[Congressional Bills 110th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 158 Engrossed in House (EH)]


                In the House of Representatives, U. S.,

                                                           May 1, 2007.
Whereas in 1780, William Wilberforce was elected at the age of 21 years to the 
        British House of Commons;
Whereas Mr. Wilberforce and his friends were active in at least 69 different 
        projects focusing on issues such as prison reform, education, child 
        labor conditions, animal cruelty, and the reformation of the culture;
Whereas Mr. Wilberforce was mentored and counseled by former slave trader and 
        author of the hymn ``Amazing Grace'', John Newton, on the horrors of the 
        slave trade;
Whereas at the time, 11 million human beings had been captured and taken from 
        Africa to the Western hemisphere and forced into slavery and bondage;
Whereas at the time, the British Empire controlled the largest portion of the 
        slave trade;
Whereas Mr. Wilberforce devoted his life to the suppression and abolition of the 
        institution of slavery;
Whereas a dedicated group of like-minded reformers, the Clapham group, assisted, 
        supported, and encouraged Mr. Wilberforce in his fight against the slave 
        trade;
Whereas Mr. Wilberforce fought for 20 years in the House of Commons to pass 
        legislation banning the slave trade;
Whereas on February 23, 1807, Britain passed a bill banning the slave trade;
Whereas Mr. Wilberforce helped inspire and encourage those who fought against 
        slavery in the United States, including political leaders like John 
        Quincy Adams, spreading a message of hope and freedom throughout America 
        and the promise of the future;
Whereas Mr. Wilberforce labored 46 years to abolish the institution of slavery 
        in the British Empire, ceaselessly defending those without a voice 
        within society;
Whereas in 1833, Mr. Wilberforce was informed on his death bed that the House of 
        Commons had voted to abolish slavery;
Whereas in 2006, the United States Department of State estimated that between 
        600,000 and 800,000 men, women, and children were trafficked across 
        international borders;
Whereas the International Labour Organization estimates that there are more than 
        12 million people in forced labor, bonded labor, forced child labor, and 
        sexual servitude around the world; and
Whereas the people of the United States, particularly the youth of the United 
        States, are called upon to form clubs and groups dedicated to working 
        against the modern slave trade, human trafficking, and the degradation 
        of human dignity: Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved,  That the House of Representatives--
            (1) commends to the people of the United States the example of 
        William Wilberforce and his commitment to each and every person's human 
        dignity, value, and freedom in observation of the 200th anniversary of 
        the abolition of the British slave trade;
            (2) encourages the people of the United States, particularly the 
        youth of the United States, to--
                    (A) observe the anniversary of the abolition of the British 
                slave trade;
                    (B) reflect on Mr. Wilberforce's selfless dedication to the 
                fight against slavery and his commitment to the neediest in 
                society;
                    (C) commit themselves to recognize the value of every person 
                and to work actively against slavery in all its forms;
                    (D) work to educate themselves and others to recognize that 
                individuals who are subject to slavery and human trafficking are 
                victims of those who traffick such individuals; and
                    (E) form high school clubs and groups working against modern 
                day slavery and the trafficking of persons; and
            (3) condemns to the highest degree all forms of human trafficking 
        and slavery which are an assault on human dignity and of which Mr. 
        Wilberforce would steadfastly resist.
            Attest:

                                                                          Clerk.