i yield back to the honorable congresswoman sheila cherfilus-mccormick. mrs. cherfilus-mccormick: thank you so much for those eloquent words. the landmark ruling in brown v. board of education not only shattered the doctrine of separate but equal, but firmly established that racial segregation is abhorrent to the principles enshrined in our constitution. it affirmed unequivocally that every child in america, regardless of race, deserves equal protections and opportunities under law. today as we reflect on the pivotal moment, we reminded of its profound impact on our journey towards civil rights and educational equality. yet despite the progress we have made, we must confront the realities that still persist. inequalities that continue to hold back our youth from reaching their full potential, especially in marginalized communities. innovation and education has been monumental, but not yoormy felt -- uniformy felt. as we gap -- uniformly felt. as we grapple with disparities and systemic barriers, we're called upon to what dr. martin luther jr. described as the