Team,

Congressman John Lewis was a true hero, whose courage and commitment to creating a more inclusive nation inspired everyone who had the privilege of meeting him.

This week, I paid my deepest respects to Representative Lewis as he lied in state in the U.S. Capitol. In recognition of this solemn moment, I am reminded of John’s momentous career. John’s work spanned generations. As a civil rights leader, he helped organize the March on Washington in 1963. In 1965, he led the Selma to Montgomery marches to demand African Americans have safe and equal access to the voting booth. It was on one of these marches where he was beaten within inches of his life after leading activists across the Edmund Pettus Bridge.

First elected to Congress in 1986, John served Georgia’s Fifth District for more than three decades. In 2010, he was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom by President Barack Obama. He did what he loved, faithfully serving his country as a Member of Congress until his final days.

I’m so grateful for the opportunity to get to know John personally during our time together in the House. He was my friend. He blessed me with his stories and his advice. He described to my daughters, Grace and Caroline, what he meant by "good trouble." For the rest of my life, my family and I will remember marching across the Edmund Pettus Bridge with Congressman Lewis as a part of his final civil rights pilgrimage.

We were made better as a result of John Lewis' presence, and it's incumbent on each and every one of us to continue his work in his absence. He instilled in us the courage to carry on when he spoke with these words, “When you see something that is not right, not fair, not just, you have to speak up. You have to say something; you have to do something.”

Today, we celebrate the life and legacy of Congressman John Lewis. It’s my hope that this week, you’ll join me in honoring him by creating “good trouble” in the name of making our nation a better and more equal place for everyone.

In memory,

Lori