[Congressional Record Volume 146, Number 140 (Monday, October 30, 2000)]
[House]
[Pages H11581-H11583]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                  RECOGNITION OF THE BIRMINGHAM PLEDGE

  Mr. BACHUS. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and concur in 
the Senate amendments to the joint resolution (House Joint Resolution 
102) recognizing that the Birmingham Pledge has made a significant 
contribution in fostering racial harmony and reconciliation in the 
United States and around the world, and for other purposes.
  The Clerk read as follows:

       Senate amendments:
       Strike out all after the resolving clause and insert:

     That--
       (1) Congress recognizes that the Birmingham Pledge is a 
     significant contribution toward fostering racial harmony and 
     reconciliation in the United States and around the world;
       (2) Congress commends the creators, promoters, and 
     signatories of the Birmingham Pledge for the steps they are 
     taking to make the United States and the world a better place 
     for all people; and
       (3) it is the sense of Congress that a particular week 
     should be designated as ``National Birmingham Pledge Week''.
       Strike out the preamble and insert:
       Whereas Birmingham, Alabama, was the scene of racial strife 
     in the United States in the 1950s and 1960s;
       Whereas since the 1960s, the people of Birmingham have made 
     substantial progress toward racial equality, which has 
     improved the quality of life for all its citizens and led to 
     economic prosperity;
       Whereas out of the crucible of Birmingham's role in the 
     civil rights movement of the 1950s and 1960s, a present-day 
     grassroots movement has arisen to continue the effort to 
     eliminate racial and ethnic divisions in the United States 
     and around the world;
       Whereas that grassroots movement has found expression in 
     the Birmingham Pledge, which was authored by Birmingham 
     attorney James E. Rotch, is sponsored by the Community 
     Affairs Committee of Operation New Birmingham, and is 
     promoted by a broad cross section of the community of 
     Birmingham;
       Whereas the Birmingham Pledge reads as follows:
       ``I believe that every person has worth as an individual.
       ``I believe that every person is entitled to dignity and 
     respect, regardless of race or color.
       ``I believe that every thought and every act of racial 
     prejudice is harmful; if it is in my

[[Page H11582]]

     thought or act, then it is harmful to me as well as to 
     others.
       ``Therefore, from this day forward I will strive daily to 
     eliminate racial prejudice from my thoughts and actions.
       ``I will discourage racial prejudice by others at every 
     opportunity.
       ``I will treat all people with dignity and respect; and I 
     will strive to honor this pledge, knowing that the world will 
     be a better place because of my effort.'';
       Whereas commitment and adherence to the Birmingham Pledge 
     increases racial harmony by helping individuals communicate 
     in a positive way concerning the diversity of the people of 
     the United States and by encouraging people to make a 
     commitment to racial harmony;
       Whereas individuals who sign the Birmingham Pledge give 
     evidence of their commitment to its message;
       Whereas more than 70,000 people have signed the Birmingham 
     Pledge, including the President, Members of Congress, 
     Governors, State legislators, mayors, county commissioners, 
     city council members, and other persons around the world;
       Whereas the Birmingham Pledge has achieved national and 
     international recognition;
       Whereas efforts to obtain signatories to the Birmingham 
     Pledge are being organized and conducted in communities 
     around the world;
       Whereas every Birmingham Pledge signed and returned to 
     Birmingham is recorded at the Birmingham Civil Rights 
     Institute, Birmingham, Alabama, as a permanent testament to 
     racial reconciliation, peace, and harmony; and
       Whereas the Birmingham Pledge, the motto for which is 
     ``Sign It, Live It'', is a powerful tool for facilitating 
     dialogue on the Nation's diversity and the need for people to 
     take personal steps to achieve racial harmony and tolerance 
     in communities: Now, therefore, be it

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from 
Alabama (Mr. Bachus) and the gentleman from Virginia (Mr. Scott) each 
will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Alabama (Mr. Bachus).


                             General Leave

  Mr. BACHUS. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may 
have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their remarks 
and include extraneous material on House Joint Resolution 102.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from Alabama?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. BACHUS. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, on June 14, my colleague, the gentleman from Alabama 
(Mr. Hilliard), and I introduced the National Birmingham Pledge 
Resolution. The resolution has over 100 cosponsors, a bipartisan group, 
and it passed the House on quite an overwhelming vote on September 12. 
It went over to the Senate; the Senate made one small change in the 
wording and passed it last week.
  The resolution recognizes that personal efforts to address racism 
will contribute significantly in fostering racial harmony. Individuals 
can, by their actions, make a difference. Anyone who has seen the new 
movie, ``Pay It Forward,'' knows that one person, by their efforts, can 
make a difference in the world.
  The resolution additionally recognizes that the Birmingham Pledge is 
making a significant contribution in fostering racial harmony. It 
commends those involved in the creation of the Pledge, including Jim 
Rotch, who authored the Pledge, and those who have signed it. It 
expresses the sense of Congress that a National Birmingham Pledge week 
should be established.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. SCOTT. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, the Birmingham Pledge recognizes the role that each of 
us can play in advancing the cause of racial harmony and tolerance in 
our society. Birmingham occupies an important place in the history of 
civil rights in America. At one time, when we thought of Birmingham, 
what came to mind were police dogs, fire hoses, racial strife, and Dr. 
Martin Luther King's letter from a Birmingham jail.
  Given the history of Birmingham and the great strides made by that 
community since the outburst of racial violence in the 1960s, it is all 
together appropriate that this Congress acknowledge the contributions 
of those who have played a role in creating and promoting the Pledge. 
The Birmingham Pledge was authored by Birmingham attorney James Rotch 
and has been promoted by a cross-section of the Birmingham community.
  I would like to particularly take note of the leadership played by 
the gentleman from Alabama (Mr. Bachus) and the gentleman from Alabama 
(Mr. Hilliard), who introduced the measure in the House and helped 
shepherd its passage.
  To date, I understand that more than 70,000 individuals have taken 
the Birmingham Pledge, including the President, First Lady, and 
numerous elected officials and civil rights leaders. It is through 
small steps like these that we can combat discrimination and increase 
racial tolerance.
  I commend the citizens of Birmingham who have crafted the Birmingham 
Pledge to create more positive associations with Birmingham and civil 
rights, and I urge my colleagues to accept the Senate amendments.
  Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for time, and I yield back 
the balance of my time.
  Mr. BACHUS. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  In considering this resolution, we should all keep in mind one thing, 
and that is that we are not born with prejudice or bigotry. These are 
things that are learned. In fact, psychologists call it learned 
behavior. By word or by action we teach our children daily. We teach 
them to either be tolerant or to be intolerant; to have prejudices and 
biases against other people because of their race, their origin, or not 
to be. We teach them these things many times, even before they are old 
enough to choose for themselves. We can teach our children to love, or 
we can teach our children to hate. Intolerance is learned; therefore it 
can be unlearned.
  The Pledge can be a part of that process. This is the message we want 
to send Americans today about race relations. Each of us needs to take 
personal responsibility to conduct ourselves in a way that will achieve 
greater racial harmony in our own communities.
  It has been said that events in Birmingham during the early 1960s, 
and my colleague from Virginia referred to some of those, stirred the 
conscience of the Nation and influenced the course of civil rights in 
the world. I know of no other city that has worked harder to overcome 
its missteps and its mistakes than my native city, Birmingham.
  My colleague, the gentleman from Alabama (Mr. Hilliard), when this 
resolution came up before, said that there has been a real positive 
change in race relations in Birmingham other the past 40 years. He and 
I are both natives of Birmingham, and we are proud of the progress that 
our city has made. The Birmingham that has emerged is one built on a 
foundation of racial sensitivity and strength and diversity. Today's 
Birmingham is dedicated not only to preserving the history of its 
struggle but, more importantly, to ending racial intolerance, bigotry, 
and prejudice, not only in Birmingham but around the world. That is why 
this effort is being made by Birmingham civic groups and educational 
groups.
  Mr. Speaker, by passing House Resolution 102, the House will again be 
showing its support for their commendable effort.
  Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from Virginia (Mr. Scott) for his 
support and his kind remarks. He has been a sponsor of this bill since 
the very beginning. In closing, I urge all my colleagues to support 
this worthy resolution.
  Mr. HILLIARD. Mr. Speaker, I am joining with Spencer Bachus in 
presenting this Resolution taking the Birmingham Pledge nationwide.
  I was blessed to be a footsoldier in the civil rights movement, the 
greatest freedom struggle of our times, and it has shaped my life and 
my public service.
  Racism is the cancer that has eaten at the heart of this nation since 
before it was founded, and has defined much of our history.
  Birmingham, and the State of Alabama, which are my home city and 
state, have been in the past among the most guilty of this monstrous 
crime, and Birmingham is now among the most progressive in combating 
it.
  This pledge, written by the people of Birmingham, should be taken to 
heart by every American.
  Let every American sign it; let every American live by it.

                         The Birmingham Pledge

       I believe that a person has worth as an individual.
       I believe that every person is entitled to dignity and 
     respect, regardless of race or color.
       I believe that every thought and every act of racial 
     prejudice is harmful; if it is my

[[Page H11583]]

     thought or act, then it is harmful to me as well as to 
     others.
       Therefore, from this day forward I will strive daily to 
     eliminate racial prejudice from my thoughts and actions.
       I will discourage racial prejudice by others at every 
     opportunity.
       I will treat all people with dignity and respect; and I 
     will strive daily to honor this pledge, knowing that the 
     world will be a better place because of my effort.
  Mr. BACHUS. Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for time, and I 
yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentleman from Alabama (Mr. Bachus) that the House suspend the rules 
and concur in the Senate amendments to the joint resolution, House 
Joint Resolution 102.
  The question was taken; and (two-thirds having voted in favor 
thereof) the rules were suspended and the Senate amendments were 
concurred in.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

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