[Congressional Record Volume 168, Number 107 (Thursday, June 23, 2022)]
[House]
[Pages H5832-H5833]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                          CELEBRATING LIBERTY

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Chair recognizes the gentlewoman from 
Texas (Ms. Jackson Lee) for 5 minutes.
  Ms. JACKSON LEE. Mr. Speaker, I love this Nation, and I stand on the 
premise of the Declaration of Independence. Even though my ancestors 
did not benefit at the origins of this Nation, I am a patriot.
  I remind my fellow colleagues of the Declaration of Independence:

       We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men and 
     women are created equal, that they are endowed by their 
     creator with certain unalienable rights, that among these are 
     life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.

  Our Founding Fathers understood that this Nation would grow and would 
breathe life into these words and breathe life into democracy. The 
Constitution began with:

       We the people of United States, in order to form a more 
     perfect Union, establish justice, ensure domestic 
     tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the 
     general welfare, and secure the blessings of liberty.

  This is a living document that ensures that we safeguard America and, 
particularly, that we safeguard its citizens and our children.
  This Pride Month, I wish all of those who are in our wonderful 
community of LGBTQ a wonderful existence and recognition of their 
individual liberty. I am so grateful that this Nation allows everyone 
to have a seat at the table.
  Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleagues for their vigorous celebration of 
Juneteenth, which is legislation that I introduced and fought for, for 
over a decade. I am so amazed at the celebrations from east to west and 
north to south, understanding the ancestors of African descendants 
didn't get free in Texas until June 1865.
  All of us, no matter our backgrounds, were having celebrations. 
Members, Republicans and Democrats, were joining in on the liberty of 
Juneteenth. That gives me hope as we move to discuss the response to 
H.R. 40, the Commission to Study and Develop Reparation Proposals for 
African Americans Act, and find ways for repair and restoration. It 
gives me hope.
  As I mentioned, this Pride Month is about liberty and empowerment for 
all people. I stand here on the floor of the House with such excitement 
and exhilaration that I have standing on the foundation of this very 
book that covers the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution. 
That is why it is so important to fight for democracy and to recognize 
the sovereignty of this Nation.
  Mr. Speaker, I ask my fellow colleagues to join me in fighting for 
the release of Brittney Griner, Paul Whelan, and many others who are 
held as hostages, and those who went to volunteer to fight for 
democracy in Ukraine who are now held.
  I raise my voice for Brittney Griner today, a young woman born and 
raised in Houston, Texas, a graduate of Nimitz High School whose family 
in Houston is in desperate need for us to pay attention to the very 
vile way that she now is being held as a hostage in Russia.
  I ask the Russian people and Mr. Putin to release these people, 
release them from this inappropriate detention, incarceration, and 
holding. Release them now.
  Let us pray with the family. Release them now. Release Brittney 
Griner. Free Brittney Griner, a renowned WNBA player and Olympian, but 
just a plain human being, an American who has shown herself to love 
this country and to be such a wonderful, generous person who gives to 
others, as many have said.
  Mr. Speaker, my colleague Congressman Stanton of Arizona, my 
colleague Congressman Allred, and I will be presenting a resolution 
that says: Free Brittney Griner now.
  Mr. Speaker, I want to talk about how we honor our dear friend, who 
passed away in 2020, John Lewis.
  I am reminded of his nonviolent tendencies, and he taught us well. In 
teaching us, we were here on the floor of the House to demand gun 
safety legislation some years ago. At one point, we just couldn't 
manage it and take it anymore. We sat on the House floor. I

[[Page H5833]]

have pictures that I will cherish because it was nonviolent resistance.
  Now, we have an opportunity to stand in the gap for the families in 
Uvalde, families in Buffalo and Tulsa, and pass real gun safety 
legislation. Join us and be what America is all about, taking care, 
creating a more perfect Union, Mr. Speaker, and passing gun safety 
legislation that I and the Judiciary Committee, Chairman Nadler, and 
other Members have really stood up for.

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