Political Quotes

“Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize and celebrate Fort Mose Historic State Park in beautiful St. Augustine, Florida. Fort Mose, a national historic landmark, is the site of the first legally sanctioned free Black settlement in the United States. In the 1600s, enslaved people in the British Carolinas made their way south to freedom in St. Augustine, which at that time was under Spanish rule. Next week, the park, along with the Florida State Parks Foundation and community partners will break ground on a full-scale reconstruction of the original fort that once stood there. You can see the updated renderings of the fort here beside me. It is really going to be an amazing site. This project is the realization of decades of dreams, dedication, and hard work from hundreds of individuals who share a love for the Fort Mose history and rich, rich story. Thanks to the partnership of the Florida State Parks Foundation, the Fort Mose Historical Society, and Florida State Parks, the fort will be completed this winter, and it is expected to draw visitors from around the world to northeast Florida. The reconstructed Fort Mose will have lasting impacts for St. Johns County, our State, and our Nation for generations to come. So congratulations from Florida's Fifth Congressional District, to, again, the Fort Mose Historic State Park, and to all who have been involved in bringing this amazing story to life. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time. ____________________”