Barbara Lee: “First of all, let me take a moment to thank Speaker Johnson, Minority Leader Jeffries, Majority Leader Scalise, and…”

“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.…”