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Last night, Congressman Rick W. Allen (GA-12) spoke during a special order on the House floor in honor of the life and legacy of Congressman John Lewis (GA-05). Congressman Allen’s remarks can be found below.

Many Americans learned about the civil rights movement in the news or read about it in history books, but John Lewis lived it.

One of my greatest memories was to have dinner with Congressman Lewis in his home, where he shared with our Georgia delegation his experience leading the civil rights movement.

He shared with me that Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. prayed with them before demonstrations and urged everyone to remain at peace to ensure lasting change.

I think we can all learn from the example Congressman Lewis set as a civil rights icon; we must meet injustice with humility and perseverance to do what is right.

Pride and fear are the opposite of humility.

John Lewis and all those in this movement demonstrated perfect love while being persecuted.

Perfect love casts out all fear and only comes from God and obedience to His word – and was perfectly demonstrated at the cross of Jesus Christ.

My wife Robin and I pray that his family finds peace during this difficult time, knowing his impact has forever shaped our nation.

And this is a lesson for this body, as we honor those, like John Lewis, who came before us and fought for an America that is stronger united by putting aside our differences to serve the American people in perfect love.