[Congressional Record Volume 161, Number 32 (Wednesday, February 25, 2015)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E245-E246]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 SUPPORT FOR H.R. 431--CONGRESSIONAL GOLD MEDAL FOR SELMA FOOT SOLDIERS

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. FREDERICA S. WILSON

                               of florida

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, February 25, 2015

  Ms. WILSON of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I stand today in strong support 
of H.R. 431, a bill that will bestow the Congressional Gold Medal upon 
the courageous Foot Soldiers who participated in ``Bloody Sunday,'' 
``Turnaround Tuesday,'' and the final March from Selma to Montgomery, 
Alabama in 1965.
   As we commemorate the 50th anniversary of their displays of courage 
and determination, I am inspired by the thousands of citizens, from all 
walks of life--including my good friend and colleague, Congressman John 
Lewis--who came together to march for equal voting rights for future 
generations.
   I commend these brave men and women for following their conviction 
and sacrificing their blood, sweat, and tears to bring about the change 
that this country so desperately needed.
   However, Mr. Speaker, our work is not yet done!
   It was only two years ago, when the Supreme Court gutted the Voting 
Rights Act by

[[Page E246]]

ruling Section 5 unconstitutional. Since this ruling, we have seen an 
unprecedented number of bills introduced in state legislatures intended 
to restrict the precise right that the men and women we are honoring 
today fought to gain.
   Not only are minority and low-income Americans' voting rights under 
assault, but the persistent opportunity gaps in employment, education, 
life skills, and career preparation continue to make the American Dream 
elusive for far too many Americans.
   We must follow the example of these brave Foot Soldiers, and 
continue to fight injustice and inequality to create economic 
opportunities for everyone.

                          ____________________