Jobs and Justice

Floor Speech

Ms. KELLY of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, this month, America celebrates the 50th anniversary of the historic March on Washington where men and women of all backgrounds rallied for the cause of jobs and freedom.

The march proved instrumental in advancing civil rights in America and helped in passing the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Voting Rights Act of 1965.

In remembering that the march was about jobs, it's important that we remember that this Congress has yet to bring a jobs bill to the floor. As we recall what the march did to advance freedom, we should remember that the recent Supreme Court ruling on voting rights left it up to Democrats and Republicans in Congress to work out a bipartisan path to protect voters from discrimination and from being disenfranchised.

The need for folks to come together on behalf of jobs and justice is as important now as it was 50 years ago. Our Nation is made better when we march together to overcome the challenges of our times. I urge my colleagues to unite and pass a jobs bill that is good for American workers and to take the steps necessary to protect every American's right to vote.

The march continues.

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