Gullah/Geechee Cultural Heritage Act Amendment

Floor Speech

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Mr. RICE of South Carolina. I thank the distinguished gentleman for yielding.

The Gullah/Geechee culture is infused throughout the low country of South Carolina. In fact, it is a big part of what makes the low country of South Carolina so unique. From Daufuskie on the southern end to Little River Neck on the northern end, that culture permeates our geography and our people.

My father's family, my grandfather's family, my brother, and myself were raised in the midst of the Gullah/Geechee culture. In all of our cities--again, from north to south; in Charleston, Myrtle Beach, and Georgetown--you can see those traditions infused throughout those communities.

The traditions of the Gullah/Geechee arts, oral history, literature, music, cuisine, and others, have made a distinctive impact on the coastal Carolina culture. Growing up on the coast, I have fond memories of the Gullah/Geechee people and their way of life.

Authorizing the Gullah/Geechee Cultural Heritage Corridor Commission is important to preserving and managing the uniqueness of their important traditions. I support the reauthorization of the Commission and the passage of H.R. 3004.

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