Clyburn Opening Remarks at the House Natural Resources Subcommittee on Federal Lands Hearing

Watch Congressman's Clyburn's opening remarks here.

WASHINGTON, DC - Congressman James E. Clyburn (SC-06) delivered the following opening remarks at the House Natural Resources Subcommittee on Federal Land's legislative hearing on his Renewing the African American Civil Rights Network Act.

The African American Civil Rights Network Act would authorize the National Park Service to coordinate and facilitate Federal and non-Federal activities to commemorate, honor, and interpret the history of the African American civil rights movement, the significance of the civil rights movement as a crucial element in the evolution of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, and recognize the relevance of the African American civil rights movement in fostering the spirit of social justice and national reconciliation.

The Renewing the African American Civil Rights Network Act would reauthorize the program for ten years following the enactment of the Renewing the African American Civil Rights Network Act.

A full transcript of Clyburn's remarks can be found below:

Thank you very much Mr. Chairman.

Thanks to the members of the subcommittee and I must acknowledge the type of legislation we are discussing here today, the full committee chair, Mr. Westerman from Arkansas, and Grijalva, the Ranking Member - because we are here today to ask your reauthorization of the National Park Services African American Civil Rights Network.

Network is the operative word here.

The importance of the legislation which is scheduled to sunset come January 2025 is embodied in that one word. If I were to mention the name of Rosa Parks here today, most people would know who that was.

But if I were to mention the name of Sarah Mae Flemming, I doubt that more than two or three people, if anybody, except maybe Dr. Donaldson, would recognize that name. Though, a year and a half, before Rosa Parks sat down on that bus in Montgomery, a year and a half before, Sarah Mae Flemming, six days before her 21st birthday, sat down on the bus in Columbia, South Carolina was ejected from the bus, filed a lawsuit, and the Supreme Court decided that she was entitled to ride in any seat on that bus.

And so if you look at the Rosa Parks case when it was decided by the Supreme Court, you will find that a footnote in that case says - we do not have to decide that subject. We decided that in the case of Sarah Mae Flemming vs South Carolina Electric and Gas.

Most people don't know that. That's the importance of this legislation.

Because in South Carolina, when I came here 32 years ago, our number one industries were textile and tobacco. I need not tell you what has happened to both of those.

Today, our number one industry is transportation and tourism. And the fastest growing aspect of tourism is Heritage tourism. And so, this legislation is very very important to my state because it involves a network of 27 other states in designating sites for visitation that will grow the economy most especially in rural communities and I think that this legislation is deserving of reauthorization.

So I introduced on November 1, and have since gathered 27 other operators -I say November of this year, the authorization of this legislation - we hope you will see your way clear to approve it.

Now Dr. Donaldson, long-time friend and Director of the University of South Carolina Civil Rights Center is here and will be discussing this legislation a little later. And so as to give him ample time, I am going to relinquish the rest of my time so that he can have the time necessary to give you a more intellectual discussion of this legislation.

Thank you so much and I yield back.

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