[Congressional Bills 113th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 671 Introduced in House (IH)]

113th CONGRESS
  2d Session
H. RES. 671

  Recognizing the 100th anniversary of Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Inc.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                             July 16, 2014

  Mr. Lewis (for himself, Mr. Meeks, Mr. Bentivolio, Mr. Conyers, Mr. 
    David Scott of Georgia, Ms. Eddie Bernice Johnson of Texas, Mr. 
Butterfield, Mr. Cummings, Mr. Bishop of Georgia, Mr. Clay, Ms. Fudge, 
Ms. Lee of California, Mrs. Beatty, Ms. Jackson Lee, Mr. Danny K. Davis 
 of Illinois, Ms. Kelly of Illinois, Mr. Thompson of Mississippi, Ms. 
 Clarke of New York, Ms. Brown of Florida, Mr. Scott of Virginia, Ms. 
Norton, Mr. Al Green of Texas, Mr. Rush, Mr. Cleaver, Mr. Clyburn, Mr. 
Jeffries, Ms. Edwards, Ms. Hahn, and Mr. Johnson of Georgia) submitted 
   the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on 
                      Education and the Workforce

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
  Recognizing the 100th anniversary of Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Inc.

Whereas, on January 9, 1914, at Howard University, 3 African-American male 
        students, A. Langston Taylor, Leonard F. Morse, and Charles I. Brown, 
        founded Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Inc.;
Whereas the founders of Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Inc., a nonprofit 
        organization, wished to create an organization that viewed itself as ``a 
        part of'' the community rather than ``apart from'' the community, and 
        believed each potential member should be judged by his own merits, 
        rather than his family background, affluence, race, nationality, skin 
        tone, or hair texture;
Whereas the founders of Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Inc., wanted to organize a 
        Greek letter fraternity that would exemplify the ideals of brotherhood, 
        scholarship, and service, which is mirrored in the motto of Phi Beta 
        Sigma Fraternity, Inc., ``Culture For Service and Service For 
        Humanity'';
Whereas Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Inc., has evolved into a historical 
        institution with a membership of more than 150,000 college-educated men 
        and 650 chapters worldwide;
Whereas the mission and administrative theme of Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Inc., 
        is to represent ``one Fraternity working together to transform our 
        communities'', meaning the greatest contribution of Phi Beta Sigma 
        Fraternity, Inc., is to assure that communities are improved, enhanced, 
        and impacted holistically, resulting in stronger, healthier, and wiser 
        populations;
Whereas Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Inc., has invested in youths through Sigma 
        Beta Club, which equips youths with the tools to grow into effective, 
        well-rounded leaders;
Whereas Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Inc., has been a leader in eradicating hazing 
        with the Anti-Hazing Awareness Campaign, which includes a national anti-
        hazing week, workshops, training videos, and other educational 
        materials;
Whereas Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Inc., has supported vocational opportunities 
        globally through the Ghana School Project;
Whereas Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Inc., has demonstrated leadership in the 
        effort to improve health care access and outcomes for men of color 
        through the Sigma Wellness: Living Well Brother-to-Brother Initiative;
Whereas Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Inc., has remained an active and committed 
        participant in the democratic process by instituting Project Vote, which 
        continuously registers, educates, and encourages citizens to participate 
        in the democratic process;
Whereas the current members of Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Inc., inherit a legacy 
        built by former members who have left remarkable imprints in their 
        fields, including renowned scientist and inventor George Washington 
        Carver, writer and educator Alain LeRoy Locke, author and civil rights 
        activist James Weldon Johnson, labor-movement leader A. Philip Randolph, 
        former United States Representative Arthur W. Mitchell, former President 
        of Nigeria Benjamin Nnamdi Azikiwe, former President of Ghana Kwame 
        Nkrumah, former Mayor of Chicago Harold Washington, civil rights leader 
        Hosea Williams, former President of Liberia William Vacanarat Shadrach 
        Tubman, and the first elected Governor of the United States Virgin 
        Islands Melvin Herbert Evans; and
Whereas Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Inc., continues to make a difference in 
        United States and foreign communities, always following in the footsteps 
        of its founders and upholding the commitment of Phi Beta Sigma 
        Fraternity, Inc., to be great stewards of brotherhood, scholarship, and 
        service: Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
            (1) recognizes the centennial anniversary of the founding 
        of Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Inc.; and
            (2) applauds and honors Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Inc., 
        and all its members for a century of fortitude and 
        distinguished service to the people of the United States and 
        the global community.
                                 <all>