III 110th CONGRESS 1st Session S. RES. 301 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES August 3, 2007 Mrs. Lincoln (for herself, Mr. Pryor, Mr. Schumer, Mr. Menendez, Mrs. Boxer, Mr. Leahy, Ms. Stabenow, Mr. Dodd, Mr. Salazar, Mr. Durbin, Mr. Obama, Mr. Biden, Mr. Kennedy, Mr. Carper, Mr. Kerry, Mrs. Feinstein, Mr. Chambliss, and Mr. Specter) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary September 6, 2007 Reported by Mr. Leahy, without amendment September 7, 2007 Considered and agreed to RESOLUTION Recognizing the 50th anniversary of the desegregation of Little Rock Central High School, one of the most significant events in the American civil rights movement.

Whereas the landmark 1954 Supreme Court decision in Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka established that racial segregation in public schools violated the Constitution of the United States; Whereas, in September 1957, 9 African-American students (Minnijean Brown, Elizabeth Eckford, Ernest Green, Thelma Mothershed, Melba Pattillo, Gloria Ray, Terrence Roberts, Jefferson Thomas, and Carlotta Walls), known as the Little Rock Nine, became the first African-American students at Little Rock Central High School; Whereas the Little Rock Nine displayed tremendous strength, determination, and courage despite enduring verbal and physical abuse; Whereas Little Rock Central High School was listed in the National Register of Historic Places on August 19, 1977, and was designated a National Historic Landmark on May 20, 1982; Whereas, on November 6, 1998, Congress established the Little Rock Central High School National Historic Site in the State of Arkansas (Public Law 105–356), which is administered in partnership with the National Park Service, the Little Rock Public School System, the City of Little Rock, and other entities; Whereas, in 2007, Little Rock Central High School and the Little Rock Central High School Integration 50th Anniversary Commission will host events to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the Little Rock Nine entering Little Rock Central High School; Whereas these events will include the opening of a new visitors' center and museum, which will feature exhibits on the Little Rock Nine and the road to desegregation; and Whereas Little Rock Central High School continues to be regarded as one of the best public high schools in the United States, with students scoring above the national average on the ACT, PSAT, and PLAN tests and receiving an average of $3,000,000 in academic scholarships each year: Now, therefore, be it

That the Senate— (1)recognizes the extraordinary bravery and courage of the Little Rock Nine, who helped expand opportunity and equality in public education in Arkansas and throughout the United States by becoming the first African-American students at Little Rock Central High School; (2)commemorates the 50th anniversary of the desegregation of Little Rock Central High School, one of the most significant events in the American civil rights movement; (3)encourages all people of the United States to reflect on the importance of this event; and (4)acknowledges that continued efforts and resources should be directed to enable all children to achieve equal opportunity in education in the United States.