[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 156 (Wednesday, December 7, 2005)]
[House]
[Pages H11128-H11130]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




       RECOGNIZING ANNIVERSARY OF RATIFICATION OF 13TH AMENDMENT

  Mr. SENSENBRENNER. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree 
to the resolution (H. Res. 196) recognizing the anniversary of the 
ratification of the 13th Amendment and encouraging the American people 
to educate and instill pride and purpose into their communities and to 
observe the anniversary annually with appropriate programs and 
activities.
  The Clerk read as follows:

                              H. Res. 196

       Whereas on December 6, 1865, the 13th Amendment to the 
     Constitution was ratified, proclaiming that ``neither slavery 
     nor involuntary servitude . . . shall exist within the United 
     States'';
       Whereas the ratification of the 13th Amendment began a 
     civil rights movement which would radically change African 
     American existence in the United States;
       Whereas the 13th Amendment represented a victory for 
     African Americans across the United States, who had been 
     denied the rights of full citizens;
       Whereas the 13th Amendment is a symbol of the Federal 
     Government's commitment to fulfill its promise of equality, 
     liberty, and the American dream for all Americans because it 
     liberated African Americans from the yoke of slavery and 
     launched a new age activism advocating equal rights for all 
     minorities;
       Whereas December 6, 2005, marks the 140th anniversary of 
     the ratification of the 13th Amendment;
       Whereas the observation of the 140th anniversary would put 
     into effect section 2 of the Amendment, by reaffirming 
     Congress' ``power to enforce this article by appropriate 
     legislation''; and
       Whereas the 13th Amendment Foundation supports the 
     establishment of a national day of recognition commemorating 
     the anniversary of the ratification of the 13th Amendment to 
     renew a national commitment to eradicate racial and ethnic 
     inequalities: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
       (1) recognizes the 140th anniversary of the ratification of 
     the 13th Amendment to the Constitution;
       (2) encourages the American people to educate and instill 
     pride and purpose into their communities about the history of 
     liberation and the civil rights movement in the United 
     States; and
       (3) encourages the American people to observe the 
     anniversary of the ratification of the 13th Amendment each 
     year by honoring its significance in United States history 
     with appropriate programs and activities.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from 
Wisconsin (Mr. Sensenbrenner) and the gentlewoman from California (Ms. 
Lee) each will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Wisconsin.


                             General Leave

  Mr. SENSENBRENNER. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all 
Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their 
remarks and include extraneous material on House Resolution 196 
currently under consideration.

[[Page H11129]]

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from Wisconsin?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. SENSENBRENNER. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself as much time as I may 
consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of House Resolution 196, a resolution 
recognizing the anniversary of the ratification of the 13th amendment 
and encouraging the American people to educate and instill pride and 
purpose into their communities and to observe the anniversary annually 
with appropriate programs and activities.
  In his Emancipation Proclamation of 1862, President Lincoln declared 
that, ``All persons held as slaves within any State or designated part 
of a State, the people whereof shall then be in rebellion against the 
United States, shall be then, thence forward and forever free.''
  However, it took the ratification of the 13th amendment on December 
6, 1865 to put an end officially to our Nation's tragic history and to 
extend to all citizens the promises and guarantees upon which this 
country was founded.
  The first of three amendments known as the Civil War amendments, the 
13th amendment liberated African Americans, enabling them and all 
Americans to experience the full meaning of citizenship and equal 
treatment under the law, including participation in the most 
fundamental aspects of our Democratic system of Government without 
regard to race or previous condition of servitude.
  It is against this backdrop that the modern civil rights moment was 
born, and in this spirit that the Committee on the Judiciary, under my 
direction, is now examining certain provisions of the Voting Rights Act 
that are set to expire in 2007.
  The 140th anniversary of the 13th amendment is an important mark in 
our history, and should serve as a reminder to all of our Nation's 
past. Most importantly, this anniversary provides an opportunity to 
reaffirm our collective commitment to continue striving toward a color-
blind society.
  I urge my colleagues to support this resolution.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Ms. LEE. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, first I want to thank the gentleman from Wisconsin (Mr. 
Sensenbrenner), the chairman of the Judiciary Committee, for his 
leadership, for his support in recognizing this important date in our 
Nation's history, and also for ensuring that this resolution comes to 
the floor in a bipartisanship way, and for your support and for really 
reminding the entire country now of this important date.
  Let me also take a moment to thank the gentleman from Michigan (Mr. 
Conyers), our minority leader, who worked very hard with the gentleman 
from Wisconsin to bring this resolution today.
  The gentleman continues to lead Congress in the civil rights 
tradition that actually began 140 years ago. From renewing the Voting 
Rights Act of 1965, to protecting the victims of Hurricane Katrina, he 
is a tireless advocate for civil rights and civil liberties for all 
Americans.
  Let me also take a moment to thank our staff on both sides for their 
diligence and very competent work in bringing this resolution, 
especially Kanya Bennett, Penny Applebaum, David Lockman and Jamila 
Thompson of my staff, who have worked together for over a year now on 
this very, very important effort.
  Let me also express my appreciation to the 13th Amendment Foundation, 
located actually in my district. They have worked diligently to honor 
and to recognize this momentous occasion. And as the gentleman from 
Wisconsin said, it is very important that our young people, especially, 
are reminded of the importance of this 13th amendment and read and 
understand why what happened 140 years ago is very, very important to 
today in 2005.
  I hope that everyone will support this effort to honor the 140th 
anniversary of the ratification of the 13th amendment.

                              {time}  1200

  On December 6, 1865, slavery ended and the deep roots of the modern 
civil rights movement were planted. The 13th amendment was a response 
to the Dred Scott decision of 1856, a ruling that actually declared 
that Congress lacked the power to prohibit slavery in our country. If 
the Dred Scott ruling were still in effect today, Mr. Speaker, I would 
not be standing here, quite frankly, as a Member of Congress, nor would 
the 43 great Congressional Black Caucus Members.
  As someone of African descent, whether free or enslaved, I would be 
considered only three-fifths of a person. I would never qualify as a 
citizen of this country. As the descendant of people who survived the 
Middle Passage, who survived the cruelty of slavery, who survived 
reconstruction, who survived Jim Crow, I know that my life, like the 
lives of millions of African Americans, our lives have been 
inextricably linked to the 13th amendment.
  As we return from celebrating the 50th anniversary of the Montgomery 
Bus Boycott which launched the modern civil rights movements, we really 
are obliged to remember this 140-year history.
  In the 1860s, Representative James Ashley of Ohio, Representative 
James Wilson of Iowa, and Senator Charles Sumner of Massachusetts, all 
Republicans, led the congressional fight to abolish slavery.
  This debate is a very important debate. And again, let me just talk 
about the vote. It was a vote of 119-56 right here on this floor. Our 
predecessors voted to add the following words to our Constitution:
  ``Section 1. Neither slavery nor involuntary servitude, except as a 
punishment for crime whereof the party shall have been duly convicted, 
shall exist within the United States, or any place subject to their 
jurisdiction.
  ``Section 2. Congress shall have the power to enforce this article by 
appropriate legislation.''
  Although the abolition of slavery did not necessarily mean equality 
for all Americans, the process actually began. According to historical 
accounts, on the day of the House vote on January 31, 1865, the 
gallery, which had just been opened, mind you, to African Americans, 
the gallery erupted into cheers and Representatives on the House floor 
were visibly moved, crying and hugging each other. Twelve months later, 
the requisite three-fourths of the States in the Union ratified the 
13th amendment and more than 100 years later another eight States 
followed suit.
  Although not necessary, President Lincoln signed the 13th amendment 
to show a united front to abolish slavery in the United States. A 
treacherous and divisive burden was finally removed and our Nation was 
allowed to unite and truly begin to commit to the pursuit of life, 
liberty, and happiness for all. In fact, the 13th amendment was the 
foundation for future equal rights and legislative actions, like the 
14th amendment, which ensured Federal and State rights to all 
individuals; the 15th amendment, which granted African American men the 
right to vote; and the 19th amendment, which expanded suffrage to all 
women, also the Civil Rights Act and the Voting Rights Act.
  Protecting civil and human rights is not something that really should 
be taken lightly, quite frankly. It requires constant vigilance and 
review. As we honor this great act of our predecessors, we pay tribute 
to the visionaries who sacrificed and fought for our civil rights and 
liberty.
  In 140 years, our country has fought and continues to fight to be a 
united country seeking liberty and justice for all. But it has been a 
long, hard journey; and countless individuals dedicated and continue to 
dedicate their entire lives towards this end. We must all pay tribute 
to the abolitionist movement leaders like Frederick Douglass, Sojourner 
Truth, Harriet Tubman, William Lloyd Garrison, Nat Turner, and John 
Brown.
  And we have all reaped the benefits of the bravery and sacrifices of 
civil rights trail blazers like Dred Scott, Homer Plessy, Linda Brown, 
Ruby Bridges, Rosa Parks, and Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
  There are many more individuals whose names will never ever be 
mentioned in the history books; but they worked hard, they fought, they 
sacrificed for the freedom that we all appreciate today. Collectively, 
we must pay homage to their legacy.
  It is important that we not only honor this great day in history but

[[Page H11130]]

make sure that our children and our grandchildren understand its 
importance, not just to African Americans, but to all Americans and to 
the world.
  This year, with all overwhelming bipartisan support, Congress passed 
resolutions that recognized the hemispheric survivors of the 
transatlantic slave trade and great historical trailblazers like the 
great Honorable Shirley Chisholm and Judge Constance Baker Motley.
  These resolutions actually show how far we have come since the 19th 
century, but we also have a long, long way to go. One hundred forty 
years after slavery was abolished, African Americans and other 
minorities continue to experience social and economic injustices, as 
the recent Hurricane Katrina disaster magnified.
  Within our own borders and throughout the world, human trafficking is 
rampant. It is a modern version, quite frankly, of slavery; and it must 
be abolished. And, of course, we witness every day discrimination 
against those who have no voice. Our work in Congress should be 
straightforward. It is our duty to reaffirm this tradition of justice, 
equality, and liberty for all.
  We have an obligation to ensure that everyone has equal access to 
health care, education, liveable wages, housing, and of course economic 
opportunities. Clearly, we still have much work to do. We have much 
work to do to ensure that discrimination is eliminated, and I mean 
totally eliminated, and that all people are considered equal in the 
eyes of our laws.
  The movement that began with the ratification of the 13th amendment 
must continue. This has not ended. We owe it not only to those who 
suffered and who sacrificed in the past, but more importantly we owe it 
to future generations. The 13th amendment liberated African Americans 
from the yoke of slavery. It liberated America, and we must not forget 
that.
  I urge all of my colleagues to support this resolution. I want to 
thank the gentleman from Wisconsin (Mr. Sensenbrenner) again for 
ensuring this resolution is bipartisan.
  Mr. CONYERS. Mr. Speaker, one hundred and forty years ago, this 
Nation established the foundation with which it could advance freedom 
and equality for all of its people.
  On December 6, 1865, the required 27 of the then 36 states ratified 
the 13th Amendment of the United States Constitution. The 13th 
Amendment states that ``neither slavery nor involuntary servitude . . . 
shall exist within the United States.''
  This profound declaration completed the abolition of slavery which 
had begun with President Abraham Lincoln's Emancipation Proclamation of 
1863. The 13th Amendment marked the official end of the institution of 
slavery and signified a turning point in America.
  The 13th Amendment is the very bedrock on which all of our civil 
rights laws and protections stand. The 13th Amendment led to the 14th 
Amendment of 1868 which provides equal protection under the law to all 
citizens and clarified that African Americans are citizens. Today, the 
13th Amendment has led to the Voting Rights Act of 1965--a protection 
that we are now in the process of re-authorizing.
  As we commemorate the 140th anniversary of the 13th Amendment, we 
must appreciate the principles that the 13th Amendment has advanced--
these principles of freedom and equality. However, on this anniversary, 
this nation must pledge to eradicate from society those ills that 
hinder us from continuing the legacy of the 13th Amendment.
  Today, 1 in 9 African Americans cannot find a job; 1 in 5 African 
Americans is uninsured; and 1 in 4 African Americans lives in poverty. 
These statistics are simply unacceptable.
  Let us mark the 140th anniversary of the 13th Amendment with a 
commitment to eliminate these social and economic inequalities.
  Mr. LEE. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. SENSENBRENNER. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Simpson). The question is on the motion 
offered by the gentleman from Wisconsin (Mr. Sensenbrenner) that the 
House suspend the rules and agree to the resolution, H. Res. 196.
  The question was taken; and (two-thirds having voted in favor 
thereof) the rules were suspended and the resolution was agreed to.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

                          ____________________