[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 156 (2010), Part 10] [House] [Pages 13961-13963] [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]HONORING SOJOURN TO THE PAST ON ITS 10TH ANNIVERSARY Mr. POLIS. Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution (H. Res. 1058) honoring and praising the Sojourn to the Past organization on the occasion of its 10th anniversary, as amended. The Clerk read the title of the resolution. The text of the resolution is as follows: H. Res. 1058 Whereas the civil rights movement helped to better the lives of millions of people and secured equality, civil rights, and human rights for all people in the Nation; Whereas in 1999, California public high school teacher Jeff Steinberg combined a civil rights history lesson and a field trip to civil rights movement landmarks to create the educational program Sojourn to the Past; Whereas Sojourn to the Past takes high school students on a 10-day excursion along the path of the civil rights movement in the Southern United States, engaging them with historical sites and talks with prominent veteran leaders of the civil rights movement; Whereas the goal of Sojourn to the Past is to inspire students to become civic leaders with a duty and ability to unite people in the communities in equality and justice, through knowledge, understanding, and compassion; Whereas Sojourn to the Past is the longest running civil rights education and outreach program in the United States; Whereas Sojourn to the Past has conducted 55 sojourns and introduced over 5,000 high school juniors and seniors to the lessons, locations, and leaders of the civil rights movement; Whereas Sojourn to the Past teaches high school students how the history of the civil rights movement is relevant to ending discrimination, violence, hatred, bigotry, and inequity in schools and communities; Whereas Sojourn to the Past's mission of making the civil rights movement relevant for younger generations strengthens society in the United States by promoting civil rights and equality; and Whereas Sojourn to the Past continues to teach younger generations of people in the United States about the civil rights movement and challenges young people to define and defend individual conceptions of justice in communities and classrooms: Now, therefore, be it Resolved, That the House of Representatives-- (1) recognizes the 10th anniversary of the founding Sojourn to the Past; and (2) honors and praises Sojourn to the Past on the occasion of its anniversary, and for its work in educating the next generation of people in the United States about the civil rights movement and the importance of social justice. The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from Colorado (Mr. Polis) and the gentleman from Wisconsin (Mr. Petri) each will control 20 minutes. The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Colorado. General Leave Mr. POLIS. Madam Speaker, I request 5 legislative days during which Members may revise and extend and insert extraneous materials on House Resolution 1058 into the Record. The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the gentleman from Colorado? There was no objection. Mr. POLIS. I yield myself such time as I may consume. Madam Speaker, I rise today in strong support of House Resolution 1058, which honors the 10th anniversary of Sojourn to the Past, an educational program dedicated to developing students' appreciation for an understanding of the Civil Rights Movement. [[Page 13962]] The Civil Rights Movement transformed the United States of America, ensuring legal equality and civil rights for all people in our country regardless of race or ethnicity. Educator Jeff Steinberg understood the importance of teaching the meaning of the civil rights movement when, 11 years ago, he decided to lead a school trip to several civil rights landmarks. That field trip quickly grew into its own education and outreach program, engaging approximately 100 high school students in three trips each year through visits to historical sites and discussions with prominent veteran leaders of the civil rights era. The students visit five States and landmarks, including the Edmund Pettus Bridge; the site of the Bloody Sunday march of 1965, in Selma, Alabama; Central High School in Little Rock, Arkansas; and the National Civil Rights Museum in Memphis, Tennessee. More than 10 years later, Sojourn to the Past has its own rich history, inspiring students to become civic leaders for the 21st century with a base of awareness of the importance of the civil rights movement of the 20th century. Newfound knowledge and personal understanding of the civil rights movement, these sojourners, these high school students, reflect on how they can fight to end discrimination, bigotry, and inequality in their own schools and their own communities. Today, more than 5,000 high school juniors and seniors have learned these lessons through participation in Sojourn to the Past. Just like civil rights leaders before them, these students will take responsibility for ending discrimination and promoting equality for all Americans moving forward. Madam Speaker, I would like to thank a great civil rights leader, who I am deeply honored to serve with in the House of Representatives, Representative John Lewis, for introducing this important resolution and serving on the Sojourn National Advisory Committee. I reserve the balance of my time. Mr. PETRI. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. I rise in support of House Resolution 1048, honoring and praising the Sojourn to the Past organization on the occasion of its 10th anniversary. Since 1999, Sojourn to the Past, a nonprofit organization, has taken thousands of students out of the classroom and across the country for a life-changing educational experience via hands-on lessons on the civil rights movement. Through a sometimes emotional and eye- opening 10-day journey through a period of segregation in the Deep South, students learn the history of the civil rights movement in the United States. Sojourn to the Past is the longest-running civil rights education and outreach program in the United States. It has conducted 55 sojourns and introduced over 5,000 high school juniors and seniors to the history of the civil rights movement. This organization teaches high school students how the lessons of the civil rights movement are still relevant today. We recognize Sojourn to the Past for teaching younger generations of people about the history of the civil rights movement and challenging them to make a difference in their schools and their communities, and I support this resolution. I reserve the balance of my time. Mr. POLIS. Madam Speaker, it is my honor to yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from Georgia (Mr. Lewis). Mr. LEWIS of Georgia. I want to thank my friend and colleague from Colorado and my friend and colleague from Wisconsin for bringing this resolution before us. Madam Speaker, I want to thank the chairman and the ranking member of the Education and Labor Committee for their support of this bill, and the Majority Leader for his support and for bringing this resolution to the floor. Madam Speaker, this year marks the 10th anniversary of an outstanding organization called Sojourn to the Past, the longest-running civil rights program in the United States. Sojourn to the Past was founded by Jeff Steinberg, an inspired American history high school teacher from northern California. He started by taking his students on a 10-day field trip to the South to see where the most important moments of the civil rights movement actually happened. He took them to places like Atlanta, Tuskegee, Montgomery, Birmingham, and Selma. He took them to Jackson, Little Rock, and Memphis. While on these journeys, young people meet the leaders of the movement. They get out of the classroom and visit historic places that marked the time. Through this program, I believe young people grow more informed about the movement. They learn how it changed our country and our society, and they are changed. They become better human beings and better citizens not just of the United States but of the world. Since it began, Sojourn to the Past has taken over 5,000 high school students on these journeys, teaching them about the importance of social justice and the philosophy and the discipline of nonviolence. Like the civil rights movement itself, it challenges people to think about their own values and about what kind of country they want America to be. Madam Speaker, I invite all of my colleagues to join with all of us in honor of this important organization. Mr. PETRI. Madam Speaker, I have no further requests for time, and I yield back the balance of my time. Ms. RICHARDSON. Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of H. Res. 1058, which honors and praises the Sojourn to the Past organization on the occasion of its 10th anniversary. This resolution recognizes an important educational program that helps students understand the invaluable role of the Civil Rights Movement in our Nation's moral and social development. I thank Chairman Miller for his leadership in bringing this measure to the floor. I also thank the sponsor of this resolution, Congressman Louis, whose role in the Civil Rights Movement and work as a public servant has made the United States a more tolerant and democratic country. Madam Speaker, the Civil Rights Movement was a transformative experience for the United States. It helped our Nation grow out of a culture of bigotry, segregation, and oppression, and extend the democratic freedoms promised by our Nation's founders to people that had, for more than two centuries, been deemed second-class citizens. It elevated our moral standing in the world and brought our Nation closer to meeting the ideals set forth in our founding documents. It is absolutely essential that every high school student in the United States understands the moral gravity and massive historical significance of the Civil Rights Movement. The Sojourn to the Past project helps us achieve this goal. Established in 1999, the Sojourn to the Past project takes high school students on a 10-day excursion along the path of the Civil Rights Movement in the southern United States, engaging them with historical sites and talks with prominent veteran leaders of the movement. The longest running civil rights education program in the United States, the program has conducted 55 sojourns and introduced over 5,000 high school juniors and seniors to the lessons, locations, and leaders of the Civil Rights Movement. Madam Speaker, the Civil Rights Movement is not only a vital part of our past, but its lessons are instructive in the ongoing efforts to end violence, discrimination, hatred, and inequality in the United States and across the world. The work of the Sojourn to the Past program is extremely commendable. It instills in our future leaders the knowledge and understanding needed to bring continued moral and social progress to our Nation. I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting this resolution. Mr. POLIS. Madam Speaker, I once again express my support for House Resolution 1058, which honors the 10th anniversary of Sojourn to the Past, to help young Americans understand the importance and the history of the very recent civil rights movement in this country. I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting this resolution. I yield back the balance of my time. The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the gentleman from Colorado (Mr. Polis) that the House suspend the rules and agree to the resolution, H. Res. 1058, as amended. The question was taken; and (two-thirds being in the affirmative) the rules were suspended and the resolution, as amended, was agreed to. [[Page 13963]] A motion to reconsider was laid on the table. ____________________