July 14, 2008
Washington, D.C. -- Congressman Steve Chabot (R-Cincinnati) today delivered the following speech on the floor of the U.S. House of Representatives in support of a Congressional resolution to honor the 100th anniversary of the birth of U.S. Supreme Court Justice Thurgood Marshall:
“Madame Speaker, I rise in strong support of H.Con.Res. 381, a resolution recognizing the dedication and achievements of Thurgood Marshall on the 100th anniversary of his birth.
“Madam Speaker, Justice Marshall’s life was full of distinction and firsts, including successfully arguing to overturn the “separate but equal doctrine” before the U.S. Supreme Court in the seminal case of Brown v. Board of Education; serving as the nation’s first African American Solicitor General; and later serving as the first African American U.S. Supreme Court Justice, a position he held for 24 years.
“Instilled at an early age with the premise that all men are created equal, Justice Marshall dedicated his life to bringing meaning to the protections enshrined in our Constitution. His work transformed this nation. First, at the NAACP, and later in the public sector, Justice Thurgood Marshall put civil rights on the forefront of this nation’s conscience, ensuring that the Constitution and rule of law applied fairly to all citizens.
“I commend the distinguished gentleman from New Jersey, Congressman Payne, for ensuring that Thurgood Marshall’s legacy lives on.
“I urge my colleagues to support this resolution, and I yield back the balance of my time.”
