Congressman Carter Introduces Bill to Award Dr. Norman C. Francis with a Congressional Gold Medal

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Congressman Troy A. Carter, Sr. (D-La.), Second Vice Chair of the Congressional Black Caucus (CBC), introduced a bill to honor Dr. Norman C. Francis with a Congressional Gold Medal.

Over the course of his dynamic career, Dr. Norman Francis was a leader in the drive towards a more equal society, leading our nation during the Civil Rights Movement to break down barriers in Louisiana. He is the longest-serving President of Xavier University, Congressman Carter’s alma mater, and set the standard for Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU) excellence in higher education. In 2006 he was given our country’s highest award, the Presidential Medal of Freedom in recognition of his “deep intellect, compassion, and character.”

“Dr. Norman C. Francis is an educator, institution builder, and civil rights activist whose mission to advance education empowerment through social justice has changed the nation,” said Rep. Carter. “He has dedicated his life to advocating for marginalized communities and his work will have an everlasting impact on my life. I thank him for his service and would be proud to present him with the distinguished recognition of a Congressional Gold Medal.”

The Norman C. Francis Congressional Gold Medal Act is co-sponsored by 34 members of Congress, including  Rep. Joyce Beatty (OH-03), Rep. Marilyn Strickland (WA-10), Rep. Steven Horsford (NV-04), Rep. Joe Neguse (CO-02), Rep. Shelia Jackson Lee (TX-18), Rep. Hank Johnson (GA-04), Rep. Danny K. Davis (IL-07), Rep. Glenn Ivey (MD-04), Rep. Jim Clyburn (SC-06), Rep. Sanford Bishop (GA-02), Rep. Jasmine Crockett (TX-30), Rep. Eleanor Holmes Norton (DC), Rep. Valerie Foushee (NC-04), Rep. Alma Adams (NC-12), Rep. Bennie Thompson (MI-02), Rep. Jonathan Jackson (IL-01), Rep. Ayanna Pressley (MA-07), Rep. Don Davis (NC-01), Rep. Lucy McBath (GA-07), Rep. Terri Sewell (AL-07), Rep. Gregory Meeks (NY-05), Rep. Emanuel Cleaver (MI-09), Rep. Donald Payne (NJ-10), Rep. Shontel Brown (OH-11), Rep. Sydney Kamlager-Dove (CA-37), Rep. Maxine Waters (CA-43), Rep. Yvette Clarke (NY-09), Rep. Marc Veasey (TX-33), Rep. Bonnie Watson Coleman (NJ-12), Rep. Jamaal Bowman (NY-16), Rep. Barragán (CA-44), Rep. Sylvia Garcia (TX-29), Rep. Darren Soto (FL-09), and Rep. Nikema Williams (GA-05).

Full bill text can be found here.

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