Hank Johnson: “I thank the gentleman from Maryland for yielding. Mr. Speaker, today, I rise in proud support, and I join my colleague…”

“I thank the gentleman from Maryland for yielding. Mr. Speaker, today, I rise in proud support, and I join my colleague, Congressman Lewis, in supporting H.R. 267 and its efforts to redesignate the Martin Luther King, Jr. National Historic Site as the Martin Luther King, Jr. National Historical Park. For decades, large numbers of people have descended on this site to see the birthplace where the dreamer was moved by destiny into leadership of the modern civil rights movement. The site as it stands now, which also contains the historic Ebenezer Baptist Church, has faced hardships over the years leading to budget cutbacks and a decrease in staff. H.R. 267 would increase funding that would help preserve this American landmark and increase the size of the park so that future generations can continue to visit and enjoy. Just like Dr. King never led a march without a plan, we shouldn't leave this critical piece of the civil rights movement without a plan for its future. We should continue to work to preserve the place where Dr. King was born, lived, worked, worshipped, and where he is buried. Mr. Speaker, I stand in strong support of H.R. 267, the Martin Luther King, Jr. National Historical Park Act of 2017. The time has come to update the historic sites and monuments at the Martin Luther King, Jr., National Historic Site. This common sense legislation seeks to end the current restrictions that prevent the site from adopting the proposed ``Martin Luther King, Jr.…”