Sarbanes Statement on Black History Month [Video]

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congressman John Sarbanes (D-Md.) released the following video statement in observance of Black History Month.

See here for the full video. See below for a video transcript.

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"This is Congressman Sarbanes.

"As we come to the end of Black History Month, we've had an opportunity to recognize the amazing contributions that have been made by African Americans to our country over these 200-plus years.

"But it's also a chance to focus on current efforts that so many are undertaking to make sure we keep our country strong and that opportunity is available to all.

"And I had the chance last week to speak to the NAACP Chapter in Howard County about important priorities that that organization has, and of course, they align very powerfully with the priorities that I think we need to see across our country –

supporting strong educational opportunity, making sure there is affordable health care, focusing on criminal justice reform to make sure that our justice system is functioning in a fair and equitable way. These are all current priorities that organizations like the NAACP and others that are active in the African-American community, and the broader community, are putting front and center.

"And another one is making sure that our Democracy, our institutions, are functioning well, and that everybody's voice can be heard.

"And I want to thank so many organizations across the country with special leadership coming out of the African American community for efforts to restore the strength of the Voting Rights Act and make sure that we protect access to the ballot box.

"We're going to keep fighting on many fronts. It's the legacy of our country that we need to protect, and it's the legacy that the African-American community has been powerfully involved in and that's something we can recognize during Black History Month."

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