Transcript of Congressional Statue Dedication Ceremony Honoring Pierre L’Enfant
Washington, D.C. – Speaker Nancy Pelosi joined Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton, Mayor Muriel Bowser and Chairman Phil Mendelson of the Council of the District of Columbia for the Congressional statue dedication and unveiling ceremony of Pierre L'Enfant of Washington, D.C. Below are the Speaker's remarks:
Speaker Pelosi. Good morning, everyone. This is a very special occasion, indeed. It is a time when we are here and have the privilege to welcome a newcomer to the Capitol – inside, but not a newcomer to the Capitol of the United States. The true patriot – soon to be seen – Pierre L'Enfant.
Let us salute the committed champions who have helped make this history today possible. Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton, D.C.'s longtime champion in the House with Jim Clyburn, who has long been a force for D.C. statehood. Chair Phil Mendelson of the D.C. Council, defender of D.C.'s right to self-governance. And of course, the Mayor – Madam Mayor who generously gifted this statue to the Congress in 2019. And the talented artist Gordon Kray. Thank you, Madam Mayor. Thank you, Gordon. Thank you. Thanks also to Chair Zoe Lofgren, who accepted this statue on behalf of the House.
Pierre L'Enfant belongs here in the Capitol among many heroes of our history. As a veteran of the Revolutionary War – did you know that? – architect of our stunning capital city and a testament to this truth: immigrate – immigrants make America more American.
As we unveil the statue, we are reminded of the fight for equality for the District. Since 1864, every state has been invited to contribute two statues to the Capitol to pay tribute to their most distinguished heroes. But for too long, the – D.C. has been excluded. That is why, in 2013, we welcomed the statue of Frederick Douglass to Emancipation Hall. Now D.C. will finally have equal recognition in the Capitol when it comes to statues, another step towards statehood the District deserves.
I won't go into my father and how he was the Chair of the Appropriations Subcommittee on D.C. and how that was called the ‘informal mayor of Washington' – how he fought for home rule all those many years ago.
Here on Capitol Hill, Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton has been the leader of this fight – persistent, determined, dissatisfied, relentless. Indeed, in our Caucus she is known as the godmother of D.C. statehood, and we are proud to have twice passed this important legislation through the House. So it's appropriate that she join us here to take another step toward that goal as we unveil the District of Columbia's second statue in the Capitol.
I welcome you to the stage – Madam District Representative Eleanor Holmes Norton – Congresswoman.
[Applause]
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Speaker Pelosi. Thank you again. We always learn a history lesson and inspiration from Mr. Clyburn. Madam Mayor, it's an honor to have you here. Mr. Chairman, Madam Congresswoman.
And let's just recognize the sculptor, Gordon Kray. Congratulations.
[Applause]
In her remarks, Congresswoman Norton mentioned that – Pierre L'Enfant was fighting against taxation without representation, and here we are still with that. Madam Mayor talked about, when he drew his designs, it was transformative for the city. And here we are: Pierre L'Enfant, making this spot in the Capitol, transformed. A place where children can come and quietly understand the beauty of art and what it meant in terms of – of focusing on the greatness of the city, what it was and what it would become.
Eleanor chose this spot. Eleanor chose this spot, and really before Pierre L'Enfant was here, nobody really knew that much about this spot, except they walk by it all the time. Well, Gordon, thank you for your vision. Thank you for your vision.
So here we are – and this was mentioned, he served George Washington's army. He did that as a very young person, bravely joining the war for American independence, which was something the French did. Lafayette is in the – Lafayette is in the Chamber, and now Pierre L'Enfant is in in the hallway of the Capitol. And he created a magnificent city. His leadership, alongside of the legacy – as has been mentioned – of Frederick Douglass, is perfect. One at the start of our country, another to hold our country together.
People in Washington, D.C. fight our wars, pay their taxes, contribute to the greatness of our country and should have the full representation that has been mentioned. Maybe today will be sort of a pivot for us to get focused more. In the Senate, Senator Carper has led the way, and I want to acknowledge him – and in the House, Steny Hoyer, Leader Hoyer, has been a champion for this, and I want to acknowledge both of them.
But the idea – as I said earlier, my father was a big supporter of home rule when he was in the Congress and chaired the Appropriations Subcommittee on the District of Columbia. So I feel it's in my DNA.
But it is something that generations of Washingtonians have fought for – actual Washingtonians, not Representatives from other places. It's long-overdue. We've just got to continue to persist, so that you do get those two Senators and that we do have a full vote in every aspect of Congressional life in the House of Representatives.
So for us, this can be a pivotal day. It certainly is a beautiful day. Pierre L'Enfant would be pleased, I think, with his artistic eye, to see the great work that you've done, Gordon. And of course, Madam Congresswoman, the place that you put him. And that the mayor – the mayor of the city, something that was not even in existence at the time, that the mayor of the city and the [Chairman of] the Council are here to make this possible. And that Mr. Clyburn would memorialize it all with a history lesson. Somebody from Baltimore, again, my father –
[Laughter]
Remember that when you're – when you're, you know, football, baseball, all that. The friendship between our two cities –
In any event, congratulations to everyone on all of this. And now we're going to have another photograph of any of us who wants to come up, just to associate ourselves with this important day – in a way that is so beautiful that I do believe Pierre L'Enfant would approve.