June 9, 2025.  

Whereas Frederick Douglass was born to an enslaved family in 1818;

Whereas Douglass bravely escaped slavery in 1838, and spent much of his adult life as a journalist in Rochester, New York;

Whereas Douglass published his first newspaper, The North Star, using his own money in the pre-Civil War era;

Whereas Douglass was known for fiercely opposing slavery, championing equal rights and women’s rights, and for being a forceful speaker;

Whereas, during the Civil War, Douglass was a recruiter for the first African-American Army regiment;

Whereas Douglass met twice with President Lincoln, first about the pay and treatment of Black soldiers and then to discuss the President’s desire to assist escaping slaves;

Whereas after Douglass’ Rochester home was destroyed by fire (which Douglass believed resulted from arson), he moved his family to Anacostia in Washington, DC;

Whereas, in 1870, Douglass was asked to become editor of the New National Era, which chronicled the progress of Blacks throughout the United States, and he later bought the paper;

Whereas Douglass was the first Black reporter allowed into the Capitol press galleries, where journalists watch lawmakers on the floors of the Senate and the House of Representatives;

Whereas Douglass was a member of the congressional press galleries from 1871–1875;

Whereas Douglass reported on House and Senate legislation regularly to update the African-American community during Reconstruction following the 13th, 14th, and 15th Amendments to the Constitution;

Whereas Douglass was recorded frequently in the congressional directory and spent a significant amount of time writing and studying from the House Press Gallery;

Whereas Douglass often visited the Capitol following his time as a member of the congressional press galleries;

Whereas Douglass delivered the keynote speech at the unveiling of the Emancipation Memorial in Washington’s Lincoln Park;

Whereas, in 2007, Douglass was recognized by placing a plaque and painting of him in his honor in the House Press Gallery;

Whereas, in 2012, Congress passed and the President signed Public Law 112–174, which directed Frederick Douglass’ statue placement in the Capitol Visitor Center’s Emancipation Hall; and

Whereas Douglass was a pioneer in journalism who broke through glass ceilings throughout one of the most crucial times in American history, exhibited great perseverance to become an American hero, and became a legend known in the House Press Gallery: Now, therefore, be it

Resolved, That the House Press Gallery (Rooms H–315, H–316, H–317, H–318, and H–319 of the United States Capitol) is designated as the “Frederick Douglass Press Gallery”.

Clerk.