Sheila Jackson Lee: “I thank the chairwoman of the House Administration Committee for her leadership. I also thank our resident historian…”

“I thank the chairwoman of the House Administration Committee for her leadership. I also thank our resident historian, Congressman Hoyer of Maryland, for constantly reminding us of the better virtues of our history. To my dear friend as well, a Congressman who was eloquent on the floor of his age but also his recognition of the importance of this legislation, I thank him for the bipartisan support. Mr. Speaker, let me acknowledge my friends that have supported this legislation, including Joyce Beatty, Karen Bass, now mayor of Los Angeles, Barbara Lee, Jim Clyburn, and my cosponsorship as well, because we knew what was important and what had to be done. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to support S. 5229, that is a downsizing of the House bill to direct the Joint Committee of Congress on the Library to remove the bust of Roger Brook Taney in the Old Supreme Court Chamber of the Capitol and to obtain a bust of Thurgood Marshall for installation in the Capitol or on the Capitol grounds and to be able to lift America up. It is important to lift America up to her better angels in the understanding of the richness of our history. Those of us who are African Americans came first in the bottom of the belly of a slave boat. We have never had that acknowledged.…”