“Pope Francis’ address to Congress reminded our nation of its greatness, and challenged us to go even farther in the pursuit of liberty and justice. We must look at our neighbor as our brother, and work to end injustice anywhere it exists.

“I was pleased to hear His Holiness acknowledge the work of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., and recognize the significance of the marches from Selma to Montgomery. As the Pope noted, ‘dreams lead to action, to participation, to commitment.’  I cannot think of a better example than the courage and strength shown by those brave men and women for whom that dream was so real it pushed them to lay down their very lives for equality. That moment was especially poignant for me, as I had the privilege of sitting next to my personal hero and civil rights icon Representative John Lewis.  

 “Dr. King’s dream, however, has only been partially fulfilled. The legacies of the past still taint the present, and many Americans still struggle to exercise one of our most fundamental rights as citizens – the right to vote.

“As our country continues to work towards becoming a more inclusive nation, we cannot overlook the most vulnerable amongst us. Instead, we must work together to ensure that the rights and liberties of every American citizen are never compromised.”

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