[Congressional Record Volume 169, Number 162 (Tuesday, October 3, 2023)]
[House]
[Pages H4953-H4954]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




         RUSSELL SENATE OFFICE BUILDING IS SYMBOL OF DISRESPECT

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Chair recognizes the gentleman from 
Texas (Mr. Green) for 5 minutes.
  Mr. GREEN of Texas. Madam Speaker, and still I rise, a proud, 
liberated Democrat in the spirit of Shirley Chisholm, unbought, 
unbossed, and unafraid--unafraid to say that the Senate of the United 
States of America cares more about what they wear to work than the 
building they work in.
  There was a recent kerfuffle about the dress code in the Senate. As a 
result, some 40 Senators--in fact, about 46--signed a letter addressing 
this newly installed dress code. I won't read it in its entirety 
because time doesn't permit, but here is what it says in one paragraph: 
``Allowing casual clothing on the Senate floor disrespects the 
institution we serve and the American families we represent.''
  No disrespect, Senators, but I believe allowing Richard Russell's 
name to stay on the Russell Senate Office Building disrespects the 
people you serve and disrespects this country. The Richard Russell 
Senate Office Building is a symbol of racism. It is a symbol of 
disrespect for the American people, and it certainly disrespects people 
of African ancestry because Richard Russell was a racist and a bigot.

  Richard Russell was the coauthor of the ``Southern Manifesto.'' 
Richard Russell fought antilynching legislation. Richard Russell's name 
should not be on a building paid for with taxpayer dollars.
  It is time for you to take the same amount of time that you took to 
reform your dress code and reform the name that is on the Richard 
Russell

[[Page H4954]]

Senate Office Building. It is easy to do. Just let it revert back to 
the name it had before it became the Russell Senate Office Building. 
Let it become the Old Senate Office Building.
  If you need more time, take ad infinitum and decide the name that you 
most prefer. I have no name to recommend. I only recommend that you 
take Russell's name off. It took less than 2 weeks to revert back to 
the old dress code. It has been more than 50 years that Richard 
Russell's name has been on this building.
  Have you no shame, Senators? Do you not respect the people of African 
ancestry who go in and out of this building? I refuse to enter the 
Richard Russell Senate Office Building. I am a one-person protest. I 
refuse to disrespect myself by entering a building named after a bigot 
and racist who authored the ``Southern Manifesto'' and fought 
antilynching legislation.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Members are reminded to direct their remarks 
to the Chair.

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