[Congressional Bills 115th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 1139 Introduced in House (IH)]

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115th CONGRESS
  2d Session
H. RES. 1139

Acknowledging the 50th anniversary of the election of Shirley Anita St. 
      Hill Chisholm, the first African-American woman in Congress.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                            November 9, 2018

Ms. Clarke of New York (for herself, Ms. Lee, Mr. Lewis of Georgia, Mr. 
Larsen of Washington, Ms. Norton, Mr. Bishop of Georgia, Ms. Bass, Mr. 
Jeffries, Ms. Wasserman Schultz, Mr. Cohen, Mr. Brady of Pennsylvania, 
Mr. Hastings, Mr. Lowenthal, Mr. Payne, Mr. Rush, Mr. Danny K. Davis of 
 Illinois, Ms. Jayapal, Mr. Meeks, Ms. Eddie Bernice Johnson of Texas, 
 Ms. Moore, Ms. DelBene, Mr. Cleaver, Mr. Clay, Ms. Kelly of Illinois, 
   Mr. Espaillat, Mr. Scott of Virginia, Ms. Wilson of Florida, Ms. 
Velazquez, Mrs. Watson Coleman, Mr. Higgins of New York, Mr. Cummings, 
 Mrs. Lawrence, Ms. Fudge, Mr. Evans, Ms. Barragan, Mr. David Scott of 
Georgia, Mr. Brown of Maryland, Mr. Schiff, Ms. Kaptur, Mr. Gutierrez, 
   Ms. DeLauro, Mr. Carson of Indiana, Mr. Smith of Washington, Ms. 
Sanchez, Mrs. Beatty, Ms. McCollum, Mr. Johnson of Georgia, Ms. Jackson 
 Lee, Mr. McGovern, Ms. Speier, Ms. Eshoo, Mr. Nadler, Mr. Khanna, Mr. 
Pocan, Mr. Thompson of Mississippi, Mr. McNerney, Ms. Schakowsky, Mrs. 
 Carolyn B. Maloney of New York, Mr. Brendan F. Boyle of Pennsylvania, 
   Mr. Cicilline, Ms. Frankel of Florida, Mr. Soto, and Mr. Moulton) 
submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee 
                        on House Administration

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
Acknowledging the 50th anniversary of the election of Shirley Anita St. 
      Hill Chisholm, the first African-American woman in Congress.

Whereas November 5, 2018, marks the 50th anniversary of the election of 
        Congresswoman Chisholm to the House of Representatives;
Whereas Congresswoman Chisholm was born in Brooklyn, New York, on November 30, 
        1924, to Caribbean immigrant parents, Charles and Ruby Seale St. Hill;
Whereas Congresswoman Chisholm graduated from Brooklyn College in 1946 with a 
        bachelor of arts degree in sociology and from Columbia University with a 
        master of arts in early childhood education in 1952;
Whereas Congresswoman Chisholm was elected the second African American in the 
        New York State Legislature in 1964 and served honorably until 1968;
Whereas Congresswoman Chisholm served seven terms as a Member of Congress from 
        1968 until 1983;
Whereas Congresswoman Chisholm surpassed the twin obstacles of racism and sexism 
        to win the election;
Whereas Congresswoman Chisholm was a fierce critic of the seniority system in 
        Congress, protested her assignment in 1969 to the House Committee on 
        Agriculture, and won reassignment to a committee of the House of 
        Representatives on which she could better serve her inner-city district 
        in Brooklyn, New York;
Whereas after serving on the Committee on Education and Labor for several years, 
        Congresswoman Chisholm accepted a prestigious seat on the House 
        Committee on Rules, becoming the first African American and second woman 
        ever to serve on the powerful panel;
Whereas, in 1972, Congresswoman Chisholm was the first woman and the first 
        African American to seek a nomination from a major political party for 
        President of the United States, which she sought on the Democratic 
        ticket;
Whereas Congresswoman Chisholm campaigned in the primaries of 12 States, won 28 
        delegates, and received 152 first ballot votes at the national 
        convention for the nomination of the Democratic Party for the office of 
        President of the United States;
Whereas Congresswoman Chisholm was a trailblazer who fought tirelessly to end 
        the draft and the Vietnam war;
Whereas Congresswoman Chisholm fought to end apartheid in South Africa;
Whereas Congresswoman Chisholm spoke fluent Spanish and fought for immigrant 
        rights;
Whereas Congresswoman Chisholm was a progressive champion for struggling 
        families;
Whereas Congresswoman Chisholm was a tireless advocate for women's employment in 
        Congress and for civil rights, women's rights, and the poor;
Whereas Congresswoman Chisholm helped create the Supplemental Nutritional 
        Assistance Program (SNAP) and the Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) 
        program;
Whereas Congresswoman Chisholm was a cofounder of the Congressional Black Caucus 
        (CBC) in 1971;
Whereas Congresswoman Chisholm served as the Secretary of the House Democratic 
        Caucus;
Whereas Congresswoman Chisholm was a cofounder of the National Organization for 
        Women;
Whereas Congresswoman Chisholm retired honorably from Congress in 1982;
Whereas in addition to her service as a legislator, Congresswoman Chisholm 
        worked to improve society as a nursery school teacher, director of a 
        childcare facility, consultant for the New York Department of Social 
        Services, and educator;
Whereas from 1983 to 1987, Congresswoman Chisholm taught sociology and politics 
        at Mount Holyoke College;
Whereas, in 1993, then-President Bill Clinton nominated Congresswoman Chisholm 
        to serve as United States Ambassador to Jamaica, but her health 
        prevented her from accepting the position;
Whereas, in 1993, Congresswoman Chisholm was inducted into the National Women's 
        Hall of Fame;
Whereas, on January 1, 2005, Congresswoman Chisholm died at the age of 80 in 
        Ormond Beach, Florida;
Whereas, in 2014, the United States Postal Service issued the Shirley Chisholm 
        Forever Stamp as part of the Black Heritage Series;
Whereas, on November 24, 2015, Shirley Chisholm was posthumously awarded the 
        Presidential Medal of Freedom, the Nation's highest civilian honor;
Whereas the House of Representatives unanimously passed H.Res. 97 on June 12, 
        2001, recognizing the enduring contributions and heroic achievements of 
        Congresswoman Chisholm; and
Whereas Shirley Chisholm was an ``unbossed and unbought'' woman who not only 
        pioneered the way for minorities and women, but also embodied the true 
        definition of leadership which transcends the political arena: Now, 
        therefore, be it
    Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
            (1) acknowledges the 50th anniversary of the election of 
        Shirley Anita St. Hill Chisholm, the first African-American 
        woman in Congress;
            (2) pays tribute to the service of Congresswoman Shirley 
        Chisholm, her work to improve the lives of women and 
        minorities, her steadfast commitment to demonstrating the power 
        of compassion, and her dedication to justice and equality;
            (3) recognizes Congresswoman Chisholm's dedicated work in 
        promoting the rights of all individuals in the United States, 
        particularly in the areas of education, employment, and health 
        care; and
            (4) appreciates Congresswoman Chisholm's extraordinary 
        work, the example of her life, and her legacy which have 
        inspired and empowered many to devote their lives to public 
        service.
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