Washington State Human Rights Commission

109th Congress

H. Res. 196: Recognizing the anniversary of the ratification of the 13th Amendment

Introduced:	Apr 6, 2005
Sponsor:	Rep. Barbara Lee [D-CA]
Status:	Introduced (By Rep. Barbara Lee [D-CA])
Last Action:	May 10, 2005: Referred to the Subcommittee on the Constitution.

                                                              IV

109TH CONGRESS
                        H. RES. 196
   1ST SESSION

Recognizing the anniversary of the ratification of the 13th Amendment and
    encouraging the American people to educate and instill pride and purpose
    into their communities and to observe the anniversary annually with
    appropriate programs and activities.

        IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
                              APRIL 6, 2005
Ms. LEE (for herself, Mr. WATT, Ms. WATERS, Mr. CONYERS, and Ms. JACK-
    SON-LEE of Texas) submitted the following resolution; which was referred
    to the Committee on the Judiciary

                 RESOLUTION
Recognizing the anniversary of the ratification of the 13th
   Amendment and encouraging the American people to
   educate and instill pride and purpose into their commu-
   nities and to observe the anniversary annually with ap-
   propriate programs and activities.

Whereas on December 6, 1865, the 13th Amendment to the
   Constitution was ratified, proclaiming that ``neither slav-
   ery nor involuntary servitude . . . shall exist within the
   United States'';
Whereas the ratification of the 13th Amendment began a civil
   rights movement which would radically change African
   American existence in the United States;
                               2
Whereas the 13th Amendment represented a victory for Afri-
   can Americans across the United States, who had been
   denied the rights of full citizens;
Whereas the 13th Amendment is a symbol of the Federal
   Government's commitment to fulfill its promise of equal-
   ity, liberty, and the American dream for all Americans
   because it liberated African Americans from the yoke of
   slavery and launched a new age activism advocating equal
   rights for all minorities;
Whereas December 6, 2005, marks the 140th anniversary of
   the ratification of the 13th Amendment;
Whereas the observation of the 140th anniversary would put
   into effect section 2 of the Amendment, by reaffirming
   Congress' ``power to enforce this article by appropriate
   legislation''; and
Whereas the 13th Amendment Foundation supports the es-
   tablishment of a national day of recognition commemo-
   rating the anniversary of the ratification of the 13th
   Amendment to renew a national commitment to eradicate
   racial and ethnic inequalities: Now, therefore, be it

1      Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
2              (1) recognizes the 140th anniversary of the
3      ratification of the 13th Amendment to the Constitu-
4      tion;
5              (2) encourages the American people to educate
6      and instill pride and purpose into their communities
7      about the history of liberation and the civil rights
8      movement in the United States; and

                 (3) encourages the American people to observe
2      the anniversary of the ratification of the 13th
3      Amendment each year by honoring its significance in
4      United States history with appropriate programs
5      and activities.