senator john kerry, representative eleanor holmes known -- eleanor holmes norton, patrick kennedy, thedy, to are honoring senator edward brooke, his wife and family. it is a great privilege to be here today as to confer the congressional gold medal on a man who spent his life breaking barriers and bridging device across this country. senator edward brooke. now, with his lifetime of achievement, ed no stranger to a good award ceremony. he has been through a few of these. he has won the bronze star, the presidential medal of freedom, honorary degrees from 34 colleges and universities, and more. so he is a pro when it comes to getting awards. but i think today's honor bears the unique significance. bestowed by this body of which he was an esteemed member, presented in this place where he moved the part of history, surrounded by so many, myself included, who have followed the trail but he blazed. his journey to this day was by any measure and unlike the one. raised nearby in a neighborhood so fiercely segregated that black residents needed a note from a white person to pass through. at a t

senator john kerry, representative eleanor holmes known -- eleanor holmes norton, patrick kennedy, thenoring senator edward brooke, his wife and family. it is a great privilege to be here today as to confer the congressional gold medal on a man who spent his life breaking barriers and bridging device across this country. senator edward brooke. now, with his lifetime of achievement, ed no stranger to a good award ceremony. he has been through a few of these. he has won the bronze star, the presidential medal of freedom, honorary degrees from 34 colleges and universities, and more. so he is a pro when it comes to getting awards. but i think today's honor bears the unique significance. bestowed by this body of which he was an esteemed member, presented in this place where he moved the part of history, surrounded by so many, myself included, who have followed the trail but he blazed. his journey to this day was by any measure and unlike the one. raised nearby in a neighborhood so fiercely segregated that black residents needed a note from a white person to pass through. at a time when so m

illinois, congressman al green from texas congressman keith ellison from minnesota congresswoman eleanor holmes norton from the district of columbia, chairman john conyers of michigan, congressman mel watt from north carolina, congresswoman carol chiefs kilpatrick the michigan, congressman-- excuse me, sanford bishop from georgia, congresswoman marsha fudge from ohio, congresswoman yvette clarke from new york, congresswoman donna christensen from the virgin islands, congresswoman quinn moore from this johnson, danny davis from illinois, sheila jackson-lee from texas, congresswoman maxine waters of california, congressman david scott eng congressman lacy clay comissary so please feel free and congressman l. green from texas and congresswoman maxine waters from california. feel free now to ask any member any questions you would like in thank you again for being here and i want to thank congressman emanuel cleaver for his leadership in getting our jobs task force organized. >> are you saying enough of a commitment from president obama foer employment specifically? the white house said the president's vie