Representative Byron Donalds (R-FL) introduced a bill in November to rename the House Press Gallery to the “Frederick Douglass Press Gallery.”
During his as the Editor-In-Chief for the New National Era newspaper, Douglass – the famous abolitionist – was also a member of the Congressional House Press Gallery, according to Spectrum News.
Rep. Donalds spoke on his bipartisan mission to rename the historic room.
I am proud to have introduced HRes 850 – "The Bipartisan Frederick Douglass Press Gallery Renaming Resolution."
Overall, this is something that every member can get behind & this is something that can become part of the fabric of the U.S. House of Representatives moving forward. pic.twitter.com/CH6IxTk8tG
— Congressman Byron Donalds (@RepDonaldsPress) February 18, 2024
“Frederick Douglass is somebody in American history and Black history who’s been a critical contributor to the fabric of our country. And even moving our country from one of the great sins in humanity, slavery, to where we are right now,” said Rep. Donalds.
He continued, “I think it’s really a demonstration of what’s possible in this country, especially going forward considering all he did, all he provided, all he contributed to America.”
In the clip, Donalds concluded, “I think overall, this is something that every member can vote for with pride, something that can become really a part of the fabric of the House of Representatives moving forward.
This effort from the Florida congressman has picked up steam with co-sponsors including the likes of Representatives Andre Carson (D-TX), Wesley Hunt (R-TX), Sheila Jackson Lee (D-TX), Debbie Lesko (R-AZ), James McGovern (D-MA), and Cory Mills (R-FL).
Rep. Mill’s endorsement was the latest congressman to co-sponsor the bill as he pledged his support in late January.
In early February, Donalds told The Floridian that House Republicans “shot themselves in the foot” when it decided to expel former Representative George Santos (R-NY) after he was accused of multiple ethical violations.
At the time of the interview, Republicans had just failed to impeach Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas.
"It was a bad vote when we did it. Made no sense at all," said Rep. Donalds, pointing out that "this guy named [Senator] Bob Menendez (D-NJ), he still seems to be in the United States Senate for some reason. We just shot ourselves in the foot.”
The next week, however, the right side of the aisle was able to scrounge up enough votes to impeach Secretary Mayorkas in their second attempt.
