[Congressional Record Volume 170, Number 179 (Wednesday, December 4, 2024)]
[House]
[Pages H6345-H6349]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
SHIRLEY CHISHOLM CONGRESSIONAL GOLD MEDAL ACT
Mr. McHENRY. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the
bill (S. 4243) to award posthumously the Congressional Gold Medal to
Shirley Chisholm.
The Clerk read the title of the bill.
The text of the bill is as follows:
S. 4243
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of
the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Shirley Chisholm
Congressional Gold Medal Act''.
SEC. 2. FINDINGS.
The Congress finds the following:
(1) In 1968, Shirley Chisholm became the first African-
American woman elected to Congress where she served until
1982.
(2) Shirley Chisholm inspired and led the march of
political achievement by African Americans and women in the 3
decades since she ran for the Presidency of the United
States.
(3) Her election to Congress and her candidacy for the
Presidency raised the profile
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and aspirations of all African Americans and women in the
field of politics.
(4) Shirley Chisholm was recognized for her activism,
independence, and groundbreaking achievements in politics
during and after the civil rights era.
(5) Shirley Chisholm was born in Brooklyn, New York, on
November 30, 1924, attended Brooklyn College, and earned a
master's degree from Columbia University.
(6) Shirley Chisholm worked in education and social
services before being elected to the New York State Assembly
in 1964.
(7) Shirley Chisholm established the Unity Democratic Club
in 1960, which played a significant role in rallying Black
and Hispanic voters in New York City.
(8) In 1969, Shirley Chisholm began her service in the 91st
Congress, representing New York's 12th Congressional District
in the House of Representatives.
(9) During her service in the House of Representatives,
Shirley Chisholm promoted the employment of women in Congress
and was vocal in her support of civil rights, women's rights,
and the poor, while fervently opposing the Vietnam War.
(10) In 1972, Shirley Chisholm was the first African
American to seek the nomination of a major party for
President of the United States.
(11) A historic figure in American political history,
Shirley Chisholm died at the age of 80 in Ormond Beach,
Florida, on New Year's Day 2005.
SEC. 3. CONGRESSIONAL GOLD MEDAL.
(a) Presentation Authorized.--The Speaker of the House of
Representatives and the President pro tempore of the Senate
shall make appropriate arrangements for the posthumous
presentation, on behalf of the Congress, of a gold medal of
appropriate design in commemoration of Shirley Chisholm.
(b) Design and Striking.--For purposes of the presentation
referred to in subsection (a), the Secretary of the Treasury
(referred to in this Act as the ``Secretary'') shall strike a
gold medal with suitable emblems, devices, and inscriptions,
to be determined by the Secretary. The design shall bear an
image of, and an inscription of the name of, Shirley
Chisholm.
(c) Smithsonian Institution.--
(1) In general.--After the award of the gold medal referred
to in subsection (a), the gold medal shall be given to the
Smithsonian Institution, where it will be displayed as
appropriate and made available for research.
(2) Sense of congress.--It is the sense of Congress that
the Smithsonian Institution should make the gold medal
received under paragraph (1) for display elsewhere,
particularly at other locations and events associated with
Shirley Chisholm.
SEC. 4. DUPLICATE MEDALS.
The Secretary may strike and sell duplicates in bronze of
the gold medal struck pursuant to section 3, at a price
sufficient to cover the costs of the medals, including labor,
materials, dies, use of machinery, and overhead expenses.
SEC. 5. STATUS OF MEDALS.
(a) National Medals.--Medals struck under this Act are
national medals for purposes of chapter 51 of title 31,
United States Code.
(b) Numismatic Items.--For purposes of sections 5134 and
5136 of title 31, United States Code, all medals struck under
this Act shall be considered to be numismatic items.
SEC. 6. AUTHORITY TO USE FUND AMOUNTS; PROCEEDS OF SALE.
(a) Authority To Use Fund Amounts.--There is authorized to
be charged against the United States Mint Public Enterprise
Fund such amounts as may be necessary to pay for the costs of
the medals struck under this Act.
(b) Proceeds of Sale.--Amounts received from the sale of
duplicate bronze medals authorized under section 4 shall be
deposited into the United States Mint Public Enterprise Fund.
The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Fong). Pursuant to the rule, the
gentleman from North Carolina (Mr. McHenry) and the gentlewoman from
California (Ms. Waters) each will control 20 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentleman from North Carolina.
General Leave
Mr. McHENRY. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members
may have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their
remarks and include extraneous material on the bill.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the
gentleman from North Carolina?
There was no objection.
Mr. McHENRY. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of S. 4243, a bill that would
posthumously award the Congressional Gold Medal to Shirley Chisholm.
On November 5, 1968, Shirley Chisholm, the daughter of Caribbean
immigrants, became the first African-American woman in our Nation's
history elected to Congress. As she liked to put it, she was ``the
first Black woman Congressman.''
Mr. Speaker, 2 years later, she became a founding member of the
Congressional Black Caucus. A year after that, she became the first
woman and first African American to run for one of the two major
parties' Presidential nominations.
Shirley Chisolm has a much longer list of achievements that are quite
impressive.
Born on November 30, 1924, in Brooklyn, New York, Chisholm began her
career in early childhood education before turning her focus to
politics.
Throughout her political career, Chisholm was a no-nonsense advocate.
She was willing to fight for her working-class constituents and call
out perceived injustices.
Representative Chisholm once remarked: ``I did not come to Congress
to behave myself and stay away from explosive issues so I can keep
coming back.''
Now, my ranking member on the Financial Services Committee, the
former chair of the Financial Services Committee, is equally unbashful
in her approach in Congress, and I welcome that. At this point, I will
allow the ranking member of the committee to say her words on one of
her mentors.
Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
{time} 1730
Ms. WATERS. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of S. 4243, the Shirley Chisolm
Congressional Gold Medal Act, sponsored by Representative Barbara Lee.
Today we will vote to honor former Representative Shirley Chisolm
with a Congressional Gold Medal for her activism, independence, and
groundbreaking achievements in politics as the first African-American
woman elected to serve in Congress. I am proud to be an original
cosponsor of this bill.
Shirley Chisolm was born in Brooklyn, New York, and was the oldest of
four daughters to immigrant parents. In fact, Chisolm lived in Barbados
between the ages of 5 and 9 and always considered herself Barbadian.
Last week, I was pleased to join Minority Leader Jeffries and many
members of the Congressional Black Caucus as we celebrated Chisolm
along with the people of Barbados. It was such a great time, and I am
thankful that we continue this celebration in Congress today.
Chisolm graduated from Brooklyn College cum laude in 1946 where she
also excelled on the debate team. Her professors encouraged her to
consider a political career. She knew she would face difficulties as an
African-American woman, but that did not stop her. In 1964, Chisholm
became the second African American to serve in the New York State
legislature. In 1968 she was elected to the 91st Congress as the first
African-American woman Member.
As the first African American and the first woman to chair the
Financial Services Committee, I am grateful for trailblazers like
Shirley Chisolm who created space in politics for Americans like me.
During her congressional term, Congresswoman Chisolm introduced more
than 50 pieces of legislation, focusing on gender and racial equality
and ending the Vietnam war. In 1971 she became a cofounder of the
National Women's Political Caucus and founding member of the
Congressional Black Caucus, which I am proud to be a member of.
In the 1972 Presidential election, Shirley Chisolm became the first
African-American candidate to seek a major party's nomination for
President of the United States. She was also the first woman to run for
the Democratic Party's Presidential nomination. However, discrimination
followed her campaign. Shirley Chisolm was blocked from participating
in televised primary debates and was only allowed to make one speech
after taking legal action. Students, women, and people of color
followed her campaign closely.
After her bid for the Presidency, Chisolm continued serving in the
House of Representatives until she retired in 1982, 10 years before I
began my first term as a Congresswoman.
She once said: ``If they don't give you a seat at the table, bring a
folding chair.''
Today we will honor Chisholm not just with a seat at the table but
with the highest honor Congress can bestow.
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Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this bill.
Mr. Speaker, I yield 5 minutes to the gentlewoman from California
(Ms. Lee), who is also the sponsor of this bill.
Ms. LEE of California. Mr. Speaker, first of all, let me take a
moment to thank Speaker Johnson, Minority Leader Jeffries, Majority
Leader Scalise, and Chairman McHenry for their leadership.
Of course, I thank our ranking member, Maxine Waters, whom I met
during the Shirley Chisolm campaign, for her tremendous leadership and
her friendship.
I thank Congresswoman Clarke, Congressman Donalds, Congressman
Lawler, and Congressman Issa for their support. I thank everyone, all
Democrats and Republicans, for their support. Also, I am deeply
grateful to Senators Butler and Warnock and all the Members of the
Senate for their leadership on the Senate companion bill.
Let me take a moment to thank my team, the team of our leadership,
Congresswoman Waters, Congressman McHenry, and especially Jordan Smith
for their support. I especially thank Jordan Smith for her expertise
and for her hard work in making sure that she worked with everyone, all
staff, as a team to get this bill to the floor. I thank her so much for
her hard work.
Mr. Speaker, it brings me really great joy today that the House is
voting on our bill to honor my mentor, friend, and the first Member of
Congress who brought a new lens and experience which had never been
included in this body since the first Congress went into session in
1789. Congresswoman Chisolm made history as the first Black woman to be
elected to the United States Congress and the first Black woman to run
for the Presidency of the United States.
Now I am the 20th Black woman elected to Congress since 1789.
Congresswoman Waters is the seventh Black woman elected since 1789.
Because of Shirley Chisolm, I am. Because of Shirley Chisolm, there are
31 Black women serving in the House of Representatives and one Black
woman now serving in the United States Senate. There have been two
elected Black women in the United States Senate, one appointed, and
that is Senator Butler, and that is since 1789.
Throughout her seven terms representing New York's 12th Congressional
District, Shirley worked across the aisle to advocate for her
constituents and pass bipartisan reforms. She focused on tackling
issues of food insecurity and economic justice.
Known as Fighting Shirley, she was a fearless advocate for American
families and served as a founding member of the Congressional Black
Caucus.
As many of our colleagues know, Shirley was the catalyst for my
career in public service. I met her when I was a student at Mills
College in Oakland. Like so many young people today, I was
intentionally disconnected from the political system. I did not believe
that it worked for me, a young Black woman and a single mother raising
two children on her own and on public assistance and food stamps.
However, when I met and talked to Shirley Chisolm, I quickly saw that
she represented a new and unique kind of political leadership in
Congress. She stood up for people of color, for Black people, for
women, for marginalized communities, for low-income people, for people
who lived in rural communities and urban communities, for working
families, and for everyone. She spoke on issues that I really hadn't
heard Members of Congress talk about on a national stage before.
When I told Shirley that I was not registered to vote, she took me to
task. She called me little girl until the day she died.
She got me involved in her campaign, and the rest is history. The
path she paved had never been tread before. She carved out a new trail
for all of us. She flipped the script and left an indelible legacy on
American politics, all while holding the door open for the rest of us
to step through.
Throughout her life, she remained unbought and unbossed, and as my 26
years in this body comes to an end, this is really personally a full
circle moment for me for which I am deeply grateful.
The Congressional Gold Medal serves as the Nation's highest
expression of gratitude for distinguished service and achievements. It
is critical for the next generation of leaders to see the first Black
woman elected to Congress get the recognition that she deserves.
We celebrated what would have been Congresswoman Chisolm's 100th
birthday this past Saturday as Congresswoman Waters mentioned, so it is
past time Congress recognized her legendary career and honored her with
a Congressional Gold Medal.
Let me mention a couple of things I mentioned last night at the
Congressional Black Caucus' Special Order. I thank Chairman Steven
Horsford for his leadership in helping us bring this bill to the floor.
First of all, Shirley Chisolm really fought for everyone, and she
prided herself on bipartisan cooperation.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The time of the gentlewoman has expired.
Ms. WATERS. Mr. Speaker, I yield an additional 2 minutes to the
gentlewoman.
Mr. McHENRY. Mr. Speaker, if I may, I yield 2 additional minutes to
the gentlewoman from California (Ms. Lee).
Ms. LEE of California. Mr. Speaker, she prided herself on bipartisan
work. Actually, when I introduced the first resolution honoring her, I
called her from the Cloakroom. She couldn't understand why there were
no Republicans except Connie Morella on the floor speaking on behalf of
the resolution.
She was really upset because she said: Has so much changed that the
Republicans don't know me? They don't remember I worked with them?
I explained to her that the bill was on suspension, that it was the
first night we came in, and that we had bipartisan support. However,
she was pretty upset about that because she really wanted Democrats and
Republicans to vote for this resolution.
Mr. Speaker, the first and only time I pulled a bill from suspension
was that night. I pulled it from suspension and called for a recorded
vote so she could see all of the green buttons that were punched, all
of the lights. So I ran back, and I called her.
I said: See, Shirley, Republicans and Democrats remember you. They
remember your legacy, and you didn't have one ``no'' vote on this.
Finally, I will just say, Caribbean-American Heritage Month is June,
and, again, Shirley Chisolm inspired me with my work in the Caribbean.
Congresswoman Yvette Clarke is a daughter of the Caribbean and, of
course, exemplifies Shirley Chisolm's spirit. President Bush signed my
resolution which established June as Caribbean-American Heritage Month
to honor the legacy and highlight the good work of Caribbean Americans
and to bring closer the ties with America and the Caribbean.
Again, bipartisanship, Shirley Chisolm wanted to get the job done.
She encouraged all of us to work together, to fight for what we
believed, but to also understand we had to work together to make life
better, quite frankly, for everyone.
So Miss C, some of us called her Shirley, some of us called her Miss
C, I thank you for paving the way and for being that catalyst for
change. This Congressional Gold Medal is for you, and happy 100th
heavenly birthday.
Ms. WATERS. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from
Nevada (Mr. Horsford), who is also the chair of the Congressional Black
Caucus.
Mr. HORSFORD. Mr. Speaker, first, let me commend the ranking member,
our chairwoman, Maxine Waters, for her leadership on this issue and the
courtesy of the chairman, Mr. McHenry, for working in a bipartisan way
on this important issue.
I rise today in support of S. 4243, the Shirley Chisolm Congressional
Gold Medal Act.
Representative Shirley Chisolm was an advocate for justice in
American politics. In 1968 she broke through barriers as the first
Black woman elected to this body, representing New York's 12th
District.
She declared herself unbought and unbossed, and in her time in
Congress, she introduced over 50 pieces of legislation, fought to end
the Vietnam war, and championed civil rights, women's rights, and
economic justice.
She was one of the 13 founding members of the Congressional Black
Caucus, but the only woman. Today, the
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CBC has 60 members, the largest in our history, with 31 Black women.
It is because of the legacy of progress of Representative Shirley
Chisolm that we posthumously award the Congressional Gold Medal to
Shirley Chisholm.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The time of the gentleman has expired.
Ms. WATERS. Mr. Speaker, I yield an additional 30 seconds to the
gentleman from Nevada.
Mr. HORSFORD. Posthumously awarding her the Congressional Gold Medal
is a tribute to her achievements and the recognition of her legacy to
advance equality and justice.
Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to honor this remarkable American
and vote ``yes'' on S. 4243.
Ms. WATERS. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1\1/2\ minutes to the gentlewoman
from New York (Ms. Clarke).
Ms. CLARKE of New York. Mr. Speaker, I thank the chairman, Mr.
McHenry, and the ranking member for bringing this legislation to the
floor.
I thank Congresswoman Barbara Lee for her tenacity in making sure
that we would see this come to fruition.
Mr. Speaker, I rise today as one of the many women who stand on the
shoulders of Shirley Anita Chisolm and in strong support of S. 4243,
the Shirley Chisolm Congressional Gold Medal Act.
We honor the first African-American woman elected to Congress and a
trailblazer whose life and work continue to inspire generations of
leaders. Congresswoman Shirley Chisolm was a woman who had the audacity
to be a catalyst for change unbossed and unbought.
From her candidacy for President of the United States to her first
day in the New York State Assembly, Shirley Chisolm paved the way for
Black Americans, Caribbean Americans, women, and marginalized
communities overlooked in our political system.
She showed us what was possible and, in doing so, raised the standard
of what it means to be a woman who is unbought and unbossed.
She was a daughter of Brooklyn, my soror, both of us made in the
Brooklyn Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., and above
all, a daughter of progress.
This Congressional Gold Medal serves as a testament and a symbol of
her achievements as a political trailblazer and advocate for those who
were too often left behind.
{time} 1745
It is our responsibility to ensure her legacy is not just remembered,
but built upon.
Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this bill. Let us honor
Shirley Anita St. Hill Chisholm for her courage, her vision, and her
unmatched contributions to Congress, the Congressional Black Caucus,
and our Nation at large.
As she so powerfully said: ``If they don't give you a seat at the
table, bring a folding chair.''
Today, let us solidify her seat and honor her rightful place in
history.
Ms. WATERS. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentlewoman from
Texas (Mrs. Lee Carter).
Mrs. LEE CARTER. Mr. Speaker, I thank Chairwoman Waters and
Congresswoman Barbara Lee for their tremendous leadership.
Mr. Speaker, I rise to support S. 4243, the Shirley Chisholm
Congressional Gold Medal Act, in honor of the legendary Shirley Anita
Chisholm, the first Black woman elected to Congress in 1968.
Her historic election was not just a victory for New York's 12th
District, but for all of us, affirming that these Halls belong to
everyone, regardless of race, gender, or background. During her seven
impactful terms, she championed equity in education, economic
opportunity, and social justice, and she advocated for marginalized
communities.
Her courage inspired generations, including my late mother,
Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee, who carried forward her fight for
justice and equality. There was no place she would have rather been
than supporting her sisters in voting on this medal, so I am honored to
be able to vote in her honor and memory and support S. 4243, the
Shirley Chisholm Congressional Gold Medal Act.
Mr. McHENRY. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Ms. WATERS. Mr. Speaker, I have no further speakers, and I am
prepared to close if the gentleman from North Carolina has no further
speakers.
Mr. McHENRY. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time for
the purposes of closing.
Mr. Speaker, I have no further speakers, but I will give my ranking
member the final word on this subject.
I close with one story that has an impact on me about Shirley
Chisholm. We know the story of George Wallace, segregationist, racist,
Governor of Alabama, running for the Presidential nomination.
Shirley Chisholm was running for the same nomination. When George
Wallace was shot five times while campaigning and then paralyzed, who
showed up at the hospital but Shirley Chisholm?
I think of myself as a charitable person. I think of myself as
someone who could rise above. We all think that we have that in us, but
imagine that. Imagine that somebody who is campaigning to take your
rights away, to ensure that you don't have rights that are duly yours
under the Constitution, and Shirley Chisholm was the one who showed up
at the hospital.
Talk about the charity and the spirit of that. That is so much bigger
and so much greater than what we get to see in our common day.
It is those special moments that give a perspective on who this
person was. I didn't have the opportunity to know her, but I do get to
pass her portrait here in the Capitol Building, and her portrait says
it all. It absolutely says it all about who she was. I did not know
her, but walking by that portrait, it is very clear who she was.
When she says that she was unbought, unbossed, it is so clear in that
portrait.
When she retired in 1983, she returned to education, but she made an
indelible mark on this institution, such that, in just her eight terms
in this place, she had a lasting impact, such that we have a generation
of lawmakers who look at her as an exemplar of who they hope to be and
a symbol of what America can be.
Mr. Speaker, I urge adoption of S. 4243 to honor Shirley Chisholm
with the Congressional Gold Medal, and I yield back the balance of my
time.
Ms. WATERS. Mr. Speaker, I thank Chairman McHenry for his generosity.
I thank the gentleman for his support. This is one of the last actions
my colleague may be taking prior to the closing of this session, and I
want the gentleman to know we are very appreciative for the fact that
he has taken the time to not only be here, but to share his time in a
very generous way to Ms. Lee.
Mr. Speaker, this important bill will award a Congressional Gold
Medal in commemoration of Shirley Chisholm, an unbought and unbossed
advocate for women and people of color.
Today, we will vote to award this high honor to a woman who dared to
be a catalyst for change. I thank Representative Barbara Lee for her
work on this important bill, and, of course, again, I am proud to be an
original cosponsor of this bill.
Mr. Speaker, I am going to urge my colleagues to support this bill,
and I yield the balance of my time to the gentlewoman from California
(Ms. Lee).
Ms. LEE of California. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentlewoman for
yielding to me, and I want to respond to Chairman McHenry and thank the
gentleman for bringing up the story about George Wallace. I have an
addendum to the story.
I was working in her campaign during that period, and I was furious
that she would go to visit segregationist and racist George Wallace. I
called her, and I was about ready to leave the campaign because, to me,
that was so inconsistent with who she was.
She took me to task again, and she said: Little girl, we have to
remember we all are human beings, first of all. This is the right thing
to do. He is paralyzed, and you never know what might happen when I go
visit him.
I will tell you what happened when she visited him. I have to say
hello and salute Peggy Wallace Kennedy, who is a friend and who lives
in Birmingham, Alabama. Peggy, several years ago, told me the story of
what happened in that hospital room.
If my colleagues have seen the film ``Shirley,'' that really
accurately depicts what happened, what Peggy told
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me, but Shirley Chisholm went and visited George Wallace. She chilled
me out a little bit. I stayed with the campaign, thank God.
She talked to him, she prayed with him, and she encouraged him to
look at his ways, his views, and his horrible treatment of Black
people.
Peggy told me that he prayed. She prayed.
Fast-forward to after he got out of the hospital. He went to Dexter
Avenue Baptist Church in his wheelchair. Of course, I say too little,
too late, but he went down the aisle and apologized to the people of
Alabama for what he had done as a segregationist and the Governor of
Alabama.
Again, I say too little, too late.
Finally, she carried many bills fighting for domestic workers and
fighting for low-income wage workers and fighting for people who were
marginalized and didn't have a shot at the American Dream.
Mr. Speaker, George Wallace helped her get cosponsors for her bills
and helped her become a very effective legislator, and the rest is
history.
Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman so much for bringing up that
story. That was a pivotal point in my life because she taught me a lot,
and she taught me to try to look beyond what is. I thank our Speaker
also for his leadership and for his assistance in helping us bring this
to the floor.
Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Lawler). The question is on the motion
offered by the gentleman from North Carolina (Mr. McHenry) that the
House suspend the rules and pass the bill, S. 4243.
The question was taken; and (two-thirds being in the affirmative) the
rules were suspended and the bill was passed.
A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.
____________________