it reads, "dear mrs. colvin is a pleasure for me to join your friends, family, and colleagues in recognizing you for all the work you have done in the fight for civil rights. thank you for dedicating your life to the cause of equality. you have given so much to this country. when you refuse to give up your bus seat on march 2, 1955, it ignited a spark within montgomery, alabama, that helped begin the process of change. the landmark united states supreme court case that eventually ended segregation on all buses within this country could not have been achieved without your valiant efforts that began with your testimony against the montgomery public transportation system. i commend you for your passion, courage, and dedication. very few people could have demonstrated the level of conviction you showed at the young age of 15. young people today view you as a role model and as an important figure in the history of the civil rights movement. as united states senator representing the people of california, i commend you

delicious food for us to nibble on today, so will you please join us and say thank you again to mrs. colvin and also to byrin bain for telling his story, but thank you for coming so that we can say thank you to miss colvin for being a living history maker. join us. thank you. ♪ lift every voice and sing>> ts to vote for candidates or party and it is a significant way to have our voice heard. exactly 100 years ago, women were given the vote in california. the battle for women's suffrage was not an easy one. it took more than 70 years. a woman could run for president in new york. >> organizing this conference, basically it modeled itself on a declaration of independence for women. it marked the beginning of the women's equality movement in the united states. >> at that time, women were banned from holding property and voting in elections. >> susan b. anthony dedicated her life to reform. >> suffrage in the middle of the 19th century accomplished one goal, it was diametrically opposed to this idea. >> many feared it would be corrupted by politics. >> women in the 19th century had to convince m

two weeks ago, the british photographer paul conroy was working with marie colvin, who was killed alongside a french journalist. mr. conroy is back in a london hospital. he has been telling the bbc about the moment he was rescued. >> there was a lull in the shelling. it was the free syrian army. it was a last ditch. they had wounded of their own to get out. they knew we were in bad shape. it was a last ditch attempt. it was a proper american helicopter out of the embassy type of we have one shot at this. they drove across the city through snipers. there was still shells going off. half of us got out and then the government attacked and shot a lot of people on the escape routes including the spanish journalist who was shot but not fatally. a lot of people lost their lives. they just aren't piling bodies in who were shot through the head. -- started piling bodies in who were shot through the head. every person in there is a hero, but these people especially put their lives on the line. i can only say the biggest banks to the syrian people. >> just about -- biggest thanks to the syrian people. >> have you gotten all

mr. whitehouse: madam president, marie colvin died last week, wednesday, in syria. as i speak, her body is still in holmes because the assad regime refuses to honor the centuries-old tradition of human decency that even in war, you're allowed to recover your dead. an american official in a position to know about the circumstances of her death has used with me the word "murder." and this is not an official who uses such words loosely. news reports have suggested that marie was targeted using her cell phone signals. why was she killed? marie once said, "covering a war means going to places torn by chaos, destruction, and death and trying to bear witness." she was killed because she was doing what she was passionate about and what her gift was and that is to bear witness. marie was in syria to bear witness to the massacre of the innocent in the city of holmes by the assad? the city of homs by the assad regime. her last report to theb bbc was of a baby killed by shrapnel dying in its mother's arms. that baby had no choice and that mother had no voice but marie was there

mr. reid: i now ask that we road to s. res. 404. the presiding officer: the clerk will report. the clerk: s. res. 404, recognizing the life and work of war correspondent colvin and other courageous journalists in war zones. the presiding officer: without objection. mr. reid: i ask unanimous consent that the resolution be agreed to, the preamble be agreed to, the motion to reconsider be laid on the table, there be in intervening action or debate, any further states be placed in the record as if read. the presiding officer: without objection. mr. reid: i now ask unanimous consent that we proceed to s. res. 405. the presiding officer: the clerk will report. the clerk: s. res. 405, authorizing the taking of a photograph in the chamber of the united states senate. the presiding officer: without objection, the senate will troated matter. mr. reid: i ask unanimous consent the resolution be agreed to, the motion to reconsider be laid on the table, there be in intervening action or debate. the presiding officer: without objection. mr. reid: i am told there are three bills at the desk due for a first reading. i would ask you have the clerk report all three. the presid