Jon L. Christensen: “It is a special honor and privilege today to rise in support of H.R. 1900, legislation sponsored by the gentleman from…”

“It is a special honor and privilege today to rise in support of H.R. 1900, legislation sponsored by the gentleman from Massachusetts (Mr. Neal) to award a Congressional Gold Medal to the late, great Jackie Robinson in recognition of his many contributions to the Nation, and to express a sense of Congress that there should be a national day of recognition in his name. I applaud my colleague for sponsoring the bill which should be supported by everyone in this body. Mr. Speaker, in the spring of 1947, Jackie Roosevelt Robinson played his first game with the Brooklyn Dodgers, breaking down baseball's decades-old color line and changing the face of baseball forever. Over the past few years, I too have had the pleasure of working with Jackie Robinson's older daughter, Sharon Robinson, on a number of activities and programs of the Jackie Robinson Foundation, which continue his legacy for our children and which has brought to my and many of my colleagues' districts. On a broader note, my constituents and I owe a debt of gratitude to Jackie Robinson for opening the door and paving the way for all of us, but especially for several Virgin Islands major leaguers...”