[Congressional Bills 108th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. Res. 420 Introduced in Senate (IS)]







108th CONGRESS
  2d Session
S. RES. 420

Recommending expenditures for an appropriate visitors center at Little 
  Rock Central High School National Historic Site to commemorate the 
           desegregation of Little Rock Central High School.


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                           September 9, 2004

   Mr. Pryor (for himself and Mrs. Lincoln) submitted the following 
 resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural 
                               Resources

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
Recommending expenditures for an appropriate visitors center at Little 
  Rock Central High School National Historic Site to commemorate the 
           desegregation of Little Rock Central High School.

Whereas the United States recognizes that in September 1957, 9 young students 
        changed the course of American history by claiming the right to receive 
        an equal education;
Whereas Ernest Green, Elizabeth Eckford, Jefferson Thomas, Terrence Roberts, 
        Carlotta Walls, Minnijean Brown, Gloria Ray, Thelma Mothershed, and 
        Melba Pattillo, known as the ``Little Rock Nine'', and their parents had 
        the courage necessary to break the bonds of prejudice and desegregation 
        and venture onto the world stage, with full knowledge of the perils and 
        complexities inherent in their endeavor;
Whereas despite their effort to enroll at Little Rock Central High School and 
        receive an education, the Little Rock Nine were met with severe 
        adversity;
Whereas Little Rock Central High School became not only a crucial battleground 
        in the struggle for civil rights, but symbolic of the United States 
        Government's commitment to eliminating separate systems of education for 
        African-Americans and Caucasians;
Whereas the enrollment of the Little Rock Nine was recognized by Dr. Martin 
        Luther King, Jr. as such a significant event in the struggle for civil 
        rights that he attended the graduation of the first African-American 
        from Little Rock Central High School;
Whereas the sacrificial accomplishments that were made in September 1957 have 
        continuing benefits for the United States today;
Whereas the United States will always revere the accomplishments that 9 young 
        high school students made by showing the Nation and the world that ``all 
        men are created equal'' and the rule of law is paramount in the 
        democracy of the United States;
Whereas the Little Rock Nine were forced to obtain the blessings of liberty that 
        are inherent in the United States Constitution through the intervention 
        of the judicial branch and executive branch of the United States 
        Government;
Whereas existing visitor facilities at Little Rock Central High School are 
        inadequate, resulting in limited opportunities for citizens to learn 
        about civil rights and our Nation's heritage; and
Whereas the legislative branch of the United States Government has the 
        opportunity to appropriately commemorate the legacy that these heroic 
        individuals left by fully funding the design and construction of an 
        informative memorial: Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved, That it is the sense of the Senate that--
            (1) the courage displayed by the Little Rock Nine should be 
        commemorated as an example of American sacrifice through 
        extreme adversity;
            (2) Congress should fully fund the design and construction 
        of a visitor center at Little Rock Central High School National 
        Historic Site; and
            (3) the new facilities should open by September 2007 in 
        order to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the historic 
        events that occurred at Little Rock Central High School.
                                 <all>