Kamala Harris and Cory Booker Intro Bill to Honor Shirley Chisholm

Senators Kamala Harris (D-CA), Cory Booker (D-NJ), and 12 of their colleagues introduced a bill directing Congress to commission a statue of former Congresswoman Shirley Chisholm to be displayed in the Capitol. Chisholm was the first Black woman elected to the House of Representatives and was a founding member of the Congressional Black Caucus. She was also the first Black woman to seek a major party’s nomination for President. “Shirley Chisholm created a path for me and the 40 Black women members of Congress who have served after her,” said Harris. “While there is still work to be done for equal representation, we must also stand back and celebrate our triumphs along the way.” Booker weighed in, saying, “It’s only fitting that the fearless leader who demanded a seat at the table be honored with a statue at the Capitol. This bill is a testament to the debt and gratitude leaders in America owe to Shirley for paving the way and helping make our government more representative and reflective of the people it serves.” This bill is part of a bicameral effort, with a companion bill introduced last month in the House of Representatives by 56 Democratic co-sponsors. Currently, there are four statues and busts in the United State Capitol representing African Americans, including Rosa Parks, Frederick Douglass, Martin Luther King, Jr., and Sojourner Truth. See the bill here.