Political Quotes

“Mr. Speaker, I am here today to recognize Katherine Johnson, Dr. Christine Darden, Dorothy Vaughan, Mary Jackson, and the hundreds of women in STEM who made incredible contributions to our country and to the cause of scientific research and exploration. Katherine and her team of mathematicians and engineers were pivotal to one of our Nation's greatest triumphs: landing the first man on the Moon. Yet, as Black women in America, they faced pervasive discrimination. They were subjected to segregated facilities and their careers were stifled by an explicit and implicit culture of racism and misogyny. I will also note that today is Equal Pay Day and that the gender pay gap is even more stark for women of color. It takes a Black woman 7 months longer to earn what a man takes home in 1 year, which is why I have been a strong supporter of the Paycheck Fairness Act. I will further note that we were supposed to send the first all-woman space walk on March 29 up into outer space, but we had to cancel that trip because of lack of proper suits for women. We must do better. Katherine Johnson, Dr. Christine Darden, Dorothy Vaughan, Mary Jackson, and the hundreds of other women in STEM were never properly recognized for their brilliance and determination, which is why I, as a Member of Congress, am a cosponsor of the Hidden Figures Congressional Gold Medal Act. ____________________”