[Congressional Bills 109th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 930 Introduced in House (IH)]








109th CONGRESS
  2d Session
H. RES. 930

   Recognizing and honoring York for his role in the Lewis and Clark 
                              Expedition.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                             July 20, 2006

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

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
   Recognizing and honoring York for his role in the Lewis and Clark 
                              Expedition.

Whereas in 1804, Captain Meriwether Lewis, Captain William Clark, and a band of 
        32 men and 1 woman became the first Americans to explore the lands 
        acquired in the Louisiana Purchase;
Whereas among the explorers was an African American who is known only as William 
        Clark's slave, York;
Whereas York played an integral role in the success of the mission, including 
        hunting, gathering wood, and participating in all the tasks necessary to 
        the success of the expedition;
Whereas York's contribution to the expedition led to Clark naming ``York's 8 
        Islands'' and ``York's Dry River'' after him;
Whereas York was the only member of the expedition who was not awarded land or 
        pay upon return;
Whereas upon return, York was returned to the degradation and captivity of 
        slavery; and
Whereas this year the Nation celebrates the bicentennial of the Lewis and Clark 
        Expedition: Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved,  That the House of Representatives--
            (1) honors York for his contributions to the Lewis and 
        Clark Expedition;
            (2) recognizes York as the first African American to 
        explore the lands acquired in the Louisiana Purchase;
            (3) urges students of American history to study the 
        regrettably often overlooked role of York in the Lewis and 
        Clark Expedition.
                                 <all>