[Congressional Bills 106th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Con. Res. 368 Introduced in House (IH)]







106th CONGRESS
  2d Session
H. CON. RES. 368

     Establishing a special task force to recommend an appropriate 
 recognition for the slave laborers who worked on the construction of 
                       the United States Capitol.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                             June 29, 2000

Mr. Watts of Oklahoma (for himself and Mr. Lewis of Georgia) submitted 
    the following concurrent resolution; which was referred to the 
                   Committee on House Administration

_______________________________________________________________________

                         CONCURRENT RESOLUTION


 
     Establishing a special task force to recommend an appropriate 
 recognition for the slave laborers who worked on the construction of 
                       the United States Capitol.

Whereas the United States Capitol stands as a symbol of democracy, equality, and 
        freedom to the entire world;
Whereas the year 2000 marks the 200th anniversary of the opening of this 
        historic structure for the first session of Congress to be held in the 
        new Capital City;
Whereas slavery was not prohibited throughout the United States until the 
        ratification of the 13th amendment to the Constitution in 1865;
Whereas previous to that date, African American slave labor was both legal and 
        common in the District of Columbia and the adjoining States of Maryland 
        and Virginia;
Whereas public records attest to the fact that African American slave labor was 
        used in the construction of the United States Capitol;
Whereas public records further attest to the fact that the five-dollar-per-month 
        payment for that African American slave labor was made directly to slave 
        owners and not to the laborer; and
Whereas African Americans made significant contributions and fought bravely for 
        freedom during the American Revolutionary War: Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate concurring), 
That--
            (1) the Speaker of the House of Representatives and the 
        President pro tempore of the Senate shall establish a special 
        task force to study the history and contributions of these 
        slave laborers in the construction of the United States 
        Capitol; and
            (2) such special task force shall recommend to the Speaker 
        of the House of Representatives and the President pro tempore 
        of the Senate an appropriate recognition for these slave 
        laborers which could be displayed in a prominent location in 
        the United States Capitol.
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