September 17, 2015 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD—SENATE, Vol. 161, Pt. 10 14535 signing of the Constitution of the health care choices. From legislation fostered. It is also a time to reflect on United States. Some elected officials blocking these choices to efforts what we are doing as citizens to uphold talk about their love of ‘‘the Constitu- defunding critical health services for the promises that the Constitution has tion and the Bill of Rights’’. That spe- women, we clearly have a long way to provided. I encourage all Americans to cific phrasing is interesting in that it go to ensure gender equality. mark this day by reading the whole somehow implies that the Constitution And while LGBT Americans are now Constitution and celebrating how it re- does not itself include the Bill of able to marry the person they love, flects the great progress we have made Rights, which of course it does. But it they continue to experience discrimi- to become a more inclusive and strong- contains much more than those origi- nation in other aspects of their lives. er democracy. nal 10 amendments. Each year, I re- Achieving full equality means that f mind Americans that we must cele- LGBT individuals should be able to REMEMBERING EDWARD W. brate not just the original Constitution provide for their families without fear BROOKE III of Washington, Hamilton, Madison, and that they will be fired from their jobs the Founding generation but the whole or denied housing. It means that a res- Mr. MARKEY. Mr. President, on Constitution, including its 27 amend- taurant should not be able to refuse to March 11, 2015, at Washington National ments. This includes the 13th, 14th, and serve an LGBT couple because the Cathedral, a memorial service was held 15th Amendments, which many schol- owner disapproves of that couple’s rela- for former Massachusetts Senator Ed- ars have rightly described as our Na- tionship. New civil rights laws are ward W. Brooke III. Ed was one of the tion’s Second Founding. needed to protect LGBT Americans so first African Americans to serve in The Senate commemorated the Ses- they can live their lives free from dis- combat during World War II. He was quicentennial or the 150th anniversary crimination. the first African American to be elect- of the Second Founding earlier this We must uphold this promise of ed a State attorney general, and the year when the Senate passed a resolu- equality for the vulnerable and the first elected to the U.S. Senate by pop- tion raising awareness about this series voiceless as well. We are a nation of ular vote. In 2004, he was awarded the of amendments, which provided the immigrants with a long, proud history Presidential Medal of Freedom by country with a new birth of freedom. of opening our doors and welcoming President George W. Bush. In honor of Ratified by President Lincoln and his people from around the world. After his extraordinary life and service to generation after the Civil War, these all, the Statue of Liberty has long pro- our Nation, I ask unanimous consent to Second Founding amendments trans- claimed America’s welcome: ‘‘Give us have printed in the RECORD the re- formed our original charter—most fun- your tired, your poor, your huddled marks made at Senator Edward W. damentally—by elevating the principle masses yearning to breathe free. . . . Brooke III’s memorial service by Sec- of equality to a central place in our Send these, the homeless, tempest-tost retary of State John F. Kerry; Con- constitutional order. to me, I lift my lamp beside the golden gresswoman ELEANOR HOLMES NORTON; This year, the Supreme Court once door.’’ That is what America has long Milton C. Davis and Edward W. Brooke again upheld the Constitution’s prom- stood for and what we should continue IV. ise of equality when it ruled that the to represent. Instead, I have seen ugly There being no objection, the mate- 14th Amendment of the Constitution partisan rhetoric about changing the rial was ordered to be printed in the protects the right of each American to 14th Amendment of our Constitution to RECORD, as follows: marry the person they love, regardless remove birthright citizenship specifi- REMARKS OF SECRETARY OF STATE of their sexual orientation or gender cally to target immigrants. We should JOHN F. KERRY identity. Because of that ruling, LGBT be a nation that embraces and lifts our Good morning. It’s a privilege to share children all across America will grow most vulnerable, not a nation that acts some thoughts about Ed Brooke. up knowing that they can love without out of spite or malice. I want you to think back half a century. fear, and that they are equal citizens of We must also fight for the voices of Imagine a room in the 1960s where all the this great Nation. all Americans and not just corpora- leading Massachusetts politicians are gath- Although the Constitution provides tions or the wealthy few. Our country ered—Kennedy, McCormack, O’Neill, Volpe, us with the promise of equality, we has flourished because we have worked Brooke. Among them, one figure stands out as the courageous representative of an em- must never forget that it is up to all of hard to ensure that more, not fewer, battled minority; Ed Brooke; alone; un- us to advance and protect that intrin- Americans can take part in the demo- daunted; the only Episcopalian. sic American value of equality. Each cratic process. Instead, our campaign Imagine another room, the chamber of the generation must do its part. This is finance laws have been eviscerated by a U.S. Senate. Shortly after noon on January true whether it is racial equality, gen- Supreme Court that views money as 10, 1967, a man of consummate dignity der equality, or equality based on a speech and refuses to place any limits strides down the center aisle; Legislators person’s sexual orientation or gender on the ability of the wealthy and spe- rise and applaud; the gallery cheers. The cial interests to drown out hard-work- first African-American popularly-elected to identity. We have come a long way in the Senate takes his seat. In that moment, each of those areas, but we continue to ing Americans. The Court has also irra- Ed Brooke was not just a pioneer; he was an have work to do. tionally limited the definition of ‘‘cor- advance scout probing the soul of our coun- On racial equality, too many of our ruption’’ in our campaign finance laws try. Twenty-six years would pass before a citizens continue to face racial dis- to just bribery. But unlike a narrow second African-American would be elected. crimination in voting. As a result of majority of the Court, the public un- Imagine a young man raised in Wash- the Supreme Court’s dreadful ruling in derstands that corruption is not just ington, joining the army immediately after Shelby County v. Holder, Americans bribery; rather, corruption is the idea Pearl Harbor, later deploying to Italy as part across the country are now vulnerable of a segregated infantry battalion. There, that money buys access and influences Lieutenant Brooke watched in anguish as his to racially discriminatory voting laws our democracy for a wealthy few. This buddies were sent each morning to attack a that restrict the franchise without the cannot be allowed in our democracy. heavily-fortified German position in the Ap- full protections of the Voting Rights The size of your bank account cannot ennines. Act. On this 50th anniversary year of and should not determine whether and The young soldier soon became convinced the March in Selma and of the Voting how the government responds to your that his men were being used as cannon fod- Rights Act, we must do all we can to needs. We must act to restore the First der by racist commanders. He proposed a restore and enhance the protections of Amendment and to preserve those pro- shift in tactics, an operation staged later in the day, when the enemy would be sleeping. that landmark legislation. tections to ensure that all voices can The answer came back: ‘‘The colonel would On gender equality, we continue to be heard in the democratic process. never send a boy to do a man’s job.’’ Brooke see women being paid less than men for Constitution Day is an occasion to persisted and the operation he organized doing the same job. We also continue celebrate our founding charter and the went ahead, catching the enemy by surprise to see partisan attacks on women’s historic democracy it has caused and and driving them from the mountain. His

VerDate Sep 11 2014 12:28 Sep 09, 2019 Jkt 049102 PO 00000 Frm 00028 Fmt 0686 Sfmt 0634 E:\BR15\S17SE5.000 S17SE5 rmajette on DSKBCKNHB2PROD with BOUND RECORD 14536 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD—SENATE, Vol. 161, Pt. 10 September 17, 2015 battalion suffered 1300 casualties and won 27 swer my questions. One topic we discussed graduated from Dunbar High School, and the medals; its reward was to be dismantled and was the parallels. After all, we had both gone Senator’s class of 1936 is in the church today, its personnel scattered to places where many from college to war to law school to a pros- and from Howard University; not even if you could neither sit at a lunch counter nor vote. ecutor’s office to spend many years as the became a World War II hero and won the We must never forget that—as much as Ike, ‘‘junior’’ Senator from Massachusetts. We Bronze Star, leading your segregated unit in Patton and Marshall—Ed Brooke and the Af- had each won and lost elections and guess a broad daylight attack on an enemy bunker; rican-Americans who joined him in fighting what—we both agreed that winning was bet- and certainly not if your hometown had no Fascism were part of the greatest generation ter. elected self-government, much less senators. and we owe them an incalculable debt. Believe me, few public statements are Edward William Brooke was nurtured in a But this was just the beginning of Ed harder to deliver than a concession speech loving, closely knit, aspiring African Amer- Brooke’s journey. after a closely-contested—even bitter—race. ican community in the District of Columbia. As a legislator, Senator Brooke was always In 1978, I was indelibly struck by how Ed’s But it did not groom him to think of himself on the cutting edge—championing a woman’s remarks set a new standard for grace amid as a public official. right to choose; taking on the tobacco indus- pain. He congratulated his opponent and paid Senator Brooke owed much to a childhood try when smoking was still considered cool; tribute to allies who would, he said, carry on spent in our city where children were raised initiating a program to help minority his work. He was flanked by one source of to believe segregation did not for a moment businesspeople create jobs; guaranteeing strength, his mother—and alluded to a sec- mean you were inferior. But the man that women equal access to credit; and authoring ond in saying: ‘‘When I was down in the val- became a natural politician, charismatic, an amendment that, to this day, enables tens ley, I didn’t cry—I cried out—and you gave charming, brilliant, and utterly approach- of thousands of people each year to qualify me the strength to move on.’’ able, invented himself and went on to be- for public housing and thereby escape shel- Early on, this proud son introduced me to come not only a public official, but a historic ters or the streets. Helen Brooke who, during my years in the figure. When President Nixon asked the Senate to Senate, embraced me as much as anyone in The Senate has always had its share of confirm a Supreme Court nominee whose the city. Mother Brooke loved her family self-made men and women. Edward Brooke supporters argued—and I’m not making this and her church; she loved to have a good was a self-made senator. Many had thought up—that mediocrity deserved representa- time and she taught her son how to be a suc- of Barack Obama as a man ahead of his time, tion—Ed Brooke looked his party’s leader- cessful politician. ‘‘Always thank people,’’ until the President came to the Capitol in ship in the eye and said no—and did the same she said, ‘‘and make them feel special.’’ That 2009 to present the Congressional Gold Medal on two other Nixon nominees. advice stuck. As one colleague observed, to Senator Brooke. After receiving the He also differed from the President by ‘‘When Ed Brooke looked at you, you felt he medal, Senator Brooke regaled us with re- being right about the Vietnam War and vot- was not only thinking about you and only marks that must have been written in his ing to end it—a position that mattered a lot you, but that he probably hadn’t thought head and his heart, because without so much to many of his constituents, including me. about anyone else in weeks.’’ as a note, he accepted the medal in a voice And when ideologues tried to gut the Civil Fifteen years ago, the state courthouse— that resonated as it must have when he Rights and Voting Rights laws: Ed Brooke just across from my own district office in spoke in the Senate about the Brooke used every instrument in the legislative tool Boston—was named after Ed Brooke—a trib- Amendment to the Fair Housing Act, which box to stop them—declaring that liberties ute to the man and a regular reminder to all limited to 25% the portion of income a fam- that took a century or more to secure must of his love for the practice of law. In Massa- ily must pay in rent for public housing. never again be denied. A vow that, as Presi- chusetts, three charter schools are dedicated Don’t ask me how a black man without dent Obama reminded us in Selma on Satur- to his memory; and many of their students guide posts became one of the most popular day, remains as timely now as ever. made the journey from the land of the seven- politicians ever in Massachusetts, a state For all of his career, Ed Brooke was his foot snowdrifts to be here with us today; where only 2% of the population was black. own man. As Attorney General, he was re- there are also many students from Dunbar— I cannot explain the conundrum that was Ed- lentless in cracking down on corruption— his high school alma mater. ward Brooke. But I experienced the warmth which in Massachusetts in the early 1960s Senator Brooke shunned the title of trail- and the talent that made him successful as a provided what we might call ‘‘a target-rich blazer, but that’s exactly what he was. He in- public man and dear as a friend. And I can environment.’’ His electoral triumphs were spired thousands of young people—of every tell you this: Edward Brooke never forgot astonishing in a state that was only 2 per- race—to enter public service. Some criticized where he came from, the city that nurtured cent black, where school desegregation was him for not being more outspoken or for not his uniqueness. Without hesitation, he vol- an explosive issue, and where the face of being enough this or enough that—trying to unteered to talk with senators in his Repub- prejudice might appear either ugly with mold him to their expectations—but he was lican Party when the Senate and the House anger or thinly masked by code words. In always true to himself. He fought ceaselessly both passed the D.C. House Voting Rights one early race he narrowly lost, his oppo- and with determination for the poor, for mi- Act. He succeeded. The vote for the District nent, Kevin White, claimed to see no hidden norities, for women, and for what he felt was was lost to an amendment that would have message in campaign bumper stickers that right. He was the embodiment of a style of wiped out all of the District’s gun laws in re- read simply: ‘‘Vote White.’’ legislating that valued substance over rhet- turn for a vote in the People’s House. Repeatedly, Brooke was urged by the polit- oric and public needs over political agendas. Senator Brooke’s place in American his- ical establishment not to run for higher of- Bipartisanship, to him, was never a four let- tory was sealed and delivered long before he fice—to instead bide his time until Massa- ter word. died in January. His place as the first Afri- chusetts was [quote-unquote] ‘‘ready.’’ In- So we are privileged to be here—family, can American elected to the Senate with the deed, in 1962, when he ran for Attorney Gen- friends, admirers—in celebration and popular vote and his extraordinary record as eral, his opponent was the formidable Elliott thanksgiving, for this remarkable man. In a senator are even more remarkable when Richardson, a man with deep connections to recent years, as Ed Brooke received the high- you consider his origins here in the District what were—socially and financially—the est civilian honors our nation can bestow— of Columbia, which had no local government upper echelons of the Commonwealth. But the Congressional Gold Medal and the Presi- at all. The residents of his hometown con- Ed Brooke didn’t back down, and because he dential Medal of Freedom—he reminded us tinue to struggle for equal rights as Amer- didn’t, a straight line can be drawn between that the work to which he had dedicated his ican citizens and for statehood. But nothing his electoral victories and that of another own best efforts—remains unfinished. could inspire our citizens more than a native African-American—this time in the national Ed Brooke understood the ebb and flow of son, born in a city without a vote or a local arena—some four decades later. life. He endured great loss and enjoyed exu- public official, who rose to cast votes in the I was in high school when Ed Brooke first berant triumphs, saw the valleys and the Senate of the United States. ran for statewide office, attracting so many mountain tops, and would be the first to tell Thank you. Democratic voters to the Republican pri- us that he lived a full and blessed life. For REMARKS OF MILTON C. DAVIS, THE 29TH GEN- mary that our party had to work for months him and for that—we will always be grateful. ERAL PRESIDENT OF THE ALPHA PHI ALPHA afterward reregistering them. REMARKS OF CONGRESSWOMAN ELEANOR FRATERNITY I had met Ed but didn’t really know him HOLMES NORTON ‘‘God of justice, save the people from the until after I arrived in Washington. In my Anne, family, colleagues, public officials, clash of race and creed, From the strife of early years in the Senate, he would come by friends all of Senator Edward William class and faction, make our nation free in- occasionally and talk about the job or the Brooke. You do not grow up desiring to be a deed; Keep her faith in simple manhood events of the day. Whenever I saw him, I was United States Senator if you were born in strong as when her life began, Till it find its struck by his warmth and kindness and his the District of Columbia in 1919; not if you full fruition in the brotherhood of man!’’ interest in what I was doing. He was a char- lived in one of the District’s African Amer- This is a stanza from a favorite hymn of ismatic man with a genuine laugh and a res- ican communities, LeDroit Park; not if you Edward Brooke which he often quoted in the onant voice and a ready willingness to an- went to our segregated public schools and speeches he delivered across the country and

VerDate Sep 11 2014 12:28 Sep 09, 2019 Jkt 049102 PO 00000 Frm 00029 Fmt 0686 Sfmt 0634 E:\BR15\S17SE5.000 S17SE5 rmajette on DSKBCKNHB2PROD with BOUND RECORD September 17, 2015 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD—SENATE, Vol. 161, Pt. 10 14537 the world. This stanza summarized his theme wanted only to be judged by the content of viduals would never again be mistaken as of life; his mission in life. Long before I ever his character and his abilities rather than cause to deny justice, humanity, or dignity, met him in person, I came to know him his racial background. nor to justify violence, exploitation, or dis- through the pages of the history of Alpha Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., who was initi- respect. We must continue to work as he did, Phi Alpha Fraternity, the world’s first Afri- ated into Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity by Ed- with faith in the possibility of the best imag- can American collegiate fraternity founded ward Brooke while King was a graduate stu- inable outcome, and the assurance that fear- in 1906. This Alpha history book depicted a dent at Boston University stated the propo- fulness and cynicism cannot withstand the plethora of role models and heroes, the likes sition that—Life’s most persistent and ur- immeasurable kindness of which we are ca- of W. E. B. Dubois, Thurgood Marshall, Mar- gent question is ‘‘What are you doing for pable. tin Luther King, Jr., Jesse Owens and scores others?’’ My father was a truly tender, sweet, and more, whose life and work inspires and ad- Edward W. Brooke became an acknowl- lovely man. He forgave my many errors and vances a race of people and a nation. None edged national treasure by using his time, patiently helped me to learn from them. He stood out more dramatically than the life talent, influence, power and intellect dem- taught me to read, to speak, and to think, to and achievements of Edward William onstrating his commitment to uplifting oth- love and be loved. For all of this and so much Brooke. He was my hero; dignified, a scholar, ers and assuring that in matters of fair hous- more, I am forever grateful—grateful to him, charismatic, accomplished and fearless. Reg- ing, voting rights, education and justice that and to his mother Helen and father Edward ular history books have yet to give him the the promise of America to equality under for raising up a man so entirely and strik- credit he has earned. law became more of a practical reality rath- ingly unafraid to be the best possible version Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity is in its 109th er than just a lofty ideal. of himself; grateful to the ancestors who, year of existence and for 77 of those 109 In one of his campaigns, a Boston political surviving hardship and desolation, held in- years, Edward William Brooke stood in the writer wrote ‘‘Brooke was a carpetbagger tact the sacred vitality of which my father’s circle of our brotherhood. When Alpha Phi from the South, a Republican in a Demo- life is a profound expression; and grateful to Alpha Fraternity undertook the awesome cratic State, a black in a white state, a my mother, whose inspiring and uncondi- twenty-seven year task of building the Mar- Protestant in a Catholic state and he is poor. tional love made our lives together so beau- tin Luther King, Jr. Memorial on the Na- Edward Brooke replied: I pleaded guilty to tiful. We know that he will always be with us, tional Mall here in Washington DC., Edward all indictments and I continued to persevere and pray for him eternal peace. William Brooke was first to come forward in my campaign. Brooke won; America won. with significant resources and the use of his That’s what heroes do: They look reality f in the face and persevere! influence to help guide that process. TRIBUTE TO JOHN F. LEHMAN He was an active, contributing and es- The Poet Robert Louis Stevenson aptly teemed member until his death. sums up my journey of friendship and broth- Mr. MCCAIN. Mr. President, I rise The law served as his instrument, tool and erhood with Senator Edward W. Brooke with today to recognize a true American pa- weapon with which he sought to advance the these words: triot, a fellow naval aviator, and a cause of justice in the face of prejudice, dis- He has achieved success; close personal friend, former Secretary crimination and segregation which sur- Who has lived well, laughed often, and loved of Navy, the Honorable John F. Leh- rounded him as he grew up in the nation’s much; man. capital not far from this place. Who has enjoyed the trust and respect of in- Secretary Lehman served his country telligent men and women and the love He fought against the tyranny of the Axis for over 30 years both in uniform in the powers as a commissioned officer in the U.S. of little children; Army during World War II assigned to the Who has filled his niche and accomplished United States Navy and as Secretary of segregated 366th all black infantry regiment his task; the Navy during the Reagan Adminis- where he earned a Bronze Star for valor on Who has left the world better than he found tration, from 1981–1987. His leadership the battlefield. it; and dedication to our country and to Edward Brooke also served as an advocate Who has always looked for the best in oth- the Navy set a high mark unsurpassed for black soldiers who were charged with of- ers; to this day. It was Secretary Lehman fenses in his regiment even though he was And given them the best he had; who championed a ‘‘600-ship’’ Navy not then a trained, licensed attorney. Whose life was an inspiration; after the devastating post-Vietnam war Whose memory a benediction. Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, using its cutbacks. He knew how important this members who were lawyers in the 1940s and REMARKS BY EDWARD W. BROOKE IV naval investment was to rebuilding our 1950s filed several major lawsuits seeking to On behalf of my family I would like to dismantle segregation and battle racism in thank the distinguished speakers who pre- global military and strategic power. America. Among those cases filed and fi- ceded me for their thoughtful and deeply Together with President Reagan, he of- nanced by the national fraternity was the moving tributes. As they have so eloquently fered the vision of strength that would case of Elmer Henderson vs. The United stated, and as most of you well know: my fa- ultimately bring an end to the Soviet States; the Interstate Commerce Commis- ther lived one of The Great American Lives. Union. His tenure stands as a lesson of sion and the Southern Railway. The case It was my privilege to know him and to be a history that peace comes through challenged the Commerce Commission regu- part of his life. It is my honor to be his son, strength and commitment, not weak- lation which allowed segregation and dis- and to be here with all of you today, in ap- crimination in railroad dining cars in inter- ness and retreat. preciation of a man whom I love so dearly. Secretary Lehman’s impact on the state commerce. In the dining car, black pas- The moments of the past are not gone from sengers were only allowed to occupy two ta- us, nor we from them. The light of each mo- country and our national security has bles nearest the kitchen and when occupied ment shines on through eternity as the light not ended with the conclusion of his by black travelers a curtain had to be drawn of distant stars travels through space and tour in the Pentagon. He continues to to hide their presence from white passengers. time to reach our eyes and touch our minds. offer essential and trusted advice to de- If white passengers needed the two tables as- And so the brilliant light of his great life cision makers throughout our national signed to black passengers, the black pas- shines on for us, that we may better find our leadership. I am proud to call Sec- sengers had to wait until the white pas- way in the dark unknown. retary Lehman my friend, and I am sengers vacated the tables assigned to When I was but a child, not so long ago, my blacks. father would always say, ‘‘Waste not; want honored to recognize him today. For Edward Brooke was recruited to join the not.’’ Usually he would do this as he walked these and many other reasons, I ask Alpha legal team headed by then General around turning off the lights in vacant unanimous consent to have printed in President of Alpha Belford Lawson in filing rooms or pointing out the unused excess the RECORD the citation in honor of briefs before the U.S. Supreme Court attack- ketchup on my dinner-plate. I thought I un- Secretary Lehman’s recently awarded ing these racial barriers and on June 5, 1950, derstood what he meant. Though when I now National Defense Industrial Associa- four years before Brown v. the Board of Edu- consider the familiar saying in the full con- tion Gold Medal. cation major decision, after an eight year text of his life, it reveals a far more powerful There being no objection, the mate- battle through the lower courts, the truth: That if we never waste the oppor- rial was ordered to be printed in the U.S. Supreme Court struck down the regula- tunity to help each other live better lives, tion which allowed segregation and discrimi- none among us would ever have to want for RECORD, as follows: nation in railroad dining cars due in part to a life that could not be attained. GOLD MEDAL FOR DISTINGUISHED SERVICE IS the heroic efforts of Edward Brooke. Edward In this generous spirit, and leading by ex- PRESENTED TO THE HONORABLE JOHN F. Brooke was a champion for equality and fair- ample, my father constantly strived toward LEHMAN ness, his standard and measure of a person the realization of a better world—a world in For a lifetime of extraordinary leadership was the world’s standard of excellence. He which the apparent differences between indi- and dedication to a strong national security

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