[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 147 (2001), Part 17]
[Senate]
[Page 23667]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]


[[Page 23667]]

 EXPRESSING THE SENSE OF THE SENATE IN AWARDING THE PRESIDENTIAL MEDAL 
                               OF FREEDOM

  Mr. REID. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent the Senate proceed 
to the immediate consideration of Calendar No. 217, S. Res. 23.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will report.
  The legislative clerk read as follows:

       A resolution (S. Res. 23) expressing the sense of the 
     Senate that the President should award the Presidential Medal 
     of Freedom posthumously to Dr. Benjamin Elijah Mays in honor 
     of his distinguished career as an educator, civil and human 
     rights leader, and public theologian.

  There being no objection, the Senate proceeded to consider the 
resolution.
  Mr. REID. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent the resolution and 
preamble be agreed to en bloc, the motion to reconsider be laid upon 
the table, and any statements relating thereto be printed in the 
Record.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  The resolution (S. Res. 23) was agreed to.
  The preamble was agreed to.
  The resolution, with its preamble, reads as follows:

                               S. Res. 23

       Whereas Dr. Benjamin Elijah Mays, throughout his 
     distinguished career of more than half a century as an 
     educator, civil and human rights leader, and public 
     theologian, has inspired people of all races throughout the 
     world by his persistent commitment to excellence;
       Whereas Benjamin Mays persevered, despite the frustrations 
     inherent in segregation, to begin an illustrious career in 
     education;
       Whereas as dean of the School of Religion of Howard 
     University and later as President of Morehouse College in 
     Atlanta, Georgia, for 27 years, Benjamin Mays overcame 
     seemingly insurmountable obstacles to offer quality education 
     to all Americans, especially African Americans;
       Whereas at the commencement of World War II, when most 
     colleges suffered from a lack of available students and the 
     demise of Morehouse College appeared imminent, Benjamin Mays 
     prevented the college from permanently closing its doors by 
     vigorously recruiting potential students and thereby aiding 
     in the development of future generations of African American 
     leaders;
       Whereas Benjamin Mays was instrumental in the elimination 
     of segregated public facilities in Atlanta, Georgia, and 
     promoted the cause of nonviolence through peaceful student 
     protests during a time in this Nation that was often marred 
     by racial violence;
       Whereas Benjamin Mays received numerous accolades 
     throughout his career, including 56 honorary degrees from 
     universities across the United States and abroad and the 
     naming of 7 schools and academic buildings and a street in 
     his honor; and
       Whereas the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the highest 
     civilian honor in the Nation, was established in 1945 to 
     appropriately recognize Americans who have made an especially 
     meritorious contribution to the security or national 
     interests of the United States, world peace, or cultural or 
     other significant public or private endeavors: Now, 
     therefore, be it
       Resolved, That it is the sense of the Senate that the 
     President should award the Presidential Medal of Freedom 
     posthumously to Dr. Benjamin Elijah Mays in honor of his 
     distinguished career as an educator, civil and human rights 
     leader, and public theologian and his many contributions to 
     the improvement of American society and the world.

                          ____________________