[Congressional Bills 111th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 596 Introduced in House (IH)]

111th CONGRESS
  1st Session
H. RES. 596

           Expressing support for the Black European Summit.


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                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                             June 26, 2009

Mr. Hastings of Florida (for himself, Mr. Butterfield, Mr. Rangel, Mr. 
 Payne, Mr. Lewis of Georgia, Mr. Meeks of New York, Ms. Corrine Brown 
   of Florida, Ms. Moore of Wisconsin, Mr. Rush, Ms. Clarke, and Mr. 
   Johnson of Georgia) submitted the following resolution; which was 
              referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
           Expressing support for the Black European Summit.

Whereas, on April 15-16, 2009, political leaders from the United States and 
        Europe convened in Brussels, Belgium, at the European Parliament for the 
        ``Black European Summit: Transatlantic Dialogue on Political 
        Inclusion'';
Whereas the historic two-day Summit brought together political and intellectual 
        minority leaders from the United States and Europe to exchange 
        information on the roles of racial and ethnic minority policymakers in 
        developing and supporting policies and initiatives to address racism, 
        discrimination, and inequality;
Whereas Summit participants adopted the ``Brussels Declaration'', which states, 
        ``We recognize that the full access of racial and ethnic minorities to 
        participate in the political sphere and relevant areas of decision 
        making at the levels of national, regional, and locally elected 
        government appropriate to each nation is critical to combating racism 
        and inequality and ensuring our democratic societies'';
Whereas the ``Brussels Declaration'' also states, ``We therefore note the need 
        for concrete strategies to: increase the representation and influence of 
        racial and ethnic minority policymakers; jointly seek solutions to 
        racial and ethnic minorities increased participation in decision-making 
        in the development and implementation of policy initiatives to address 
        discrimination and inequality; and support opportunities to exchange and 
        share perspectives in these areas through the continuance of a 
        transatlantic dialogue to realize these goals.'';
Whereas the ``Brussels Declaration'' resolves to enact initiatives to eradicate 
        racial and ethnic discrimination through ``Reaffirming our continued 
        cooperation and commitment to work with our governments, international 
        institutions, civil society, private sector, and other partners to 
        improve institutions so that they are fully participatory and reflect 
        the democratic principles of equality, justice, and celebration of the 
        strengths of our countries' diversity''; and
Whereas implementation of the Brussels Declaration will begin to address 
        concerns raised at the United States Helsinki Commission Hearings, ``The 
        State of (In)visible Black Europe: Race, Rights, and Politics'', held on 
        April 29, 2008, and ``Racism in the 21st Century: Understanding Global 
        Challenges and Implementing Solutions'', held on July 16, 2008, that 
        highlighted the lack of inclusion of Black and other minority 
        communities in policymaking, especially related to initiatives to combat 
        discrimination and inequality and counter far-right and anti-migrant 
        political platforms: Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
            (1) expresses support for the Black European Summit as an 
        effective forum convened in the spirit of cooperation and 
        partnership for political and intellectual leaders from the 
        European Union and 56 participating states of the Organization 
        for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) to address shared 
        challenges and foster collaboration throughout North America 
        and Europe in the development and implementation of policy 
        initiatives to address racial and ethnic discrimination and 
        inequality; and
            (2) urges the United States to continue and expand efforts 
        to partner with the countries of the OSCE on efforts to combat 
        racism, discrimination, inequality, and inclusion.
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