Executive Session

Floor Speech

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Mrs. LOEFFLER. Madam President, in downtown Atlanta at the corner of Auburn Avenue and Jesse Hill Jr Drive, there is a 65-foot mural of Congressman John Lewis with the lone caption: ``Hero.''

I personally got to see it yesterday from the Downtown Connector, the major interstate that runs through the heart of Atlanta, as I drove to Hartsfield-Jackson airport. I was struck by the void left by his passing, not only in Georgia, but across our entire country.

When parents teach their children about courage and the fight for freedom and equality, the story of Congressman John Lewis will be told. He dedicated his entire life to pushing America to live up to its promises. He championed nonviolent protests. He stood for community, justice, and love.

Congressman Lewis's story has inspired millions. At just 18, he wrote to Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., when he sought to attend the all-White Troy State University. He went on to become a leader in the civil rights movement. He organized sit-ins at segregated lunch counters in Nashville. He was on the buses during the 1961 Freedom Rides. He was the youngest speaker at the 1963 March on Washington. He was brutally beaten while leading peaceful demonstrators across the Edmund Pettus Bridge in Selma, AL.

For the last 33 years, he served Georgia in the U.S. House of Representatives, where he was known as ``the conscience of Congress.'' He was also known for his many bipartisan friendships. One of them was with my predecessor, Senator Johnny Isakson, a true statesman. They shared a powerful moment last year on the House floor when Congressman Lewis embraced him during farewell speeches to the Senator, one of the most touching moments in Congress's recent history.

Sadly, Congressman Lewis was not the only civil rights icon we lost last week. Georgia also lost Reverend C.T. Vivian. Both he and Congressman Lewis were champions of peaceful, nonviolent protest. I hope we can honor their legacy by using nonviolent means as we strive toward equality and a more perfect union.

Georgians cannot think of our beloved State without thinking of these and so many other civil rights icons and leaders like Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Our Nation is better because of their leadership and their courage. Their legacy will never be forgotten.

May God comfort the Lewis and Vivian families during this incredibly difficult time.

(The remarks of Mrs. LOEFFLER pertaining to the introduction of S. 4238 are printed in today's Record under ``Statements on Introduced Bills and Joint Resolutions.'')
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