[Congressional Record Volume 168, Number 157 (Wednesday, September 28, 2022)]
[House]
[Page H8122]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                        SLAVERY REMEMBRANCE DAY

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Chair recognizes the gentleman from 
Texas (Mr. Green) for 5 minutes.
  Mr. GREEN of Texas. Mr. Speaker, and still I rise, a proud descendant 
of the enslaved people who made cotton king and America great; the 
enslaved people who had a hand in the construction of this Capitol, who 
had a hand in the construction of the White House; the enslaved people 
who constructed roads and bridges across the length and breadth of this 
country, who worked for more than 200 years without a payday. They made 
the difference for what we call the United States of America on the 
global scene at the time.
  I am honored to be a descendant, and I am honored to say also that 
this House, on July 27, took the historic step of according them 
Slavery Remembrance Day, a day to remember their lives and commemorate 
their accomplishments.
  It is important that we do this because, for too long, we have 
reviled the slaves and revered the enslavers. For too long, we have 
placed them in such a position as to cause the people who are the very 
descendants to be ashamed of who they were associated with, with 
reference to their heritage.
  I am proud that this House has taken this important historic step 
with Slavery Remembrance Day, but I am also proud to say that at 2 
o'clock tomorrow in Room 145A at the Washington Convention Center, we 
will continue to talk about this piece of legislation that we passed, 
H. Res. 517, the Original Slavery Remembrance Day Resolution.
  We will talk about this. We will give a legislative update. The 
Reverend Al Sharpton will be there, and he will give insightful 
information on this very topic.
  I am just proud that we no longer fear having those persons who made 
this country great recognized by this Congress, and that had been the 
case in the past.
  I thank all the Members of the Congress, 218 of whom who voted for 
this legislation. I thank the President, who recognized Slavery 
Remembrance Day. I thank all of the leadership for allowing this 
resolution to come to the floor.
  I thank Ms. Elizabeth Warren, the Senator who supported it, and I 
thank Mr. Hoyer. Mr. Hoyer was a man of his word, a person of his word. 
He said this resolution would come to the floor for a vote. He 
supported it, and it came to the floor for a vote.
  I thank you for the courage that you showed, Mr. Hoyer, and the 
judicious insight that you utilized to make sure that we had this 
opportunity.
  Tomorrow, we continue what I cannot finish today at the convention 
center, 2 o'clock, Room 145A.

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