[Congressional Record Volume 170, Number 39 (Tuesday, March 5, 2024)]
[House]
[Pages H814-H817]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]





                         WOMEN'S HISTORY MONTH

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under the Speaker's announced policy of 
January 9, 2023, the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Jackson) is 
recognized for 60 minutes as the designee of the minority leader.


                             General Leave

  Mr. JACKSON of Illinois. Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that 
all Members may have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their 
remarks and include extraneous material on the subject of the Special 
Order.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from Illinois?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. JACKSON of Illinois. Madam Speaker, it is with great honor that I 
rise today to coanchor this Congressional Black Caucus Special Order 
hour along with my distinguished colleague, the Honorable 
Representative Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick.
  For the next 60 minutes, Members of the Congressional Black Caucus 
have an opportunity to speak directly to the American people on women's 
history, an issue of great importance to the Congressional Black 
Caucus, Congress, the constituents that we represent, and all America.
  Madam Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from Rhode Island (Mr. Amo).
  Mr. AMO. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor Women's History Month.
  We cannot forget our history. Yet, over time, the contributions of 
Black women have been consistently overlooked and forgotten.

                              {time}  2015

  I want to do my part to correct that record.
  Specifically, I will highlight two trailblazing Black women from 
Rhode Island.
  First, I want to honor Christiana Bannister, a successful 
businesswoman, abolitionist, and philanthropist. Born in North 
Kingstown in the early 1800s, Christiana was a successful hair salon 
owner.
  Christiana was a staunch abolitionist and used her wealth to support 
the 54th Massachusetts Infantry Regiment, a unit of Black soldiers 
during the Civil War.
  Dedicated to improving the lives of Black women in her community, 
Christiana founded the Home for Aged Colored Women in Providence.
  Decades later, Maria Lopes, another trailblazer, was the first Black 
woman elected to the Rhode Island State Legislature and she carried on 
Christiana's legacy of activism in Rhode Island.
  Maria lived in the Valley View housing project in Providence and made 
a name for herself as a social activist when she successfully blocked 
the Mayor of Providence from turning the housing project into luxury 
apartments.
  In 1973, Maria stormed the city council chambers with over 400 
residents and supporters to prevent the sale of Valley View.
  Thanks to Maria's advocacy, when Valley View was eventually sold, 25 
percent of the units remained Section 8 housing.
  In 1989, Lopes won a seat in the Rhode Island House of 
Representatives where she served for over a decade, championing 
affordable housing issues.
  I certainly would not be standing here today as Rhode Island's first 
Black Member of Congress if it were not for the tireless work of Maria 
Lopes and Christiana Bannister.
  Women's history extends beyond the confines of March. Women's history 
is happening every single day and is worth acknowledgement every day, 
as well.
  We must continue to uplift the hidden figures in our history.
  Mr. JACKSON of Illinois. Madam Speaker, I thank the Honorable Gabe 
Amo from the great State of Rhode Island for his remarks.
  Madam Speaker, it is my pleasure to yield to the gentlewoman from 
Florida, the Honorable Congresswoman Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick.
  Mrs. CHERFILUS-McCORMICK. Madam Speaker, I thank my coanchor, 
Jonathan Jackson, from the great State of Illinois for coanchoring this 
Special Order for the last year and a half I think it is.
  Madam Speaker, I rise today in honor of the courageous Black women 
trailblazers whose determination and unwavering dedication have shaped 
the history of our country. Because of them, I can speak before you on 
this floor today.
  As we celebrate Women's History Month, we reflect on the courage and 
the commitment of Black women who have left an indelible mark on our 
society and inspired future generations to carry the torch of justice.
  Among these trailblazers stands Shirley Chisholm, who shattered the 
glass ceiling in American politics. She holds a special place in my 
heart.
  Shirley Chisholm broke down the barriers and beat the odds to become 
the first Black woman elected to Congress in 1968. She proudly fought 
for the rights of neglected communities and progressive politics that 
benefit working families.
  Her historic 1972 Presidential campaign upended the status quo and 
gave hope to a new generation of leaders by encouraging them to trust 
in the strength of their voices.
  However, Shirley Chisholm wasn't alone. She was surrounded by women 
such as Barbara Jordan, a powerful force in American politics due to 
her unrelenting devotion to justice. She made history by being the 
first Black woman elected to the Texas Senate and the first Black woman 
from the South to be elected to United States House of Representatives. 
She worked nonstop to advocate for civil rights, immigration reform, 
and the rule of law.
  Last year, we mourned the loss of Eddie Bernice Johnson. I had the 
honor of serving alongside her at the end of the 117th Congress. Her 
whole life was about serving others, whether it was as a nurse at the 
VA in Dallas or in the Halls of this very institution.
  These trailblazers and countless others who followed in their 
footsteps have made a lasting impression on women's history. Their 
legacy is proof of the perseverance of the American people. We can pay 
tribute to these extraordinary people during Women's History Month by 
recommitting to the fight for justice, equality, and opportunity for 
all Americans.
  In their honor, let us strive to create a better union for all the 
generations to come.
  Mr. JACKSON of Illinois. Madam Speaker, I thank the Honorable Sheila 
Cherfilus-McCormick from the great State of Florida for her remarks.
  Madam Speaker, it is now my privilege to yield to the gentlewoman 
from Ohio, the Honorable Congresswoman Joyce Beatty.
  Mrs. BEATTY. Madam Speaker, it is my honor to rise today to join my 
colleagues for this Special Order hour. I cannot think of a better time 
that I would stand in this House and be able to salute women, 
especially Black women.
  I thank our coanchors, the Honorable Jonathan Jackson and the 
Honorable Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick, my good friend, for reminding us 
of our rich history.
  Today, we will hear many members of the Congressional Black Caucus 
come forward and talk about a list of women, especially Black women, 
who came before us and whose shoulders we stand on, like Rosa Parks, 
Harriet Tubman, Sojourner Truth, and Shirley Chisholm. Later this week, 
in this very Chamber, for the third time, a woman will sit in the seat 
where you are sitting, Madam Speaker, as we hear the State of the Union 
Address--a Black woman, who also happens to be the first woman ever to 
become Vice President of these United States of America.
  We also celebrate this month--sadly, that we are giving it 1 month. 
Obviously, if I had my way, we would celebrate it every day, but we 
will honor women like those who have been able to sit in that seat 
running Fortune 500 companies--people like Ursula Burns; my good 
friend, Roz Brewer; and now Thasunda Duckett. We also honor young women 
like poet Amanda Gorman.
  We think of the women who have done so much, whether they are doctors 
or athletes or educators or judges like Supreme Court Justice Ketanji 
Brown Jackson--another Black woman whose shoulders we stand on.
  But let me end with this, Madam Speaker, as we saved the best for 
last. There are 31 Black women serving in the United States Congress. 
If I had enough time, I would do a roll call telling you that they hail 
from Alabama to Washington, D.C.
  Let me just leave it at this: 31 Black women--thank God we put people 
over

[[Page H815]]

politics; 31 Black women serving in this Chamber that understand that 
we have a right to women's reproductive rights; 31 Black women 
understanding that we support the child's tax credit; 31 Black women 
who understand that more women are now insured because of the 
Affordable Care Act; 31 Black women who understand that the first act 
that then-President Obama signed was the Lilly Ledbetter Act.
  I could go on and give you a walk through this amazing history that I 
have been allowed to serve in as the ninth Black woman to have chaired 
the Congressional Black Caucus. I say to you that we have been 
fortunate to have another female sit in that chair as the Speaker, 
Nancy Pelosi.
  To those who are witnessing us tonight, I say to all watching, we 
celebrate, we honor, we stand on the shoulders of women, especially 
Black women, because we know when women succeed, America succeeds. Let 
us continue to put people over politics.
  Mr. JACKSON of Illinois. Madam Speaker, I thank the former 
Congressional Black Caucus Chairwoman, the Honorable Congresswoman 
Joyce Beatty from the great State of Ohio for her remarks.
  Madam Speaker, it is now my privilege to yield to the gentleman from 
New Jersey, the Honorable Congressman Payne.
  Mr. PAYNE. Madam Speaker, I thank the gentleman from Illinois for 
that kind introduction and also the gentlewoman from Florida for 
hosting this Special Order hour. They come here every week bringing the 
message from the CBC, and they do an incredible job.
  Also, it is very difficult to follow my classmate, the former chair 
lady of the CBC. It is a very hard act to follow. When I see her, I 
kind of cringe because I know I better get it together. The Honorable 
Joyce Beatty has been a true friend, sister, and colleague to me.
  And to you, Madam Speaker, as you sit in that seat, it is apropos 
that this month you have been given the honor to stand over the 
Speaker's rostrum and control the House of Representatives, so I salute 
you, as well, as a woman.
  Madam Speaker, I rise today to celebrate the influence and 
achievements of Black women in America during Women's History Month. 
First, I will discuss the origins of Women's History Month.
  Women's History Month started as Women's History Week in Santa Rosa, 
California, in 1978. The local Sonoma County Commission on the status 
of women planned a week of celebratory events to connect the 
International Women's Day on March 8.
  The events highlighted the many contributions of women to American 
history, culture, and society. It included school presentations in 
Sonoma County, a student essay contest to honor local women with the 
parade through downtown Santa Rosa.
  The year after that, Santa Rosa's historic week triggered similar 
events to celebrate women in communities nationwide.
  In addition, historians and women activist groups began to push for a 
National Women's History Week.
  In 1980, President Jimmy Carter issued the first Presidential 
proclamation to declare the first week in March as National Women's 
History Week.
  However, 1 week was not enough to celebrate the enormous 
contributions of women to American history, so Congress created Women's 
History Month in 1987. It is stated that the month would recognize the 
specific achievements women have made over the course of America's 
history in a variety of fields.
  This month, we honor women from all races, cultures, and creeds 
during Women's History Month. However, we are here today as the CBC to 
honor Black women who have made a difference in America, and many of 
them need to be recognized more often: Women like Bessie Coleman, the 
first Black woman to be a licensed pilot in this country; Alice 
Coachman, the first Black woman to win an Olympic medal for the United 
States of America; Dr. Rebecca Lee Crumpler, the first Black woman to 
earn a medical degree in the United States; Phillis Wheatley, the first 
Black woman to publish a book in this great country; and Mary Jane 
Patterson, the first Black woman to graduate from an established 
college.
  We also have Mary Eliza Mahoney, the first Black nurse and eventual 
cofounder of the American Nurses Association. More than that, Mahoney 
was one of the first women to register to vote in Boston after her 
retirement in 1920.
  Maggie Lena Walker, the first Black woman to start a bank and serve 
as the president of a U.S. bank.
  Alice Dunnigan, the first Black woman to cover the White House as a 
reporter.
  Mae Jemison, the first Black woman to become an astronaut and go into 
space. Jemison overcame her fear of heights to do that. Can you 
imagine?

                              {time}  2030

  These extraordinary Black women are a few of the millions who have 
made a difference in our country. Today, Black women are setting new 
standards of excellence in the sciences, the arts, athletics, politics, 
mathematics, education, medicine, and the law, just to name a few.
  I am proud to be here to celebrate the contributions of Black women--
I am the product of a Black woman--and all women, to the betterment of 
America. They have helped to build this country, and we must do 
everything possible to protect the rights they have worked so hard for. 
As we discuss the whole notion around Black women and what they have 
contributed to this country, let's not forget all women and what they 
have done in this country.
  I am just honored to be here on the floor tonight to say thank you to 
the many Black women who have made a difference in my life. To name a 
few: Jean Blakely; Esther Wright; Kay Thompson Payne; Dr. Jacqueline 
Young; Wanda Payne, my late sister; Sarah Jones.
  I have been molded by Black women all my life, and I just feel an 
obligation to stand in the trenches and help them advance their 
careers. I am just really delighted to be here and express my gratitude 
to Black women and women as a whole.
  Mr. JACKSON of Illinois. Madam Speaker, I thank the Honorable 
Congressman   Donald Payne, Jr. from the great State of New Jersey. It 
has been a pleasure of mine to have worked with his father and to see 
his honorable son continue on in his tradition.
  Tonight, in this great Chamber, we gather to honor and remember the 
contributions of women to the indispensable future of the American 
experiment with democracy. In particular, I rise to give special 
commendation to the role that Black women have played in the formation 
of American possibilities.
  It is not such a stretch to suggest that America would be unlivable 
for a great many of its citizens were it not for the indelible work and 
prophetic imagination of women in this country.
  Where would this country be without Eleanor Roosevelt, Ella Baker, 
Fannie Lou Hamer, Shirley Chisholm, Diane Nash, Nancy D'Alesandro 
Pelosi, the Honorable Congresswoman Maxine Waters, Congresswoman Sheila 
Jackson Lee?
  Black women, and all women really, are the fabric that holds this 
Nation together because when men have followed their egos and ambition 
into war and repression, it was the women of this country who stood up 
to the madness, demanding ever more forcefully that the center must 
hold.
  On this side of the aisle, we still believe that every woman should 
have the right to vote, the right to equal pay for equal work, the 
right for every opportunity and resources available to any man.
  We believe that when at all possible no woman should ever lose her 
life giving birth to a child in the United States of America.
  We believe that the maternal mortality rates of Black women are a 
moral indictment against the persistence of bigotry and discrimination 
in America.
  On this side of the aisle, we believe in the right of every woman to 
control what happens to her body as a matter of reproductive justice, 
personal autonomy, and self-determination. How dare any man tell a 
woman what she can do with her body? How dare any government come in 
between a woman and her medical decisions? How dare any political party 
use a woman's body as an opportunity to get elected rather than 
respecting the fact that every woman is made in the image of God?

[[Page H816]]

  That is the difference between this side of the aisle and, I must 
say, the other side of the aisle. This side of the aisle gave the 
Nation Supreme Court Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson to be the first 
African-American woman to sit on the Supreme Court.
  The other side of the aisle has spent the last 50 years trying to 
destroy Roe v. Wade. Even after they facilitated that disaster, they 
even are now trying to undermine in vitro fertilization, because that 
is the difference between this side of the aisle and the other side 
when it comes to issues that matter.
  This side of the aisle produced the Honorable Nancy Pelosi, who was 
principally responsible for passing the Affordable Care Act that has 
allowed millions of people to come out of the suffering shadows and 
receive the healthcare coverage they deserve.
  On the other side of the aisle, leaders of that party facilitated a 
racist lie regarding the birth certificate of the former President of 
the United States, President Barack Obama.
  This side of the aisle facilitated the passage of Title IX. Many 
people are excited to see women playing basketball now, but that was 
part of the civil rights legislation that we hold dear. Title IX is a 
law that prohibits sex-based discrimination in schools or any 
educational programs. Some have said that this law has single-handedly 
been the reason little girls all over America enjoy opportunities that 
their grandmothers never had.
  On this side of the aisle, we believe that every child is precious 
and that every little girl is a gift from God, and on this side of the 
aisle we don't want our sons to have any more opportunities than our 
daughters get to enjoy.
  On this side of the aisle, we fight to expand freedom, opportunity, 
and the securities of justice to every American regardless of race, 
class, gender, or sexual orientation.
  I can't speak for anyone else, but on this side of the aisle, we 
believe the Bible when it says your sons and your daughters shall 
prophesy.
  Let me remind you today that, as a son of the civil rights movement, 
I am keenly aware of the fact that the movement that made my election 
possible would have been improbable were it not for Black women. I 
stand on the shoulders of many of these remarkable Black women who 
through their insight, their grit and generosity support the weight of 
generations yet unborn.

  I see them all over my home district in Chicago and the greater part 
of Illinois. I have encountered them in the churches on the south side. 
They raised me. My mother is one of them, as are my sisters. They say 
hi to me in the supermarket. They meet me all over the district to talk 
to me about our Nation, their needs, and their lives. They are the 
daughters of thunder and the children of light.
  Today, I am honored to recognize them. Today, I proverbially tip my 
hat and genuflect in the presence of such unusual greatness.
  I am grateful today for the women in this Chamber who are my 
colleagues. I am grateful for what they do and for what they represent. 
Let us never forget that at the founding of this great institution, at 
the founding of this great country in 1776, and at the ratification of 
our Constitution in 1787, it was never in the imagination of the 
Founders that a woman would sit in these Chambers or cast votes as a 
Member of this body. However, look at what determination and faith can 
do. Look at what hard work and love for justice can do. I celebrate 
each of the honorable women who serve in this Congress, and I pray that 
this country will continue to provide greater room and greater 
opportunities for the genius of this Nation's women so that they can 
flourish and we can live up to our highest potential.
  Madam Speaker, I yield to the gentlewoman from Florida (Mrs. 
Cherfilus-McCormick).
  Mrs. CHERFILUS-McCORMICK. Madam Speaker, as we gather here today, we 
must recognize and honor the contributions of Black women in politics. 
These leaders have paved the way for all women to have a seat at the 
table.
  When we look back at significant historical events like the civil 
rights movement, we tend to overlook the women who played significant 
roles behind the scenes. The time to acknowledge their contributions 
and celebrate their achievements is long overdue.
  There is one particular person who I would like to highlight, Ms. 
Prathia Hall. Born on January 1, 1940, she was known by various titles, 
including mother, preacher, feminist, and civil rights activist. Most 
importantly, she was the key inspiration behind Dr. Martin Luther King, 
Jr.'s prominent ``I Have a Dream'' speech delivered during the August 
1963 March on Washington.
  Despite experiencing racism and personal tragedies from a young age, 
Hall was able to follow in her father's footsteps and become a 
passionate advocate for racial and social justice.
  This story is simply one of many who, despite being a key piece to 
the puzzle of our democratic system and making up 7.8 percent of the 
population, Black women are less than 5 percent officeholders elected 
to serve in executive offices, Congress, and State legislatures.
  Black women have given 110 percent of their time and efforts in 
leading and serving as attorneys, plaintiffs, organizers, educators, 
secretaries, and while playing many more roles in the background.
  March is a significant month to honor the contributions of Black 
women in American history. We shouldn't just honor the legacy of 
Prathia Hall on this single day. It is our responsibility to honor her 
every single day from now on.
  As Black women continue to struggle for representation, we have a 
responsibility to ensure that the progress made by Black women in the 
past is not lost. We have a responsibility to pursue and fight for 
equality for everyone and make sure our fight for equality is 
eventually attained.
  Mr. JACKSON of Illinois. Madam Speaker, you have heard from my 
distinguished colleagues about women's history and the many great 
contributions they have made.
  Madam Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from Nevada (Mr. Horsford), 
the Congressional Black Caucus chairman.
  Mr. HORSFORD. Madam Speaker, I thank Congressman Jackson and 
Congresswoman Cherfilus-McCormick for co-anchoring tonight's Special 
Order hour. I thank all the Members who have come to honor the start of 
Women's History Month, and I rise today with my colleagues of the 
Congressional Black Caucus to commemorate Women's History Month and to 
reflect on the innumerable contributions to our country that women, and 
Black women specifically, have made throughout our Nation's history.
  During Women's History Month, we celebrate the generations of Black 
women whose courage, advocacy, sacrifice, and patriotism have moved our 
country and the world forward. For generations, Black women have been 
hidden figures, leading our country through social evolutions, critical 
periods of growth, and eras of innovation.
  From the civil rights movement to consistently serving as a 
foundation for our community's success, Black women continue to push 
the needle. In fact, to the co-chairs, just this weekend we were in 
Selma for the 59th commemoration of Bloody Sunday.
  One of the people that we had the honor of hearing from was Ms. King, 
who was the person who received the letters from Dr. Martin Luther 
King, Jr., when he was writing the letter in a Birmingham jail. As she 
explained that process, it was his handwritten notes on scraps of paper 
that were passed to his attorney that ultimately were written by this 
Black woman that actually gave us that letter. I went up to her after 
the conclusion of her panel, and I thanked her for being a part of 
history and being a part of the movement that led to the passage of the 
civil rights legislation and so many important bills.

                              {time}  2045

  It was also in 1968 when Shirley Chisholm became the first Black 
woman in Congress. She, along with her colleagues, sought to make 
America live up to its promise that we are all created equal and, in 
this body, founded the Democratic Select Committee, which ultimately 
would become the Congressional Black Caucus.
  I am so honored to serve as chairman of this Congressional Black 
Caucus, and I am proud to say that today we are now comprised of the 
largest membership in our Nation's history.
  The CBC has grown from 13 members when we were founded 52 years ago 
to

[[Page H817]]

60 members representing more than a third of the U.S. population, 
including more than 20 million Black Americans.
  It is on Shirley Chisholm's shoulders that the Congressional Black 
Caucus has continued to fight to dismantle barriers, to create 
opportunities, and to protect the very rights of every individual, 
regardless of their circumstance, because we believe, as Ms. Shirley 
Chisholm believed, in a future where everyone can thrive and achieve 
their full potential.
  Every day, we build on the legacy of Representative Shirley Chisholm, 
understanding that we must always speak truth to power and to stand up 
for the values that we hold dear.
  We remain mindful that we must work to push back against efforts that 
impede progress, including those to roll back women's rights or to cut 
off access to capital and better opportunities.
  This month and every month, we will remain mindful that we must 
directly address the challenges that persist, particularly for Black 
women in this climate.
  Black maternal mortality is at an all-time high. Access to 
reproductive care; the ballot box; fair representation; diversity, 
equity, and inclusion in the workplace and in corporate America; and 
fundamental freedoms are under threat every day.
  As the conscience of the Congress, the Congressional Black Caucus 
will continue working, fighting, and leading to protect abortion 
rights, to invest in childcare, to deliver paid leave, and to finally 
achieve pay equity for Black women and to close the racial wealth gap 
in America.
  These are the priorities that the Congressional Black Caucus believes 
are important as we uplift the issues of Women's History Month.
  Again, I thank our co-anchors for leading tonight's Special Order 
hour and all of our members and especially the women of the 
Congressional Black Caucus.
  When we started 52 years ago, the CBC was made up of 13 people--12 
men and 1 woman. Today, I am proud that of those 60 members of the CBC, 
31 are women, Black women, who are leading in the Congressional Black 
Caucus.
  We have come a long way. We have a much longer way to go. I thank the 
members for their work on these important topics.
  Mr. JACKSON of Illinois. Madam Speaker, I thank the tireless fighter, 
our leader, the chairman of the Congressional Black Caucus, Chairman   
Steven Horsford, from the great State of Nevada. I also thank my 
coanchor, the Honorable Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick, from the great 
State of Florida.
  Madam Speaker, you have heard from my distinguished colleagues about 
African-American contributions to American history and Women's History 
Month, all issues of great importance to the Congressional Black 
Caucus, our constituents, Congress, and all Americans tonight.
  Madam Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

                          ____________________