[Congressional Record Volume 161, Number 174 (Wednesday, December 2, 2015)]
[House]
[Page H8873]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




  COMMEMORATING THE LIFE AND LEGACY OF CONGRESSWOMAN SHIRLEY CHISHOLM

  (Ms. LEE asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute.)
  Ms. LEE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to commemorate the life and legacy 
of Congresswoman Shirley Chisolm.
  Last week, she posthumously received the Presidential Medal of 
Freedom, our Nation's highest civilian honor. Congresswoman Chisholm is 
truly deserving of this honor.
  In 1969, she became the first African American woman to serve in 
Congress. She was the first majority party African American candidate 
and the first Democratic woman to run for President. She was also a 
founding member of the Congressional Black Caucus.
  Congresswoman Chisholm--or Mrs. C, as we called her--was my mentor 
and role model. The course of my life changed, when I met Congresswoman 
Shirley Chisholm, as a student in Mills College. At that time, I was 
the Black Student Union president, and I had invited her to speak her 
eloquent speech focused on the power of women and people of color to 
change the world. As she said: If you don't have a seat at the table, 
bring a folding chair. She explained why it was important for everyone 
to get involved in the policymaking process, because too often the 
voices of women and people of color are unheard.
  I know that today many of us, including myself, would not be here. We 
would not have the privilege to serve in this great body had it not 
been for Shirley Chisolm. She is truly deserving of our Nation's 
highest honor.
  I would also want to wish Mrs. C a very happy belated birthday. She 
would have turned 91 on the 20th of November.

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