On the recordOctober 6, 2011
The fight for women's rights and fair pay and protections for the disabled, none of those fights were easy, yet in the last few years, we celebrated the 90th anniversary of the 19th amendment, the 75th anniversary of Social Security, the 45th anniversary of the Voting Rights Act, the 20th anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act. What have we done here this year? How will we show the march toward justice is the mark of our Nation's progress? We do so by marching with his spirit rather than standing in his shadow. Dr. King said of Reverend Shuttlesworth, he ``proved to his people that he would not ask anyone to go where he was not willing to lead.'' That is a testament to his courage. Four years ago, then a candidate for President, Senator Obama escorted a wheelchair-bound Reverend Shuttlesworth across the Edmund Pettus Bridge in Selma. It was symbolic. It showed yet again Reverend Shuttlesworth leading us across another bridge. On behalf of a grateful State, Ohio, and in partnership with Senator Portman from Ohio, Senator Shelby from Alabama, and Senator Sessions from Alabama, I offer my deepest condolences to the Shuttlesworth family and to all of his friends and to all of his loved ones. Mr. President, I will offer this resolution, and I think we will be looking at it later today, offered by Senators Portman, Sessions, Shelby, and myself. I will ask for passage later. ____________________
