Bill Lee: “Let me first thank Congresswoman Beatty for her very kind and humbling remarks, but also for her tremendous leadership…”

“Let me first thank Congresswoman Beatty for her very kind and humbling remarks, but also for her tremendous leadership on so many issues, not only since she has been here in Congress, but before she came representing her constituents, and really looking out for, speaking out for, and working for the most vulnerable in our society. I am really proud of what she is doing with the Congressional Black Caucus, also Congressman Jeffries for continuing to organize these important sessions really to beat the drum and to allow our country to understand what the issues are that the Congressional Black Caucus continues to work on because if, in fact, we address those issues, as you know, that the most vulnerable are dealing with each and every day, we will strengthen America, and so our country will be stronger. I thank both of them for making sure that we are doing that. We celebrate tonight the start of Black History Month, but I would like to reflect quickly again what we are doing tonight on Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.'s dream of true democracy. In his famous speech, ``I Have a Dream,'' let me just quote here what he asked the American people to do. He said: ``To make real the promises of democracy. Now is the time to rise from the dark and desolate valley of segregation to the sunlit path of racial justice. ``Now is the time to open the doors of opportunity to all God's children.…”