what it truly meant that those who
suffered and bled did not do so for themselves, but honestly did so, so
that all of my friends, from Texas and Georgia and New York and
Mississippi and Washington State, Michigan and Illinois, and the deep
parts of Georgia and, yes, Texas could look at each other as friends,
brothers and sisters, even our sisters and brothers who yet have not
learned the English language but they are striving to become a great
part of this great Nation. So I am celebrating this resolution that
recounts the history of Dr. King.
Madam Speaker, isn't it great that we end that this is one Nation,
one America, and Dr. King told us so.
Madam Speaker, I rise in strong support of this resolution supporting
the observation of the birthday of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and
encouraging the people of the United States to observe the birthday of
Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and the life and legacy of Dr. Martin
Luther King, Jr. I thank my colleague Representative John Lewis for
authoring this resolution. I urge my colleagues to support this
resolution also.
Madam Speaker, a few days ago, the Nation observed for the 21st time
the Martin Luther King, Jr. holiday. Each year this day is set aside
for Americans to celebrate the life and legacy of a man who brought
hope and healing to America. The Martin Luther King holiday reminds us
that nothing is impossible when we are guided by the better angels of
our nature. We must continue to recognize the life and legacy of Dr.
King. We must continue to honor his legacy by serving on the day that
we have set aside to observe his life.
Dr. King's inspiring words filled a great void in our Nation, and
answered our collective longing to become a country that truly lived by
its noblest principles. Yet, Dr. King knew that it wasn't enough just
to talk the talk; he knew he had to walk the walk for his words to be
credible. And so we commemorate on this holiday the man of action, who
put his life on the line for freedom and justice everyday.
Every January 19th, this Nation honors the courage of a man who
endured harassment, threats and beatings, and even bombings. We
commemorate the man who went to jail 29 times to achieve freedom for
others, and who knew he would pay the ultimate price for his
leadership, but kept on marching and protesting and organizing anyway.
Dr. King once said that we all have to decide whether we ``will walk
in the light of creative altruism or the darkness of destructive
selfishness. Life's most persistent and nagging question, he said, is
`what are you doing for others?' ''
When Martin talked about the end of his mortal life in one of his
last sermons, on February 4, 1968, in the pulpit of Ebenezer Baptist
Church, even then he lifted up the value of service as the hallmark of
a full life. ``I'd like somebody to mention on that day Martin Luther
King, Jr. tried to give his life serving others,'' he said. ``I want
you to say on that day, that I did try in my life . . . to love and
serve humanity.''
Madam Speaker, during these difficult days when the United States is
bogged down in a misguided and mismanaged war in Iraq; calamities on
Wall Street--Main Street--and in the American automobile industry; we
should also remember that the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., who was
above all, a person who was always willing to serve to help his fellow
man.
This year thousands of Americans across the country will celebrate
the national holiday honoring the life and work of Martin Luther King,
Jr. by making the holiday ``a day on, not a day off.''
The King Day of Service is a way to transform Dr. Martin Luther King,
Jr.'s life and teachings into community service that helps solve social
problems. That service may meet a tangible need, such as fixing up a
school or senior center, or it may meet a need of the spirit, such as
building a sense of community
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or mutual responsibility. On this day, Americans of every age and
background celebrate Dr. King through service projects that:
Strengthen Communities--Dr. King recognized the power of service to
strengthen communities and achieve common goals. Through his words and
example, Dr. King challenged individuals to take action and lift up
their neighbors and communities through service.
Empower Individuals--Dr. King believed each individual possessed the
power to lift himself or herself up no matter what his or her
circumstances--rich or poor, black or white, man or woman. Whether
teaching literacy skills, helping an older adult surf the Web, or
helping an individual build the skills they need to acquire a job, acts
of service can help others improve their own lives while doing so much
for those who serve, as well.
Bridge Barriers--In his fight for civil rights, Dr. King inspired
Americans to think beyond themselves, look past differences, and work
toward equality. Serving side by side, community service bridges
barriers between people and teaches us that in the end, we are more
alike than we are different.
These ideas of unity, purpose, and the great things that can happen
when we work together toward a common goal--are just some of the many
reasons we honor Dr. King through service on this special holiday. I
urge my colleagues to join me in supporting this legislation and the
man who epitomized community service--Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
Just yesterday, January 20, 2009, this Nation witnessed a historic
moment. We stood in awe and watched the inauguration of this Nation's
first African American President. We have come a long way since Dr.
King's ``I Have a Dream'' speech. Yesterday, we have seen another part
of the ``dream'' fulfilled. I am hopeful and expectant that America's
future will be bright, and that it will be even brighter under the helm
and leadership of President Barack Obama. President Obama has taught us
that yes we can! I am delighted to be living the dream.
Mr. SMITH of Texas. Madam Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman
from Michigan, Congressman Vern Ehlers.
Mr. EHLERS. I thank the gentleman for yielding.
It is a great honor to speak about Martin Luther King. I don't have a
prepared statement because I was not aware this resolution was coming
up, but over the years I have just been tremendously impressed by him,
by his talent, by his ability, and particularly the way in which he
handled himself and his movement. And I use the term ``his movement''
advisedly, because he became the leader of it, the right man, at the
right time. I am always amazed at how the Lord seems to provide the
right leader at the right time for good causes such as this.
Monday morning, I went to the annual breakfast in Grand Rapids,
Michigan where we honor Martin Luther King. The room was filled with
people honoring him and just joyous about his contributions to our
Nation and its future. That evening, close to 3,000 people joined in
another celebration. You may think this is a little surprising in the
frozen North, which was not heavily involved in the Civil Rights
program, but we feel very strongly about it in our community. We have
an excellent community in Grand Rapids, Michigan. In particular, Mr.
Walter Brame, who heads the Urban League in our area, has been a strong
leader for years in providing equal opportunity for minorities in the
workplace, in schools and other places.
Martin Luther King started something wonderful, which ended up being
even more wonderful, and for that I am grateful to him. I am also
grateful to God for sending us the right man at the right time to
resolve a major national crisis.
Mr. SMITH of Texas. Madam Speaker, I would like to thank the
gentleman from Michigan for his heartfelt comments.
I yield back the balance of my time.
Mr. CONYERS. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may
consume.
The point that I would like to make in closing on our side is that
one of the most important things that President Obama made to me was
something I had never heard a President say before, and that was that
he wanted all of the people that voted and that may or may not have
supported him to continue to advise him. Normally, Presidents get
elected and say, ``Well, I am grateful to my supporters,'' and then
remove to inside the Beltway with the Cabinet and the Capitol and the
people in the three branches of government, and that's it. He asked for
continuing advice. Some said, he did not have to make that statement
because he was going to get that anyway, but others have said, ``This
is wonderful and this is great.'' And I think it ties in with the
people's moment that undergirded the King civil rights legacy; that is,
that everybody has a continuing responsibility to perfect this
democratic system of constitutional government that we have.
It is so important that we all feel we have a role to play over and
above voting, and it is that King-like theory that the President now
publicly extols that is so very important. And, I think, we embark here
in the second day of this new administration on a new path that
encourages citizen participation; I think it brings us all here in
government closer together, and I think that it augers well for the
challenges that we all face here in the 111th Congress and a new
President currently in his second day in office.
And so in this moment of remembering Dr. King and his legacy,
celebrate his life and contributions, I am very pleased that this
resolution is brought at this highly opportune moment. I thank the
author of this legislation.
Mr. BACA. Madam Speaker, I rise today to voice my strong support for
H. Res. 73, a resolution that promotes the observance of the birthday,
life and, legacy of Martin Luther King, Jr.
It is a historic time in our Nation's Capital with yesterday marking
the swearing-in of Barack Obama, our Nation's first African-American
President.
As we listened to President Obama's inaugural address we were all
reminded of how far our Nation has come. This resolution is also a
reminder that without Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., there would be no
President Obama.
Dr. King was a beacon of change on whose shoulders we all stand. His
leadership, courage, and conviction helped pave the road for all of us.
He understood government has a fundamental responsibility to meet the
needs of all Americans regardless of race or economic class.
He gave people the faith and courage to work peacefully for change to
stop racial discrimination, and promote equality and opportunity across
America.
Most importantly, Dr. King called upon each of us to truly commit
ourselves to changing and working to bring about change for all
Americans.
President Obama reminded us of that call yesterday when he said that
we each have a responsibility to rebuild our country and get us out of
this storm. Let us heed this call to action and work hand-in-hand to
help bring prosperity back. Together we can do it. Yes we can! I urge
my colleagues to support H. Res. 73.
Mr. CONYERS. I yield back the balance of my time.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the
gentleman from Michigan (Mr. Conyers) that the House suspend the rules
and agree to the resolution, H. Res. 73.
The question was taken; and (two-thirds being in the affirmative) the
rules were suspended and the resolution was agreed to.
A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.
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