[Congressional Bills 108th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Con. Res. 520 Introduced in House (IH)]







108th CONGRESS
  2d Session
H. CON. RES. 520

 Supporting the efforts and activities of individuals, organizations, 
   and other entities to honor the lives of enslaved Africans in the 
United States and to make reparations to their descendants for slavery 
                       and its lingering effects.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                            October 9, 2004

 Mr. Davis of Illinois submitted the following concurrent resolution; 
        which was referred to the Committee on Government Reform

_______________________________________________________________________

                         CONCURRENT RESOLUTION


 
 Supporting the efforts and activities of individuals, organizations, 
   and other entities to honor the lives of enslaved Africans in the 
United States and to make reparations to their descendants for slavery 
                       and its lingering effects.

Whereas the enslavement of Africans in the United States was and still is a 
        shameful mark on the United States Government and the people of the 
        United States;
Whereas descendants of enslaved Africans continue to experience racial 
        discrimination, frequently manifested in the form of hate crimes;
Whereas the United States Government, as a party to the United Nations 
        International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, agrees that it 
        cannot deny minorities the right to speak their original language, 
        practice their culture, and enjoy their religion;
Whereas African Americans are a numerical minority in the United States and are 
        considered a minority by the United States Government;
Whereas due to slavery African Americans today suffer the ongoing and permanent 
        loss of their original language, culture, and religion, which has 
        resulted in incalculable damage to themselves as individuals and as a 
        people;
Whereas the continued rejection of the justified demands of African Americans 
        for reparations and the restoration of an international political 
        identity would be the equivalent of the United States Government 
        committing additional unjustified acts against African Americans and 
        against the United Nations; and
Whereas numerous non profit organizations recognize August 17th as National 
        Reparations Day: Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate concurring), 
That the Congress--
            (1) supports the efforts and activities of individuals, 
        organizations, institutions, and other entities to honor the 
        lives of enslaved Africans in the United States and to make 
        reparations to their descendants for slavery and its lingering 
        effects; and
            (2) supports the goals and intent of National Reparations 
        Day.
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