Speaker Pelosi Remarks at ‘The Joseph H. Rainey Room’ Unveiling Ceremony

Washington, D.C. – Speaker Nancy Pelosi joined House Majority Whip James E. Clyburn, House Minority Whip Steve Scalise, Chairwoman Joyce Beatty, Congressman Tom Rice and the family of Former Representative Joseph H. Rainey to unveil "The Joseph H. Rainey Room" in the U.S. Capitol. In December 2020, the 116th Congress unanimously passed H.R. 1253, designating Room H-150 of the U.S. Capitol as "The Joseph H. Rainey Room" to commemorate 150 years since Representative Joseph H. Rainey, our nation's first African American Congressman, was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives. Below are the Speaker's remarks:

Speaker Pelosi. Good afternoon everyone. As House Speaker, it is an honor to join my colleagues and friends on this historic day, a historic day for the Congress and for our country.

Today, more than 150 years after he was first elected to the House of Representatives, we pay tribute to the legacy of Congressman Joseph Rainey of South Carolina. In affixing his name to Room H-150, both in commemoration of this milestone and to mark where he served as a Member of the Committee on Indian Affairs, we help share Joseph Rainey's extraordinary story. It is fitting we do so during Black History Month, when we celebrate many giants of American history, including many unsung heroes.

Let us salute Whip Jim Clyburn, proud son of South Carolina and a former history.

[Laughter]

Whip Clyburn. I still teach every day.

Speaker Pelosi. He says ‘former history teacher,' but he, every day, teaches us history in the Congress. A former history teacher, who has worked for years to share the legacy of his hero, including by unveiling a portrait of Joseph Rainey in the Capitol in 2005.

Thank you Chair Joyce Beaty of the Congressional Black Caucus, a force to ensure that many contributions of American Black lawmakers and others are known and appreciated.

Thank you to Congressman Tom Rice, lead sponsor of the bill to rename H-150 for Joseph Rainey, which passed unanimously. Thank you.

And, it is a blessing to be here on this momentous occasion with Lorna Rainey, the great-granddaughter of Joseph Rainey, as well as your children and nieces and grandnieces as well as – of whom the Congressman would be very, very proud.

Joseph Rainey was a brilliant orator, tireless legislator and patriotic leader. Born enslaved, Congressman Rainey forever changed our nation when he became our nation's first Black Congressman. But, his trailblazing leadership in the House altered the course of our history. He helped rebuild our nation in the wake of the Civil War, fighting for formerly enslaved Americans with major civil rights bills. He fought against racial violence with the Ku Klux Klan Act, a law empowering the federal government to protect families in the South from terrorist violence. And, he was a fearless advocate for human rights, from the poorest workers to immigrants to Native Americans and more.

Perhaps Congressman Rainey's most inspiring legacy is an unyielding and patriotic belief in the power of our Constitution and our work For The People. In his first major Floor speech, Rainey said the Constitution was ‘the bulwark of freedom,' protecting the ‘humblest citizen, without regard to rank, creed, or color.'

‘Tell me nothing,' he said in 1871, ‘of a Constitution which fails to shelter, beneath its rightful power, the power of the people of the country!' More – again, more than a century and a half later, in his spirit, Congress is carrying on his work to form a more perfect union, including by fighting to protect voting rights.

It is – as Speaker, it's been my priority to ensure that the Capitol tells a story, full story of America today. This building is home to statues of civil rights icons Rosa Parks, Sojourner Truth and Frederick Douglass; brave suffragists, Elizabeth Cady Stanton, Lucretia Mott and Susan B. Anthony. They came – they were there before I became Speaker.

[Laughter]

Indigenous leaders King Kamehameha I, Po'pay, Sarah Winnemucca and more.

And, here in the Hall of Columns, many Members will see Rainey – the Rainey Room every day, a proper – now, this would not have happened without the cooperation of the Republican leader of the House. Thank you so much. The Republican – and he has been very – it's your office? It's your room, right?

Whip Scalise. Yes.

[Laughter]

Speaker Pelosi. So, thank you, thank you so much for your leadership in so many ways, for your appreciation of the leadership and the historic importance of Congressman Rainey and for your generosity of spirit, your hospitality to enable this plaque to be in front.

Now, when we go there, and you see this plaque in front of it and you see the painting of Joseph Rainey – also there, right along that hallway, is a picture of Shirley Chisholm. And, when you look at the picture, remember this: she will follow you.

[Laughter]

She will follow you right over to Joseph Rainey.

[Laughter]

Indeed, all that walk these hallowed halls will know their stories are part of the American story. A lesson needed now as much as ever before.

And with that, it's a privilege to yield to this relentless champion of Joseph Rainey's life and leadership, relentless, persistent, proud, successful in achieving his goal, the Democratic Whip of the House, Mr. Clyburn.

***

Thank you for sharing those personal aspects of not only Joseph Rainey's life, but your connection there. How beautiful.

We have been joined by some of our colleagues. Thank you for coming. Mr. Neguse, how are you?

Any questions from our friends in the press? I have – I have some. Do you think that all of this would have happened if Joseph Rainey were not from South Carolina?

[Laughter]

What do you think? What do you think?

Whip Clyburn. It might have.

[Laughter]

Speaker Pelosi. It might have. I have another question. How do you like the way he is dressed? Isn't he beautiful? Yeah, I did read in one of the books about Lincoln, about when members of the Black community ever came to the Capitol – and, of course, this is after Lincoln, but – came to the Capitol, they always came in their Sunday finest, where some white folks sometimes were in foul weather gear and other things like that.

But, he certainly was a beautiful, beautiful, beautiful, dignified Member of Congress. And, really to the family, thank you. Thank you so much for honoring us with your presence here today. Your great-great-great-Uncle, Grandfather has brought us together, Democrats and Republicans. Thank you for that.

Now, if there are no questions, we're going to go down the hall and we're going to participate in history. Let us thank Mr. Clyburn for making that possible.