Member of congress from connecticut. This evening we pay tribute to ly Linmanuel Miranda, an extraordinarily talented composer, ly cyricist and actor. Last year we honored david mu mccull low. This year we honor hip hop score, catchy lyrics and contemporary corography, americans are learning all about Alexander Hamilton and aaron beurre and how their conviction shaped our young country. Thank you, linmanuel for making history come alive through the performing arts. Now, this evening were honored to have the democratic leader with us, and former speaker of the house, nancy pelosi. Madam speaker, i invite you to the podium to say a few words. [ applause ] good afternoon, everyone. Its an honor to be here once again. With all of you. It seems like yesterday we were honoring David Mccullough. Now a whole other generation. Thank you, senator, and ron, thank you, ron sarasin for your great leadership for this organization for so many years. And welcome to don carlson, the new board chair, thank you for your leadership, don. Wheres don . Thank you very much, don. Those two are applause lines. Ill tell you when its an applause line, okay, and also lisa murkowski, well be hearing from her shortly. Okay, so here we are, linmanuel, we are in the room where it happens, or at least where it happened at that time. This was the House Chamber in the early days of our republic. And again, for 55 years that Capital Historical Society has you will li illuminated the rich history of the congress and the ideas it upholds. Here we are in this room. With the Freedom Award we celebrate the insiring men and women who advance public understanding and appreciation for our great democracy. This years recipient has made a profound contribution to that mission, lyinmanuel miranda. Not only that, not only that, but his parents are here. Thank you for sharing your stand up, stand up, stand up. Congresswoman ve llazquez said e and mr. Miranda came from puerto rico around the same time, attended the same college. A lot of family going on here and a lot of members to pay tribute to your family. As the world knows Linmanuel Miranda is the great creative talent of our time. He energized americas understanding of our own industry, and in so doing he ignited a phenomenon. We are gripped by hamiltons brilliant writing and captivating music. The message of hope. Part of the power of hamilton is that it reminds us that our american story is shaped not simply by events, but by people, that our tale is one of revolutionaries and disrupters, visionaries and strivers, innovators and immigrants. And immigrants. [ applause ] especially important for us to remember that, that our constant reinvig ration of america are newcomers to america who make america more american with their hope, optimism and courage. That our journey is not predetermined, but wrestled into reality by men and women afraid, unafraid to dream. Unafraid to dream. Reminds us of our d. R. E. A. M. Ers. Linmanuel miranda took the story of our founding and uimbud it with a fresh life and infectious spirit. Hes continuing the mahamilton education project. This Partnership Helps hundreds of thousands of High School Students forge connections to our founding era. And it is making history itself inspiring to the next generation of historians, writers, performers and leaders. Our continued support for the Transformative Initiative such as this, and our broader commitment to education, to the amenities and to the arts are vital. Linmanuel, i am truly, truly convinced that the arts are what will bring our country together, and you have been a force in that regard. Last year, as was mentioned, David Mccullough pointed to statue of cleo. For almost two centuries cleo and her clock have reminded men and women of these halls, those who serve in congress, that we are part of history, that our words and actions will face the judgment of history and that we are part of a long and honorable heritage of our democracy. Now under cleos gauge, we celebrate Linmanuel Miranda, a man gifted by the muse of history. And all others, an artist and historian for our modern era. Thank you, linmanuel for giving us the story of america then, told by america now. Im honored that well hear from john lewis who will present the award. But all of us who are here are honored to be in your presence to celebrate your triumph in hamilton and to congratulate you. Thank you for your passion, your talent, your gifts, thank you for your exceptional contributions to vitalizing and advancing our democracy. Thank you, Linmanuel Miranda. [ applause ] thank you, madam speaker for your kind words. A number of members of the house and senate are here, mixed in with the with the crowd that is here this evening. Would you please raise your hand so we can acknowledge your presence . [ applause ] thank you for being here. Leader pelosi mentioned linmanuels parents. And i want to mention them again because after all they made it all possible. So would lewis towns miranda and Louise Miranda please stand again . [ applause ] also with us this evening is ron chernow who wrote the book h hamilton. Ron, where are you . Way back there. The book obviously inspired linmanuel, so thank you, sir, for being with us this evening. And also sarah miller director of philanthropy and special projects at 5000 broadway. Would you please stand . Thank you. [ applause ] murray horowitz, would you please stand and be recognized, a mentor to linmanuel . [ applause ] were honored that all of you are here this evening to share this evening with us. Its now my pleasure to introduce senator lisa murkowski, chair of the aappropriations subcommittee on interior, environment and related agencies. Among the related agencies are the two National Endowments for the arts and for the humanities. Shes a dedicated advocate for the arts. In lisas words, theres nothing ha holds us together more as americans, as human beings, as what comes to us through the arts. The u. S. Capital Historical Society was honored in 2004 to be awarded the humanities medal with a ceremony in the white house, a very exciting moment for the society and personally for me. So i would like to now bring to the podium senator lisa murkowski. [ applause ] ron, thank you for that. It is indeed an honor to be with you this evening. And to the family, mr. And mrs. Miranda, wonderful to have you with us as we recognize this evening, Linmanuel Miranda. Now, there may not be Many Americans who are familiar with the u. S. Capital Historical Society and the role that it plays. An incredibly important role, actually. Not only does this society preserve the past and honor this truly magnificent building and those who have served here, through programs like the Freedom Award, but this society helps americans to see the living connections between the past and where we are today. And it helps us to understand that this capital is a symbol of america as a living institution. And thats why choosing to honor Linmanuel Miranda with this years Freedom Award is such a perfect, such a beautiful choice. You know, you look around you here. Look at where we are standing here in statuary hall. And the history that surrounds us, the men and the women. We see the the old murals by bromidi, not necessarily in this room, but in the room adjacent, we have statues of famous but long dead americans like george washington, we have sacajawea. And then we see those whose lives or more contempt raorary our own. Rosa parks right up here. More importantly, each and every day americans from all walks of life, and every age, walk through these halls. They walk through this room. And theyre looking up and theyre looking at the statues, theyre looking at the amazing history surrounding us. And you have to believe, you have to believe that each are inspired to learn to enjoy. But just truly be inspired by the history around us. And i like to listen to this School Groups particularly. Sometimes you catch these kids giving you just a glimmer of whats beyond all this. And theyll see a particular statue. And theyll be captivated by it. And somebody will say, well, do you know . And theyll tell a story about rosa parks through the eyes of a child and what they have learned in their classroom. And its a reminder to me that these are not just figures that are anchored in bronze. But there is that living history here. And how we share this, how we inspire one another, this is what this award is all about today. For Linmanuel Miranda has inspired americans, young and old, rich and poor, whether youre from new york or youre from alaska, they have inspired, he has inspired us to see kind of the dry dust of our Founding Fathers in a fresh way, in a way that modernizes them and allows us to see ourselves in them. In short, what linmanuel has been able to do is to engage new audiences to appreciate our past through a form of art, through Broadway Musical. You know, you have to think, hamilton in a Broadway Musical, just doesnt connect. Thats why its so brilliant, thats why its so perfect because it forces us to imagine. And at the same time what he has done is he has exposed the typical Broadway Musical theater goer to art forms that they probably had not appreciated before. I think you probably taught a lot of history to some to some broadway buffs out there. This is exactly the type of engagement with the american public. I think those of us here in congress would really wish that we could connect with. Weve got a little bit more work to do and maybe we can talk with you afterwards, linmanuel, about how you can inspire us to be more engaging as you are. I truly am proud to congratulate Linmanuel Miranda for earning yet another recognition. And not necessarily for the strength of his writing or his performance. Not even for his unique and inspiring ability to bring foundational events in our nations history to life in new and exciting ways, but i want to congratulate him for his commitment to the strength and value of our democracy. For surely no one could write hamilton, bring it to theaters, educate students about the man and his times if he did not love his country and all that it can be. So ladies and gentlemen, a man who has helped us look up, look outward as we look at the past, who has widened our eyes, opens our ears. Truly a talented, inspiring individual. The 2017 recipient of the u. S. Capital Historical SocietyFreedom Award, mr. Linmanuel miranda. We cannot thank you enough. [ applause ] hello. My thanks to all of you, and especially to senator murkowski, dm congressman lewis, the Historical Society tells not just a story of but sees its mission ho listically, illuminates political history, yes, but promotes appreciation of the breathtaking art and architecture all around us. I mean, i packed a sleeping bag. When you all leave im fully night of the museuming here. All of these guys are going to come to live and were going to have a bit of a time. Ill see you in the morning and ill tell you about my adventures. It really is extraordinary to be surrounded by this incredible history. The house of representatives used to convene here and in this very room states were voted into the union. Through its work the Historical Society gives us the tools to wrestle with our history and to understand the same philosophical disagreements about proper role and size of government, and so many other flash points in the american experiment continue to drive what happens in this building now. Everson and hamilton are alive in this hall. They didnt look like me and david. But theyre in here. This is the room where it happened, the room where it happened. But like for realsies, and im in their debt. Ron chernow is here tonight. Give it up for ron. [ applause ] hamiltons story reached out to me across the centuries and wouldnt let me go, on vacation, walking my dog, in the shower, there was the ghost of eliza hamilton, get back to your piano, tell our story. Sometimes you hear a tune from hamilton and it gets stuck in your head. Imagine what i felt like, in my head first. Took seven years to get them out of my head, thanks to tommy kale and our incredible creative team, the worlds reaction and the renewed engagement with the founding ere rar as a result has changed august of our lives, my life in particular. Before hamilton had the chance to change my life, humanities and arts programs did. I benefitted from music, acting, literature i owe a lot to louis and Louise Miranda. Stand up. You will not meet two bigger musical theater dorks in your lifetime. And thanks to the constant loop of sound of music, camelot in our subaru growing up, thats why im standing here in front of you today. Theres no doubt without the education i had as a student in a new york city public school, i would not be here. Thank you, public school. If i hadnt been cast as captain hook in the sixth grade play, hamilton an american musical would not exist, real talk. Through humanities and arts programs i learned more than how to love piano. I learned empathy that makes art tras formational. When youre a theater kid you make friends from different grades and social groups. You learn to work hard to create something greater than the sum of your parts. For the sake of making something great, you learn to trust your passion. Without humanities and arts programs i wouldnt be standing here and without Alexander Hamilton and the countless other immigrants who built this country, its probable very few of us would be here either. Our story includes the hundreds of thousands of young people today who came to this country with their parents and know no other home. [ applause ] their parents have no documents, but their kids are Getting College degrees, working as First Responders in disasters like harvey and irma, in the case of my own congressman, some are working as lawmakers in the United States congress. Our ter taj of humanities and arts is shared and its irreplaceable, belongs to every american, rich and poor, young and old, urban and rural, immigrant and native born, republican and democrat, statue and still alive. In every corner of our country, this is what the u. S. Capital Historical Society does. As do so many other nonprofits throughout the u. S. In urban and rural locations alike. Im a new yorker. My dad came by way of puerto rico. My moms parents are from puerto rico and mexico. Like most big urban centers, new york has a thriving cultural scene, countless theater groups and public, private partnerships are a good thing and no one would have been happier to see them than my man hamilton standing in the next room. Theres no reason why humanities and arts should be in the sole province of the government. In places like new york, theyre not. Most American Kids dont live in new york or San Francisco or d. C. Places like california central valley, native american reservations, the mississippi delta, and vast swaths of the great plains, the private resources do not exist to provide kids with the kinds of programs i was lucky enough to grow up with. This is why National Endowment for the humanities and daschle endowment for the arts are so vital in our democracy. [ applause ] without these resources we are essentially telling kids without access to the arts your world is small, dont dream too big. And we dont just fail kids as individuals with that message. We fail our democracy. There are those who argue that the humanities and arts are a luxury, not an essential service. And i could not disagree more. I see the opposite is true. The more opportunities kids have to read Langston Hughs or view georgia okeeffe, the more they will appreciate the poetry of mathematic formula. What it means to be human, nurturing the gift of empathy makes us better citizens, makes us understand each other better. Learning to read music will help a student with her math homework just as the good mast instruction helps her make sense of it. A painter who understands chemistry is a better painter, an engineer who appreciates art is a better engineer. Citizens who have exposure to a whole constellation of disciplines and subject areas make a better democracy and an economically viable country. That shared service is shared concretely by the humanities and arts. Most of you in this room know the economic boom that arts and cultural events bring to your towns and cities and districts. When the hamilton tour comes to your town, all the surrounding businesses benefit. If you dont believe me, ask the pizza place across from the whats up, your grandma slices are the greatest . The National Endowment for the arts and the National Endowment for the humanities are key drivers in this cycle. Nea and neh investments contribute directly to the prosperity of communities. They create jobs, spread tourism and expand horizons of shared values. There would also be a spiritual cost to a nation that loses touch with its soul, with what makes its exceptional, all of the statues in this room who are real people who worked hard to make this country. Thanks to all of you who stand up for Cultural Heritage everywhere. In some parts of the country that right is easier to safeguard and others it requires vigilance, hard work and, yes, Government Support to see to it that no child is denied access to the humanities and the arts. For that hand in your effort, i thank you so much. [ applause ] ill finish with this. The opportunity to create the Hamilton Educational Program with guilder institute of american history, our producer Jeffrey Seller and heralded by my dad who i will not make stand up one more time has been the highlight of the whole thing. It fills me with great pride to see High School Kids i dont know if you know about this program. But High School Kids come and they have a curriculum on ham imt illton on all of the founders, and they perform their own they want to be teachers and historians as a result of this experience, 250,000 kids from all over the country, from title 1 schools will have the opportunity to go through the program. And thats a for real legacy. That is a hamill tonian, lie as a hamilton tell our legacy. Theyre not all going to grow up and go into theater. In engaging hamiltons story in a real way they begin to define their own, begin to ask what do i want to do in my time on earth . What kind of country do i want to create for ourselves . On behalf of everyone who works tirelessly to share american culture, thank you for this great honor. It means the world to me. And have a wonderful night. [ applause ] thank you, mr. Miranda, for your inspiring remarks tonight. Im don carlson, the new chairman of the u. S. Capital Historical Society. And with me is congressman john lewis. [ applause ] im honored to stand on the same platform with this true gentleman. Three years ago the society presented the Freedom Award to john lewis in recognition of his lifelong commitment to civil rights. Tonight he joins us as the author of a highly acclaimed Award Winning trilogy entitled march. Like our Award Recipient lynn man well miranda, congressman lewis found a way to teach history. March is a great read and great graphics. Thank you, congressman lewis for joining me, as we now present the 2017 Freedom Award to Linmanuel Miranda. Lin, will you please come forward . [ applause ] on behalf of the u. S. Capital Historical Society we want to present to you tonight the 2017 Freedom Award to you, Linmanuel Miranda. In recognition of your achievement and communicating the origins and continuing vitality of constitutional ideals through creative art and education. By empowering americans across generations and origins to see themselves in our past. You have fostered the spirit of civic engagement. Thank you. [ applause ] congressman lewis, would you like to make a few remarks . Thank you. Thank you. Good evening. Thank you, mr. Chairman. Im proud to join you in congratulations of mr. Miranda on receiving this great honor. You see, i was a champion of the arts long before i was elected to congress. Those who really know me understand that i love history, and the arts. Have said on occasion without music or drama, the Civil Rights Movement would have been like a bird without wings. Marian anderson, neil simone and tony bennett, james baldwin, joan baez, parks, jacob lawrence, peter paul and mary. These are just a few of the many, many artists who provided the anthems of the movement, who translated our feelings into literature and recorded our pain and progress in their painting. Tonight, i join our friends and colleagues in thanking you for continuing the ongoing struggle to redeem the soul of america. [ applause ] mr. Miranda, we are in history to shape, to inform, to inspire, and to move our people. Your play in the heights gave voice to immigrants, to love, and to the american dream. Through hamilton, linmanuel, you have inspired hundreds of thousands of people to be brave and courageous, to get in trouble, good trouble, necessary trouble, and i say thank you. Every day you move the souls of men and women, the young and old and people of all races and religion, linmanuel, youre so young. So gifted. And so talented. I know in my heart of hearts that your work and wisdom will inspire generation yet unborn. I hope that you will continue to create, to challenge, and to channel the voices, the hopes and the needs of all people, regardless of their race, religion, sexual orientation, or gender identity. Together we must strive towards what dr. Martin luther king jr. Called the beloved community, where love, peace, equality and simple justice infused into the hearts and soul of all human kind. Linmanuel, with your inspiration, your commitment and your dedication, we are armed, we are ready. We cannot give up. We will not give in. More than ever before, we need your art to continue to be the wind beneath our wings. And again, i congratulate you, and thank you, and salute you again for this well deserved honor. [ applause ] this concludes our program. I would like you to join with me in one final applause and recognition for our honoree who brings us great honor with his presence, great honor with his work and great honor how he helps the next generation of americans. Thank you. [ applause ] tweet us at cspan history. Asking about an issue that resounds today, and this question is about the how many people were fathered by gis, u. S. Gis in vietnam, how are they treated 45 years after the u. S. Departure. Announcer you could be featured during our next live program. Join the conversation on facebook, facebook. Com cspanhistory and on twitter at cspanhistory. Announcer Yale University historian Joanne Freeman talks about her lifelong history on hamilton. She discusses how she used his letters and writing to understand what motivated him. This talk is about an hour. For give me. I have not only grown gray, but almost blind in the service of this