[Congressional Record Volume 159, Number 102 (Wednesday, July 17, 2013)]
[House]
[Page H4534]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




        THE CENTENNIAL ANNIVERSARY OF DELTA SIGMA THETA SORORITY

  (Mr. COHEN asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute.)
  Mr. COHEN. I rise today to honor the great contributions of Delta 
Sigma Theta Sorority, which is celebrating its 100th anniversary here 
in Washington, D.C., this week.
  Founded in 1913, on the campus of Howard University, Delta Sigma 
Theta is committed to sisterhood, scholarship, and service. It's the 
largest African American women's organization in the country, and 
provides assistance and support to communities throughout the world.
  Delta has played an important part in civil rights and women's 
rights, and even in 1913, just after its founding, marched in the 
women's suffrage march. That was its first activity.
  For a century, Delta members have been at the forefront of politics, 
medicine, law, the arts, military, and faith. Esteemed members of Delta 
include civil rights heroine and Presidential Medal of Freedom 
recipient, the late Dorothy Height, and two of my heroines, 
Congresspeople Barbara Jordan and Shirley Chisholm. And in the arts, 
Ruby Dee Davis, Cicely Tyson, and Lena Horne.
  Delta's storied history also includes the accomplishments of many 
women from my hometown, Memphis: Mary Church Terrell, Representative 
Johnnie Turner, Speaker Pro Tempore Lois DeBerry, the late and great 
civil rights leader Maxine Smith, National Civil Rights Museum Director 
Beverly Robertson, and Olympic Gold Medalist Rochelle Stevens.
  I salute both the Memphis and Shelby County alumnae chapters and the 
thousands of Deltas who are currently in our Nation's Capital to 
celebrate their first 100 years. I thank them for their service, and 
wish them many more.

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