Norton, a Leading Co-Sponsor of a Bill to Complete the National Museum of African American History and Culture, Attends Groundbreaking Today

WASHINGTON, DC – Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) today will attend the groundbreaking of the National Museum of African American History and Culture, which culminated from a bill that she began co-sponsoring more than 20 years ago when she first came to Congress. The groundbreaking, which will be attended by President Barack Obama, takes place today, February 22, 2012, at 10 a.m. at Madison Drive, NW between 14th and 15th Streets, NW.

"The bill for the National Museum of African American History and Culture has had a long and tortured journey that began decades before I was elected to Congress," Norton said. "The seeds were planted after African-American soldiers who fought in the Civil War were not allowed to march in the parade here in Washington. In many ways, the District is the vortex of African American history, and many of the artifacts will come from events and families from the District of Columbia." The Congresswoman's great-grandfather came to Washington, D.C., as a runaway slave from Virginia.

The bill came through the Congresswoman's subcommittee, but was stalled on the floor during the many years when Republicans controlled Congress. She worked closely with Congressman John Lewis (D-GA), who predated Norton in Congress and was the principal sponsor of the bill, using a strategy that ultimately allowed the bill to be passed in the House. The museum is scheduled to be completed in 2015.

Published: February 22, 2012