[Congressional Record Volume 161, Number 175 (Thursday, December 3, 2015)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1702]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                HONORING CONGRESSWOMAN SHIRLEY CHISHOLM

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. MARCIA L. FUDGE

                                of ohio

                    in the house of representatives

                       Thursday, December 3, 2015

  Ms. FUDGE. Mr. Speaker, I rise to honor one of my personal heroes, 
former Congresswoman Shirley Chisholm, who posthumously received the 
Presidential Medal of Freedom last week.
   Congresswoman Chisholm was the first Black woman elected to the U.S. 
Congress and the first woman (and African American) to run for a major 
party's presidential nomination. The Congresswoman was also one of the 
12 founders of the Congressional Black Caucus. She was a catalyst for 
change.
   To quote Congresswoman Chisholm, ``You don't make progress by 
standing on the sidelines, whimpering and complaining. You make 
progress by implementing ideas.''
   Let us remember her words during the remainder of our legislative 
session. The Members of this House have the opportunity to implement 
ideas that can transform this nation.
   Just yesterday, we approved the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) to 
reauthorize the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) and 
address some of our nation's most pressing public education issues. The 
bill protects Title I funding, ensures equitable allocation of 
resources to schools, recognizes the importance of after-school 
education, and maintains subgroup disaggregation of data for reporting. 
The ESSA also gives states and local school districts more flexibility, 
while preserving the federal role in education and ensuring that states 
and districts honor the civil rights legacy of ESEA.
   I am pleased my colleagues came together to pass this important 
bill. While not perfect, the ESSA is a step forward for public 
education in this country.
   As Congresswoman Chisholm also said, ``I don't measure America by 
its achievement but by its potential.'' Yesterday's actions showed the 
nation this Congress has great potential to put politics aside and 
serve the best interests of the American people.
   May we continue in this spirit, and let us honor Congresswoman 
Chisholm by working together to improve the lives of all Americans.

                          ____________________