Angie Craig: “I rise to clarify the record concerning my support for the resolution before us today. I chose to cosponsor this…”

“I rise to clarify the record concerning my support for the resolution before us today. I chose to cosponsor this resolution because of my abhorrence for the crime of lynching. I have been told that the passage of this resolution will enable people whose families were affected by this terrible crime to resolve their frustration that Government authorities did not do more to stop it. If this resolution helps people deal with the past so that they can move on to the future, it is a worthwhile statement to make. Having said that, I am aware of concerns that have been raised about possible ``next steps'' based on the Senate's action on S. Res. 39. Let me just say that this resolution should not be interpreted--at least so far as this Senator is concerned--as any kind of an endorsement for some claim of compensation based on any action or inaction of the Federal Government. In fact, what brings me to the floor is a concern that the actions of a particular Senator long ago may be subjected to unfair, revisionist criticism from our perspective today. The Senator in question is my predecessor, known as ``the Lion of Idaho,'' William Borah. Senator Borah was one of the leaders of the Senate in blocking consideration of the anti-lynching legislation.…”