Washington, D.C. – Congresswoman Terri A. Sewell (D-AL) and Congressman Spencer Bachus (R-AL) announce that on Wednesday, April 24, 2013, the U.S. House of Representatives will consider H.R. 360, the resolution to request that Congress bestow its highest civilian honor – the Congressional Gold Medal – to Addie Mae Collins, Cynthia Wesley, Carole Robertson, and Denise McNair who tragically lost their lives during the 16th Street Baptist Church bombing in 1963. This resolution was sponsored by Congresswoman Terri Sewell and cosponsored by 296 of their colleagues in the House, including the entire Alabama delegation and Alabama natives Reps. John Lewis and Sanford Bishop. 

“I look forward to this historic opportunity to vote on this bill that will honor the lives of Addie Mae Collins, Denise McNair, Carole Robertson and Cynthia Wesley posthumously with a Congressional Gold Medal. This medal will serve as a powerful reminder of the importance of the many sacrifices made and the great achievements obtained so that this nation can live up to its ideals of equality and justice for all. I am delighted to have Dianne Braddock and Lisa McNair, the sisters of Carole Robertson and Denise McNair, join me on Wednesday and I look forward to the passage of the bill,” said Rep. Sewell.

“The presentation of a Congressional Gold Medal would be a fitting commemoration of the legacy of these four young girls and of a landmark event in the civil rights movement that led to permanent change for the better in our society. From the vantage point of 50 years later, we can see how the belief of the civil rights movement in nonviolent change helped our nation to avoid the animosities and calamities that have destroyed the fabric of other societies and countries,” said Rep. Bachus.

Note: Following passage of the bill in the House, Congresswoman Sewell and Congressman Bachus will be joined by family members for a round table discussion which will be available to the media.

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Contact: Rob NeSmith;       rob.nesmith@mail.house.gov;      202.225.2665