[Congressional Record Volume 166, Number 24 (Wednesday, February 5, 2020)]
[House]
[Pages H827-H828]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
ARETHA FRANKLIN POST OFFICE BUILDING
Mrs. CAROLYN B. MALONEY of New York. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend
the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 3976) to designate the facility of
the United States Postal Service located at 12711 East Jefferson Avenue
in Detroit, Michigan, as the ``Aretha Franklin Post Office Building''.
The Clerk read the title of the bill.
The text of the bill is as follows:
H.R. 3976
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of
the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. ARETHA FRANKLIN POST OFFICE BUILDING.
(a) Designation.--The facility of the United States Postal
Service located at 12711 East Jefferson Avenue in Detroit,
Michigan, shall be known and designated as the ``Aretha
Franklin Post Office Building''.
(b) References.--Any reference in a law, map, regulation,
document, paper, or other record of the United States to the
facility referred to in subsection (a) shall be deemed to be
a reference to the ``Aretha Franklin Post Office Building''.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentlewoman from
New York (Mrs. Carolyn B. Maloney) and the gentleman from North
Carolina (Mr. Meadows) each will control 20 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentlewoman from New York.
General Leave
Mrs. CAROLYN B. MALONEY of New York. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous
consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise
and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on this
measure.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the
gentlewoman from New York?
There was no objection.
Mrs. CAROLYN B. MALONEY of New York. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such
time as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to join my colleagues in consideration of
H.R. 3976, to designate the facility of the U.S. Postal Service located
at 12711 East Jefferson Avenue in Detroit, Michigan, as the Aretha
Franklin Post Office Building.
Mr. Speaker, I thank my friend and colleague, Representative Brenda
Lawrence, for introducing this important measure to honor a cultural
and civil rights heroine.
Aretha Franklin, the ``Queen of Soul,'' was an American singer,
songwriter, pianist, and civil rights activist from Detroit, Michigan.
Over her career, Aretha Franklin was awarded 18 Grammy awards, along
with various lifetime achievement recognitions.
Her unique vocal style not only influenced generations of future
singers, but it also earned her the number one spot on Rolling Stone
magazine's list of the Greatest Singers of All Time.
Aretha Franklin was also a champion for civil rights and women's
rights. She frequently donated to civil rights groups, and two of her
biggest hits, ``Respect'' and ``You Make Me Feel Like a Natural
Woman,'' became anthems for social change movements across the country.
In 1987, she was the first woman to be inducted into the Rock and
Roll Hall of Fame. She also received the Presidential Medal of Freedom
from President George W. Bush in 2005.
Aretha Franklin died of advanced pancreatic cancer on August 16,
2018, in Detroit, Michigan. Naming a post office in the city she
cherished so fondly would recognize her important cultural and civic
accomplishments.
Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. MEADOWS. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 3976, introduced by my friend,
Representative Brenda Lawrence.
This bill, as has been mentioned, names a post office located in
Detroit, Michigan, in honor of the ``Queen of Soul,'' Aretha Franklin.
Aretha Franklin was an American singer, songwriter, pianist, and
civil rights activist, and so we want to give honor where honor is due.
She began her career as a child singing at her church in Detroit. For
the next six decades, her distinctive voice captivated listeners and
influenced countless other singers.
[[Page H828]]
So it is my delight to rise in support of this particular bill. It is
out of ``Respect'' for my good friend from Michigan, and so we will
``Say a Little Prayer'' and hope that this goes through.
{time} 1615
Mrs. CAROLYN B. MALONEY of New York. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time
as she may consume to the gentlewoman from Michigan (Mrs. Lawrence),
the author of this bill.
Mrs. LAWRENCE. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentlewoman for yielding.
I will start by thanking the leadership on the Committee on Oversight
and Reform for marking up this legislation.
Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 3976, which would rename
a post office in my hometown of Detroit after the Queen of Soul, Aretha
Franklin. As was mentioned earlier, she was an 18 Grammy Award winner;
a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame; and the first woman to be
inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame.
She performed at three inaugural events for Presidents Carter,
Clinton, and Barack Obama. She was a woman who was respected on both
sides of the aisle where President Bush issued her the Medal of
Freedom.
``A Natural Woman'' singer, she was more than just a music icon. She
was a civil rights advocate who used her platform and voice to advocate
for racial equality.
I knew her personally and she would talk to me about being a child
and having Martin Luther King in her home with her dad discussing
policies and what they were going to do to fight together for racial
equality.
In 1967, Aretha released ``Respect,'' which became a rally cry for
racial and gender political movements of the time.
Although people remember Aretha Franklin as the ``Queen of Soul'' she
was more than just a vocalist. Aretha used her platform to become a
beacon of hope for people during the civil rights movement and her
voice served as a perfect guiding light.
In 1967, she toured with Harry Belafonte and Sidney Poitier to raise
money for Dr. Martin Luther King's Southern Christian Leadership
Conference. The organization was in a dire financial state and would
soon become the Poor People's Campaign.
In 1970, few people knew Aretha Franklin posted bond for Angela
Davis, a prominent activist who was jailed on trumped-up charges. In
1970, a Jet magazine article quoted Aretha Franklin: ``Black people
will be free. I have been locked up for disturbing the peace in Detroit
and I know you got to disturb the peace when you can't get no peace.
Jail is hell to be in. I'm going to see her free if there is any
justice in our courts . . . because she's a Black woman and she wants
freedom for Black people.''
In her 1999 autobiography, ``Aretha: From These Roots'' described the
impact Detroit had on her childhood and career. ``Detroiters realize
how deeply I appreciate the city in which I was raised. And it is in
Detroit that I continue to cultivate my career; it is to Detroit that I
direct most of my charitable activities; and it is from Detroit that I
receive much love and support, which I reciprocate.''
No matter how famous she became worldwide, Aretha always gave back to
the city she grew up in. She frequently hosted community events for
congregants in her father's church, and she donated to organizations
like Save the Children and Easterseals and supported local food banks
across Detroit.
In the year after her passing, an outpouring of support has led to
the renaming of Detroit monuments in her honor--and I am so proud and
happy to stand here today, personally knowing her, traveling with her
on her tours--to include a post office near her home in Detroit to the
list of ways to commemorate this amazing woman.
While there is little that can truly demonstrate our appreciation for
Aretha Franklin, I hope her family knows how proud and thankful we all
are for her lifelong support.
Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to give a little support R-E-S-P-E-
C-T, to this legislation.
Mrs. CAROLYN B. MALONEY of New York. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1\1/2\
minutes to the gentlewoman from Michigan (Mrs. Dingell).
Mrs. DINGELL. Mr. Speaker, I thank Madam Chair for yielding.
Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of H.R. 3976, the bill
sponsored by my colleague, Mrs. Lawrence, and by the members of the
Michigan delegation.
This bill honors the ``Queen of Soul,'' Aretha Franklin, and her
innumerable contributions to music. Her faith in Detroit and its people
is what I remember as much as her voice. This legislation serves as a
fitting tribute to her esteemed legacy.
Aretha Franklin grew up singing at the New Bethel Baptist Church with
her father, Reverend C.L. Franklin. Aretha's father was a good and dear
friend to John Dingell, helping him early in his career. The two of
them fought side by side in the fifties and the sixties for civil
rights legislation.
Aretha's career includes more than 20 Grammy Awards, the first woman
inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame and receiving the
Presidential Medal of Freedom.
However, it is Aretha's message through music of respect, love, and
faith that will stay with us for generations.
Today, I stand with my Michigan colleagues and urge every Member to
honor Aretha Franklin's legacy. Her contributions to our country are
deserving of this recognition, and maybe we need to have her up there,
up there with John, ``say a little prayer'' for us.
Mr. MEADOWS. Mr. Speaker, I will just cut to the chase. Let's get
this thing done and get it over with and make sure that we show the
``respect'' that we should.
Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
Mrs. CAROLYN B. MALONEY of New York. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the
balance of my time.
Mr. Speaker, I urge passage of H.R. 3976. I had the opportunity to
meet Aretha Franklin several times. She was a great friend of Charlie
Rangel and would often perform for his events. She very generously gave
her time to raise money for all kinds of civic rights events. She was a
remarkable person and a great singer.
Mr. Speaker, I urge everyone to support this important legislation,
and I yield back the balance of my time.
The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Carson of Indiana). The question is on
the motion offered by the gentlewoman from New York (Mrs. Carolyn B.
Maloney) that the House suspend the rules and pass the bill, H.R. 3976.
The question was taken; and (two-thirds being in the affirmative) the
rules were suspended and the bill was passed.
A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.
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