[Congressional Bills 108th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 101 Introduced in House (IH)]






108th CONGRESS
  1st Session
H. RES. 101

 Urging the President to present posthumously a Presidential Citizens 
Medal to Frederick Douglass in recognition of his achievements in civil 
                   rights and service to the nation.


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                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                           February 25, 2003

 Mr. Hastings of Florida submitted the following resolution; which was 
             referred to the Committee on Government Reform

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                               RESOLUTION


 
 Urging the President to present posthumously a Presidential Citizens 
Medal to Frederick Douglass in recognition of his achievements in civil 
                   rights and service to the nation.

Whereas abolitionist, editor, orator, reformer, and civil rights activist 
        Frederick Douglass was one of the most influential African-American 
        leaders of the nineteenth century;
Whereas the fourth of seven children born to a field hand in Talbot County, 
        Maryland, Frederick Douglass escaped slavery with great adversity to 
        become a forefather in civil and women's rights;
Whereas throughout his extraordinary life, Frederick Douglass gained 
        international prominence for his lecturing and autobiographical 
        writings, in which he detailed the callousness of slavery;
Whereas his notoriety was largely attributed to the founding of the North Star, 
        a weekly newspaper that not only spoke against slavery and oppression 
        but also served as a station on the Underground Railroad;
Whereas Douglass' achievements were also highlighted by a successful political 
        career; and
Whereas he served as an advisor to Presidents Abraham Lincoln and Andrew 
        Johnson, was appointed as Assistant Secretary of the Commission of 
        Inquiry to Santo Domingo by President Ulysses S. Grant, was appointed 
        U.S. Marshal of the District of Columbia by President Rutherford B. 
        Hayes, and was named Recorder of Deeds for the District of Columbia in 
        1881 by President James L. Garfield, all of which were firsts for 
        African-Americans: Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
            (1) recognizes and honors Frederick Douglass' unwavering 
        dedication to equality and civil rights;
            (2) acknowledges the profound contributions Frederick 
        Douglass made to American history;
            (3) nominates Frederick Douglass to receive the 
        Presidential Citizens Medal; and
            (4) urges the President to award a Presidential Citizens 
        Medal in honor of Frederick Douglass.
                                 <all>