[Congressional Bills 111th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. Res. 53 Introduced in Senate (IS)]

111th CONGRESS
  1st Session
S. RES. 53

    Authorizing a plaque commemorating the role of enslaved African-
             Americans in the construction of the Capitol.


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                           February 24, 2009

Mrs. Lincoln (for herself, Mr. Schumer, Mr. Chambliss, and Mr. Bennett) 
submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee 
                      on Rules and Administration

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
    Authorizing a plaque commemorating the role of enslaved African-
             Americans in the construction of the Capitol.

Whereas enslaved African-Americans provided labor essential to the construction 
        of the Capitol;
Whereas enslaved African-Americans performed the backbreaking work of quarrying 
        the stone which comprised many of the floors, walls, and columns of the 
        Capitol;
Whereas enslaved African-Americans toiled in the Aquia Creek sandstone quarry in 
        Stafford County, Virginia and in a marble quarry in Montgomery County, 
        Maryland to produce the stone that would be used in the Capitol;
Whereas the marble columns in the Old Senate Chamber and the sandstone walls of 
        the East Front corridor remain as the lasting legacies of the enslaved 
        African-Americans who worked the quarries;
Whereas enslaved African-Americans also participated in other facets of 
        construction of the Capitol, including carpentry, masonry, carting, 
        rafting, roofing, plastering, glazing, painting, and sawing;
Whereas enslaved African-Americans labored on the Nation's Capitol while they, 
        themselves, were not free;
Whereas the contributions of enslaved African-Americans in the construction of 
        the Capitol have not been acknowledged nor adequately represented in the 
        Capitol;
Whereas no narrative on the construction of the Capitol that does not include 
        the contributions of enslaved African-Americans can fully and accurately 
        reflect the history of the Capitol; and
Whereas recognition of the contributions of enslaved African-Americans brings to 
        all people of the United States an understanding of the continuing 
        evolution of democracy: Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved, That the Senate authorizes and directs--
            (1) the Senate Commission on Art to procure an appropriate 
        plaque acknowledging the role of enslaved African-Americans in 
        the construction of the Capitol; and
            (2) that, under the direction of the Committee on Rules and 
        Administration of the Senate, the plaque shall be placed near 
        the original exterior wall that was constructed between 1793 
        and 1800 in the East Front corridor on the third floor of the 
        Senate wing of the Capitol.
                                 <all>