[Congressional Record Volume 166, Number 129 (Wednesday, July 22, 2020)]
[House]
[Pages H3677-H3678]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




             CELEBRATING THE LIFE OF CONGRESSMAN JOHN LEWIS

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under the Speaker's announced policy of 
January 3, 2019, the gentlewoman from Wyoming (Ms. Cheney) is 
recognized for 60 minutes as the designee of the minority leader.
  Ms. CHENEY. Mr. Speaker, it is my honor this evening to manage the 
time that we have on the Republican side to celebrate and remember the 
life of our tremendous colleague, Mr. John Lewis.
  Mr. Speaker, I was very moved, having the opportunity to watch my 
colleagues on the other side of the aisle discuss and describe the 
impact that Congressman Lewis had on their lives, on all of our lives, 
and on this Chamber. I am struck by the fact that as we gather tonight 
in this Chamber, we rise not as representatives of two different 
political parties, but we rise as elected representatives of this great 
Nation, a Nation that is mourning the loss of a great American, and as 
honored colleagues of a man, John Lewis, who dedicated his life to 
service and to the fight for justice and freedom.
  John Lewis taught us: ``Nothing can stop the power of a committed and 
determined people to make a difference in our society. Why? Because 
human beings are the most dynamic link to the divine on this planet.''
  John Lewis understood that one man or woman can make a difference--
indeed, that it is only the determined and principled action of 
committed men and women that brings change.
  He knew the blessings of this Nation, and he knew what it took to 
secure those blessings for all Americans. He knew that the fight was 
unfinished.
  Mr. Speaker, the day that I was sworn into this body for the first 
time, I was standing just outside these doors in the Speaker's lobby. I 
had just arrived with my dad, who joined me on the floor that day. By 
chance, as we were coming in, we met John Lewis standing in the lobby. 
The three of us had the chance before the ceremony to spend some time 
together.
  The two of them didn't agree on much, but they did agree on certain 
critical things. They agreed on the exceptional nature of this country, 
on the magnificence of this, the people's House, and on the 
incalculable blessings of freedom.
  I am blessed by the memory of that day, and I am blessed that at that 
moment when I was about to be sworn into this House, I was able to 
spend time with those two men.
  Writing of his experiences fighting for civil rights, John Lewis said 
this: ``Freedom is not a state; it is an act. It is not some enchanted 
garden perched high on a distant plateau where we can finally sit down 
and rest. Freedom is the continuous action we all must take, and each 
generation must do its

[[Page H3678]]

part to create an even more fair, more just society.''
  Great men and women like John Lewis in every generation have known 
this, that we all have an obligation to defend our freedom, to fight 
for it, to do our part to be worthy of the sacrifices of those who have 
gone before.
  One of the greatest gifts we can give to young people today is to 
teach them that lesson, to teach them our history, to convey to them 
the duty, the obligation, and the incredible blessing of being an 
American and of working to make sure that we pass this Nation to our 
children and our grandchildren more perfect than it is today.
  Our colleague, Congressman John Lewis, dedicated his life to that 
ideal. His memory will be a blessing and an example to us all, our 
colleagues, his colleagues, here in the House, to his family, to his 
constituents, and to his fellow Americans.
  God bless John Lewis, and God bless the United States of America.
  Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

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