[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 161 (2015), Part 14]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 19392]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




            TRIBUTE TO FORMER CONGRESSWOMAN SHIRLEY CHISHOLM

                                 ______
                                 

                       HON. EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, December 2, 2015

  Ms. EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I rise to recognize 
and celebrate the legacy of former Congresswoman Shirley Chisholm. On 
November 24, Congresswoman Chisholm was posthumously awarded the 2015 
Presidential Medal of Freedom.
  In 1968, Chisholm historically won a seat in the House of 
Representatives in New York's 12th Congressional District, becoming the 
first African American woman elected to Congress. In 1969, Chisholm was 
one of the founding members of a group that would become the 
Congressional Black Caucus. Chisholm served seven terms in Congress 
with a historical run for the U.S. Presidency in 1972. Chisholm was the 
first majority-party African American female candidate to run for 
President.
  During her time in Congress, Chisholm worked to improve conditions 
for inner-city residents. She vocally fought for educational 
opportunities, better healthcare, increased social services, and 
reductions in military spending. Chisholm was an outspoken opponent of 
the Vietnam War, opposing the draft and the expansion of weapon 
developments. Chisholm fought to ensure that women and people of color 
had the opportunity to contribute to policy and the legislative 
process.
  After leaving Congress in 1983, she returned to her career as an 
educator. Chisholm taught undergraduate courses in politics and 
sociology at Mount Holyoke College from 1983 to 1987, starkly different 
from her career prior to serving in Congress in early childhood and 
elementary education. Nonetheless, Chisholm provided valuable 
contributions to not only Mount Holyoke, but also the 150 campuses 
where she gave speeches, telling students to avoid polarization and 
intolerance.
  Chisholm passed away in 2005 after suffering several strokes. 
However, her legacy will always remain with us. As one of the founding 
members of the Congressional Black Caucus, as the first African 
American women elected to Congress, Chisholm has provided us with many 
firsts and has paved the way for more opportunity. I urge my colleagues 
to honor former Congresswoman Shirley Chisholm and recognize her for 
winning the 2015 Presidential Medal of Freedom.

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