John — 

Every year, Black History Month offers us the opportunity to honor the invaluable contributions, struggles, and sacrifices Black Americans have made throughout our nation’s history.

The weight of this Black History Month is especially present.

I’m thinking of the leaders who came before me who stood up, spoke out, and took action against injustice. I was honored to serve with the late Congressman John Lewis, who organized the Deep South in the face of violent oppression to ensure that everyone had the right to vote.

Voting rights organizers were met with the blows of bill clubs from state troopers, had dogs set on them, were doused with high-pressure water hoses, and sometimes even sacrificed their lives to protect the rights of Black Americans in the South.

The scars of this period of our nation run deep and can be seen in the income, housing, and education disparities that we see today.

If we let the Trump Administration erase this history, we are doomed to repeat it, John. Last year, Tim Scott and I introduced a bipartisan resolution commemorating Black History Month and the important contributions made by Black Americans throughout United States history.

This is a month for celebration of how far we have come, and to recognize the work left to be done. I'm proud to uplift the stories and triumphs of Black Americans.

Thank you, and happy Black History Month.

— Cory