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>> ladies and gentlemen, speaker of the house of representatives. [applause] >> good morning, speaker of the house, it's my privilege tolc welcome the sanctuary hall as we celebrate an american during determined spirit of our nation, amelia earhart. thank you all for those who fought for a quarter of a century to shore amelia takes her rightful place here in the capital. time to stand as you are able the colors in the national incomplete

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♪♪ >> the scripture reading from the apostle paul to a young timothy. forgot his doing is not a spirit of fear or timidity but of power, love and self-discipline. pray with me. almighty god, thank you for the privilege together here on our nation's capital and first recognize you are the god of our founders and the natural resources but also special people. today we are kansas finest, amelia earhart.

no one has the time expected to change the world to not only inspire a generation of women for all people everywhere and i want to stop and thank you for the community of kansas who's persevered over 20 years to make thisis become reality. may the statute in the spirit and courage of amelia inspire all peoples for centuries to come in jesus name. amen. please be seated. [applause] >> ladies and gentlemen, lucy will and representative. >> is special honor to invite participants to join any unveiling of the statute. some may have been here years

passed, we want you all to see it, we see so many people gathered together once again. delegation in the house and senate including first governor kelly. senator jerry moran, senator roger marshall, katherine see karen seaburg and joc president from the american earhart foundation leaders mccarthy and mcconnell.

[applause] [applause] kansas. good morning, everybody. i am so delighted to be here and honored at astra for aspira to the stars through difficulty. that is the kansas state motto, a recognition that kansas came into the union as a free state when there was fierce opposition that the spirit of kansans propelled them to beat the odds and accomplish much. who better to represent our

great state in statuary hall than dwight d hayes and our and now a native daughter of kansas, amelia earhart. i want to extend my gratitude to our congressional leaders and our kansas delegation for the opportunity to honor one of kansans most iconic figures, a woman who showed all of us what it means to reach for the stars. amelia earhart was born and raised in atchison, kansas. a small town overlook in the missouri river from a very early age. amelia was a dreamer. her dreams went far beyond the banks of that river and far beyond the prescribed gender roles of her time. kansans have long celebrated our women, trailblazers, blazers like susanna salter, the first woman elected mayor in the united states in 1887, long before women had the right to

vote. like george and his great who during the truman administered nation became the first woman to serve as united states treasurer. and lucinda todd, who actually lit the flame that resulted in the 1954 decision. brown versus board of education, a ruling that changed the world. as we know it. so it is fitting today we're dedicating a statue in honor of one of the most notable of our pioneering women. let it be an inspiration for all, particularly our young girls. for generations to come. let them stare up at this work of art and think that they like amelia, can dream. the impossible dream that they can beat. the unbeatable foe. that they will run. where the brave dare not go. that they will have the power to write the unreadable wrong, and that they will reach their

unreachable star again on behalf of the state of kansas. i want to express my deepest appreciation for this amortization of an extra ordinary individual who truly represents the best of the kansas spirit. ladies and gentlemen, the honourable sharice davids united states representative from the third district of kansas. good afternoon. i don't know. good afternoon, everybody. well, for folks who i have not had the chance to meet yet, i'm sharice davids and i have the honor of representing the kansas third district here in congress. i also serve as the vice chair of the house transportation and infrastructure committee, and i sit on the aviation subcommittee. i first want to join our governor in saying thank you to

everybody. governor kelly, thank you for coming out here to our honor guard from the kansas air national guard for coming out here and presenting the colors for the atchison amelia earhart foundation. senator roberts, there's so many people here that i know have worked really, really hard on this. so thank you all so much. you know, when i got to congress, one of the first questions that our team asked was, how can we help make this a reality? and actually, senator roberts was one of the folks who helped helped us figure out how we could be helpful. and i know folks have been working on this for at least 20 years. and amelia earhart has landed in washington, d.c. and it's. it it has been 90 years since amelia earhart became the first woman to fly solo across the

atlantic ocean. and while that might be what she is best known for, she was also a military nurse, a social worker, an author, a wife, an activist for gender equality, and a woman who really was breaking the glass ceiling on a field that was dominated by men at the time. you know, female pilots used to be called ladybirds sweethearts of the air. and because of amelia earhart. back then, now and into the future, women who fly planes are now called pilots. so, you know, amelia earhart had that that rare gift of the ability to see without limitation and what a better future for herself and for others could look like. and throughout her life, she turned to setbacks and failures and into challenges, a challenge to do better, a challenge to fly

higher, to to change the way the game is played and i know tens of thousands of people come through this this very spot every year. and now i'm really excited that so many people are going to get the chance to be inspired by amelia earhart. as i have been, she is a true kansas hero, an icon. and i appreciate all the work that went into making sure that that that we were able to have this unveiling today. thank you. to the airport family. thank you to so many of you who made this day possible. it is really an honor to continue kansas legacy of aviation and that is a legacy that is filled with amelia earhart's spirit and her tenacity, her grit and her courage. thank you all so much. i hope you enjoy the rest of the ceremony today. ladies and gentlemen, the

honorable jerry moran. united states dinner from kansas. three years after kansas became a state, statuary hall, where we are today was established in 1864 and each state was granted two statutes of citizens who were, quote, illustrious for their historic renown or for for distinguished civic or military service. as each state may deem worthy of this national commemoration. over in the rotunda stands one bronze statue of the kansan dwight the eisenhower general and former president of the united states. and for more than a century, standing in this location has been a kansas statement statesman. john ingalls, who proudly represented our state as our second statue today, we have a

new kansan to represent our state in the u.s. capitol. someone recognized for her historic renown as an aviator, but also someone who broke barriers, created opportunities for others, and captivated the attention of the world with her adventuresome spirit. kansas amelia earhart. with dwight eisenhower and now amelia earhart. kansas officially has two of the most iconic and recognizable american and heroes representing any state in the united states capitol. i thank just a few people in the room who made this happen. jackie pridgen and karen sieberg and reid berger with the atchison and amelia earhart foundation. thank you for never giving up.

thank you for never giving up. perhaps amelia was your role model. amelia's ambition and spirit of adventure that took her around the world was built on a foundational upbringing in atchison. it is fitting today that the foundation on which she stands is from limestone, from the flint hills of kansas, between two and 3 million people from around the world will visit the u.s. capital every year. and it's our hope that with this statue of amelia earhart, it will encourage other girls and boys from small towns across the country to dream to dream big and to work hard, to achieve those dreams. as for those who can't travel to the u.s. capitol, they can visit the amelia earhart hangar museum in atchison, where a replica of the statue will be on display. a statue of a determined young

woman with short cut hair. a curious smile, a bomber hat in hand and a sunflower on her belt buckle. amelia earhart's first flight across the atlantic. she was a passenger. she clearly lamented that that she was a passenger because when she landed, she was asked about the flight and her response was, there's more to life than just being a passenger. greatness comes through action. our country's greatest achievements and those around the world have depended upon those who were more than just a passenger who cast aside the fears of failure and pushed to expand boundaries of what they thought was then possible. from the wright brothers to amelia earhart, from alan shepard to sally ride, it is true in the history of flight, and it's true in the history of the united states of america. and it's no less true today in the lives of every american

dream and accomplish the ordinary becomes extraordinary through action. as editorialized today in the atchison globe, earhart was a dreamer who refused to conform to the roles assigned to women, instead blazed her own trail. and we are reminded today here in statuary hall, god created each of us. each of us to be more than just a passenger. thank you. ladies and gentlemen. susan graham white accompanied by john carroll, erin murphy snedeker and andre vico.

you learn to fly a plane. in 1921 when sky worden meant a new frontier. innovations tie was young. her parents said, what can we do if they could not deny that any you woman who was not afraid to fly. in 1932, she put her flying to the terms of a transatlantic

flight. those days was hazardous with the lucky limbs he had his brain of legend in the sky. and me, you also wall was not of the brain. the cry. and just this side of heaven. they didn't know the sky. no. my heart is like your father. and when the sound of wings.

in june of 37. me, you made her fine. i'll fly. she tried to fly around the world to prove. woman my in search of human darling she got lost in the sea and sky. bottom was.

who was not afraid to die. for me. you was who who was not afraid to fly. you.

ladies and gentlemen, the honorable kevin mccarthy, republican leader of the united states house of representatives. what a beautiful song. thank you for that. on may 20th, 1932, amelia earhart took off from canada for europe, determined to conquer the atlantic ocean by air and show the world what she could do. 15 hours, one engine fire, some

storms and a leaky fuel gauge. later, she landed safely in ireland. leaping into the history books as the first woman pilot defies load solo across the atlantic. she was a pilot, a journalist and a nurse. earhart won the hearts of the american people with her daring adventures. her exploits encouraged the development of commercial aviation set many aviation records and paved the way for women to take to the skies. but earhart was more than a flier and a trailblazer. she was a leader. she took response, ability and led decisive action. one of her greatest assets. it's been said with her humility, she always praised her peers and mentored other pilots, many of whom she inspired or through her bravery. she gave many americans hope at the moments they needed it.

on the other hand, she certainly wasn't timid. like all pioneers, she hungered to push the boundaries of human achievement. and she accomplished so many incredible feats because she was daring, determined and mission oriented. 85 years after she vanished, amelia earhart still inspires us. her legacy encourages us to pursue our dreams and shoot for the stars. and i'm proud to say that i'm proud to say americans are still exploring the frontier. i believe amelia ehrhardt were alive today she would not be just in the sky, probably in space hobby for florida. we get thousands of visitors every year, this is always my

favorite place to go. i look and watch. grandparents or parents to grandchildren f and looking over to this corner, i'm sure we will watch a lot of young women and i wonder what new frontiers will be inspired by amelia ehrhardt and boundaries willl be broken and what will come out in the capital of her dreams. i want to thank you for never giving up and int want to think kansas for continuing the aviation we have honoring an amazing woman and it continues to inspire us.

[applause] >> ladies and, later united states senate. [applause] >> years ago the first civilian ever ever present my history and by the congress authorized the heart in 19 she'd already made history many times over and had ontaken on many smashed them,

speed records and shattered them along with to become the first woman. you, she would help to stand up daily commercial airline as executive both literally and figuratively familiar ehrhardt plays a portrayal into the sky. ever since, she occupied the air. she did not just pour over as one person, she focused on putting down new letters of opportunity so others could follow. a million ehrhardt helped inspire in shepherd generations of aviators both women and men,

competitor named nichols in the aviationho craze in my hometownf kentucky and record, california and is the 99, an organization aviation to this day. all of this leadership placed t thousands of toward the heave. it was first 100 chart of kansas. those were the roots that helped launch amelia, (framed a wide open. i could not imagine a more fitting america to stand on her

need to. [applause] >> thank you, this is an exciting day for all of us. thankk you to speakers, beautifl tributes and prayers, million ehrhardt. thank you for bringing order to ther capital and these beautifl gifts of amelia ehrhardt. thank you all so much for making this possible. it's a privilege to join this pioneering pilot who was a source of pride for our country is special it is for a million ehrhardt families so we can

recognize. thank you so much that my how proud you must be, it's an honor to welcome you here and i want to acknowledge also major general here and another aviation as of yesterday the first woman to become an angel jet pilot. [applause] million ehrhardt's name is courage, no boundaries or borders from coast to coast continent to continent, and island to shore. a million ehrhardt telling

legacy as an aviator traveled by you, the first woman and only the second person to fly solo across the atlantic. in doing so, she set new records in time elapsed between two continents but congress awarded her distinguished hospital the first woman in american history to receive this prestigious honor for her reporters at the time called her queen of the air but not only an outstanding aviator she has strong moral compass is an outspoken champion for gender equality. amelia envisioned aviation is a great equalizer and fought valiantly to close the gender gap and 1935 address offered

words the continue to inspire us today. the possible relationship of womencr and science. so greatly outnumbered, more opportunities for employment in the ranks of this latest transportation medium. i hope this movement will spread to all branches of science and industry and women may come to share with men the joy of doing. a million ehrhardt. she found the 99 which remains today a powerful voice, female pilots all around the world. courage and optimism in america's dna and a million ehrhardt fearless in his old

american tradition, the heartlands of america. pay tribute to a giant and revolutionary not only women's history but human history. she in the words of public junioror said she slipped the bonds of earth and the wind swept the height and touched the face of god. here are two of the arlington

national cemetery will will and how would be. as mentioned, when girls and boys come to the capital and see amelia, they set their sights higher knowing they r can reach scott and when they see, it is quiet here in the capital. they will hear the sounds of wings. ... thank you so much.

[applause] >> ladies and gentlemen, please stand for the benediction delivered by the honorable jacob turner, united states representative from the second district of kansas. >> good morning. so please to be with all of you on this wonderful day. i'm grateful for all the hard work so many people into making this to happen. would you please join in prayer. our merciful and gracious old god, we pray your benediction over this tribute to emulate their heart. as we remember and celebrate ad true american pioneer and daughter of kansas. we recount her historic career and might ourselves other fearless and courageous actions that changed thein course of aviation america. we honor amelia for showing women across the globe that no goal is out of reach and that anything is possible. holy god, we each stand here today reaping the benefits of her steadfast efforts we pray

that the statue of amelia brings joy and inspiration to all that visitor in these hallowed halls. we ask for your blessing over the foundation, the ehrhardt family and anyone who continues to carry on her everlasting legacy. we pray amelia's determination to achieve new heights is ingrained in our everyday lives as we strive to represent the american people in congress. les mr. scott as we leave this remarkable tribute today, help us to take your passion with us, fan its flames today and forever more. amen. >> a healthy democracy doesn't just look like this. it looks like this, where americans can see democracy at work, where citizens are truly informed, a republic thrives. get informed straight from the source on c-span here and filtered,