Weekends on cspan two are an intellectual feast. Every satellite, American History tv documents america story. And on sundays, book tv brings you the latest in nonfiction books and authors. Funding for cspan two comes from these Television Companies and more, including buckeye broadband. Buckeye broadband, along with these Television Companies, supports cspan 2 as a public service. Ladies and gentlemen, please welcome our honored guest, speaker nancy pelosi, accompanied by republican leader, kevin mccarthy, janes see clyburn, senator marco rubio, jared kathy castor, representative michael waltz, representative found in the east, representative fredricka wilson, president and see a ribbon, and dr. Entering the second. Ladies and gentlemen, the honorable nancy pelosi, speaker of the United States house of representatives. [applause] as speaker of the house, it is my privilege to welcome to our statuary hall as we celebrate a pie in the year, pioneering and patriotic american. The pride of florida and america, dr. Mary mcleod buffoon. Now, but this time please stand as you are able for the presentation of colors and the national anthem. [applause] ladies and gentlemen, please remain standing for the information, to livid by Senate Chaplain dr. Barry black. Let us pray. God, of our weary years, god, all of our silent tiers. You who have brought us this far on the way. You, who have by your might lead us to the light. Keep us forever in right path. We pray. We pray to you, for the laudable light of doctor mary Mcleod Bethune. And for this statue Dedication Service in her honor. To we celebrate the fact that she was a drum major for justice. Truth, and righteousness. As you have inspired us by her great legacy, lord in powerless to persevere in to wing what is right. Fulfilling your promise to us that into due season, we will reap if we think not. Blessed our feet, stray from the places our god where first we met you. Lest our hearts trunk with the wind of the world, we forget you. Shadowed beneath your hand, may we forever stand true to you, and true to our native land. We pray in the name of the one who said the truth shall set you free. Amen. Ladies and gentlemen, the honorable kathy dancer, chair of the select committee of the Climate Crisis and representative of the 14th district of florida. [applause] well, i am proud to be a floridian this morning because the people of the state of florida have sent the great educator and civil rights leader, dr. Mary Mcleod Bethune, to represent our dynamic and diverse state. The first to be represented by a black american in National Statuary call. [applause] doctor bethune epitomizes the ideals we have here. Industrious is. Thirst for education. Desire to build peace among people. She devoted her life to equal rights and surface, service yes, to president , but to students, women, her race, veterans, and every day americans. We lift her up today at a time of competing ideologies to help heal and unify through her example. Because she also lived at a time of division, but determined to stand up to defending voices, including the ku klux klan, to do what many said could not be done. When blacks were denied education, she built a school. Denied medical care . She built a hospital. When the world was acropolis with authoritarianism, she helped establish the foundational commitment to human rights for the united nations. Her spirit is captured in this beautiful sculpture by kneeled like ole miss, funded by the people of florida, with the help of nancy lowman and the statuary fund. Note the cap and gown and books of an educator. The first of its kind in statuary hall. But smile and sunny outlook, the gold lettering that shines like the florida sun. But cain, gifted her by president roosevelt, and of, course the distinctive black rose that represents the students she educated, encouraged, and loved. Florida was the place from which she affected change and authored the rendezvous with democracy speech, where she said in the beloved land of florida, i have kept a rendezvous with democracy, and i found it alive. Vibrating with challenges that stimulate me and keep me fighting for the pursuit of happiness. The increase of justice, and the widespread acceptance of the brotherhood of mankind. Madam speaker, this is floridas intention today and for all time that the life and legacy of dr. Mary Mcleod Bethune be a symbol of justice, hope, and love for america and all humankind. [applause] ladies and gentlemen, miss nancy r. Lowman, president of the dark mary mcleod corporation. [applause] Love Thy Neighbor is the three step switching to transform the world, if it were universally practiced. Loving thy neighbor means seeing interventional, enter religious, and international. Dr. Mary Mcleod Bethune, good morning and thank you, speaker pelosi, for allowing me this honor. Doctor mary Mcleod Bethune began her lifelong career in daytona beach, florida, as a champion for education, with a full realization that educational advancement equals social and Economic Development and advancement. She has definitely advised worldwide leaders on gender equality, she counseled u. S. President s on equal employment opportunities, and she championed, in our community, bridge building for making world change. Her worldwide view provided her a unique vision, where humanity can breathe freely and live full lives, harnessing their strengths. She continues to inspire all of us. Every one of us, including our backgrounds, she guides us with her last will and testament, instructions that are inscribed on the books behind me, on neil da costa spew to full masterpiece. I leave you love, courage, piece i leave you to the desire to live harmoniously with one another. I leave you to desire to have a thirst for education and lastly, and finally, she said a desire and a need and their responsibility to teach our young people. I am honored and humbled today to recommend that dr. Mary Mcleod Bethune statuary funds. With helps of hundreds of donors, almost nearly 500 donors over the last four years, and our supporters, and our advocates, michael and u. S. Representative, kathy castor and your team. Amazing, amazing advocacy. And our mission to bring fruition to statuary hall, doctor mary Mcleod Bethune, our board of directors, i must recognized by name quickly, because they did so much to represent the fabric of america. Men, women, democrats, republicans, black, brown, and white americans, officer bob lueck, mary greenly, port members, denver adams, jim cameron, michelle carter, yield comas, kathy conte, danielle carrot, they tone of beach mayor, derrick henry. Sherry loyd, nellie lefroy, nellie paramour, dr. Hiram pell and pollution county commissioner, betty wheeler. This magnificent statute that you see beside me and its sizzle awesome created by master sculptor, kneeled coma, representing mary Mcleod Bethunes determination, resilience, and diplomacy. And it shows that we have the ability to create positive change and make a difference in our world. Neil is the first hispanic woman sculpting the first a mashfork an American Woman to be honored here in statuary hall, and i think that [applause] thank you. [applause] florida chose the perfect sculpture to reside in history with dr. Doug bethune, and dr. Bethunes statue represents the best we are, a florida and of america. During a 1948 event with the National Council of dnipro women, doctor bethune said, in my final years of my life, i dare to work for the dream of a memorial for all women, because the time has come for it and it is a cause worth sacrificing for. , well that time has come. That time is now. That day is today. And this pristine, marble masterpiece in her likeness. Thank you. [applause] ladies and gentlemen, doctor lawrence and drake the, interim president of the bethune quitman university. [applause] good morning. Speaker pelosi, leader mccarthy, senator rubio, chair castor, representatives walls, pretending, and wilson, and of course, nancy lowman. Distinguished ladies and gentlemen, on behalf of everyone at bethune cocaine university, our hearts are resorting today. Seeing our founder and namesake take her rightful place among the most distinguished americans here in the center democracy. No one could have predicted that this daughter of slaves a create university found a powerful political organization, the Vice President s, and inspire generations. You are hopeful vision, her hard work, her generous spirit, and her deep, deep faith, she made a lasting and positive mark on our country and let world. As many of you know, in 1904, she started a school with six students, one of which was her son, albert. With 1. 50, and went on to serve our university for over three decades as president. The day, our students and thousands of graduates around the world are living examples of our motto, answer to learn, depart to serve. Dr. Bethunes life and lessons are as relevant today as they are ever. She was an innovator in education and learning. Teaching through what we all call today to learning. She told you about. It she taught you how to do it. She allowed you to demonstrate that you could do it. And then she said take it out to the world and share it. As we approach our 120th anniversary, we want to continue to train the minds and develop the students of the future who will walk in her likeness. As i humbly stand here in her step, my vision for our university is what every learner enters with curiosity. And the parts with a growth mindset. It is competitively competent, committed to lifelong learning, and ready to use their gifts, talents, and experiences to selflessly change the world for the better. Just like she did. You see, this remarkable statue by neil de comas captures dr. Bethunes legacy in history. So, i invite you, actually, i aggressively invite you to come to visit our cherished campus and daytona beach, so you can see her legacy in action. Thank you. [applause] ladies and gentlemen, measures of the Bethunecookman University concert corral. [applause] ladies and gentlemen, the honorable michael waltz, United States representative from the sixth district of florida. [applause] oh my god, what a great day for daytona beach, florida, for Bethunecookman University, whats that incredible . And for florida again, having the first ever, and only, African American representing our state right here in our nations capital. I just want to take a moment. Im so proud of the florida legislature, of them governor rick scott, who signed the less inflation to make this happen. Governor desantis, who sent the request to allow us all to be here today, you know, after she moved to florida, she saw a need. She saw that the workers, but black workers that were building the railroads, the railroads that allowed florida to be developed, werent getting an education. She saw a need, and she addressed it, and she started a school with 1. 50 to train African American young girls and to teach African American young girls. It wasnt without challenges, though. In one of the stories, the, after the school was up and running, came marching on the small girls school, with torches, with robes, on horseback. She already had a plan. She told her teachers to disperse. She had her students, and she stood alone at the gate, and stared them down and stood them down. Madam speaker, my military career, ive seen some tough cookies, some tough women, i guarantee you this was the toughest one. In the hole today. And if that was tough, then she became a member of president roosevelts cabinet. She developed a lifelong friendship with eleanor roosevelt, who came to stay at, indepth on a beach. And became a lifelong National Leader. And one generation, daughter of slaves to a National Leader for women and civil rights. But i think her greatest contribution, which is her last will and testament. If you havent read it, you must. Ive read it again last night. And briefly, she says, i leave you love. I leave you hope. I leave you a thirst for education. I leave you faith. She said, our aim must be to create a world of fellowship, a world of justice, where no man skin color or religion is held against him. And she said that faith is the first factor in a life devoted to service. Without fate, nothing is possible. And with it, nothing is impossible. Thank you, god bless you. [applause] ladies and gentlemen, the honorable val demings, United States representative from the tenth district of florida. [applause] speaker pelosi, great leader mccarthy, clyburn, to the bathroom family to our congressional guest, i was born and raised in florida. And i remember, as a little girl, listening to my mother and my father talk about a black woman, a woman who looked like us, who started a college. And institution of Higher Learning in florida. I heard listening to my parents tell the story, it seemed, impossible. But dr. Mary Mcleod Bethune made what seemed impossible possible. Over time, she picked up a book what was told, put that down. You cant read but she refused to be defined by those children that day, and went on to become one of the most powerful educators, and most influential women in floridas history. And in the history of our nation. Dr. Was bethune determined to create opportunities for every child, every child, regardless of the color of their skin. And wanted to make sure that every child received one of my most precious gifts, and that is an education. She was well ahead of her time. But she knew that she was on the right side. She knew that her work was for the greater good. Thats her investment was in something bigger than dr. Bethune for, for labor of love could not be contained. In her years on her contributions were cut generations yet, unborn. She was bold. Courageous, and although her journey had its triumph and its struggle. Dr. Mary Mcleod Bethune never wavered. She never blinked. She never flinched. And her commitment to excellence. The powerful educator, of course, that we all know she was so much more. She served her community, her state, her country, from the school house to the white house. The dr. Bethune did her part to form that more Perfect Union that we love to talk about and to establish justice. And yes, representative waltz, the first factor in a life devoted to Service Without it, nothing is possible. But with, it, nothing is impossible. True faith, dr. Bethune they are to be brilliant, they urged to be smart, and to let her liked shine so brightly, so that anyone who looked off could see it and dare to believe in their own possibility. I am proud to hold an honorary doctorate from Bethunecookman University. [applause] ladies and gentlemen, when we look at this life so well lived, it can only be fitting that mary Mcleod Bethune take her rightful place in the peoples house, and continue to let her liked shine, as she represents the greatest state of florida. God bless you, and thank you. [applause] ladies and gentlemen, honorable frederik from the 24th district of florida. [applause] countless because one woman led the way. The Civil Rights Movement began because one woman refused to go. Weve got a seat at the table. Because one woman brought a folding chair. Court children in florida were educated because one woman would not give up. Harriet tubman, one woman. Rosa parks, one woman. Charlie chisholm, one woman. Dr. Mary mcleod thune, one woman. Each launched a movement, each forever changed the way we see our world, so today we are rewriting the history we want to share with our future generation. We are replacing a remnants of hatred and division with the symbol of hope and inspiration. One woman. Because today we place mary mcleod with down and in her rightful place among our nations giants of history. I cannot think of anyone more befitting to occupy this space of grandeur. Congratulations, speaker pelosi, representative castor, nancy lowman, [inaudible] and to the state of florida, you made the right choice. One woman. As an educator, i always found many similarities between doctor mary Mcleod Bethune and myself. And i have tried my best to embody her spirit, her stamina and her perseverance. I work shared mothers children, our love of education, and our shared responsibility of lifting up the next generation. No matter the roadblocks. She fought for young black girls, and helped foster young black boys. I love this woman. That is why in 2004 i was honored to serve as an honorary cochair of the fund raising and unveiling of the statute of mary Mcleod Bethune on the campus of university. What happened on that historic day was in out of body experience for me. And it was a phenomenal disbelief that wonderment. Its a story i will tell for as long as i can. You see, the unveiling of the statue was on the program, in gold for 12 00 noon. But as things go, the ceremony was running behind. It was the convocation of the new president. And it was the 100th anniversary of the university. And the unveiling. So i stepped outside to look at the statue to search for my name on the stature engraving deck next to the great doctor dorothy height, another esteemed cochair. When the bells chimed at noon, the sky above turned into night. We were overcome by clouds and wonder and hurricane spread winds. The wind roared through the campus and swept the [inaudible] right off of our bodies. Unveiling her glorious statue. There was nobody out there but two people. I couldnt believe it. Next to me was albert but then, her grand son, who turned and said, ms. Wilson, you know mom never did like things being late. And the staff of