John Yarmuth: “Muhammad Ali's contributions to the world continue to transcend his achievements in the boxing ring. Although he won…”

“Muhammad Ali's contributions to the world continue to transcend his achievements in the boxing ring. Although he won three heavyweight championships, Muhammad has never believed in resolving differences through conflict. He is a man of peace and justice, of patience and grace--a visionary who changed the boxing world so he could change the entire world. In 2005, he founded the Muhammad Ali Center in my hometown of Louisville, Kentucky. The center is a cultural attraction and an international education hub, whose work is based on the core values by which Muhammad lives-- respect, confidence, conviction, dedication, giving, and spirituality. Yesterday, Muhammad turned 70. Today, I'm introducing the Muhammad Ali Legacy Act to honor his values and to build upon his humanitarian work. The legislation establishes a grant program to promote global respect, understanding, and communication. The program will prepare leaders to contribute to the global society through peace-building and violence prevention, and it will teach young people how to combat the pull of radicalism. By cosponsoring the Muhammad Ali Legacy Act, I ask my colleagues to join me in supporting this work and the man who has dedicated his life to it. ____________________”