[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 162 (2016), Part 3]
[Senate]
[Page 2926]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                             HARRIET TUBMAN

  Ms. MIKULSKI. Mr. President, I rise to honor the life and legacy of 
Harriet Tubman on Harriet Tubman Day. Harriet Tubman is a true 
trailblazer and one of the most inspiring people in the history of our 
Nation and in the history of the State of Maryland.
  Tubman was born into slavery around 1822 in Maryland's Dorchester 
County on the Eastern Shore. After 30 years of enslavement, she 
escaped. But instead of staying up North with her newfound freedom, she 
returned to the Eastern Shore 13 times to lead her family and hundreds 
of other slaves to freedom, becoming the most well-known ``conductor'' 
of the Underground Railroad. Harriet Tubman was such a central figure 
in liberating slaves that many simply knew her as Moses.
  In addition to her work liberating slaves through the Underground 
Railroad, Tubman served as a Union scout and spy during the Civil War. 
She was the first woman to lead an armed expedition, guiding the raid 
at Combahee Ferry and liberating 700 slaves. After the war, she became 
an active leader in the women's suffrage movement and opened a home to 
serve the aging African-American community in her new hometown of 
Auburn, NY.
  In 2014, Congress established the Harriet Tubman Underground Railroad 
National Historical Park, which creates a National Park on Maryland's 
Eastern Shore dedicated to tracing Tubman's early life and work leading 
the Underground Railroad. Congress also established the Harriet Tubman 
National Historical Park in Auburn, NY, which will commemorate her 
later years as an active participant in the women's suffrage movement 
and a caregiver for aging African Americans.
  I am proud that Congress has recognized Harriet Tubman's lifelong 
dedication to our country through the establishment of these two 
national parks. We must continue to tell the stories of heroes like 
Harriet Tubman, amplify the voices of more women and people of color, 
and make sure they are equally represented in our national parks and 
monuments. I also urge Secretary Lew to include Harriet Tubman's 
portrait on our currency as the U.S. Department of the Treasury 
redesigns the $10 bill.
  As Harriet Tubman said, ``Every great dream begins with a dreamer. 
Always remember, you have within you the strength, the patience, and 
the passion to reach for the stars to change the world.''
  It is my hope that, as we commemorate this Harriet Tubman Day, we can 
all follow Harriet Tubman's example and work together to change the 
world for the better.

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