[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 151 (2005), Part 20]
[Senate]
[Page 27349]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




DIRECTING THE JOINT COMMITTEE ON THE LIBRARY TO OBTAIN A STATUE OF ROSA 
                                 PARKS

  Mr. McCONNELL. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate 
proceed to immediate consideration of H.R. 4145, which was received 
from the House and is at the desk.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will report the bill by title.
  The legislative clerk read as follows:

       A bill (H. R. 4145) to direct the Joint Committee on the 
     Library to obtain a statue of Rosa Parks and to place the 
     statue in the United States Capitol in National Statuary 
     Hall, and for other purposes.

  There being no objection, the Senate proceeded to consider the bill.
  Mr. KERRY. Mr. President, last night, the House of Representatives 
passed H.R. 4145, a bill to direct the Architect of the Capitol to 
obtain a statue of Rosa Parks and to place the statue in the United 
States Capitol in National Statuary Hall. Today, the Senate unanimously 
passed this legislation, and I rise to thank my colleagues in this body 
and in the House of Representatives for their leadership and support 
for this important legislation, which sends a message of hope and 
freedom to the American people.
  Earlier this week a resolution sponsored by Senator McConnell and 
Senator Dodd passed this body to honor Mrs. Parks. I thank Senators 
McCONNELL and Dodd for their leadership on this issue and considering 
my concerns. I supported Mr. McConnell's and Mr. Dodd's measure because 
I believe it is paramount that we honor Rosa Parks in our Capitol. 
However, I wanted to be clear that her statue should be in Statuary 
Hall, and I was glad to join Representative Jesse Jackson Jr. of 
Illinois in his effort to make that happen.
  Largely regarded as the mother of the modern day Civil Rights 
movement, Mrs. Parks' act of courage on December 1, 1955, inspired a 
movement that eventually brought about laws to end segregation, ensure 
voting rights, end discrimination in housing, and create a greater 
equality throughout this nation. Moreover, it taught us all that one 
individual can help to change the world from the way things are to the 
way things ought to be. With the passage of this legislation, we ensure 
that her memory is enshrined in the most hallowed halls of our 
Government. On November 3, 2005, I introduced S. 1959, the companion 
legislation to Representative Jackson's H.R. 4145, which would also 
place a statue of Rosa Parks in Statuary Hall in the Capitol. This is a 
location of great significance, particularly on this occasion and 
particularly with this individual. While there are memorials for 
prominent African Americans in the Capitol Collection, none of those 
are located in the hall that gives a State-by-State account of our 
country's history.
  This week, Representative Jackson and I began a national week of 
action to pass our legislation honoring Rosa Parks with a statue in 
National Statuary Hall. I thank Representative Jackson for his 
leadership on this important effort. It was through his vision and 
dedication that we were able to reach our goal of having this 
legislation pass Congress by December 1, 2005--the 50th anniversary of 
Rosa Parks' courageous decision not to move to the back of the bus. I 
also thank Senators McConnell and Dodd for helping to make that happen. 
It could not have been enacted without their support.
  Finally, I thank Senator Obama, Senator Smith and my other Senate 
colleagues who cosponsored S. 1959 for their support in raising the 
awareness and helping to ensure the passage of this legislation. Mrs. 
Parks' legacy, and that of the movement she began, has been served well 
by this bipartisan effort to honor her in Statuary Hall.
  Mr. McCONNELL. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the bill 
be read three times and passed, the motion to reconsider be laid upon 
the table, and that any statement relating to the bill be printed in 
the Record, without intervening action or debate.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  The bill (H.R. 4145) was read the third time and passed.

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