[Congressional Record Volume 159, Number 28 (Wednesday, February 27, 2013)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E202]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




            SHIRLEY CHISHOLM CONGRESSIONAL GOLD MEDAL AWARD

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. CHARLES B. RANGEL

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, February 27, 2013

  Mr. RANGEL. Mr. Speaker, I introduced the Shirley Chisholm 
Congressional Medal Act (H. R. 1303) in the 112th Congress. This bill 
is being introduced to recognize the extraordinary contributions of 
Shirley Chisholm.
  Shirley Chisholm was a pioneer. She was the first African-American 
woman elected to Congress in 1968 where she served until 1982. She 
represented Brooklyn's 12th Congressional District in the United States 
House of Representatives. '
  In 1972 Shirley Chisholm was the first African-American to seek the 
nomination of a major party for President of the United States.
  Shirley Chisholm was a co-founder of the National Organization for 
Women (NOW).
  This posthumous gold medal presentation will recognize Shirley 
Chisholm for her activism, independence and groundbreaking achievements 
in politics during and after the civil rights era. Both her election to 
Congress and her candidacy for the presidency raised the profile and 
aspirations of all African-Americans and women in the field of 
politics.
  An historic figure in American political history and a champion for 
social justice, Shirley Chisholm died at the age of 80 on New Year's 
Day 2005. it is befitting that Congress bestow its highest civilian 
award, the Congressional Gold Medal, to former Congresswoman Shirley 
Chisholm posthumously.

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