[Congressional Bills 104th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. Res. 229 Agreed to Senate (ATS)]

  2d Session
S. RES. 229

Commemorating Black History Month and contributions of African-American 
                        United States Senators.


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

            February 29 (legislative day, February 28), 1996

Mr. Dole (for himself, Mr. Daschle, Mr. Lautenberg, Mrs. Feinstein, and 
 Mr. D'Amato) submitted the following resolution; which was considered 
                             and agreed to

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
Commemorating Black History Month and contributions of African-American 
                        United States Senators.

Whereas Black History Month in 1996 is a fitting occasion to direct public 
        attention to the many significant contributions which have been made by 
        African-American citizens in government service to the people of the 
        United States of America;
Whereas, 125 years ago on February 25, 1870, Republican Hiram Rhodes Revels of 
        Natchez, Mississippi, was seated as the first Black citizen to serve in 
        the United States Senate;
Whereas the service of Senator Revels, an ordained minister of the Christian 
        Gospel, was distinguished by conscientious support for desegregated 
        public education, reconciliation, equal political opportunity and 
        veterans' benefits and by opposition to discrimination in government 
        employment and political corruption;
Whereas Blanche Kelso Bruce of Bolivar County, Mississippi, whose term commenced 
        on March 5, 1875, became the first Black citizen to serve a full term in 
        the United States Senate and distinguished himself by supporting 
        equality in Western State land grants, desegregation in the United 
        States Army, electoral fairness, equitable treatment of Native Americans 
        and by opposing fraud and incompetence in governmental affairs;
Whereas Edward William Brooke of Newton, Massachusetts, on January 3, 1967, 
        became the first Black citizen to be elected directly by the people to 
        serve in the United States Senate (and then was re-elected), 
        distinguished himself by supporting American history awareness, racial 
        reconciliation initiatives, strengthened foreign relations, stronger 
        higher education, improved veterans' benefits, affordable housing and 
        the performing arts;
Whereas Carol Moseley-Braun of Chicago, Illinois, on January 3, 1993, became the 
        first Black woman and the first Black member of the Democrat Party to be 
        seated in the United States Senate and is currently distinguishing 
        herself for her resolute commitment to equal opportunity in education, 
        advocacy of women's and children's rights, support for business 
        entrepreneurship, expanded economic opportunity, equity for family 
        farmers and fiscal responsibility, and for her forceful opposition to 
        all forms of crime; and
Whereas, on February 29, 1996, the African-American Alliance, the James E. 
        Chaney Foundation, and Local 372 of District Council 37 of the American 
        Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees, are sponsoring 
        ceremonies in the United States Capitol Building to pay tribute to the 
        pioneering legacy of these intrepid and highly esteemed role models: 
        Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved, That the United States Senate does hereby join in 
honoring these inspiring legislators and expresses profound gratitude 
for their innumerable substantive contributions to the pursuit of 
justice, fairness, equality and opportunity for all United States 
citizens.
                                 <all>