[Congressional Record Volume 146, Number 134 (Tuesday, October 24, 2000)]
[House]
[Page H10705]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




ESTABLISHING TASK FORCE TO RECOMMEND APPROPRIATE RECOGNITION FOR SLAVE 
          LABORERS WHO WORKED ON CONSTRUCTION OF U.S. CAPITOL

  Mr. EHLERS. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent to take from the 
Speaker's table the Senate concurrent resolution (S. Con. Res. 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, and ask for its immediate consideration in 
the House.
  The Clerk read the title of the Senate concurrent resolution.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from Michigan?
  There was no objection.
  The Clerk read the Senate concurrent resolution, as follows:

                            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.

  The Senate concurrent resolution was concurred in.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

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