Press Releases

On Monday, July 14, 2025, the Congressional Black Caucus will lead a Special Order Hour on the floor of the U.S. House of Representatives to honor the life, legacy, and lasting impact of civil rights icon and former Congressman John R. Lewis, who faithfully served 17 distinguished terms in Congress and was a devoted member—and the moral compass—of the CBC from 1986 until his passing in 2020.

The Special Order Hour, titled “In the Words of John Lewis,” will commemorate the fifth anniversary of Congressman Lewis’s passing. It is part of a broader effort this week by the John and Lillian Miles Lewis Foundation and the Faith & Politics Institute to carry forward the enduring legacy of both Congressman John Lewis and Lillian Miles Lewis. It comes at a time when many of the values Congressman Lewis championed—especially democracy and voting rights—are under unprecedented attack by the Trump Administration and MAGA extremism, making his legacy more urgent and relevant than ever. 

“Congressman John Lewis devoted every day of his life to fighting to make our county live up to its highest ideals – to the promise that all men are created equal. From the Edmund Pettus Bridge to the halls of the Congress, “the boy from Troy” never stopped making Good Trouble. It is in that spirit that the CBC continues to fight back against hate, inequality, and efforts to undermine our democratic values,” said Rep. Yvette D. Clarke, Chair of the Congressional Black Caucus. “The example Congressman Lewis set for us all will shine bright for generations to come. This Special Order Hour is a chance to reflect on his moral clarity, his courage, and the work we must do to fulfill his vision for a better America.” 

Members of the CBC and House Democratic Caucus will share personal reflections on Lewis’s leadership, his role in the Civil Rights Movement, and his decades of service in Congress as the “Conscience of the House.”

WHAT: CBC Special Order Hour Honoring John Lewis
WHEN: Monday, July 14, 2025 
WHERE: U.S. House Floor