[Congressional Record Volume 169, Number 27 (Thursday, February 9, 2023)]
[House]
[Page H801]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                              {time}  1145
 CELEBRATING PASSAGE OF THE NATIONAL LIBERTY MEMORIAL PRESERVATION ACT

  (Mrs. WATSON COLEMAN asked and was given permission to address the 
House for 1 minute.)
  Mrs. WATSON COLEMAN. Mr. Speaker, I rise to honor the Black and 
indigenous soldiers who played a crucial role in winning our Nation's 
independence.
  Soldiers of color made up a quarter of George Washington's forces by 
the time they marched to victory in Yorktown, but they have been 
largely erased from the story of our Nation.
  At best, the teaching of Revolutionary War history fails to highlight 
the contributions of Black and indigenous Americans. At worst, it 
actively whitewashes them.
  This Black History Month, I celebrate the passage of my National 
Liberty Memorial Preservation Act, which President Biden signed into 
law as part of last year's omnibus funding package.
  My bipartisan legislation will establish a memorial to honor the 
soldiers of color who risked everything for American independence.
  By establishing this memorial, we can write these brave soldiers back 
into the narrative of our American history.

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