|
|
|
Harris,
Stabenow,
Peters,
Lawrence
Introduce
Legislation
to Award
Aretha
Franklin
with
Congressional
Gold
Medal
WASHINGTON,
D.C. –
Today,
U.S.
Senators
Kamala
Harris
(D-CA),
Debbie
Stabenow,
Gary
Peters,
and
Representative
Brenda
Lawrence
(all
D-MI)
introduced
bicameral
legislation
to
posthumously
award
the
“Queen
of Soul”
Aretha
Franklin
the
Congressional
Gold
Medal in
recognition
of her
outstanding
artistic
and
cultural
contributions.
The
legislation
was
originally
introduced
in
August
2018 in
the wake
of
Franklin’s
passing.
The
Aretha
Franklin
Congressional
Gold
Medal
Act
would
honor
Franklin’s
role in
shaping
the
nation’s
culturally
and
socially
relevant
discography,
and
highlight
her life
as an
example
of how
one
person’s
talents
can make
a
difference
in the
lives of
millions
of
people
across
the
globe.
“Aretha’s
songs
were the
soundtrack
of my
childhood,
from
listening
to ‘Mary
Don’t
You
Weep,’
to
standing
in the
living
room
dancing
to ‘Rock
Steady’
over and
over
again,
to
hearing
from the
Queen
herself
how
lucky I
was to
be
young,
gifted
and
black,”
said
Senator
Harris.
“Aretha
was
simply a
legend.
Her work
and
impact
will be
felt for
generations
to come,
and it’s
long
past
time
Congress
honors
her with
the
Congressional
Gold
Medal.”
“Aretha
Franklin’s
voice
and soul
were
truly
larger
than
life,”
said
Senator
Stabenow.
“Awarding
her the
Congressional
Gold
Medal
would
further
celebrate
her
legacy
and
recognize
her
contributions
to the
arts,
civil
rights
and the
City of
Detroit.
She will
never be
forgotten.”
“Aretha
Franklin
was a
global
icon and
fierce
advocate
for
civil
rights,
women’s
rights
and the
City of
Detroit,”
said
Senator
Peters.
“Awarding
her the
Congressional
Gold
Medal
would be
an
appropriate
tribute
to a
legendary
talent
who will
continue
to
inspire
artists
and
activists
for
generations,
and I am
proud to
join my
colleagues
in this
effort
to honor
the
Queen of
Soul.”
“Aretha
Franklin
was soul
personified
and she
gave us
the gift
of her
voice,
her
truth
and her
unapologetic
passion
to
demand
compassion,
love and
R-E-S-P-E-C-T
for
women
everywhere,”
said
Representative
Lawrence.
“An
iconic
entertainer,
powerful
civil
rights
leader
and a
beautiful
spirit
who I
was
privileged
to call
friend.
She will
be
dearly
missed,
but
never
forgotten.
I am
proud to
join my
colleagues
in
introducing
legislation
to honor
her
legacy
with a
well-deserved
Congressional
Gold
Medal.”
Aretha
Franklin’s
music
served
as a
1960s
call to
action
that
inspired
thousands
to join
civil
rights
movements
and
still
maintains
a social
context
that
resonates
across
these
movements
today.
Beyond
her
contributions
to music
and
arts,
Franklin
was a
philanthropic
individual
who
supported
causes
related
to civil
rights,
human
health,
and
gender
equality,
in
addition
to
causes
within
the
creative
arts.
|
|
|
|
|
|