[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 151 (2005), Part 1]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages 149-150]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




     HONORING THE MEMORY OF FORMER REPRESENTATIVE SHIRLEY CHISHOLM

                                 ______
                                 

                     HON. LOUISE McINTOSH SLAUGHTER

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                        Tuesday, January 4, 2005

  Ms. SLAUGHTER. Mr. Speaker, today, I rise to honor the memory of 
former Congresswoman Shirley Chisholm, who was a national role model.
  I followed in the footsteps of Rep. Chisholm in several respects, 
having served both in the

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New York State Assembly and in the House of Representatives. To my 
knowledge, we are the only two Democratic women from New York State to 
have that distinction.
  Shirley Chisholm was a tireless advocate for social justice, and for 
that legacy our country will be eternally grateful.
  As the first black woman to be elected to the U.S. Congress and to 
run for president of the United States, Shirley Chisholm threw open the 
doors to greater opportunities for women and minorities.
  Along with Congresswoman Bella Abzug, Gloria Steinem and Betty 
Friedan--also great women's rights leaders--Shirley Chisholm founded 
the National Women's Political Caucus in 1971. She also helped found 
the Congressional Black Caucus. Both of these organizations have served 
an important role in increasing representation of women and minorities 
in Congress.
  I think it is important to note her life-long passion for improving 
educational opportunities for our Nation's youth, carrying on this 
tradition after her years in Congress by serving as the Purington 
Professor at Mount Holyoke College.
  She also promoted increased assistance for urban areas, land rights 
for Native Americans, fair treatment of Haitian refugees, and more help 
for working-class families trying to make ends meet.
  I join together with our Nation in honoring her life's work. Along 
with my colleagues, I cosponsored a Congressional resolution today that 
would honor her life. This resolution will help ensure that her legacy 
and the positive momentum that she initiated through her work would 
continue, and I urge the House to bring this resolution up for a vote 
without delay.

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