Political Quotes

“Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of H.R. 4009, the Enslaved Voyages Memorial Act, introduced by my colleague, Representative Eleanor Holmes Norton. This bill will authorize the establishment of a memorial on Federal land in the District of Columbia and its surroundings commemorating the enslaved individuals who disembarked here after forced migration by way of the transatlantic slave trade. This memorial will honor the lives of all enslaved individuals, celebrate their contributions to our history, and recognize their remarkable resilience and fortitude throughout four centuries of slavery. During this time period, enslavers forced the transport of 12.5 million captive Africans to sell in the Americas. The Georgetown waterfront has an extensive and long-neglected history of involvement in the slave trade. In fact, 1,475 enslaved individuals disembarked at the Georgetown waterfront while the institution of slavery grew on this continent. Establishing a memorial to honor those who were enslaved will create a powerful site of truth-telling and remembrance. I thank my colleague, Delegate Norton, for introducing this important and significant piece of legislation. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to vote ``yes'' on the bill, and I reserve the balance of my time.”