DeLauro, Clyburn, Meeks, Clarke, Torres Lead 100+ Lawmakers to Honor Constance Baker Motley

Today, U.S. Representatives Rosa DeLauro (CT-03), James Clyburn (SC-06), Gregory W. Meeks (NY-05), Yvette D. Clarke (NY-09), and Ritchie Torres (NY-15) introduced the Congressional Tribute to Constance Baker Motley Act of 2025, legislation to honor the life of civil rights pioneer Judge Constance Baker Motley by posthumously awarding her with a Congressional Gold Medal. Companion legislation has been introduced in the Senate by Senators Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) and Chris Murphy (D-CT). The bipartisan legislation is cosponsored by 111 House lawmakers, as well as 27 Senators. 

“Constance Baker Motley was a force,” said Congresswoman DeLauro. “Born in New Haven to immigrant parents, she broke barriers throughout her legal career and made history as the first Black woman to serve as a federal judge. Her perseverance and determination secured numerous victories in the fight for civil rights and paved the way for generations who followed in her footsteps. As her birthday approaches this weekend, awarding Constance Baker Motley a Congressional Gold Medal is more than well-deserved – it is long overdue. I am proud to once again lead my colleagues Representatives Clyburn, Meeks, Clarke, and Torres, in introducing legislation to honor her extraordinary legacy.”

"I remember Judge Constance Baker Motley as a proven leader, an astute jurist, a pioneer of the civil rights movement, and a woman of firsts. She was the first female attorney hired by the NAACP Legal Defense Fund, the first Black woman to argue a case before the U.S. Supreme Court, the first Black woman to serve in the New York State Senate, and the first Black woman to serve as a federal judge," said Congressman James E. Clyburn. “As the only woman on the landmark Brown vs. Board of Education legal team, Constance Baker Motley is a hero and a champion, authoring much of the original complaint and helped lay the groundwork to end Jim Crow. Throughout her 20-year legal career, she helped advance civil and human rights for every American. She was a trailblazer and should be celebrated as such. I am honored to join my colleagues in paying tribute to Constance Baker Motley with the Congressional Gold Medal."

“Constance Baker Motley will always be a trailblazer who stood for a purpose greater than herself,” said Congressman Gregory W. Meeks. “Her unwavering determination led her to become the first Black woman to achieve and reach several heights that none believed were possible. As the first Black woman elected to the New York State Senate, Constance Baker Motley set a standard that opened the door for many Black women to follow. As a front-line lawyer for the NAACP, she knew that America could be its best when we started being judged by the content of our character and not just by our skin color. In a time where our history and heroes are under the threat of being forgotten, we must act now to honor her life, acknowledging how far we have come as a nation and realizing how much further we must continue to go. I am proud to join my colleagues in calling for Constance Baker Motley to receive the Congressional Gold Medal.”

“Constance Baker Motley was a trailblazer whose life and legacy will continue to inspire generations of Black women and leaders in public service and the legal profession," said Congresswoman Yvette D. Clarke. "As the first Black woman appointed to the federal bench and a champion for civil rights, she broke barriers at every step of her special life, and we must ensure that her many contributions to justice and our democracy are revered and recognized. How fitting it is that my colleagues are reintroducing this legislation in honor of her life as we observe what would’ve been her 104th birthday."

 “Judge Constance Baker Motley was a towering figure in American history whose brilliance and courage shaped the civil rights movement and opened doors for generations to come,”
said Congressman Ritchie Torres. “As the first Black woman to argue before the Supreme Court and serve as a federal judge, she broke barriers that once seemed insurmountable. Honoring her legacy with a Congressional Gold Medal is not only a tribute to her extraordinary achievements, but also a reminder that our democracy is made stronger when we celebrate those who fight for equality and justice.”

The legislation is endorsed by the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP), the NAACP Legal Defense Fund, the National Association of Women Law Enforcement Executives, the Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights, and the Southern Center for Human Rights.