[Congressional Bills 114th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 557 Introduced in House (IH)]

<DOC>






114th CONGRESS
  1st Session
H. RES. 557

 Recognizing the establishment of the Congressional Patriot Award and 
congratulating the first award recipients, Sam Johnson and John Lewis, 
       for their patriotism and selfless service to the country.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                            December 8, 2015

  Mr. Larson of Connecticut (for himself and Mr. Cole) submitted the 
  following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on House 
                             Administration

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
 Recognizing the establishment of the Congressional Patriot Award and 
congratulating the first award recipients, Sam Johnson and John Lewis, 
       for their patriotism and selfless service to the country.

Whereas the Congressional Patriot Award will be awarded once every 2 years to 
        members of Congress, a Republican and a Democrat, found to have 
        performed patriotic deeds worthy to be remembered, in that they 
        demonstrate the immeasurable value of placing the interests and goals of 
        the nation above all other interests in a manner which brings 
        credibility and honor to the institution of Congress;
Whereas Sam Johnson and John Lewis have dedicated their lives to the betterment 
        of our Nation both prior to and during their service in the United 
        States Congress;
Whereas Sam Johnson served in the Air Force for 29 years, flying in combat 
        missions in both the Korean and Vietnam Wars;
Whereas Johnson is one of the few Members of Congress to have flown combat 
        missions;
Whereas, on April 16, 1966, Johnson's plane was shot down over Vietnam during 
        his 25th combat mission, suffering a broken arm and back, and a 
        dislocated shoulder;
Whereas Johnson endured nearly seven years of repeated torture while a POW in 
        Hanoi, Vietnam, including 42 months in solitary confinement in a 3x9 
        foot dirt cell with a light constantly on;
Whereas he spent 72 days in leg stocks, 2\1/2\ years in leg irons, and 
        experienced severe starvation;
Whereas Johnson was part of a group of 11 prisoners known as the Alcatraz Gang 
        (Hanoi Hilton), who represented prisoners separated from other captives 
        for their resistance to their captors;
Whereas he never gave in to his captors demands for information;
Whereas Johnson was released from captivity during Operation Homecoming in 1973;
Whereas upon return, Johnson was awarded two Silver Stars, two Legions of Merit, 
        the Distinguished Flying Cross, one Bronze Star with Valor, two Purple 
        Hearts, four Air Medals, and three Outstanding Unit Awards;
Whereas Johnson was awarded the National Patriot Award from the Congressional 
        Medal of Honor Society in 2009, the society's highest civilian award;
Whereas Johnson began a homebuilding company after retiring from the Air Force 
        in 1979;
Whereas Johnson was elected to the Texas State House of Representatives where he 
        served for seven years;
Whereas Johnson wrote an autobiography titled Captive Warriors: A Vietnam 
        P.O.W.'s Story in 1992;
Whereas Johnson was elected into the U.S. House of Representatives in 1991, 
        representing the 3rd District of Texas;
Whereas Johnson's strength of character and devotion to others has made him an 
        effective and admired member of the United States House of 
        Representatives;
Whereas John Lewis is known as one of the most courageous individuals of the 
        Civil Rights Movement;
Whereas Lewis participated in the 1961 Freedom Rides, sitting in seats reserved 
        for Whites in bus terminals along the South;
Whereas Lewis was imprisoned for 40 days in the Mississippi State Penitentiary 
        for participating in Freedom Rides in the State;
Whereas Lewis was beaten nearly unconscious at the Greyhound bus station in 
        Montgomery, Alabama, for his participation in the Freedom Rides;
Whereas in 1963, at age 23, Lewis was named Chairman of the Student Nonviolent 
        Coordinating Committee (SNCC), responsible for raising student activism 
        in the community;
Whereas Lewis was a designer and youngest keynote speaker at the historic March 
        on Washington in August of 1963;
Whereas, along with Hosea Williams, Lewis led 600 protesters along the Edmund 
        Pettus Bridge in Selma, Alabama, to Montgomery, Alabama, as a 
        demonstration for their right to vote;
Whereas during the March, the protesters, including Lewis, were beaten by 
        Alabama state police, an event would be the catalyst to the passage of 
        the Voter Rights Act in 1965;
Whereas Lewis became the director of the Voter Education Project, which would 
        help nearly four million minorities become voters;
Whereas in 1977, President Carter appointed Lewis to direct the more than 
        250,000 volunteers of ACTION, the Federal volunteer agency;
Whereas Lewis is the recipient of the highest civilian honor granted by 
        President Barack Obama, the Medal of Freedom, the Lincoln Medal from the 
        historic Ford's Theatre, the Golden Plate Award given by the Academy of 
        Excellence, the Preservation Hero award given by the National Trust for 
        Historic Preservation, the Capital Award of the National Council of La 
        Raza, the Martin Luther King, Jr. Non-Violent Peace Prize, the 
        President's Medal of Georgetown University, the NAACP Spingarn Medal, 
        the National Education Association Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial 
        Award, and the only John F. Kennedy ``Profile in Courage Award'' for 
        Lifetime Achievement ever granted by the John F. Kennedy Library 
        Foundation;
Whereas Lewis was elected to Congress in 1987, representing the 5th District of 
        Georgia;
Whereas Lewis' courage and leadership have made him one of the strongest and 
        most revered members of the United States House of Representatives; and
Whereas once in every biennial Congress, Members of the House should gather to 
        reflect on the lifelong service and dedication these men so willingly 
        give to their country: Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved, That the House of Representatives commemorates 
Representative Sam Johnson and Representative John Lewis for their 
patriotic service and sacrifice to the country they love and for 
becoming the first ever recipients of the Congressional Patriot Award.
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