[Congressional Record Volume 146, Number 89 (Wednesday, July 12, 2000)]
[Senate]
[Page S6578]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




    CONCURRENT RESOLUTION 130--ESTABLISHING A SPECIAL TASK FORCE TO 
RECOMMEND AN APPROPRIATE RECOGNITION FOR THE SLAVE LABORERS WHO WORKED 
            ON THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE UNITED STATES CAPITOL

  Mr. ABRAHAM (for himself and Mrs. Lincoln) submitted the following 
concurrent resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Rules and 
Administration:

                            S. Con. Res. 130

       Whereas the United States Capitol stands as a symbol of 
     democracy, equality, and freedom to the entire world;
       Whereas the year 2000 marks the 200th anniversary of the 
     opening of this historic structure for the first session of 
     Congress to be held in the new Capital City;
       Whereas slavery was not prohibited throughout the United 
     States until the ratification of the 13th amendment to the 
     Constitution in 1865;
       Whereas previous to that date, African American slave labor 
     was both legal and common in the District of Columbia and the 
     adjoining States of Maryland and Virginia;
       Whereas public records attest to the fact that African 
     American slave labor was used in the construction of the 
     United States Capitol;
       Whereas public records further attest to the fact that the 
     five-dollar-per-month payment for that African American slave 
     labor was made directly to slave owners and not to the 
     laborer; and
       Whereas African Americans made significant contributions 
     and fought bravely for freedom during the American 
     Revolutionary War: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved by the Senate (the House of Representatives 
     concurring), That--
       (1) the Speaker of the House of Representatives and the 
     President pro tempore of the Senate shall establish a special 
     task force to study the history and contributions of these 
     slave laborers in the construction of the United States 
     Capitol; and
       (2) such special task force shall recommend to the Speaker 
     of the House of Representatives and the President pro tempore 
     of the Senate an appropriate recognition for these slave 
     laborers which could be displayed in a prominent location in 
     the United States Capitol.

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