Political Quotes

“Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Today, I rise to speak in favor of H.R. 1815, the Lena Horne Recognition Act, introduced by my good friend and colleague from the great State of Florida, Congressman Alcee Hastings, to honor and posthumously award the Congressional Gold Medal, one of our Nation's highest civilian awards, to the great Lena Horne. Lena Horne is known to many as a uniquely talented performer who dazzled audiences on stage and on the silver screen. She was a symbol of elegance and grace; and she entertained people of all walks of life for over 60 years and broke barriers for future generations, winning numerous awards and accolades as a trailblazing African American female performer. When I think of just yesterday that Major League Baseball, during that era, honored Jackie Robinson--a pioneer and professional baseball player--it's a breakthrough. But during that same period of time, Lena Horne was on the entertainment stage with such grace during a time when it was difficult for her as an African American to travel--places to stay, places to eat--but yet always with that elegance, with that grace, with her beauty, she would perform and entertain but stay true to herself, understanding that she was going to have a better tomorrow for those who followed in her path. She was a trailblazer, making it easier for people to follow. If you think about the times that we had during that period, you had to be extra special. That's who she was.…”