[Congressional Record Volume 159, Number 19 (Thursday, February 7, 2013)]
[Senate]
[Pages S516-S517]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                    CELEBRATING BLACK HISTORY MONTH

  Mr. UDALL of Colorado. Mr. President, for more than 150 years, 
leaders from President Abraham Lincoln to Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. 
have challenged us to keep faith with the true spirit of our 
Constitution. Today we continue the work of these two dynamic men who 
courageously led the charge--during times of national division and 
civil strife--in pursuing a more perfect union where all Americans are 
truly free and have equal access to opportunity.
  As we celebrate Black History Month this year, I am honored to 
reflect on the historical and everyday contributions of African-
Americans to the State of Colorado and to our country. Their efforts to 
ensure equality for all Americans are tightly woven into the fabric of 
our ever-evolving Nation.
  Last month, millions of Americans and I watched as President Barack 
Obama took the oath for his second Presidential term. And for the first 
time in our Nation's history, there are two African-American U.S. 
Senators serving at the same time--Senators Tim Scott of South Carolina 
and Mo Cowan of Massachusetts. Following the 2012 elections, Colorado 
celebrated a record number of African-American lawmakers in the 
Colorado House of Representatives, known as the ``historic five'' who 
are paving the way for more diversity. I also am proud of how our State 
set the precedent for the country 4 years ago, when two African-
American lawmakers, Rep. Terrance Carroll and Senator Peter Groff, held 
the top leadership roles in the Colorado General Assembly. These public 
servants were role models and leaders on so many important issues--one 
of which was pushing hard to create educational opportunities for all 
Coloradans.
  Creating opportunity through education is critical, and as we work to 
close achievement and economic opportunity gaps throughout our State 
and country, I would like to pay homage to two of Colorado's African-
American pioneers who have worked tirelessly to guarantee equal access 
to quality education for all Coloradans.
  Omar D. Blair, a member of the Tuskegee Airmen in the 1940s, served 
as the first African-American president of the Denver Board of 
Education and went on to become the first African-American president of 
the Colorado Association of School Boards. During his tenure as 
president of the Denver Board of Education, Blair championed quality 
education and led the city through the controversial desegregation of 
its public schools.
  Rachel B. Noel, known as the lion of the African-American civil 
rights movement in Denver, became the first African-American elected to 
the Denver Board of Education and was also

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the first African-American woman elected to office in Colorado. On 
April 25, 1968, Noel spearheaded a resolution to integrate Denver's 
public schools. Despite the school board's decision to overturn the 
resolution in 1969, the U.S. Supreme Court affirmed Noel's historic 
resolution in its 1973 decision, Keyes v. Denver Public Schools No. 1.
  These exceptional Coloradans changed the way we educate our youth and 
supported access to opportunity for all. But while we have seen 
progress, there is still much work to do.
  In this rapidly changing world where we increasingly rely on 
technology, we must provide our youth with the math and science skills 
they need to become leaders and keep our Nation on the cutting edge of 
innovation and ingenuity. That is why I stand with President Obama and 
Gov. Hickenlooper in supporting science, technology, engineering and 
mathematics, STEM, education programs to provide our youth with viable 
pathways to academic and professional success. With a strong investment 
in STEM programs, and by ensuring Colorado's students continue to have 
access to language and arts education, we will give our students the 
tools they need to be successful in the 21st century.
  From Colorado's earliest days as a western territory to the present, 
African-American community leaders and public servants have been a 
driving force in transforming the works and vision of our Founding 
Fathers into reality. I am humbled and inspired by their commitment to 
pushing our country to reach its fullest potential. I will continue to 
do my part to honor African-Americans' legacy of triumph over 
challenge. I hope you will join me in doing the same.

                          ____________________