[Congressional Bills 118th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 1121 Introduced in House (IH)]

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118th CONGRESS
  2d Session
H. RES. 1121

   Recognizing the 158th anniversary of the Civil Rights Act of 1866.


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                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                             April 9, 2024

 Mr. Jackson of Illinois (for himself, Ms. Norton, Mr. Espaillat, Mrs. 
   Dingell, Mr. Thanedar, Mr. Davis of Illinois, Mr. Grijalva, Mrs. 
    Cherfilus-McCormick, Ms. Tlaib, and Ms. Plaskett) submitted the 
   following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on the 
                               Judiciary

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
   Recognizing the 158th anniversary of the Civil Rights Act of 1866.

Whereas, on April 9, 1866, the Civil Rights Act of 1866 was passed and enacted 
        into law;
Whereas this year marks the 158th anniversary of the Civil Rights Act of 1866;
Whereas the Civil Rights Act of 1866 was the first Federal law to define 
        citizenship and affirm that all citizens are equally protected by the 
        law;
Whereas the intent of the Civil Rights Act of 1866 was to combat the attempted 
        suppression of the Emancipation Proclamation;
Whereas President Andrew Johnson established a reconstruction policy that forced 
        former Confederate States to maintain abolition, swear loyalty to the 
        United States, and pay their war debts in order to rejoin the Union;
Whereas under President Johnson's policy, Southern States adopted and enacted a 
        series of laws designed to restrict freed Blacks and ensure their 
        availability in the labor force;
Whereas these laws severely denied Black citizens equal protection under the 
        law;
Whereas under restricted laws, Blacks were refrained from owning property, 
        entering contracts, and benefiting from labor rights;
Whereas a brave set of legislators believed the Federal Government had a role in 
        shaping a multiracial society in postwar South;
Whereas Senator Lyman Trumbull of Illinois introduced the Civil Rights Act of 
        1866 in the Senate on January 5, 1866;
Whereas, on February 2, 1866, the Senate voted in favor of the bill 33-13;
Whereas, on March 13, 1866, the House of Representatives voted in favor of the 
        Civil Rights Act of 1866 by a vote of 111-38, with 34 Members not 
        voting;
Whereas, on March 27, 1866, President Andrew Johnson vetoed the Civil Rights Act 
        of 1866;
Whereas, on April 6, 1866, the Senate voted 33-15 to override President 
        Johnson's veto;
Whereas, on April 9, 1866, the House also voted to override President Johnson's 
        veto by a vote of 122-41 with 21 Members not voting; and
Whereas as a result of both Chambers voting to override President Johnson's 
        veto, the Civil Rights Act of 1866 became the law of the land: Now, 
        therefore, be it
    Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
            (1) recognizes the significance of the Civil Rights Act of 
        1866 and its impact on establishing that all Americans, despite 
        their race, are protected equally under the law;
            (2) recognizes that the Civil Rights Act of 1866 is the 
        framework from which the Thirteenth and Fourteenth Amendments 
        were crafted; and
            (3) recognizes the importance of the rule of law and 
        advocates to support, protect, and defend the rights of all 
        Americans.
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