[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 153 (2007), Part 19]
[House]
[Pages 26198-26202]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                              {time}  1300
    COMMISSION ON THE ABOLITION OF THE TRANSATLANTIC SLAVE TRADE ACT

  Mr. PAYNE. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill 
(H.R. 3432) to establish the 200th Anniversary Commemoration Commission 
of the Abolition of the Transatlantic Slave Trade, and for other 
purposes, as amended.
  The Clerk read the title of the bill.
  The text of the bill is as follows:

                               H.R. 3432

       Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of 
     the United States of America in Congress assembled,

     SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

       This Act may be cited as the ``Commission on the Abolition 
     of the Transatlantic Slave Trade Act''.

     SEC. 2. FINDINGS AND PURPOSE.

       (a) Findings.--Congress finds the following:
       (1) On March 2, 1807, President Thomas Jefferson signed 
     into law a bill approved by the Congress ``An Act to prohibit 
     the importation of slaves into any port or place within the 
     jurisdiction of the United States'' (hereinafter in this Act 
     referred to as the ``1808 Transatlantic Slave Trade Act'') 
     and made it unlawful ``to import or bring into the United 
     States or territories thereof from any foreign kingdom, place 
     or country, any negro, mulatto, or person of colour, with 
     intent to hold, sell, or dispose of such. . .as a slave, or 
     to be held to service or labour''.
       (2) Article I, Section 9 of the United States Constitution 
     clearly spelled out that the international slave trade could 
     not be banned before 1808, and it is only on January 1, 1808, 
     that the 1808 Transatlantic Slave Trade Act went into effect.
       (3) An Act entitled ``An Act to continue in force `An act 
     to protect the commerce of the United States, and punish the 
     crime of piracy,' and also to make further provisions for 
     punishing the crime of piracy'', enacted May 15, 1820, made 
     it unlawful for any citizen of the United States to engage 
     ``in the slave trade, or . . ., being of the crew or ship's 
     company of any foreign ship . . ., seize any negro or mulatto 
     . . . with the intent to make . . . a slave . . . or forcibly 
     bring . . . on board any such ship . . . .''.
       (4) The transatlantic slave trade entailed the kidnapping, 
     purchase, and commercial export of Africans, mostly from West 
     and Central Africa, to the European colonies and new nations 
     in the Americas, including the United States, where they were 
     enslaved in forced labor between the 15th and mid-19th 
     centuries.
       (5) The term ``Middle Passage'' refers to the horrific part 
     of the transatlantic slave trade when millions of Africans 
     were chained together and stowed by the hundreds in 
     overcrowded ships where they were forced into small spaces 
     for months without relief as they were transported across the 
     Atlantic Ocean to the Americas.
       (6) During the Middle Passage, enslaved Africans resisted 
     their enslavement through non-violent and violent means, 
     including hunger strikes, suicide, and shipboard revolts, the 
     most historically-recognized events taking place on board the 
     Don Carlos in 1732 and on board the Amistad in 1839.
       (7) Scholars estimate that, at a minimum, between 
     10,000,000 and 15,000,000 Africans survived the Middle 
     Passage, were imported as chattel through customs houses and 
     ports across the Americas, and were sold into slavery.
       (8) The thirteenth amendment to the Constitution of the 
     United States recognizes that ``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.''.
       (9) The slave trade and the legacy of slavery continue to 
     have a profound impact on social and economic disparity, 
     hatred, bias, racism, and discrimination, and continue to 
     affect people in the Americas, particularly those of African 
     descent.
       (10) In 2007, the British Parliament marked the 200th 
     anniversary of the abolition of the slave trade in the former 
     British Empire with plans launched by the Department for 
     Education and Skills which provided joint funding of 
     910,000 ($1,800,000) for the Understanding 
     Slavery Initiative, and the Heritage Lottery Fund announced 
     awards of over 20,000,000 ($40,000,000) for 
     projects to commemorate the anniversary.
       (b) Purpose.--The purpose of this Act is to establish the 
     Commission on the Abolition of the Transatlantic Slave Trade 
     to--

[[Page 26199]]

       (1) ensure a suitable national observance of the 
     bicentennial anniversary of the abolition of the 
     transatlantic slave trade by sponsoring and supporting 
     commemorative programs;
       (2) cooperate with and assist programs and activities 
     throughout the United States in observance of the 
     bicentennial anniversary of the abolition of the 
     transatlantic slave trade;
       (3) assist in ensuring that the observations of the 
     bicentennial anniversary of the abolition of the 
     transatlantic slave trade are inclusive and appropriately 
     recognize the experiences of all people during this period in 
     history;
       (4) support and facilitate international involvement in 
     observances of the bicentennial anniversary of the abolition 
     of the transatlantic slave trade; and
       (5) study the impact of the transatlantic slave trade on 
     the United States and the Americas.

     SEC. 3. ESTABLISHMENT OF COMMISSION.

       There is established a commission to be known as the 
     ``Commission on the Abolition of the Transatlantic Slave 
     Trade'' (referred to in this Act as the ``Commission'').

     SEC. 4. MEMBERSHIP, DUTIES, AND RELATED MATTERS.

       (a) Membership.--
       (1) In general.--
       (A) The Commission shall be composed of 9 members, of 
     whom--
       (i) 3 shall be appointed by the Speaker of the House of 
     Representatives;
       (ii) 2 shall be appointed by the majority leader of the 
     Senate;
       (iii) 2 shall be appointed by the minority leader of the 
     House of Representatives; and
       (iv) 2 shall be appointed by the minority leader of the 
     Senate.
       (B) Each appointing authority described in subparagraph (A) 
     shall appoint the initial members of the Commission not later 
     than 30 days after the date of the enactment of this Act.
       (2) Qualifications.--Members of the Commission shall be 
     individuals with demonstrated expertise or experience in the 
     study and program facilitation on the transatlantic slave 
     trade and the institution of slavery as it relates to the 
     United States and the Americas.
       (3) Term; vacancies.--
       (A) Term.--A member of the Commission shall be appointed 
     for the life of the Commission.
       (B) Vacancies.--
       (i) In general.--A vacancy on the Commission shall be 
     filled in the same manner in which the original appointment 
     was made.
       (ii) Partial term.--A member appointed to fill a vacancy on 
     the Commission shall serve for the remainder of the term for 
     which the predecessor of the member was appointed.
       (4) Meetings.--
       (A) In general.--The Commission shall meet--
       (i) as many times as necessary; or
       (ii) at the call of the Chairperson or the majority of the 
     members of the Commission.
       (B) Initial meeting.--Not later than 30 days after the date 
     on which all members of the Commission have been appointed, 
     the Commission shall hold its initial meeting.
       (C) Notice of meetings.--All Commission members shall be 
     given reasonable advance notice of all Commission meetings.
       (D) Appointment of chairperson and executive director.--Not 
     later than 60 days after the date on which all members of the 
     Commission have been appointed, the Commission shall--
       (i) designate 1 of the members as Chairperson; and
       (ii) select an executive director as described under 
     subsection (d)(2).
       (5) Voting.--
       (A) In general.--The Commission shall act only on an 
     affirmative vote of a majority of the members of the 
     Commission.
       (B) Quorum.--A majority of the members of the Commission, 
     which includes at least 1 member appointed pursuant to clause 
     (iii) or (iv) of paragraph (1)(A), shall constitute a quorum 
     for conducting business but fewer members may meet or hold 
     hearings.
       (b) Duties.--
       (1) In general.--The Commission shall--
       (A) plan, develop, and execute programs and activities 
     appropriate to commemorate the bicentennial anniversary of 
     the abolition of the transatlantic slave trade;
       (B) facilitate commemoration-related activities throughout 
     the United States;
       (C) encourage civic, historical, educational, religious, 
     economic, and other organizations, as well as State and local 
     governments, throughout the United States to organize and 
     participate in anniversary activities to expand the 
     understanding and appreciation of the significance of the 
     transatlantic slave trade and the institution of slavery, 
     particularly as it relates to the United States;
       (D) coordinate and facilitate for the public scholarly 
     research on, publication about, and interpretation of, the 
     transatlantic slave trade and the institution of slavery, 
     particularly as it relates to the United States;
       (E) assist in the development of appropriate programs and 
     facilities to ensure that the bicentennial anniversary of the 
     abolition of the transatlantic slave trade provides a lasting 
     legacy and long-term public benefit;
       (F) support and facilitate marketing efforts for the 
     issuance of a commemorative coin, postage stamp, and related 
     activities for observances;
       (G) facilitate the convening of a joint meeting or joint 
     session of the Congress for ceremonies and activities 
     relating to the transatlantic slave trade and the institution 
     of slavery, particularly as it relates to the United States;
       (H) promote the sponsorship of conferences, exhibitions, or 
     public meetings concerning the transatlantic slave trade and 
     the institution of slavery, particularly as it relates to the 
     United States;
       (I) coordinate and facilitate the sponsorship of high 
     school and collegiate essay contests concerning the 
     transatlantic slave trade and the institution of slavery, 
     particularly as it relates to the United States; and
       (J) examine reports of modern-day slavery and human 
     trafficking to raise the public's awareness of these matters 
     and ensure such atrocities do not go unnoticed by the people 
     of the United States.
       (2) Initial report.--Not later than March 31, 2009, the 
     Commission shall submit to the Congress a report containing a 
     summary of the activities of the Commission for 2008.
       (c) Powers of the Commission.--The Commission may--
       (1) accept donations and gift items related to the 
     transatlantic slave trade, the institution of slavery, and 
     the significance of slavery to the history of the United 
     States;
       (2) appoint such advisory committees as the Commission 
     determines necessary to carry out this Act;
       (3) authorize any member or employee of the Commission to 
     take any action that the Commission is authorized to take 
     under this Act;
       (4) procure supplies, services, and property, and make or 
     enter into contracts, leases, or other legal agreements, to 
     carry out this Act (except that any contracts, leases, or 
     other legal agreements made or entered into by the Commission 
     shall not extend beyond the date of the termination of the 
     Commission); and
       (5) use the United States mails in the same manner and 
     under the same conditions as other Federal agencies.
       (d) Personnel Matters.--
       (1) Compensation of members of the commission.--
       (A) Basic pay.--Members of the Commission shall not receive 
     compensation for the performance of their duties on behalf of 
     the Commission.
       (B) Travel expenses.--Upon approval of the Chairperson, a 
     member of the Commission shall be allowed travel expenses, 
     including per diem in lieu of subsistence, at rates 
     authorized for an employee of an agency under subchapter I of 
     chapter 57 of title 5, United States Code, while away from 
     their homes or regular place of business in the performance 
     of their duties on behalf of the Commission.
       (2) Staff.--
       (A) In general.--The Chairperson of the Commission shall, 
     without regard to the civil service laws (including 
     regulations), appoint and terminate an executive director and 
     such other additional personnel as are necessary to enable 
     the Commission to perform its duties.
       (B) Executive director.--
       (i) Qualifications.--The person appointed executive 
     director shall have demonstrated expertise or experience in 
     the study and program facilitation on the transatlantic slave 
     trade and the institution of slavery, particularly as it 
     relates to the United States.
       (ii) Confirmation.--The employment of an executive director 
     shall be subject to confirmation by the members of the 
     Commission.
       (C) Compensation.--The Chairperson of the Commission may 
     fix the compensation of the executive director and other 
     personnel without regard to the provisions of chapter 51 and 
     subchapter III of chapter 53 of title 5, United States Code, 
     relating to classification of positions and General Schedule 
     pay rates, except that the rate of pay for the executive 
     director and other personnel may not exceed the rate payable 
     for level V of the Executive Schedule under section 5316 of 
     such title.
       (D) Volunteer and uncompensated services.--Notwithstanding 
     section 1342 of title 31, United States Code, the Commission 
     may accept and use voluntary and uncompensated services as 
     the Commission determines necessary.
       (e) Procurement of Temporary and Intermittent Services.--
     The Chairperson of the Commission may procure temporary and 
     intermittent services in accordance with section 3109(b) of 
     title 5, United States Code, at rates for individuals that do 
     not exceed the daily equivalent of the annual rate of basic 
     pay prescribed for level V of the Executive Schedule under 
     section 5316 of that title.
       (f) Non-Applicability of FACA.--Section 14(b) of the 
     Federal Advisory Committee Act (5 U.S.C. App.) shall not 
     apply to the Commission.

     SEC. 5. TERMINATION.

       (a) Date of Termination.--The Commission shall terminate on 
     December 31, 2009.
       (b) Final Report.--Upon termination, the Commission shall 
     submit to the Congress a report containing--
       (1) a detailed statement of the activities of the 
     Commission; and

[[Page 26200]]

       (2) a final accounting of the funds received and expended 
     by the Commission.

     SEC. 6. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

       There are authorized to be appropriated such sums as may be 
     necessary to carry out this Act.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from New 
Jersey (Mr. Payne) and the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Poe) each will 
control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from New Jersey.


                             General Leave

  Mr. PAYNE. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members have 
5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their remarks and 
include extraneous material on the bill under consideration.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from New Jersey?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. PAYNE. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of this bill and 
yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, first of all, let me thank the chairman of the 
committee, Mr. Lantos, for moving this bill through expeditiously, and 
also the cooperation of our friend, the gentlewoman from Florida (Ms. 
Ros-Lehtinen), for assisting in the moving of this bill through our 
committee.
  Let me say that January 1, 2008, will mark the 200th anniversary of 
the Act to Prohibit the Importation of Slaves, which effectively ended 
the legal transatlantic slave trade. I am proud to be the sponsor of 
H.R. 3432. The Bicentennial Abolition of the Transatlantic Slave Trade 
Commemoration Commission Act of 2007, is the total title, to honor the 
victims and survivors of the transatlantic slave trade.
  The bill before us establishes a commission to cultivate and preserve 
the memory of a grave injustice in American history, the transatlantic 
slave trade, and to mark the trade's conclusion at the hands of our 
President at that time, Thomas Jefferson.
  In the early years of the Republic, the transatlantic slave trade 
constituted a thriving economic vein of the United States. By 1807, 
millions of Africans had been captured and transported to the Americas 
on notorious slave vessels. We may recall ``Roots.'' The 30th 
anniversary of that is being lived out now, which so vividly showed 
that era. As a matter of fact, it was the most watched series on 
television, even today.
  Many individuals perished as a result of torture, including rape, 
malnutrition and disease. Those who survived faced miserable prospects 
of a lifetime of bondage. Few Americans are aware that captured slaves 
resisted their enslavement until the bitter end.
  During the Middle Passage, enslaved Africans defied their slave 
masters through nonviolent and violent means, including hunger strikes, 
suicide, and shipboard revolts, the most historically recognized events 
taking place on board the Don Carlos in 1732 and on board the Amistad 
in 1839, that famous case that was defended by John Quincy Adams, who 
argued and won the case and had the enslaved people released in 
Connecticut.
  On March 3, 1807, President Thomas Jefferson signed into law the 
Transatlantic Slave Trade Act, which prohibited the importation of 
slaves into any port or place within the jurisdiction of the United 
States. The bill was nothing short of revolutionary. It single-handedly 
outlawed the longstanding and brutal trade of transporting Africans to 
the United States.
  In commemoration of President Jefferson's act and to explore the 
impact of the slave trade on the United States, we will move this 
legislation which is drafted that will establish the 200th Anniversary 
Commemoration Commission.
  This important body will be tasked with the mandate to plan, develop 
and execute programs and activities appropriate to commemorate the 
200th anniversary of the abolition of the transatlantic slave trade, 
which we will tend to start talking about ``slave trade'' as ``enslaved 
people,'' which is a new definition that is starting to be used. Slaves 
are now considered people who were enslaved people.
  The mission is timely, and the subject is critical. The United States 
is a primary voice on trafficking issues today, and we are aware also 
that the principal advocate for human rights and freedom around the 
world that we stand so strongly behind. Our Nation's willingness to 
confront its past and calmly assess the impact of enslaved people on 
the United States strengthens our ability to serve as an advocate on 
the international stage. I strongly urge the support of this 
legislation.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. POE. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, as the poet Maya Angelo once said, ``History, despite 
its wrenching pain, cannot be unlived, but if faced with courage, need 
not be lived again.'' I find these words fitting as we consider H.R. 
3432 today.
  For over 200 years, countless Africans died in brutal conditions 
during the so-called Middle Passage, the overseas voyage of their lives 
to enslavement in America. The United States formally prohibited the 
importation of slaves nearly 200 years ago, although the institution of 
slavery persisted in this country for another 50 years afterwards.
  This bill will establish a commission to ensure that this important 
anniversary is appropriately commemorated within the United States and 
also abroad. In essence, the bill seeks to ensure that all Americans, 
no matter their age, race, gender, culture, or even religion, are 
afforded the opportunity to learn more about the institution of slavery 
and its vestiges so that we may understand this tragic aspect of 
history.
  While we cannot unlive our past, it is hoped that this commission 
will promote greater tolerance and understanding among all Americans, 
while shedding light on the fact that slavery still exists in the 
modern world. Yes, even 200 years after the transatlantic slave trade 
was abolished, slavery still goes on. It exists through human 
trafficking and wherever any group of people is systematically robbed 
of its fundamental human rights.
  So I stand in support of H.R. 3432, in the hopes that this commission 
will help Americans confront the past with honesty, while committing 
themselves to the eradication of modern-day slavery in all of its 
forms, no matter where it may be found.
  Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. PAYNE. Mr. Speaker, let me once again thank all of those 
responsible for moving this bill through. As you recall, it was in 1807 
that slavery was abolished in England through the work of Mr. 
Wilberforce, who for 20 years argued against slavery in the British 
Parliament. A resolution was passed this year by Mr. Pitts commending 
the abolition of slavery in Great Britain and commending Mr. 
Wilberforce for his work as a great abolitionist. So we are pleased 
that this will give us time to commemorate, to investigate, to remember 
those who had this difficult period of time.
  As has been indicated, even though transatlantic slavery was 
abolished in 1807, slavery continued. As a matter of fact, even in the 
North, and our State has found records that even after the Emancipation 
Proclamation and as late as 1866, the last slave was freed in New 
Jersey. Many people are unaware of the fact that there was slavery in 
New Jersey, which abolished slavery, but you had to be 25 as a man and 
21 as a woman, and any children born of a union had to remain in 
slavery. Therefore, people remained in slavery up through after the 
Emancipation Proclamation, which only freed slaves in the Confederacy.
  Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as she may consume to the gentlewoman 
from Texas (Ms. Jackson-Lee).
  Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas. Mr. Speaker, let me thank the distinguished 
chairman of the committee. I rise enthusiastically to support the 
present legislation on the floor, because we have had a rocky time, Mr. 
Speaker, over the last couple of months, and we have raised in the 
current light that race and history are not relevant.
  I am grateful that the most powerful lawmaking body in the world has 
now

[[Page 26201]]

come to the floor to acknowledge the slave trade and all of the 
ramifications, from its beginning to its ending, because we have been 
told over the last couple of months that there is no concern to a young 
African American male still being incarcerated in the State of Georgia 
and that race is not an issue. We have been told that there is no 
problem to the existence of the Jena Six, and that race is not an 
issue. Likewise, we have been told that inequity in our school systems 
that impact heavily on African American and other minorities is not an 
issue of race, and many times it is. So to be able to rise to debate 
this question of recognizing the impact of slavery and the slave trade 
and its relationship to our international allies and their history with 
it is extremely important.
  Might I, in my comments, as I support the underlying bill, thank the 
chairman for his leadership. I thank Congresswoman Barbara Lee. I 
particularly thank the chairman for his leadership on remuneration.
  On the previous bill, very briefly, I would like to acknowledge my 
support for the remuneration of those families that suffered in the 
tragedy of the African Embassies, who did not get a response, did not 
get coverage, did not get a response from the Federal Government for 9 
years after this tragic incident where they lost their loved ones.
  Mr. Speaker, I thank the chairman of the full committee and other 
members of the full Committee on Foreign Affairs for understanding that 
the moneys had to be raised to compensate for the grief and pain that 
these particular family members now hold dear to their heart. That 
legislation was long in coming, and it is crucial that we did it under 
this Democratic majority Congress. We pressed the administration to 
sign it.
  Then I would finally like to comment, Mr. Speaker, that my delay was 
because we had a hearing, at the same time as this legislation, on 
Ethiopia. Having just come back from Ethiopia, I know how hard Mr. 
Payne has toiled. I, frankly, am concerned on the recent legislation 
that I know has just passed that we would have an indictment of a 
chairperson who has shown nothing but love and affection for the 
continent of Africa.
  I said in my remarks that we need to be big boys and girls. The world 
arena of diplomacy is a tough business, and we need to be able to have 
tough love. We need to be able to love the people of Ethiopia and its 
opportunities, but we likewise need to know that we need to be able to 
promote human rights, we need to be able to have an independent 
judiciary, we need to be able to have a move toward democratization and 
a recognition of the brilliance of Prime Minister Meles.
  But we have to address the concerns of the people, and I am grateful 
that amendments that I offered in that legislation now on the floor 
were accepted, that we have greater exchange between U.S. and Ethiopian 
judiciary, that we begin to look at changing property ownership from 
Ethiopia to the people. I saw that firsthand in Ethiopia. And in the 
discussion we had in the committee, it is important that we look at the 
Somalia-Ethiopian border and the people caught up in that crisis and 
begin to fight for humanitarian rights.
  That is crucial. I believe that this legislation that passed just 
prior to my coming to the floor, I believe the legislation on the 
terrorist victims whose families were lost in the African Embassies 9 
years ago, and this legislation, begins to address nationally and 
internationally that America understands that this Congress will not 
abnegate its responsibility to, one, affirm its commitment to the 
continent of Africa, but also to understand the questions of race, and 
that race should not be negated for the crisis that we face.
  Mr. Chairman, let me thank you for your leadership and also for the 
acceptance of my amendments regarding the Ethiopian bill. I still, in 
the name of Mickey Leland, have a love and affection for Ethiopia and 
will continue to work with a degree of tough love with Ethiopia. I hope 
that the message that came forward, that you can't be harsh, you have 
to handle it with kid gloves, is very tricky and that it does not keep 
us from fighting for those incarcerated, fighting for those who are in 
need of humanitarian needs, and affirming the value of Ethiopia as it 
fights with us in the war against terror, and in Sudan. Why should we 
be afraid to give tough love? It will help the people of Ethiopia. That 
is what we are looking for.
  Ethiopian Americans, bring us your roadmap so that we can work 
together and make not only the United States the best country in the 
world, but work with Ethiopia as it aspires to be a shining star of 
democracy on the continent.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of H.R. 3432, the 200th 
Anniversary Commemoration Commission of the Abolition of the 
Transatlantic Slave Trade of 2007, which I am proud, along with over 90 
of my colleagues, to cosponsor. This legislation recognizes the 200th 
anniversary of the Transatlantic Slave Trade, and it establishes the 
rubric from which the Commission, to be known as the ``Transatlantic 
Slave Trade 200th Anniversary Commission,'' shall be formed.
  I would like to thank my distinguished colleague, Congressman Payne, 
for introducing this important legislation, as well as the Chairman of 
the Committee on Foreign Affairs, Congressman Lantos, for his 
leadership on this issue.
  Mr. Speaker, though 200 years have passed since the abolition of the 
Transatlantic Slave Trade, the legacy of slavery continues to have a 
profound impact on American society. The legacy of social and economic 
disparity lives on, as do hatred, bias, and discrimination. Despite two 
centuries of progress, the African American community continues to feel 
the impact of the Transatlantic Slave Trade, and subsequent years of 
racism and persecution.
  While our Nation has pursued the ideals of liberty and equality for 
all, there still remain steps that must be taken in order to ensure 
that even such a dark piece of our Nation's history be preserved and 
its conclusion at the hand of President Thomas Jefferson be celebrated.
  Mr. Speaker, the bill before us establishes a commission to cultivate 
and preserve the memory of a grave injustice in American history, we 
must recognize and in some small way try to rectify our past. In the 
early years of the Republic, the transatlantic slave trade constituted 
a thriving economic vein of the United States. By 1807, millions of 
Africans had been captured and transported to the Americas, many 
perishing as the result of torture, rape, malnutrition, and disease. It 
was not until March of 1807 that President Thomas Jefferson signed into 
law ``An Act to prohibit the importation of slaves into any port or 
place within the jurisdiction of the United States,'' a Congressionally 
approved bill intended to end the heinous practice of the transatlantic 
slave trade.
  It is in commemoration of President Jefferson's revolutionary act, 
and to explore further the impacts of the slave trade on our Nation 
that H.R. 3432 establishes the 200th Anniversary Commemoration 
Commission. This import commission will be composed of 11 
congressionally appointed members charged with the task of planning, 
developing, and executing programs and activities appropriate to 
commemorate the 200th anniversary of the abolition of the transatlantic 
slave trade.
  January 1, 2008 will mark the 200th anniversary of the ``Act to 
Prohibit the Importation of Slaves.'' The United States today serves as 
a moral compass for the rest of the world and as such we must provide a 
voice for human trafficking issues. Our willingness to confront our 
Nation's past and to address the impacts of the slave trade and its 
legacy on the Unites States strengthens our undeterred commitment to 
serving as an advocate for human rights and freedom in the 
international community.
  I strongly urge my colleagues to join me in supporting this important 
legislation.
  Mrs. CHRISTENSEN. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 3432 which 
establishes the 200th Anniversary Commission of the Abolition of the 
Transatlantic Slave Trade. It was 200 years ago in 1807, when first the 
British Parliament and then the U.S. Congress abolished the then 300 
year old practice of forcibly removing Africans from their homes along 
the Western coast of that continent to provide free labor for the 
empires of Europe in the New World.
  The triangular trade would link the peoples of Africa, Europe and the 
Americas in a chain of blood, power, money, imperialism and despair and 
set the tone for our modern day relationships as none of our ancestors 
were left untouched by its sheer brutality.
  By the time it was all over, the world's first massive attempt at 
globalization, would profoundly change it from corner to corner and

[[Page 26202]]

would leave behind many of the social reverberations of race, class and 
poverty that we as a world community struggle with today.
  As we recognize this momentous anniversary and the way it has shaped 
the lives of African descendants in the Western Hemisphere, and as one 
of those descendants I want to take the opportunity to call attention 
to the end of enslavement of Africans in my own district, the U.S. 
Virgin Islands, which was then the Danish West Indies. The abolition of 
the slave trade did not immediately end slavery. It was not until 1848 
in response to an uprising by enslaved Africans demanding emancipation 
that slavery was ended there. It is a day which we celebrate on July 
3rd of every year, and this year will be the 160th Anniversary of that 
important event.
  As we approach that anniversary it is relevant to note the dialogue 
that the people of the Virgin Islands and the people of Denmark have 
embarked upon regarding reparations--not in terms of monetary 
compensation, but in education, restoration and reconciliation efforts 
that can finally close that sad chapter of our history and our 
relationship. While discussions have not taken place at a government to 
government level, we anticipate that these will begin in the near 
future and we look forward to the opportunities this could make 
available to both sides.
  Mr. Speaker, returning to the resolution before us, it is important 
that we mark the end of this dark period in world history and human 
relations and that we study and commemorate the events that led up to 
the beginning, the middle and the end of slavery. It is important that 
the civic, historical, educational, religious and economic activities 
planned on the state and national levels be used for the American 
people to look back and seek understanding of that time and the legacy 
that it has left behind.
  As we commemorate with speeches and conferences and exhibitions, let 
us remember that there is still human trafficking taking place today 
and that we should be as adamant and as vigilant as our forbears of 200 
years ago, in seeing to its end.
  Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I rise in honor of H.R. 3432, the 
200th Anniversary Commemoration Commission of the Abolition of the 
Transatlantic Slave Trade Act of 2007. The transatlantic slave trade 
was the forcible capture and procurement of more than 12 million 
Africans. These men, women, and children were transported in bondage 
from their African homelands to the Americas for the purpose of 
enslavement between the sixteenth and late nineteenth centuries. The 
actual transport is often referred to as ``The Middle Passage.'' During 
this transition, many Africans suffered abuses of rape and perished as 
a result of torture, malnutrition, disease, and resistance. If these 
individuals survived the trip, their fate was a life of slavery.
  I recently visited Ghana. During this trip, I toured the former slave 
dungeon, Cape Coast Castle. I also had the opportunity to stand in the 
``Door of No Return'' where captives were held with little light, 
water, and absolutely no toilet facilities. Over 125 million West 
Africans died during the Middle Passage, and more than one-third of the 
people captured died within the first 3 years of their life on a 
plantation. The importance of this legislation lies in the fact that 
the slave trade and the legacy of slavery continue to have a profound 
impact on social and economic disparity, hatred, bias, racism, and 
discrimination. This legislation underscores the fact that the legacy 
of the slave trade continues to affect people of African descent today. 
One of the key purposes of this act is to ensure a suitable national 
observance of the 200th anniversary of the end of the transatlantic 
slave trade. By sponsoring and supporting commemorative programs, we 
raise awareness of the transatlantic slave trade and its effects, as 
well as recognize the experiences of all people during this period in 
history. I strongly urge my colleagues to support H.R. 3432 in creating 
this commission that would not only celebrate the abolition of the 
transatlantic slave trade, but also educate citizens regarding a 
significant part of our Nation's history.
  Mr. TIAHRT. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of H.R. 3432, an 
excellent bill that commemorates the abolition of the Transatlantic 
Slave Trade.
  This year marks a very important anniversary in history--the 200th 
anniversary of the enactment of the Transatlantic Slave Trade Act. It 
was in 1807 when then President Thomas Jefferson signed into law this 
vital Act. Nearly 200 years prior, in 1619, twenty Africans arrived in 
Jamestown, Virginia aboard a Dutch ship. This was the beginning in 
America of the atrocity of slavery which unfortunately lasted for more 
than 2 centuries.
  While America was in deep turmoil over the morality of slavery, 
William Wilberforce, a Member of the U.K. Parliament, led the campaign 
to abolish the transatlantic slave trade in Britain. This great man was 
a statesman, an avowed and practicing Christian, and a champion of the 
underprivileged.
  Early on, Wilberforce wrestled with whether he should pursue a 
calling from God or serve as a driving force in the House of Commons. 
He successfully accomplished both. Wilberforce was an example of faith 
in action, modeling that we do not have to abandon our values to be 
effective in our jobs--whether as a business owner, nurse, mechanic, 
working mom or Member of Congress.
  We must stand up for our beliefs and fight passionately for our 
causes. We must not betray our values or our faith, and never cease to 
help those in need. On the 200th anniversary of the 1807 abolition of 
the U.K. and U.S. slave trade, we should reflect on the greatness of 
those who stood up for what was right and true--even though it was not 
popular.
  It wasn't until 1865 that slavery in the United States was abolished 
through the passing of the Thirteenth Amendment. Then President, 
Abraham Lincoln, helped push the bill through Congress. Earlier in his 
presidency, he issued the Emancipation Proclamation freeing all slaves. 
He believed this was ``the central act of my administration, and the 
great event of the nineteenth century.''
  While slavery ended, discrimination continued. It is my hope that we 
will remember the struggles of this great Nation and continue our 
efforts to stand for what is right. We can build momentum and engage 
communities to find new ways to improve our culture.
  I am honored each day to serve in the U.S. House of Representatives 
and stand faithfully for what is right. It is a privilege to cast my 
vote in favor of a bill that honors a great moment in our history.
  I look forward to today's passage of H.R. 3432.

                              {time}  1315

  Mr. PAYNE. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Payne) that the House suspend the rules 
and pass the bill, H.R. 3432, as amended.
  The question was taken; and (two-thirds being in the affirmative) the 
rules were suspended and the bill, as amended, was passed.
  The title was amended so as to read: ``A bill to establish the 
Commission on the Abolition of the Transatlantic Slave Trade.''.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

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