This is an hour. My name is jane campbell, and i have the honor of being the ceo of the United States capitol Historical Society, a position that i took in february, and so it is new for me, and this is my first salute to congress, and im so glad that youre all here with me. And so the first thing is for us to all rise as the Capitol Police ceremonial unit will present our nations colors. Please rise. Forward march. And now please join me in reciting the pledge of allegiance. I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of america, and to the republic for which it stands, one nation, under god, indivisible with liberty and justice for all. Thank you. Thank you very much, you may be seated. I am honored tonight as we gather to salute the 116th congress to present to you one of the most consequential political figures of our time, a woman who makes history every single day. Nancy pelosi is the 52nd speaker of the house of representatives. She made history in 2007 when she was elected the very first woman speaker to serve as the speaker of the house, and now in her third term as speaker, pelosi consistently reminds members and the rest of us of the importance of history. Speaker pelosi expertly guides the United States house of representatives to act on behalf of the people who elected them, while managing the diverse personalities and perspectives in her first term, Speaker Pelosi led the house passage of the american recovery and reinvestment act, was the architect of the Affordable Care act, oversaw passage of the Lily Ledbetter fair pay act, the establishment of the office of congressional ethics, the repeal of dont ask, dont tell, and those are just the highlights. Confronted with the loss of the majority in 2010, then minority leader pelosi didnt stop. She invested in the next generation of leaders, ultimately retaking the majority in 2018 with the election i might point out, of a historic number of women. Nancy pelosi made history again in january 2019 when she regained her position as speaker, second in line to the presidency, after the Vice President and the first person to do so to serve that second term in 60 years. Her leadership is strong, inclusive, and decisive. Thank you, Speaker Pelosi for being with us. [ applause ] thank you very much, jane. Thank you all very much for your warm welcome. Thank you. Thank you, jane, i accept your kind words on behalf of all of the members of congress who care so much about the history of this capitol and thank you as president of the u. S. Capitol Historical Society for your leadership, brilliant leadership, new leadership, and for safeguarding the Rich Heritage of the peoples house. A pleasure to gather in statuary hall in celebration of the 116th congress. I thank you and don carlson for his leadership as well as the chair. So im honored to be here with colleagues who will be coming and going as there have been some votes on the floor. 30 years ago, the great historian David Mccullough spoke to congress of the statue of cleo. Theres cleo, the news of history who looks down on all who serve here saying he said, not cleo, he said for almost two centuries cleo and her clock have reminded the people in these hallowed halls that we are part of history, that our works and actions will face the judgment of history, and that we are part of a long and honorable heritage of our democracy. That just recently probably within the last three years or so he was here and gave the keynote speech. Were very honored that dr. Freeman will be giving the keynote speech here today as well, and it is interesting how history comes alive through the arts. Dr. Freemans work on american various aspects of american history, David Mcculloughs works about the early times in our country are much more wellknown to people because theyve read the books and then sometimes the movies that were made. And i really do believe that every time we have this event there is a person, an artist, a creator whos in our midst, in cleos midst to talk about our history in a very artistic way. I do believe that the arts, dr. Freeman, are what will unify america. It is a time where we shed our differences. We are mused. We laugh, we cry. Were inspired. We learn, and it is as i say, unified. So thank you for honoring us with your presence today, and congratulations on your great work. Its an honor to serve as speaker of the house as president campbell referenced. This is a congress that is that we are celebrating as the most diverse in history. The House Democratic caucus alone is over 60 women, minorities, lgbtq. Its amazing, and in our freshman class, this freshman class, since this is history, some of you may recall but maybe the rest of you read it in history books, when the watergate class came, it was historic. It was a big deal, right john . It was a big deal when they came, and not one of them in this big large new class, not one of them in the first year became a committee, subcommittee chair. In this class, 18 freshmen are subcommittee chairs, and thats quite a remarkable thing. Its just how were bringing all of the new, young people up in the ranks, and in this congress where we have a Record Number of women, over 100 women in the house, more than that, much more house and senate and this congress will be observing the 100th anniversary of women having the right to vote, which is pretty pretty much an honor to be a woman speaker at that time with over 100 women in the congress. Our new members exemplify our founders creed. You know, our krcountry, its democracy, we have diversity of opinion, we have our debates. We have our disagreements, and thats okay. Thats okay. Our founders gave us so much with their courage to declare independence, to fight a war, to win a war, to write the sacred founding documents. Thank god they made them amendable so we could have more freedom, expanding freedom over time, but they also gave us this guidance. From many one. They couldnt imagine how many we would be or how different we would be from each other, but they knew that we had to always remember that we are one. So when we have our differences of opinion and our debates, always remember that we are one, and thats what america is all about. Our founders were very brilliant in that right, and our constitution, our founders read the beautiful preamble, we the people, still consistent, and they established a congress as the first branch of government that we celebrate. Article one, the legislative branch. I keep telling that to the other branches. Article one. [ laughter ] so for over two centuries we have exercised sweeping constitutional powers and responsibilities, and thats part of what we celebrate tonight. But let us always remember that it is it is our responsibility to debate and to legislate and get results for the American People. In the house, we call ourselves the peoples house and we take that responsibility very seriously. So now under cleos gaze and inspired by our proud history, we move forward with purpose to do the peoples work and advance progress for all americans. So for you, to all of you, madame president , mr. Chair, we thank you. Thank you to the u. S. Capitol Historical Society for keeping the flame glowing. I see that ive been joined now by my colleague, congresswoman debbie dengle. Welcome, debbie. I know youll have an Interesting Program tonight and be inspired by the arts by dr. Freeman. Thank you for allowing me the moment to share some thoughts with you, and again, thank you for your ongoing support of this magnificent institution. Thank you so much. [ applause ] thank you, Speaker Pelosi. We know that demands on your time are overwhelming, and the fact that you honored us with your presence is really something very special, and it speaks to your commitment to telling the story of the article one, the legislative branch. One of the things that the Historical Society is dedicated to is that we are always bicameral and bipartisan, and so as we tell the story of the legislative branch, we do recognize that the house thinks theyre the most important, and the senate thinks theyre the most important body, and we are smart enough to have both of them come, and so our next speaker comes from the other side of the legislative chamber, comes to us with a distinguished career of service to our country. After graduating from the United States naval academy, todd young served in the United States marine corps. While serving in the marines, he earned a masters degree and a law degree. He was first elected to the house in 2010 and then to the senate in 2016. He comes as a bicameral individual himself, and senator youngs legislative priorities include providing quality care for veterans, particularly disabled veterans as well as care for the great lakes, and supporting Business Opportunities and growth. Please join me in welcoming senator todd young. [ applause ] thank you. Thank you. Its great to be back in the house. Its really this is such a nice occasion. I want to thank the u. S. Capitol Historical Society, of course, for hosting this event and for all of the leaders who helped make this happen. I also want to thank everyone who came here. I know your time is valuable, but recognizing congresss historical work is very important, and its important that we remember our history and all that weve accomplished working together as a country. Today marks the 50th anniversary of the launch of apollo 11. Yeah, yeah, you can applause for that. Thanks. [ applause ] nearly 600 Million People were able to watch Neil Armstrong take that first step on the moon, created one of the most iconic moments in world history, and if the past 50 years have taught us anything, anything, its that society is moving at an awe inspiring pace. No man can truly grasp how far human kind has come and how fast we have developed. It really is truly incredible that humans over the span of just 50 years could develop Organ Transplants and Satellite Communications and the internet and think of all the other discoveries weve had, and the changes to our economy and to our culture and our society over just a 50year period. Weve come quite far. 50 years ago, of course, the world could barely dream of reaching the moon, and few thought the risk was worth the price originally, but the adventure and its success was a true demonstration of american ingenuity, american leadership, and american courage. As the great Neil Armstrong said before a joint meeting of congress 50 years ago, it was here in these halls that our venture really began, a true testament to the space program, which would not have taken off without congress. As we follow the footprints of historys major endeavors, there are countless tracks leading back to congress. In 1958, congress created nasa, passing the national aerognaw tick sps space act. Historically congress has tackled hundreds of major issues from child care to retirement to disease ere eradication, thousands has drafted thousands of bimlls, with hundreds of law rumming t running the gamut from new constitutional amendments, government agencies, i dont know that weve eliminated many of those, but to ratifying foreign treaties. In 1964 Congress Passed the Civil Rights Act and subsequently the age discrimination act in 1967. Further more, in an effort to end Workplace DiscriminationCongress Passed the americans with disabilities act in 1990. History unfolds. Trade is another area thats been so important to human flourishment, certainly the flourishing of the American People, and Congress Passed the trade expansion act, later the trade and tariff act in 1984, nafta came in 1993. Usmca may come soon. In the end, its important to remember that those who came before us made certain that the United States would take the lead. Theyd take the lead on every venture and fix every issue from a righteous position. Each member of congress, including myself has vowed to move this great nation forward, to protect the constitution, to live up to the expectations of our constituents, to fulfill their needs. As the next generation comes of age, america will need leaders who have the desire and the capacity to serve their country. Im not worried. I have great optimism in the future, that those who come next will continue to make the u. S. Congress the leading legislative body in the world. Thank you all, again, for your time tonight. Thanks for having me. [ applause ] thank you, senator young. We so appreciate you coming here and sharing with us and sharing your time and your perspective. With one more distinguished member of congress and congresswoman Debbie Dingell is very special to the Historical Society. We knew her first as a congressional spouse, and as a member of the advocacy community, and she was always a great supporter of ours and of the congress in whole, and certainly a great supporter of her community. We were fortunate not long ago when we honored the house energy and Commerce Committee to hear from the great john dingell tell stories about those times when he chaired that committee that he maintained anything that moved was under the jurisdiction of his committee. But now Debbie Dingell is a congresswoman all her own. She comes with a distinguished resume having served as the president of the General Motors foundation, chair of the Manufacturing Initiative at the American Automotive policy conference, and a lifelong advocate for issues important to women and children, founder of the National WomensHealth Resource center, and she has brought all of that experience and all of that dedication, and so her district is fortunate to have congresswoman Debbie Dingell serving not just her own district but as a leader in congress, and were honored to have you today. [ applause ] you know, its really i want to thank the capitol Historical Society for doing this and for all being here to support them. The last time john was in the capitol was last year when he came to support the capitol Historical Society. It was his last trip to washington, but he loved this institution, and he loved this capitol, and he just wanted to be here to share that story, those stories. I was thinking about it, what i was going to say to you tonight, and its the story i seen norm orenstein running through. I dont usually talk about this because i am Debbie Dingell my own person, i get elected every two years, and im accountable t to the people of that district, but i have a lot of history, and im very proud of my last name, and johns father was elected to the United States congress in 1933. There were six women in the congress in 1933, and ive heard i never got to know johns father. I was never lucky enough. He was a new dealer, one of the authors of social security, first author of medicare for all or health care for all, he introduced it after they had done social security, but he too loved this institution, and he knew what it meant to be american. John was on the house floor when they declared when fdr declared war and gave his famous speech. He was a page. I didnt know this. John baynard told me this. The only reason we have a recording of what happened on the floor when president roosevelt declared war was because john didnt listen to the head of pages and knew that it was history and allowed him to continue or to tape what was happening on that floor. He was elected in you know, he was telling me a story, john wanted to deny it, but of when some young boys ran all the way to the top of the dome, put water balloons, ran down the stairs, and the vibration had water balloons fall on people below them. That was in the 40s. Thats when this was i wish now that for this place to continue to be the peoples house, that people we didnt have to worry about security. People felt like they could come in, and it was easy, and they felt and they still do feel pride, but you sort of the capitol Historical Society is making sure that its possible that its still that way. I look at johns history and how he was his first speech, again, i didnt know this, a reporter told me this, his first speech in the house in 1955 was on civil rights. He was one of the first authors of the civil rights legislation. You cant imagine it in this day and age, but when i was cleaning his office, he got denounced across the country for wanting to do the clean water act, but republicans and democrats, democrats and republicans, i meant it that way, joe. But the world has changed, and he always believed that you worked across the aisle, that we were all americans, and he never forgot that. He believed you started in the middle, and you brought people in and that compromise was not a dirty word. So and now im you know, i look back to when i married john a necessity. The world is changing. When i married john im not old, but i am seasoned. People moved here. I mean, they went home, but their families got to know each other. The kids