[Congressional Record Volume 159, Number 72 (Tuesday, May 21, 2013)]
[House]
[Pages H2827-H2828]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




    AUTHORIZING USE OF EMANCIPATION HALL FOR UNVEILING OF STATUE OF 
                           FREDERICK DOUGLASS

  Mrs. MILLER of Michigan. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and 
concur in the concurrent resolution (S. Con. Res. 16) authorizing the 
use of Emancipation Hall in the Capitol Visitor Center for the 
unveiling of a statue of Frederick Douglass.
  The Clerk read the title of the concurrent resolution.
  The text of the concurrent resolution is as follows:

                            S. Con. Res. 16

       Resolved by the Senate (the House of Representatives 
     concurring), That

     SECTION 1. USE OF EMANCIPATION HALL FOR THE UNVEILING OF 
                   FREDERICK DOUGLASS STATUE.

       (a) Authorization.--Emancipation Hall in the Capitol 
     Visitor Center is authorized to be used for an event on June 
     19, 2013, to unveil a statue of Frederick Douglass.
       (b) Preparations.--Physical preparations for the conduct of 
     the event described in subsection (a) shall be carried out in 
     accordance with such conditions as may be prescribed by the 
     Architect of the Capitol.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentlewoman from 
Michigan (Mrs. Miller) and the gentlewoman from the District of 
Columbia (Ms. Norton) each will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentlewoman from Michigan.


                             General Leave

  Mrs. MILLER of Michigan. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that 
all Members have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks 
on the concurrent resolution.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentlewoman from Michigan?
  There was no objection.
  Mrs. MILLER of Michigan. I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of Senate Concurrent Resolution 16, 
authorizing the use of Emancipation Hall in the Capitol Visitor Center 
for the unveiling of a statue of Frederick Douglass, a great 
abolitionist. Frederick Douglass is a pivotal figure in American 
history who had an unyielding dedication to equal rights, the abolition 
of slavery, and the enhancement of women's suffrage. His brave actions 
and compelling writings inspired and forever changed this grateful 
Nation.
  Born into slavery, Frederick Douglass escaped to New York in 1838 
disguised as a free uniformed sailor. Upon achieving his own freedom, 
he quickly and unwaveringly turned his life's mission to seeking 
freedom, justice, and equality for all. Frederick Douglass inspired in 
African Americans the fundamental that one's achievement cannot be 
limited by one's color and that the American Dream is within reach for 
all Americans, regardless of race.
  Over a century has passed since his death, and yet his contribution 
to American society is very much alive today. His tireless dedication, 
brilliant words, and inclusive vision of humanity continue to inspire 
people of all races. In considering the remarkable achievements of 
Frederick Douglass and his contributions to our rich history, his 
presence within the United States Capitol will honor this institution 
and serve as endearing testimony to this Nation's struggle for freedom 
and for equality.
  I want to thank the Senator from the State of New York, Mr. Schumer, 
for

[[Page H2828]]

introducing this concurrent resolution, as well as my colleague, Ms. 
Norton from the District of Columbia, for her work on this, and I would 
certainly urge my colleagues to support it.
  I reserve the balance of my time.
  Ms. NORTON. I rise in strong support of Senate Concurrent Resolution 
16.
  I would like to begin by thanking Chairman Miller for her help in 
bringing this resolution to the floor. I also thank Ranking Member 
Brady for his longstanding commitment to placing a District of Columbia 
statue in the United States Capitol. When he chaired the committee, it 
approved my bill that would have given the District two statues in the 
Capitol, the usual practice. But, we are pleased to have our first 
statue and are grateful to the House leadership for permitting this 
bill on the floor today. We especially thank Senators Schumer and 
Durbin for their help in getting this resolution, as well as the bill 
authorizing the placement of the Douglass statue in the Capitol, passed 
in the Senate. The District of Columbia has no Senators so we're 
fortunate we have distinguished allies like Senators Schumer and 
Durbin.
  Like the residents of the 50 States, the residents of the District of 
Columbia have fought and died in all our Nation's wars and have always 
paid Federal income taxes. Unlike the residents of the 50 States, 
however, District of Columbia residents are still fighting for their 
equal rights as American citizens. Since 2002, one component of that 
fight has been to have statues representing the District of Columbia 
placed in the Capitol, like the States, which fulfill every obligation 
of citizenship, as the District does.
  D.C. residents chose Douglass to represent them in the Capitol not 
only because he is one of the great international icons of human and 
civil rights; but for us, Douglass is especially important because he 
was not content to rest on his historic national achievements alone. He 
knew where he lived and was deeply involved in the civic and political 
affairs of the District of Columbia.
  Douglass, a strong Republican, served as Recorder of Deeds of the 
District of Columbia, as United States Marshal here, as a member of the 
D.C. Council--its upper chamber then--appointed by the Republican 
president at the time, Ulysses S. Grant. Douglass was also a member of 
the Board of Trustees of Howard University for 24 years. Douglass made 
his home in the Anacostia neighborhood of southeast Washington, which 
is now the Frederick Douglass National Historic Site, administered by 
the National Park Service.
  In choosing Douglass, it was important to our residents that Douglass 
also dedicated himself to securing self-government and voting rights 
for the residents of the District of Columbia. Many Americans may not 
know that D.C. residents have only rarely had even nonvoting 
representation in the Congress, or a local government, and even today 
have no vote on the floor of the House and no Senators, although our 
residents pay Federal income taxes like everybody else and fight in all 
the Nation's wars like everybody else. The city had both home rule and 
a delegate for a brief period during Reconstruction and then was 
without any home rule government or any representation in the Congress 
for over 100 years, until the 1970s.
  In his autobiography, ``The Life and Times of Frederick Douglass,'' 
Douglass commented on the unequal political status of his hometown, the 
District of Columbia, and of its residents. Most of what Douglass wrote 
in the 19th century holds true today.
  I am quoting Douglass from his autobiography:

       These people are outside of the United States. They occupy 
     neutral ground and have no political existence. They have 
     neither voice nor vote in all the practical politics of the 
     United States. They are hardly to be called citizens of the 
     United States. Practically, they are aliens, not citizens but 
     subjects. The District of Columbia is the one spot where 
     there is no government for the people, of the people, and by 
     the people. Its citizens submit to rulers whom they have had 
     no choice in selecting. They obey laws which they had no 
     voice in making. They have plenty of taxation but no 
     representation.

                              {time}  1420

  In the great questions of politics in the country they can march with 
neither army, but are relegated to the position of neuters. I have 
nothing to say in favor of this anomalous condition of the people of 
the District of Columbia, and hardly think that it ought to be or will 
be much longer. Mr. Douglass did not mince his words.
  The Douglass statue in our Capitol will recognize the universality of 
his dedication to human rights and democratic rights. His statue in the 
Capitol will remind District of Columbia residents that they, too, will 
partake of these values one day. His statue will offer the same pride 
that other citizens of our country experience when they come to the 
Capitol and see memorials that commemorate the efforts of their 
residents and their significant contributions. And the Douglass statue 
offers other Americans the opportunity to see the residents of their 
Nation's Capital honored as well in their Capitol.
  Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mrs. MILLER of Michigan. Mr. Speaker, again I want to thank my 
colleague from the District of Columbia for her very eloquent words. We 
are all looking forward to the unveiling of the statue of this 
remarkable American that is such a critical component of our proud 
history.
  With that, I would urge all of my colleagues to support this Senate 
concurrent resolution, and I yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentlewoman from Michigan (Mrs. Miller) that the House suspend the 
rules and concur in the concurrent resolution, S. Con. Res. 16.
  The question was taken; and (two-thirds being in the affirmative) the 
rules were suspended and the concurrent resolution was concurred in.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

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