[Congressional Record Volume 152, Number 24 (Wednesday, March 1, 2006)]
[House]
[Pages H461-H466]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 HONORING AND PRAISING THE NATIONAL ASSOCIATION FOR THE ADVANCEMENT OF 
         COLORED PEOPLE ON THE OCCASION OF ITS 97TH ANNIVERSARY

  Mr. SENSENBRENNER. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree 
to the concurrent resolution (H. Con. Res. 335) honoring and praising 
the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People on the 
occasion of its 97th anniversary.
  The Clerk read as follows:

                            H. Con. Res. 335

       Whereas the National Association for the Advancement of 
     Colored People (NAACP), originally known as the National 
     Negro Committee, was founded in New York City on February 12, 
     1909, the centennial of Abraham Lincoln's birth, by a 
     multiracial group of activists who answered ``The Call'' for 
     a national conference to discuss the civil and political 
     rights of African Americans;
       Whereas the National Association for the Advancement of 
     Colored People was founded by a distinguished group of 
     leaders in the struggle for civil and political liberty, 
     including Ida Wells-Barnett, W.E.B. DuBois, Henry Moscowitz, 
     Mary White Ovington, Oswald Garrison Villiard, and William 
     English Walling;
       Whereas the NAACP is the oldest and largest civil rights 
     organization in the United States;
       Whereas the mission of the NAACP is to ensure the 
     political, educational, social, and economic equality of 
     rights of all persons and to eliminate racial hatred and 
     racial discrimination;
       Whereas the NAACP is committed to achieving its goals 
     through nonviolence;
       Whereas the NAACP advances its mission through reliance 
     upon the press, the petition, the ballot, and the courts, and 
     has been persistent in the use of legal and moral persuasion, 
     even in the face of overt and violent racial hostility;
       Whereas the NAACP has used political pressure, marches, 
     demonstrations, and effective lobbying to serve the voice, as 
     well as the shield, for minority Americans;
       Whereas after years of fighting segregation in public 
     schools, the NAACP, under the leadership of Special Counsel 
     Thurgood Marshall, won one of its greatest legal victories in 
     the Supreme Court's 1954 decision in Brown v. Board of 
     Education;
       Whereas in 1955, NAACP member Rosa Parks was arrested and 
     fined for refusing to give up her seat on a segregated bus in 
     Montgomery, Alabama--an act of courage that would serve as 
     the catalyst for the largest grassroots civil rights movement 
     in the history of the United States;
       Whereas the NAACP was prominent in lobbying for the passage 
     of the Civil Rights Acts of 1957, 1960, and 1964, the Voting 
     Rights Act of 1965, and the Fair Housing Act, laws which 
     ensured Government protection for legal victories achieved; 
     and
       Whereas in 2005, the National Association for the 
     Advancement of Colored People launched the Disaster Relief 
     Fund to help survivors in Louisiana, Mississippi, Texas, 
     Florida, and Alabama to rebuild their lives: Now, therefore, 
     be it
       Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate 
     concurring), That the Congress--
       (1) recognizes the 97th anniversary of the historic 
     founding of the National Association for the Advancement of 
     Colored People; and
       (2) honors and praises the National Association for the 
     Advancement of Colored People on the occasion of its 
     anniversary for its work to ensure the political, 
     educational, social, and economic equality of all persons.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from 
Wisconsin (Mr. Sensenbrenner) and the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Al 
Green) 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 within which to revise and extend 
their remarks and include extraneous material on House Concurrent 
Resolution 335 currently under consideration.
  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 such time as I may 
consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of House Concurrent Resolution 
335, a resolution honoring the National Association for the Advancement 
of Colored People on the occasion of its 97th anniversary.
  This resolution recognizes that the NAACP has played an important 
role in helping to ensure that our constitutional guarantees are 
extended to all citizens.
  Founded on the centennial of Republican President and Great 
Emancipator Abraham Lincoln's birthday in 1909, the NAACP represents 
America's oldest civil rights organization. Through members such as 
Rosa Parks, who ignited the national civil rights movement, and former 
Justice Thurgood Marshall, whose leadership led to the landmark legal 
victory in Brown v. Board of Education, the NAACP has helped galvanize 
efforts to promote the promise of equality that our Constitution 
envisioned.
  Through nonviolent means, the NAACP led the Nation's effort to seek 
passage of the 1957, 1960, 1964, and 1968 civil rights acts. 
Challenging Federal, State, and local officials and governments to 
accord equal legal treatment to all citizens, the NAACP has sought to 
promote racial equality in areas such as education, employment, 
housing, and public facilities.
  In 1965, the NAACP led the movement to seek passage of the Voting 
Rights Act of 1965, one of the most significant pieces of legislation 
passed during the 20th century. Committed to extending the protections 
of the 15th amendment and the Voting Rights Act to all African 
Americans, the NAACP worked tirelessly to register tens of thousands of 
new voters despite threats of violence. The NAACP has helped advance 
each reauthorization effort, including in 1982, when I was privileged 
to lead that bipartisan effort with my Democratic colleagues. I will 
lead that bipartisan effort with my Democratic colleagues again this 
spring when the Voting Rights Act is once again renewed.
  I urge my colleagues to support this resolution to recognize the 
NAACP for

[[Page H462]]

their contributions toward equality in America.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. AL GREEN of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may 
consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from Wisconsin. I especially thank 
him for his kind words with reference to the NAACP and his indication 
that he will lead the charge, in fact be a part of the avant garde, 
with reference to extending the Voting Rights Act. I thank you for 
this.
  Mr. Speaker, I am honored that the House leadership has chosen to 
bring House Concurrent Resolution 335 before this august body. This 
resolution honors the 97th anniversary of the National Association for 
the Advancement of Colored People; and as I rise to the occasion, I 
would like to thank those who have made the occasion possible.
  First, I would like to thank Chairman Sensenbrenner, chairman of the 
powerful Judiciary Committee. He has spoken eloquently. I thank you for 
your kind words again; and I also want to, for the record, say you did 
what you did not have to do, and for this, I thank you.
  I would like to thank ranking member John Conyers, who is now the 
dean of the conscience of the Congress. I thank you for helping us to 
bring this piece of legislation to the floor of the House.
  I would also like to take an opportunity and thank my good friend 
Congressman Henry Hyde, who was the first to sign on to this 
resolution. He gave his word, and I have learned that Henry Hyde's word 
is his bond; and I thank Mr. Hyde.
  Finally, my heartfelt thanks go out to all 67 of my colleagues who 
cosponsored this resolution, as well as all who will support it, both 
Democrats and Republicans alike.
  Mr. Speaker, because I do not know where we would be but for the 
NAACP, I cannot help but say thank God for the NAACP and the many other 
persons of goodwill who have fought racial injustice, because, Mr. 
Speaker, in our lifetime we can recall a time when racial injustice, as 
someone has said, was accepted by the masses and expected by the 
classes.
  It was commonplace. It was every place. Politicians campaigned on it; 
judges decreed it; lawyers practiced it; policemen enforced it; 
preachers preached it; parents believed it; teachers taught it; and 
children learned it. We were all consumed by it.
  However, the NAACP and others of goodwill helped to change this, and 
I am honored to say that this change has brought about significant 
progress in this country for African Americans and other minorities.
  Hence, it is desired that this resolution not only honor the NAACP as 
an entity, but also the entire NAACP family and extended family, 
including the many people of goodwill who were not black, who put 
themselves in harm's way to end racial injustice.
  We should never forget that the NAACP has not been, is not now, and 
never shall be a black-only organization. The NAACP has always been a 
multiracial organization. Yes, in remembering some of the great names 
associated with the organization, we should remember that Dr. Louis T. 
Wright became the first black board chair of the NAACP in 1935. 
However, as we remember Dr. Wright, we ought not forget Oswald Garrison 
Villiard who was not black, who in 1911 became the first chair of the 
board of the NAACP. Before the NAACP had its first black board chair, 
it had two that were not black.
  We should remember James Weldon Johnson, who became the first black 
executive secretary director of the NAACP. However, we should not 
forget Francis Blascon, Mary White Ovington, Mary Nurney, Royall Nash. 
All of these persons we might remember were not black and served before 
James Weldon Johnson.
  We should remember the brilliant black lawyer and Supreme Court 
Justice, as the chairman has mentioned, Thurgood Marshall. However, we 
should never forget Arthur Singarn who was not black. Arthur Singarn 
donated money, he raised money, and he headed the NAACP Legal Redress 
Committee. It has been said that Thurgood was a great litigator in part 
because Singarn was a great donator. The NAACP annually awards its 
highest honor in the name of Singarn.
  We should remember Medgar Evers, the black NAACP field representative 
who was assassinated in his front yard in 1963; but, please, let us not 
forget John R. Shillady, the NAACP executive secretary who never 
recovered from a mob beating in Austin, Texas, in 1919. He gave his 
life in the fight for justice for all, and he was not black.
  The point is, we did not get here by ourselves; and we thank God for 
the many who were not black who helped us in our quest for justice.
  Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentleman who I have announced earlier is 
the conscience of the Congress and that, of course, is Congressman 
Conyers. We thank you for being with us, Congressman.
  (Mr. CONYERS asked and was given permission to revise and extend his 
remarks.)
  Mr. CONYERS. Thank you, Mr. Green, for yielding just briefly to add 
to your remarks. I am pleased to join with you and with the chairman of 
Judiciary, James Sensenbrenner, in this 97th anniversary remembrance of 
the greatest civil rights organization that we have in this country. I 
can say to Congressman Green that your initiation of this resolution 
recognizing the 97th anniversary of the NAACP could not be more timely.
  I just want to add one name. We are all mentioning all of these names 
in the course of 97 years. We are dealing with the most serious social 
problem in America that has never yet been resolved that we have been 
working on. We have a voter rights extension bill in the Committee on 
the Judiciary about to come forward.

                              {time}  1330

  We are bringing people together. We are working as hard as we can.
  And I was just at a meeting yesterday in which I was reminded that we 
have the likes of Ted Shaw of the Legal Defense Fund; Greg Moore, the 
executive director of the National Voter Fund; and in Detroit we have 
the largest branch in the United States, with a current membership of 
more than 45,000 people, led by Reverend Wendell Anthony of Fellowship 
Chapel. So all of this makes such a rich history.
  And I am glad, now that we have done Black History Month, that we 
have come along with this 97th anniversary resolution, because this 
issue has to be studied every month. We have to examine where we are 
and where we are going. And I am so pleased at all the Members on the 
floor here and many others that will be submitting statements which 
recognize the depth, the importance and the significance of a 
resolution recognizing nearly 100 years of the National Association for 
the Advancement of Colored People in this long struggle, hard-fought 
struggle that has promoted goodwill and tried to make America live up 
to the promise of our constitutional democracy.
  Mr. AL GREEN of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I yield 4 minutes to the 
gentleman from Maryland (Mr. Cummings).
  Mr. CUMMINGS. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman very much for his 
leadership and for the leadership of Chairman Sensenbrenner, and to all 
who celebrate the 97th anniversary of the NAACP.
  Mr. Green earlier said that there were so many people who gave their 
lives, gave their blood, sweat and tears, and he mentioned Medgar 
Evers. But I just want to talk about another member of the NAACP, and 
his name was Harry Moore. He was a devoted husband, father, educator, 
and one of the first civil rights martyrs of our time. His tireless 
efforts and unselfish sacrifice in the name of social justice continues 
to inspire and empower Americans of all stripes, even now, over 50 
years after his death.
  Harry Tyson Moore was born in Houston, Florida, on November 18, 1905. 
After his father's death, his mother sent her only son to live with his 
three aunts in Jacksonville, Florida. In the prosperous and 
intellectual community of Jacksonville, Mr. Moore cultivated his 
intelligence and excelled. After graduating from Florida Memorial 
College in 1925, he moved to Cocoa, Florida. He settled in Brevard 
County teaching fourth grade at the only African American elementary 
school in the area.
  While there, he went on to meet his future wife, Hariette Simms. In 
time,

[[Page H463]]

Mr. Moore became principal of the Titusville Colored School, which 
taught children from the fourth to ninth grade. In March 1928 and 
September 1930, the Moores welcomed two daughters into the world. With 
his family and professional life in place, Mr. Moore began an 
additional career in political activism.
  In 1934, Mr. Moore founded the Brevard County branch of the NAACP. In 
1937, by working with the Black Florida State Teachers Association and 
NAACP attorney Thurgood Marshall, he was a catalyst towards the 
movement of equalizing salaries of black and white teachers. Although 
he lost the court battle, he would ultimately win the war. Make no 
mistake, his actions inspired many others, and ultimately Mr. Moore 
helped achieve pay parity among teachers of color with their white 
counterparts.
  I wish I had time to tell the entire story, but on one Christmas Eve 
Mr. Moore and his family were blown to pieces because of his work in 
the NAACP.
  So many people never hear the name Harry Moore, but he was another 
tireless fighter, lifting up the rights for all people, and he is one 
of the people who make it possible for the Congressional Black Caucus 
today to number some 43.
  I thank the NAACP on its 97th anniversary and I urge all Members to 
support this resolution.
  Mr. AL GREEN of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may 
consume for one final statement.
  In summary, Mr. Speaker, I would like to restate to a certain extent 
some of what the chairman has said: that the NAACP has accomplished 
great things for this country. The NAACP was involved in passing the 
Civil Rights Acts of 1957, 1960, and 1964. The NAACP was there to fight 
and help pass the Voting Rights Act of 1965, the Fair Housing Act of 
1968, and the NAACP filed and won Shelly v. Cramer, as well as Barrows 
v. Jackson, outlawing restrictive covenants. The NAACP filed and won 
Brown v. Board of Education, integrating schools and, to a certain 
extent, integrating society.
  And, Mr. Speaker, if truth be told, we are schooled where we are 
schooled, we work where we work, we sleep where we sleep, we eat where 
we eat, and we live where we live in great measure due to the NAACP.
  Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. SENSENBRENNER. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may 
consume.
  Mr. Speaker, last summer, I was honored to be invited to address the 
NAACP convention, which was held in Milwaukee, and I got a very good 
reception in talking about reauthorizing the Voting Rights Act, which 
my committee will be dealing with shortly, as well as overturning the 
Supreme Court's erroneous decision in the case of Kelo v. City of New 
London, Connecticut, which basically said that there were no 
constitutional protections against a municipality using eminent domain 
to take a person's private property simply because the city fathers and 
mothers decided that there would be a way to get more tax revenue out 
of that piece of land.
  That bill has passed the House of Representatives and is currently 
pending in the other body, and I hope we can have eminent domain reform 
passed during this session of Congress, as well as the reauthorization 
of the Voting Rights Act.
  Mr. Speaker, I submit for inclusion at this point in the Record the 
speech that I gave to the NAACP convention in Milwaukee on July 10, 
2005.

       Good evening. Thank you for this opportunity to talk 
     briefly about two important issues facing us right now: an 
     extension of the Voting Rights Act and the Supreme Court's 
     recent 5-4 decision in the Kelo case, which held that the 
     government can use ``economic development'' as a reason for 
     taking private property.
       Among my proudest moments was accompanying members of the 
     NAACP and Dr. Marsha Coleman-Adebayo for the signing of the 
     No FEAR Act, legislation that aims to stamp out 
     discrimination in federal agencies. The bipartisan passage of 
     No FEAR, the first civil rights legislation of the 21st 
     century, should serve as a model for future civil rights 
     bills.
       On August 5,2005, the United States will celebrate the 40th 
     anniversary of one of the most significant pieces of 
     legislation enacted during the 20th Century--the Voting 
     Rights Act. This profound legislation pushed back against 
     those unwilling to treat all citizens as equals and restored 
     the dignity and equality that our Constitution is intended to 
     preserve for all citizens.
       Our democratic system of government has as its most 
     fundamental right the right of its citizens to participate in 
     the political process. Adopted 135 years ago, the 15th 
     Amendment ensures that no American citizen's right to vote 
     can be denied or abridged by the United States or a State on 
     account of race, color, or previous condition of servitude. 
     As far too many here know and have experienced, some 
     government entities have not only been unfaithful to the 
     rights and protections afforded by the Constitution, but have 
     aggressively--and sometimes violently--tried to 
     disenfranchise African-American and other minority voters.
       In his momentous speech delivered to Congress on March 15, 
     1965, President Lyndon B. Johnson stated, ``[e]xperience has 
     clearly shown that the existing process of law cannot 
     overcome systematic and ingenious discrimination. No law that 
     we now have on the books--and I have helped to put three of 
     them there--can ensure the right to vote when local officials 
     are determined to deny it. In such a case our duty must be 
     clear to all of us. The Constitution says that no person 
     shall be kept from voting because of his race or color. We 
     have all sworn an oath before God to support and to defend 
     that Constitution. We must now act in obedience to that 
     oath.''
       Seeing the Voting Rights Act's impact compelled me in 1982 
     to lead the House Republican effort to extend it for 25 
     years. This effort wasn't easy--but then again, very 
     important things never are. While I proudly display in my 
     Washington office one of the pens President Ronald Reagan 
     used to sign this extension, the fruits of this effort can 
     best be seen on the faces of those not only participating in 
     the political process but actively leading it.
       In the 1960s, all major civil rights legislation was passed 
     with strong bipartisan support. Lately, this has not been the 
     case as some have tried to use the issue of civil rights to 
     obtain a partisan advantage. This is both wrong and 
     shortsighted. The stakes have not been higher in the past 20 
     years.
       In 2007, several key protections contained in the Voting 
     Rights Act will expire, including the federal oversight 
     protections provided by Section 5. I am here to tell you 
     publicly what I have told others privately, including the 
     head of the Congressional Black Caucus, Representative Mel 
     Watt--during this Congress we are going to extend the Voting 
     Rights Act. I am not alone in the Congress in supporting an 
     extension; indeed, House Speaker Dennis Hastert last week 
     stated that reauthorization of the Voting Rights Act is high 
     on his list of issues the House will address this Congress.
       Soon I will be introducing legislation to extend the Voting 
     Rights Act. Just like its enactment and its 1982 extension, 
     this bipartisan effort will succeed. Ladies and gentlemen, 
     while we have made progress and curtailed injustices thanks 
     to the Voting Rights Act, our work is not yet complete. We 
     cannot let discriminatory practices of the past resurface to 
     threaten future gains. The Voting Rights Act must continue to 
     exist--and exist in its current form.
       I also want to mention my strong opposition to the Supreme 
     Court's recent 5-4 decision in the Kelo case, which held that 
     the government can use ``economic development'' as a reason 
     for taking private property from one small homeowner and 
     giving it to a large corporation simply because the 
     corporation's greater wealth will bring the government more 
     tax revenue.
       As the NAACP so correctly noted in its brief filed with the 
     Supreme Court in the Kelo case, ``The takings that result 
     [from the Court's decision] will disproportionately affect 
     and harm the economically disadvantaged and, in particular, 
     racial and ethnic minorities and the elderly.''
       The noxious practice endorsed by the Court's Kelo decision 
     has generated bipartisan opposition. Last week, I introduced 
     H.R. 3135, the ``Private Property Rights Protection Act of 
     2005,'' with the Ranking Member of the Judiciary Committee, 
     Mr. Conyers, as the lead Democratic cosponsor, and 
     Representatives Maxine Waters, Sheila Jackson-Lee, and 87 
     additional Members as original cosponsors.
       This legislation would prevent the Federal government from 
     using economic development as a justification for taking 
     privately-owned property. It would also prohibit any State or 
     municipality from doing so whenever Federal funds are 
     involved with the project for which the government's takings 
     power is exercised.
       American taxpayers should not be forced to contribute in 
     any way to the abuse of government power. One man's home must 
     not become a hotel or strip mall solely because the 
     government seeks more tax revenue. I am looking forward to 
     working with you and all organizations opposed to the Supreme 
     Court's Kelo decision. We must ensure that churches, homes, 
     farms, and other private property cannot be bulldozed in 
     abusive land grabs that benefit other private individuals, 
     who claim that their use of the land will increase tax 
     revenues.
       Last week, America celebrated the 229th anniversary of her 
     independence. Let us all work towards the day--envisioned by 
     our Founders and affirmed by Frederick Douglass--in which the 
     rich inheritance of justice, liberty, prosperity, and 
     independence bequeathed by our Founders is shared by all 
     Americans.
       Ladies and gentlemen, I look forward to continuing to work 
     together and thank you for this opportunity to address you.


[[Page H464]]


  Mr. CUMMINGS. Mr. Speaker, as our Nation recognizes and celebrates 
the 97th Anniversary of the National Association for the Advancement of 
Colored People, NAACP, I rise today to pay homage to the momentous 
contributions of the organization to our nation. In so doing, I would 
like to highlight the life and legacy of one of its most impressive, 
but relatively unknown leaders, Harry T. Moore.
  Harry T. Moore was one of the first civil rights martyrs of our time. 
A devoted husband, father, educator, his tireless efforts and unselfish 
sacrifice in the name of social justice continue to inspire and empower 
Americans of all stripes, even now, over 50 years after his death.
  Harry Tyson Moore was born in Houston, Florida on November 18, 1905. 
After his father's death his mother sent her only son to live with his 
three aunts in Jacksonville, Florida. In the prosperous and 
intellectual community of Jacksonville, Mr. Moore cultivated his 
intelligence and excelled. After graduating from Florida Memorial 
College in 1925, he moved to Cocoa, Florida. He settled in Brevard 
County teaching fourth grade at the only African-American elementary 
school in the area.
  While there, he went on to meet his future wife, Hariette Vyda Simms. 
In time, Mr. Moore became principal of the Titusville Colored School, 
which taught children from the fourth to ninth grade. In March 1928 and 
September 1930, the Moore's welcomed two daughters into the world. With 
his family and professional life in place, Mr. Moore began an 
additional career in political activism.
  In 1934, Mr. Moore founded the Brevard County NAACP chapter. In 1937, 
by working with the Black Florida State Teacher's Association and NAACP 
attorney Thurgood Marshall, he catalyzed a movement to equalize the 
salaries of Black and White teachers. Although he lost the court 
battle, he would ultimately win the war. Make no mistake, his actions 
inspired many others and ultimately, Mr. Moore helped achieve pay 
parity among teachers of color and their White counterparts.
  In 1941, he organized the Florida State Conference of the NAACP and 
worked as an executive secretary without compensation. His platform 
also broadened as he began to add his voice to issues such as Black 
voting disenfranchisement, segregated education, and later in 1943, 
lynchings and police brutality. He began to organize protests, and 
write and circulate letters voicing his concerns about the issues.
  He also organized the Progressive Voter's League and with his 
persistence and diligence, in 1948, helped over 116,000 Black voters 
register, which represented 31 percent of the African-American voting 
population in the Florida Democratic Party. In 1946, due to his role in 
the League, Mr. Moore and his wife were terminated from their jobs. Mr. 
Moore then took on a full-time paid position as an organizer for the 
NAACP. However, in 1949, over Mr. Moore's objection, the national NAACP 
office raised the dues from $1 to $2, causing a substantial amount of 
members to revoke their membership. This marked only the beginning of a 
strained relationship between Mr. Moore and the national NAACP office.
  During that same year, the landmark Groveland rape case occurred, in 
which four African-American men were falsely accused of raping a White 
woman. Although the men were brutally beaten and no evidence suggested 
that the woman was raped, one of the men was killed, one was given a 
life sentence, and the other two were sentenced to death.
  With Mr. Moore's assistance in conjunction with the legal counsel of 
the NAACP, the case went to the U.S. Supreme Court and the conviction 
for the two sentenced to death was overturned. However, Sheriff Willis 
McCall, a known White supremacist, shot the two men to death as he was 
driving them to their pre-trial hearing. Recognizing this tragic 
injustice, Mr. Moore vigorously advocated for the indictment of Sheriff 
McCall.
  Sadly, Mr. Moore never lived to see the outcome of his work in this 
case. On the eve of his 25th wedding anniversary and Christmas Day 
1951, Mr. Moore and his wife were killed when a bomb placed underneath 
their bed in the floor detonated. Mr. Moore died in his mother's arms 
on the way to the hospital while Harriet died only nine days later.

  Following the Moores' murder, there was a public outcry in the 
African-American community. Despite massive amounts of mail sent to 
President Truman and the Florida Governor in protest and the many 
protests and memorials organized demanding justice, no arrests were 
made in relation to the horrendous crime.
  In no uncertain terms, Harry T. Moore led without permission, without 
acknowledgment, and without fear. What made his vision so tangible was 
the fact that he believed he could achieve what he set before himself. 
In a speech his daughter gave in 2002, she stated, ``Daddy started the 
movement. He had absolutely nobody but us, and yet he accomplished all 
of those things--the voting, the teacher salaries all of the lynchings 
that he investigated. That's a very important part of history.''
  Mr. Speaker, Harry T. Moore's story is one of such importance as we 
celebrate the 97th anniversary of the NAACP and reflect on the success 
of its past and present leaders. Although the victories achieved by the 
organization are historic, it should be understood that ordinary people 
by the tens of thousands won our freedom.
  For 97 years, the multi-racial membership of the NAACP--ordinary 
people called to an extraordinary mission--have marched, demonstrated 
and lobbied for justice in a movement for peaceful change felt in every 
aspect of American life.
  That is why we must celebrate and praise the NAACP and recall these 
stories. For these stories are not only told to recall the achievements 
of African-American trailblazers, but to offer the next Harry T. Moore, 
W.E.B. Dubois, Ida Wells-Barnett, and Lena K. Lee the hope, promise, 
direction, and purpose needed to rise from the ordinary to achieve the 
extraordinary.
  I shall conclude with an excerpt of the heartfelt words written by 
Langston Hughes in memory of Harry T. Moore: In his heart is only love 
For all the human race, And all he wants is for every man To have his 
rightful place. And this he says, our Harry Moore, As from the grave he 
cries: No bomb can kill the dreams I hold For freedom never dies!
  Mr. CARDIN. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of H. Con. Res. 335 
and to thank my colleague, Mr. Green, for introducing this resolution. 
It is important for all of us to honor the National Association for the 
Advancement of Colored People on the occasion of its 97th anniversary 
for the many achievements that highlight their long and distinguished 
history.
  As a native of Baltimore and a lifetime member of the NAACP, this 
resolution holds special importance for me. The NAACP has been 
headquartered in Baltimore since 1986, continuing a long tradition of 
civil rights prominence for the city. Thurgood Marshall, also a son of 
Baltimore, was one of the NAACP's premier advocates and later our 
nation's first African American Justice.
  Founded in February 1909 by members of the Niagara Movement, the 
NAACP has been a catalyst for America's evolution. Its founding members 
included Ida Wells-Barnett, Henry Moscowitz, and William Edward 
Burghardt DuBois. Their heroic efforts formed the foundation that 
helped spark the Civil Rights Movement. They and future generations 
confronted daily the evils of Jim Crow, and challenged more subtle but 
equally pernicious forms of racial discrimination. The NAACP has led 
efforts to construct a society based on equality, respect, and 
understanding between all citizens. Its legislative accomplishments are 
legendary--the 1957 Civil Rights Act, the Civil Rights Act of 1960 and 
1964, the Voting Rights Act of 1965, and the 1968 Fair Housing Rights 
Act among them.
  Over the years, the list of NAACP pioneers has included Walter White, 
Charles Hamilton Houston, Rosa Parks, Medgar Evers, Elaine Jones, and 
many thousands of other brave freedom fighters. The NAACP challenged 
school segregation in Brown v. Board of Education, and residential 
segregation in Buchanan v. Warley. It fought segregation in government 
institutions, resulting in its eventual repeal. It defeated Supreme 
Court nominations of those who would deny equal rights. It mobilized 
voters in the South at a time when the very lives of their volunteers 
were threatened. And it continues to shine a beacon of light for equal 
justice.
  But the NAACP represents so much more than these landmark laws and 
court decisions; it represents a voice for change, a clarion call to 
end the vicious and destructive stereotypes that too often still divide 
rather than unite our country; and a vehicle for raising of the 
collective consciousness of America.
  Current President and CEO Bruce Gordon leads a strong and vibrant 
association of more than half a million members, with seven regional 
offices and hundreds of local branches, united in purpose.
  For nearly a century, the NAACP has set the standard for effecting 
meaningful social change. I am proud to congratulate the NAACP on this 
97th anniversary, I look forward to its centennial, and I urge my 
colleagues to unanimously support this resolution.
  Mr. SCOTT of Virginia. Mr. Speaker, I am delighted to recognize the 
National Association for the Advancement of Colored People on its 97th 
anniversary. The NAACP holds a very special meaning to me. One honor I 
especially treasure is being named Virginia's first individual Golden 
Heritage Life Member. That honor was a great addition to the honor of 
having served as president of the Newport News chapter. The NAACP also 
holds a special place in the collective memory of all of our people.
  The NAACP is an organization that has made a difference from the very 
beginning. In 1909, 60 prominent Americans, including Ida B. Wells-
Barnett and W.E.B. DuBois, met on the occasion of the 100th anniversary 
of the

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birth of Abraham Lincoln to discuss racial violence and social justice. 
Out of that meeting, the NAACP was born--with the goal of securing 
rights, liberties and protections for all Americans, as guaranteed by 
the Constitution.
  The NAACP has always fought against injustices by using nonviolent 
protests, the press, the ballot, and the courts. The NAACP took on the 
President of the United States in 1918 and President Wilson finally 
publicly condemned lynching. During World War I, the NAACP successfully 
campaigned for African Americans to be commissioned as officers in the 
army. And in World War II, the NAACP pressured Roosevelt into ordering 
a non-discriminatory policy in war-related industries and Federal 
employment.
  In 1946, the NAACP won the Morgan v. Virginia case where the Supreme 
Court banned states from having segregated facilities on buses and 
trains that crossed state borders. And in 1948, the NAACP pressured 
President Truman into signing the Executive Order that banned 
discrimination in the armed forces. In 1954, the NAACP won its landmark 
legal case--Brown v. the Board of Education--declaring ``separate and 
equal'' unconstitutional.
  Through the 50s and 60s protests made a lot of difference. In 1955, 
NAACP member Rosa Parks was arrested and fined for refusing to give up 
her seat on a segregated bus in Montgomery, Alabama. This led to the 
Montgomery bus boycott, which led to the emergence of Rev. Martin 
Luther King, Jr. All of these events led to the passage of the 1964 
Civil Rights Act, the 1965 Voting Rights Act, President Johnson's 1965 
Executive Order banning employment discrimination in Federal contracts, 
the 1968 Fair Housing Act, and other landmark civil rights reforms.
  The NAACP is what the late Bishop Stephen Gill Spotswood, a former 
National Board Chairman, has called ``the oldest, largest, most 
effective, most consulted, most militant, most feared and most loved of 
all civil rights organizations in the world.'' Bishop Spotswood's 
statement remains true today.
  In the 21st Century, the NAACP is needed as much as ever to make a 
difference--at all levels--National, State and local. Despite victories 
won long ago we are still facing challenges. In its 97th year, the 
NAACP needs to continue its great legacy of contribution and commitment 
to ensure that these hard-won civil rights will always be protected. 
Congratulations on your 97th anniversary.
  Mr. HOLT. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H. Con. Res. 335, 
legislation that recognizes the 97th anniversary of the National 
Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP), and 
acknowledges the many contributions of the NAACP in helping to create a 
more equitable and just society.
  The NAACP is the oldest civil rights organization in the United 
States, and blazed the trail towards equal justice for all Americans. 
The organization has consistently used nonviolent means to achieve its 
goals, and, to this day, emphasizes dutiful civic participation as the 
best way to promote and protect civil rights.
  Ninety-seven years ago this month, a handful of intrepid Americans, 
including W.E.B. DuBois, Ida Wells Barnett, Mary White Ovington, Oswald 
Garrison Villiard, William English Walling, and Henry Moscowitz chose 
to push America towards its highest ideals, forming the National Negro 
Committee, which would later come to be known as the National 
Association for the Advancement of Colored People. In 1954, the NAACP 
achieved one of its greatest victories when the Supreme Court ordered 
in the Brown v. Board of Education the desegregation of public schools 
across the nation ``with all deliberate speed.'' The NAACP Special 
Counsel who won this battle would go on to become one of America's 
greatest legal minds, Justice Thurgood Marshall.
  One year later, in 1955, Rosa Parks' refusal to yield her seat on a 
segregated bus served as the impetus for the broader Civil Rights 
Movement. Parks, a lifelong devotee to the Movement, was a member of 
the NAACP. In its fight for equality for racial minorities, the NAACP 
lobbied tirelessly for the passage of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and 
the Voting Rights Act of 1965. These two laws served to enshrine for 
all the cherished constitutional rights that too many had been deprived 
of for too long, by redressing serious shortcomings in the morality of 
our nation.
  The NAACP continues to fight for the rights of Americans confined to 
the corners of our society. As recently as last year, the NAACP created 
the Disaster Relief Fund to aid those who suffered tremendously in the 
wake of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita. The NAACP maintains active 
branches nationwide, including one in the 12th District of New Jersey, 
located in Trenton. I am proud of the NAACP members who live in my 
Congressional District for the work they do to continue to advance the 
struggle for civil rights in our country.
  The NAACP has gracefully and tirelessly fought for the political, 
social, economic, and educational rights of all Americans, and has 
sought to ensure that our nation recognized the inalienable rights of 
all citizens, regardless of race, class, or ethnicity. The enormity of 
the NAACP's contributions is immeasurable, and I am proud to join with 
my colleagues in supporting this resolution.
  Ms. SCHAKOWSKY. Mr. Speaker, today we honor the 97th Anniversary of 
the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP). 
Since the NAACP was founded on February 12, 1909, it has been committed 
to achieving its goals through non-violence. As the oldest and largest 
civil rights organization in the United States, NAACP's mission is to 
ensure the political, educational, social, and economic equality of 
rights for all persons and to eliminate racial hatred and racial 
discrimination. Its half million adult and youth members throughout the 
United States are the premier advocates for civil rights in their 
communities.
  This resolution allows us to acknowledge the efforts of the NAACP, 
including its leadership in lobbying for the passage of landmark laws 
such as the Civil Rights Acts of 1957, 1960, and 1964, the Voting 
Rights Act of 1965, and the Fair Housing Act of 1968. In the aftermath 
of Hurricane Katrina, the NAACP launched the Disaster Relief Fund, 
which has raised almost $2 million to aid the survivors in Louisiana, 
Mississippi, Texas, Florida, and Alabama. Once again, the NAACP is 
helping individuals, families and communities in their efforts to 
recover from disasters and build for the future.
  We also celebrate the life, legacy and struggles of civil rights 
pioneers. Recently, the nation suffered a tremendous loss with the 
passing of Mrs. Coretta Scott King and Mrs. Rosa Parks, two phenomenal 
women who were advocates for civil rights and aided in the mission of 
the NAACP.
  Today, the NAACP remains a valiant crusader for freedom and equality. 
This anniversary is the occasion to celebrate a heroic past and great 
achievements and to redouble our efforts for the future. We've come a 
long way but we have many miles yet to go. I urge my colleagues to join 
me in honoring the NAACP on its 97th Anniversary.
  Ms. WATERS. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of H. Con. Res. 335 
which honors the NAACP on its 97th anniversary.
  I rise because of the sacrifice of Goodman, Cheney and Schwerner, 
Thurgood Marshall and Rosa Parks. I rise and stand on the shoulders of 
Daisy Bates, Emmett Till and the great Medgar Evans. I rise because the 
NAACP is the oldest and largest civil rights organization in the United 
States and has been a force to be reckoned with in every stage of this 
country's battle for racial equality.
  They were there when four little girls died when the 16th Street 
Baptist Church was bombed in Montgomery, AL. They were there with the 
Little Rock Nine when they entered the doors of Central High in Little 
Rock, AR. They were there fighting for equal educational opportunities 
in the landmark case of Brown v. Board of Education.
  And more recently, they were present during the battle to end 
apartheid in South Africa and they continue to fight for increased 
voter participation and human equality not only in this Nation, but 
across the world.
  These battles have been waged in the face of intense adversity and 
widespread resistance, yet the NAACP has endured for 97 years. 
Throughout the civil rights movement, freedom fighters proclaimed with 
pride that they were ``card carrying members of the NAACP.'' They knew 
then, as we know now, that the NAACP not only stands for equality, it 
stands for justice, fairness and a better way of life.
  We must not forget that the NAACP is the name but the organization is 
comprised of people. Everyday people that have dedicated their lives to 
making this world a better place.
  So, in honoring the NAACP today, I also honor the people, of all 
races, that have united as advocates for civil rights and human 
equality.
  Ms. EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to 
honor the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People on 
its 97th anniversary. Following the violent race riots in Springfield, 
IL, in 1909, Ida Wells-Barnett, W.E.B. DuBois, Henry Moscowitz, Mary 
White Ovington, Oswald Garrison Villiard, and William English Walling 
came together in New York to form one of the oldest, largest and most 
influential civil rights organizations in America.
  These founders came together with the purpose of promoting and fully 
recognizing the rights and equality given under the 13th, 14th, and 
15th amendments to the Constitution. Today, the NAACP works to ensure a 
society in which all individuals have equal rights and there is no 
racial hatred or racial discrimination.
  The NAACP has influenced some of the greatest civil rights victories 
of the last century, including: integration of schools and the Brown v. 
Board decision, the Voting Rights Act, striking down segregation and 
Jim Crow,

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the Equal Employment Opportunity Act, and hundreds of community and 
grassroots initiatives.
  Despite the advancements of the past 97 years under the leadership of 
the NAACP, there is still much work to be done. In the Black community 
we continue to see disproportionate numbers of African-Americans that 
experience poverty, unemployment, and economic and social inequality. 
The NAACP continues to promote new ideas and leadership in the fields 
of educational and employment opportunities, ending health care 
disparities, and economic empowerment.
  The NAACP instilled in America a sense of consciousness, and 
continues to do that today through the thousands of individuals who 
have given not only their time, but their blood, sweat and tears, 
towards equality and justice.
  Mr. SHAYS. Mr. Speaker, I strongly support House Concurrent 
Resolution 335, which honors the National Association for the 
Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) for their many achievements on 
their anniversary.
  For 97 years, the NAACP has led the fight for racial equality in 
America. Although considerable progress has been made, there is still 
so much more to be done.
  The NAACP has battled for decades in order to change many negative 
aspects of American society. They have helped people of all races, 
nationalities and faiths unite on one premise, that all men and women 
are created equal.
  From W.E.B. DuBois to Thurgood Marshall to Bruce Gordon, the NAACP 
has played an instrumental role in helping eliminate racial prejudice 
and removing barriers of racial discrimination through the democratic 
process.
  H. Con. Res. 335 underscores the importance of the NAACP and how big 
of a role they have played in evening the playing field for all 
citizens, regardless of their race. I support of this important 
resolution.
  Mr. SENSENBRENNER. Mr. Speaker, this is a good resolution, I urge all 
Members to support it, and I yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Bradley of New Hampshire). The question 
is on the motion offered by the gentleman from Wisconsin (Mr. 
Sensenbrenner) that the House suspend the rules and agree to the 
concurrent resolution, H. Con. Res. 335.
  The question was taken; and (two-thirds having voted in favor 
thereof) the rules were suspended and the concurrent resolution was 
agreed to.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

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