[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;

[[Page H395]]

       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

[[Page H396]]

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

[[Page H398]]

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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