On the recordJune 26, 2017
I thank Representative Plaskett for leading this Special Order on behalf of the Congressional Black Caucus. It is extremely important that we first thank our Caribbean brothers and sisters, as my sister Yvette Clarke so eloquently stated, the history of so many individuals that have made substantial contributions to make this a more perfect union, who, but for their labor and hard work, we would not be the country that we are. But also as Representative Plaskett has indicated, when I think about the average, everyday person who came across to America from the Caribbean Islands--the schoolteachers, the plumbers, the lawyers, the doctors, the sanitation workers, and the individuals that come even just to cut grass--when you think about the contributions, what they have committed is those individuals have raised children who become Members of Congress, like Stacey Plaskett and Yvette Clarke, who continued that tradition of making this a much better place to live for all Americans, a shining example of what this great Nation is when it is so inclusive. Yvette Clarke talked about Alexander Hamilton and the contributions that were made from the very beginning. But when you look at that and when you think of who we are and the hemisphere that we share--you see, the Caribbean Islands are the same hemisphere, and we have to make sure that we are together in lockstep.…
