[Congressional Record Volume 158, Number 120 (Monday, September 10, 2012)]
[House]
[Pages H5745-H5746]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




      ACCEPTANCE OF STATUE OF FREDERICK DOUGLASS FOR PLACEMENT IN 
                           EMANCIPATION HALL

  Mr. DANIEL E. LUNGREN of California. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend 
the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 6336) to direct the Joint Committee 
on the Library to accept a statue depicting Frederick Douglass from the 
District of Columbia and to provide for the permanent display of the 
statue in Emancipation Hall of the Capitol Visitor Center.
  The Clerk read the title of the bill.
  The text of the bill is as follows:

                               H.R. 6336

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

     SECTION 1. FINDINGS.

       Congress finds the following:
       (1) Frederick Douglass, born Frederick Augustus Washington 
     Bailey in Maryland in 1818, escaped from slavery and became a 
     leading writer, orator, and publisher, and one of the 
     Nation's most influential advocates for abolitionism, women's 
     suffrage, and the equality of all people.
       (2) The contributions of Frederick Douglass over many 
     decades were crucial to the abolition of slavery, the passage 
     of the 13th, 14th, and 15th Amendments to the Constitution of 
     the United States, the support for women's suffrage, and the 
     advancement of African-Americans after the Civil War.
       (3) After living in New Bedford, Massachusetts, Frederick 
     Douglass resided for 25 years in Rochester, New York, where 
     he published and edited ``The North Star'', the leading 
     African-American newspaper in the United States, and other 
     publications.
       (4) Self-educated, Frederick Douglass wrote several 
     influential books, including his best-selling first 
     autobiography, ``Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, 
     an American Slave'', published in 1845.
       (5) Frederick Douglass worked tirelessly for the 
     emancipation of African-American slaves, was a pivotal figure 
     in Underground Railroad activities, and was an inspiration to 
     enslaved Americans who aspired to freedom.
       (6) As a well-known speaker in great demand, Frederick 
     Douglass traveled widely, visiting countries such as England 
     and Ireland, to spread the message of emancipation and equal 
     rights.
       (7) Frederick Douglass was the only African-American to 
     attend the Seneca Falls Convention, a women's rights 
     convention held in Seneca Falls, New York in 1848.
       (8) During the Civil War, Frederick Douglass recruited 
     African-Americans to volunteer as soldiers for the Union 
     Army, including 2 of his sons, who served nobly in the Fifty-
     Fourth Massachusetts Regiment.
       (9) In 1872, Frederick Douglass moved to Washington, DC, 
     after a fire destroyed his home in Rochester, New York.
       (10) Frederick Douglass was appointed as a United States 
     Marshal in 1877 and was named Recorder of Deeds for the 
     District of Columbia in 1881.
       (11) Frederick Douglass became the first African-American 
     to receive a vote for nomination as President of the United 
     States at a major party convention for the 1888 Republican 
     National Convention.
       (12) From 1889 to 1891, Frederick Douglass served as 
     minister-resident and consul-general to the Republic of 
     Haiti.
       (13) Frederick Douglass was recognized around the world as 
     one of the most important political activists in the history 
     of the United States.
       (14) Frederick Douglass died in 1895 in Washington, DC and 
     is buried in Rochester, New York.
       (15) Frederick Douglass's achievements and influence on the 
     history of the United States merit recognition in the United 
     States Capitol.

     SEC. 2. ACCEPTANCE OF STATUE OF FREDERICK DOUGLASS FOR 
                   PLACEMENT IN EMANCIPATION HALL.

       (a) Acceptance.--Not later than 2 years after the date of 
     the enactment of this Act, the Joint Committee on the Library 
     shall accept from the District of Columbia the donation of a 
     statue depicting Frederick Douglass, subject to the terms and 
     conditions that the Joint Committee considers appropriate.
       (b) Placement.--The Joint Committee shall place the statue 
     accepted under subsection (a) in a suitable permanent 
     location in Emancipation Hall of the United States Capitol.
       Amend the title so as to read: ``A bill to direct the Joint 
     Committee on the Library to accept a statue depicting 
     Frederick Douglass from the District of Columbia and to 
     provide for the permanent display of the statue in 
     Emancipation Hall of the United States Capitol.''.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from 
California (Mr. Daniel E. Lungren) and the gentleman from Pennsylvania 
(Mr. Brady) each will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from California.


                             General Leave

  Mr. DANIEL E. LUNGREN of California. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous 
consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days to revise and 
extend their remarks.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from California?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. DANIEL E. LUNGREN of California. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such 
time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 6336, a bill that I had 
the privilege to introduce with my esteemed colleague, the 
representative from the District of Columbia (Ms. Norton). This bill 
appropriately places a statue of Frederick Douglass into Emancipation 
Hall in the U.S. Congress.
  Frederick Douglass is a pivotal figure in American history who had an 
unyielding dedication to equal rights,

[[Page H5746]]

the abolition of slavery, and the advancement of women's suffrage. In 
addition to a gripping personal saga detailing his flight from slavery 
to freedom, Frederick Douglass inspired a nation through both his 
compelling antislavery writings and his rhetoric.
  Published in 1845, his eloquent autobiography ``Narrative of the Life 
of Frederick Douglass, an American Slave'' undercut pro-slavery 
arguments. He challenged enslavement, and he inspired individuals 
seeking their freedom.
  After the Civil War, he served in a number of government positions 
and became the first African American to receive a vote for nomination 
as President of the United States at the 1888 Republican National 
Convention--yes, I would repeat, the Republican National Convention. He 
was a proud Republican.
  Mr. Speaker, September 22 marks the 150th anniversary of President 
Abraham Lincoln signing the preliminary proclamation that paved the way 
for the Emancipation Proclamation to be signed on January 1, 1863. How 
fitting that a statue honoring Frederick Douglass, a man who brought 
freedom to so many, will be on display in Emancipation Hall.
  In considering the remarkable achievements of Frederick Douglass and 
his contributions to our rich history, his presence within the U.S. 
Capitol will honor this institution and serve as an endearing testimony 
to the struggle for freedom and equality.
  I would like to thank again my colleague, the Congresswoman from the 
District of Columbia (Ms. Norton). I know she, unfortunately, couldn't 
be here today because I know she has a requirement to teach a class; 
otherwise, she would be here. But I wanted to thank her for her 
tireless work to bring this statue to the Capitol, as well as our 
counterparts in the Senate, the Senate Rules Committee. As many know, 
Senator Schumer introduced the companion legislation in the Senate. I 
thank my ranking member for his support in this effort.
  I urge my colleagues to support this measure, and I look forward to 
welcoming the statue of Frederick Douglass to Emancipation Hall very 
soon.
  With that, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. BRADY of Pennsylvania. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I 
may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I also urge support for H.R. 6336, to direct the Joint 
Committee on the Library to accept the statue of Frederick Douglass and 
provide for its permanent display in Emancipation Hall in the Capitol 
Visitor Center.
  Often considered the father of the civil rights movement, Frederick 
Douglass' place in history was earned with deep-seated courage and an 
unshakable belief in the equality of all human beings. A former slave, 
Douglass went on to become one of the most prominent figures of the 
movement to free the slaves. His statue should serve as a reminder to 
millions of visitors to this great place of both how far we've come and 
how far we still have to go.
  Mr. Speaker, I'd also like to thank my chairman, Mr. Lungren, for his 
patience--this was a long time coming--and his negotiations and for his 
respect, and also for his unyielding cooperation.
  With that, I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. DANIEL E. LUNGREN of California. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such 
time as I may consume.
  One of the great things about Frederick Douglass is that he inspired 
a nation not only by the example of his lifetime in releasing the bonds 
of slavery and becoming a free man, but he was self-educated. He was a 
great orator, a great writer, a great inspiration to this country.
  There's not too many people that you can talk about that actually can 
take credit, tremendous credit, for the passage of three amendments to 
the U.S. Constitution--13th, 14th, and 15th. There's not many people 
who were on the right side of history in such a tremendous way, someone 
who not only worked to encourage African Americans to fight in the 
Civil War on the side of freedom, but also later on to work to ensure 
that the message of freedom that was the promise of both our 
Declaration of Independence and our Constitution was embodied 
specifically in the Constitution by these amendments.
  He was a powerful man who was very proud of his history and proud of 
his place in history in terms of leading a political movement and 
showing that African Americans were not just freed slaves that somehow 
got their freedom at the suffrage of the other members of society, but 
that they fought for it, they struggled for it, and they had both 
physical courage and intellectual power that inspired the Nation to 
recognize the fact that we had fallen so far short of the promise of 
our Constitution and the Declaration of Independence.

                              {time}  1720

  I'm afraid that too many young people today don't know the story of 
Frederick Douglass. In a small way, this may help to rekindle the 
interest in Frederick Douglass so that when the young people come here 
to this Capitol, as they often do, and they look at the statues and 
they ask who is that and what did he do or what did she do, people can 
now look proudly to the statue of Frederick Douglass and explain what 
it is he did and why his powerful legacy is still an inspiration to all 
of us today.
  So I would hope that our Members would unanimously support this 
legislation and that we would soon see Frederick Douglass return to the 
United States Capitol in this way.
  With that, I yield back the balance of my time.
  Ms. NORTON. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of H.R. 6336, and 
to express my deep gratitude to Chairman Dan Lungren for introducing 
the bill, for consulting with me on it, and for bringing it to the 
House floor. I would also like to thank Senator Dick Durbin for 
including a provision in the Senate Appropriations Committee-passed 
fiscal year 2013 Financial Services and General Government 
Appropriations bill to place the Frederick Douglass statue in the U.S. 
Capitol and Senator Charles Schumer for introducing the Senate 
companion to H.R. 6336.
  The District of Columbia government commissioned the Douglass statue, 
with the intention of giving it to the American people as a gift to be 
displayed in the Capitol. Douglass, an iconic leader for equal rights 
for African Americans and women and an internationally celebrated human 
rights advocate, spent much of his life as a D.C. resident and served 
as a local public official. His home in Southeast D.C., which is now 
the Frederick Douglass National Historic Site, sits only a few miles 
from the Capitol. Since the statue was completed in 2007, I have been 
pursuing legislation to have Congress accept the District's gift. When 
Congress built the Capitol Visitor Center, it named the main room 
``Emancipation Hall'' in honor of the slaves who helped to build the 
Capitol. Nevertheless, the Capitol still has a long way to go in 
telling the nation's story, including the role of African Americans in 
U.S. history. Currently, there are 180 statues and busts in the 
Capitol, and the Douglass statue would only be the third portraying an 
African American.
  The time has come for the Congress to accept the District of 
Columbia's gift. I urge the House to pass the bill.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentleman from California (Mr. Daniel E. Lungren) that the House 
suspend the rules and pass the bill, H.R. 6331, as amended.
  The question was taken; and (two-thirds being in the affirmative) the 
rules were suspended and the bill, as amended, was passed.
  The title was amended so as to read: ``A bill to direct the Joint 
Committee on the Library to accept a statue depicting Frederick 
Douglass from the District of Columbia and to provide for the permanent 
display of the statue in Emancipation Hall of the United States 
Capitol.''
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

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