[Congressional Bills 111th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 1474 Introduced in House (IH)]

111th CONGRESS
  2d Session
H. RES. 1474

 Commending Harry Belafonte for receiving the Hubert H. Humphrey Civil 
  and Human Rights Award from the Leadership Conference on Civil and 
                             Human Rights.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                             June 24, 2010

 Ms. Richardson (for herself, Mr. Conyers, Mr. Grijalva, Mr. Davis of 
Illinois, Mr. Lewis of Georgia, Mr. Rush, Ms. Corrine Brown of Florida, 
Mr. Stark, Ms. Moore of Wisconsin, Mr. Cohen, Mr. Meek of Florida, Ms. 
 Norton, Mr. Watt, and Mr. Towns) submitted the following resolution; 
          which was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
 Commending Harry Belafonte for receiving the Hubert H. Humphrey Civil 
  and Human Rights Award from the Leadership Conference on Civil and 
                             Human Rights.

Whereas the Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights is a coalition 
        charged by its diverse membership of more than 200 national 
        organizations to promote and protect the civil and human rights of all 
        persons in the United States that, through advocacy and outreach to 
        targeted constituencies, works toward the goal of a more open and just 
        society--an America as good as its ideals;
Whereas Hubert Humphrey's deep commitment and dedication to social justice are 
        legendary, because--

    (1) he devoted his life to public service in the cause of equality;

    (2) elected mayor of Minneapolis in 1945, he quickly ascended to the 
national political scene;

    (3) addressing racial discrimination and anti-Semitism in Minneapolis 
in 1948, he was responsible for the city enacting the Nation's first 
municipal fair employment legislation;

    (4) that same year, amid fierce debate on the direction of civil 
rights, he delivered a fiery speech at the Democratic National Convention 
and spurred the Democratic Party to add a civil rights plank to their 
platform;

    (5) from 1949-1964, he served from Minnesota as one of the Nation's 
most distinguished Senators and was pivotal in the enactment of the 1964 
Civil Rights Act calling its passage ``one of the landmarks of my life'';

    (6) elected vice president of the United States in 1964, he continued 
his selfless advocacy for equality in a free, plural, and democratic 
society;

    (7) in 1971, he resumed his senatorial career, and in 1974 he 
introduced the ambitious Humphrey-Hawkins Full Employment and National 
Growth bill, the first attempt at full employment legislation, which 
eventually passed after his death in 1978; and

    (8) this final legislative achievement stood as a symbol of Humphrey's 
undying commitment to the humanitarian goals of the New Deal;

Whereas as a testament to Hubert Humphrey's exemplary leadership on civil and 
        human rights, the Hubert H. Humphrey Civil and Human Rights Award was 
        established by The Leadership Conference in 1977; and
Whereas Harry Belafonte received the Hubert H. Humphrey Award because--

    (1) he is as well-known for his pursuit of social justice as he is for 
his artistic talent;

    (2) his initiatives in overturning racial barriers throughout society 
are highly acclaimed;

    (3) he served as a confidant to Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., helped to 
organize the March on Washington in 1963, raised funds to free imprisoned 
civil rights protesters, and has been a powerful voice for voting rights;

    (4) as a result of his work as the driving force behind the 1985 ``We 
Are the World'' project, Mr. Belafonte was named a UNICEF Goodwill 
Ambassador in 1987;

    (5) he was an outspoken opponent of Apartheid and is known for his 
longstanding advocacy for the people of Haiti; and

    (6) he remains a tireless advocate of human rights efforts in the 
United States and throughout the world: Now, therefore, be it

    Resolved, That the House of Representatives commends Harry 
Belafonte for receiving the Hubert H. Humphrey Civil and Human Rights 
Award on Wednesday, May 12, 2010, from the Leadership Conference on 
Civil and Human Rights.
                                 <all>