[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 153 (2007), Part 8]
[House]
[Pages 10835-10839]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




 OBSERVING THE 200TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE ABOLITION OF THE BRITISH SLAVE 
                                 TRADE

  Mr. PAYNE. Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to 
the resolution (H. Res. 158) observing the 200th anniversary of the 
abolition of the British slave trade and encouraging the people of the 
United States, particularly the youth of the United States, to remember 
the life and legacy of William Wilberforce, a member of the British 
House of Commons who devoted his life to the suppression and abolition 
of the institution of slavery, and to work for the protection of human 
rights throughout the world, as amended.
  The Clerk read the title of the resolution.
  The text of the resolution is as follows:

                              H. Res. 158

       Whereas in 1780, William Wilberforce was elected at the age 
     of 21 years to the British House of Commons;
       Whereas Mr. Wilberforce and his friends were active in at 
     least 69 different projects focusing on issues such as prison 
     reform, education, child labor conditions, animal cruelty, 
     and the reformation of the culture;
       Whereas Mr. Wilberforce was mentored and counseled by 
     former slave trader and author of the hymn ``Amazing Grace'', 
     John Newton, on the horrors of the slave trade;
       Whereas at the time, 11 million human beings had been 
     captured and taken from Africa to the Western hemisphere and 
     forced into slavery and bondage;
       Whereas at the time, the British Empire controlled the 
     largest portion of the slave trade;
       Whereas Mr. Wilberforce devoted his life to the suppression 
     and abolition of the institution of slavery;
       Whereas a dedicated group of like-minded reformers, the 
     Clapham group, assisted, supported, and encouraged Mr. 
     Wilberforce in his fight against the slave trade;
       Whereas Mr. Wilberforce fought for 20 years in the House of 
     Commons to pass legislation banning the slave trade;
       Whereas on February 23, 1807, Britain passed a bill banning 
     the slave trade;
       Whereas Mr. Wilberforce helped inspire and encourage those 
     who fought against slavery in the United States, including 
     political leaders like John Quincy Adams, spreading a message 
     of hope and freedom throughout America and the promise of the 
     future;
       Whereas Mr. Wilberforce labored 46 years to abolish the 
     institution of slavery in the British Empire, ceaselessly 
     defending those without a voice within society;
       Whereas in 1833, Mr. Wilberforce was informed on his death 
     bed that the House of Commons had voted to abolish slavery;
       Whereas in 2006, the United States Department of State 
     estimated that between 600,000 and 800,000 men, women, and 
     children were trafficked across international borders;
       Whereas the International Labour Organization estimates 
     that there are more than 12 million people in forced labor, 
     bonded labor, forced child labor, and sexual servitude around 
     the world; and
       Whereas the people of the United States, particularly the 
     youth of the United States, are called upon to form clubs and 
     groups dedicated to working against the modern slave trade, 
     human trafficking, and the degradation of human dignity: Now, 
     therefore, be it
       Resolved,  That the House of Representatives--
       (1) commends to the people of the United States the example 
     of William Wilberforce

[[Page 10836]]

     and his commitment to each and every person's human dignity, 
     value, and freedom in observation of the 200th anniversary of 
     the abolition of the British slave trade;
       (2) encourages the people of the United States, 
     particularly the youth of the United States, to--
       (A) observe the anniversary of the abolition of the British 
     slave trade;
       (B) reflect on Mr. Wilberforce's selfless dedication to the 
     fight against slavery and his commitment to the neediest in 
     society;
       (C) commit themselves to recognize the value of every 
     person and to work actively against slavery in all its forms;
       (D) work to educate themselves and others to recognize that 
     individuals who are subject to slavery and human trafficking 
     are victims of those who traffick such individuals; and
       (E) form high school clubs and groups working against 
     modern day slavery and the trafficking of persons; and
       (3) condemns to the highest degree all forms of human 
     trafficking and slavery which are an assault on human dignity 
     and of which Mr. Wilberforce would steadfastly resist.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from New 
Jersey (Mr. Payne) and the gentlewoman from Florida (Ms. Ros-Lehtinen) 
each will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from New Jersey.
  Mr. PAYNE. Madam Speaker, I rise in strong support of this resolution 
and yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Madam Speaker, I would first like to thank Congressman Joe Pitts, who 
was the prime sponsor of this resolution, and the other cosponsors. 
Congressman Pitts is a strong human rights activist and has worked on 
issues of Western Sahara and other issues dealing with suppressed 
people, and so this resolution honoring William Wilberforce by 
Congressman Pitts and encouraging young Americans to remember his life, 
legacy and dedication to the abolition of the British slave trade.
  Mr. Wilberforce was born in 1759 in England into a wealthy merchant 
family. He studied at Cambridge University, where he began a lasting 
friendship with the future Prime Minister of England, William Pitt.
  In 1780, Wilberforce was elected at the age of 21 years of age to the 
British House of Commons. His self-indulgent lifestyle as a young man 
changed completely when he became an evangelical Christian, prompting 
him to dedicate his life to social reform, particularly dealing with 
the institution of slavery.
  During his time, the British Empire controlled the largest portion of 
the slave trade. As we have heard, estimates are from 25 to 50 million 
Africans were captured and taken from Africa to the Western Hemisphere 
and forced into bondage over centuries.
  Wilberforce was mentored and counseled by John Newton, a former slave 
trader and the author of ``Amazing Grace,'' which was a song that John 
Newton wrote when he was caught in a storm with slaves. That is when he 
said ``Amazing grace, how sweet the sound,'' and he asked the Lord to 
forgive him and he became an Abolitionist. That is where this song 
originated, which is still sung at Irish funerals, played by the 
bagpipes, and, of course, it opens up many services in African American 
churches throughout this country.
  But Mr. Wilberforce talked about the horrors of the slave trade and 
he devoted the rest of his life to the suppression and the abolition of 
slavery. In his major speech on abolition in the House of Commons, he 
argued that the slave trade was morally reprehensible and an issue of 
natural justice. He described in vivid details the appalling conditions 
in which slaves traveled from Africa through the Middle Passage and 
argued that abolishing the slave trade would also bring an improvement 
in the conditions of existing slaves in West Indies, then, of course, 
under the domination of Great Britain.
  In addition to his anti-slavery activities, Wilberforce was active in 
at least 69 different projects, focusing on issues such as prison 
reform, education, child labor conditions, animal cruelty, and cultural 
reformation. He was certainly a man who was indeed ahead of his time.
  Mr. Wilberforce fought for 20 years in the House of Commons to pass 
legislation banning the slave trade; and on February 23, 1807, Britain 
passed a bill banning slave trade. Wilberforce died on the 29th of 
July, 1833, shortly after the act to free slaves passed. He had labored 
for 46 years to abolish slavery in the British Empire.
  Wilberforce helped inspire and encourage those who fought against 
slavery in the United States, including political leaders like John 
Quincy Adams, who actually handled the Amistad Case in Connecticut of 
some slaves who in the Caribbean freed themselves and ended up on 
trial, and John Quincy Adams won the case. But he was influenced by Mr. 
Wilberforce, spreading the message of hope and freedom throughout 
America.
  As a matter of fact, Wilberforce University, as we heard Mr. Burton 
mention earlier, founded in 1856 in Wilberforce, Ohio, and the first 
historically black college in the United States of America, is part of 
the honored legacy of Wilberforce in the United States.

                              {time}  1515

  Wilberforce University was a final destination for the Underground 
Railroad that brought over 100,000 slaves from the South to freedom. As 
a matter of fact, currently, the president of Wilberforce University is 
a former Member of this body, Reverend Doctor Floyd Flake.
  Wilberforce once said, ``Men of authority and influence may promote 
good morals. Let them, in their several stations, encourage virtue. Let 
them favor and take part in any plans which may be formed for the 
advancement of morality.'' I think those words stand today, if we would 
listen to what Mr. Wilberforce said at that time.
  I ask all of you to listen to the words of Wilberforce and to vote 
for this resolution to honor Mr. Wilberforce's work and legacy, his 
commitment to each and every person's human dignity, value and freedom. 
I urge that we pass this resolution.
  Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may 
consume.
  Madam Speaker, I want to thank my colleague, the gentleman from 
Pennsylvania (Mr. Pitts), for introducing the bill before us, House 
Resolution 158, which observes the 200th anniversary of the end of the 
British slave trade and commends the heroic legacy of William 
Wilberforce, the outspoken British parliamentarian and Christian who 
was instrumental in its abolition.
  The African slave trade was a heinous practice that inflicted 
degradation and misery on those millions of people whose human dignity 
it denied or destroyed.
  In celebrating the 200th anniversary of Britain's abolition of the 
slave trade, we cannot help but reflect on the tragic fact that it took 
the United States another six decades and a wrenching Civil War to do 
the same, to begin living more fully according to the principles of our 
Founding Fathers.
  I commend the author of this resolution, the gentleman from 
Pennsylvania (Mr. Pitts), for focusing on the challenges of the present 
day, in addition to the sins of the past.
  Although the scourge of formalized slavery has been eliminated in the 
west and for much, but not all, of the rest of the world, millions of 
women, children and men suffer similar severe assaults on their dignity 
and liberty today as victims of trafficking, sexual servitude, and 
forced labor.
  This resolution is a welcomed opportunity to publicly recommit 
ourselves to the protection of human dignity. In the words of the man 
whom we honor in our resolution, William Wilberforce, he said, ``Let us 
act with an energy suited to the importance of the interests for which 
we contend, stimulated by a consciousness of what we owe to the laws of 
God and the rights and happiness of man.''
  Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that the gentleman from 
Pennsylvania (Mr. Pitts) be allowed to control the remainder of our 
time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentlewoman from Florida?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. PITTS. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  I thank the gentlewoman from Florida (Ms. Ros-Lehtinen) for yielding

[[Page 10837]]

and for her principled leadership on the Foreign Affairs Committee, and 
I thank the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Payne) for his leadership on 
this and the preceding resolution, and for his leadership on the issue 
of human rights in general around the world.
  Madam Speaker, with this resolution, we rightly honor one of 
humanity's great heroes. William Wilberforce was a man of integrity, a 
man of courage, a man of faith, and a man of principle. And he used 
these qualities, Madam Speaker, to forever change the world for the 
better. He is someone that each of us in this Chamber can relate to and 
draw inspiration from.
  In a legislative body of 435 Members, it can be difficult to make 
progress on the issues we care about. Indeed, the odds sometimes appear 
insurmountable.
  But the life and accomplishments of William Wilberforce are proof 
that individuals of character truly can change the world. Wilberforce 
was himself a member of an elected legislative body. He was first 
elected to the British Parliament more than 220 years ago.
  In his day, the human slave trade dominated England's economy. As a 
result, the interests of the slave traders were firmly entrenched in 
the halls of Parliament. Arguments used to justify the sale and trade 
of human beings and the horrific injustices that occurred in that trade 
were commonplace in that day.
  But William Wilberforce refused to accept these arguments. He knew 
that slavery was an unspeakable injustice, and he made it his object to 
end it. This conviction would lead him on a decades-long effort to end 
slavery in England. It was a journey full of setbacks and 
disappointments. Again and again, he introduced his bill in parliament 
to end the British slave trade. Again and again it was soundly 
defeated, and again and again he was ostracized by his peers. For years 
this went on, and the discouragement grew.
  But all the while, Wilberforce's call to conscience was slowly 
winning over hearts and minds. His willingness to stand for what was 
right and fight what was wrong was being noticed by his colleagues. And 
after 20 years of perseverance, 20 years of unbending principle, 20 
years of standing for justice in the face of daunting odds, Wilberforce 
at last tasted success.
  On February 23, 1807, Parliament voted, and on March 25, the King 
signed the bill that outlawed the British slave trade, a move that was 
once thought impossible.
  And 26 years later, Wilberforce was informed a few days before his 
death that the House of Commons had finally voted to abolish slavery 
altogether in the British Empire.
  Madam Speaker, throughout this year, we celebrate the 200th 
anniversary of this tremendous accomplishment. And as part of this 
celebration, a number of efforts are underway to inform people of this 
often-forgotten hero of humanity and his colleagues who worked to end 
in slavery.
  We could mention others, like John Newton, who has already been 
mentioned. John Newton was a former slave trader who wrote the hymn 
``Amazing Grace,'' whose testimony before Parliament was so 
influential.
  We could mention John Wesley, who a week before he died in 1791, 
wrote William Wilberforce about American slavery which he called ``the 
vilest form of slavery known to mankind.''
  We could mention Wilberforce's direct influence on John Quincy Adams, 
and John Quincy Adams' direct influence on Abraham Lincoln. There are 
many people who could be mentioned, but this resolution before us today 
is part of the celebration of the life and accomplishments of William 
Wilberforce, and are certainly worthy of recognition.
  Madam Speaker, I would submit this is not merely an effort to look 
back and give credit where credit is due, it is also a call to fight 
modern-day injustice.
  Sadly, every generation must confront evil in its own time, and ours 
is no different. Around the world, thousands of people are deprived of 
their basic human rights every single day. Good men and women of this 
world have a moral duty to fight these modern-day injustices.
  The U.S. State Department estimates that approximately 800,000 men, 
women and children are trafficked each year into slavery, into the sex 
industry, other slave-like labor conditions.
  In South Asia, an entire class of people numbering in the millions 
are considered to be ``untouchable,'' and as a result, they are denied 
basic services and subjected to terrible living conditions. Horrible 
human rights abuses continue in places like Burma and Sudan and China 
and many others. These are just a few examples. The list could go on.
  Madam Speaker, as we honor William Wilberforce, may we also be 
inspired today to educate ourselves and others about modern-day 
injustice, inspired to not turn a blind eye to millions of people 
worldwide who need our help; and inspired, Madam Speaker, to act.
  I urge all of my colleagues to support this important resolution.
  Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. PAYNE. Madam Speaker, we have one additional speaker who has not 
yet arrived, so I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. PITTS. Madam Speaker, I would like to yield 6 minutes to the 
gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Smith), the former chairman, current 
ranking member, of the Subcommittee on Africa and Global Health and a 
great champion of human rights today.
  Mr. SMITH of New Jersey. Madam Speaker, I thank my colleague, Mr. 
Pitts of Pennsylvania, for authoring this important resolution 
recognizing the abolishment of the inhumane, grossly immoral and 
ubiquitous British slave trade 200 years ago, and the highly principled 
member of the House of Commons, William Wilberforce, who poured his 
life into that noble cause. One man can--and did--make a difference.
  H. Res. 158 also links the abolition issue to today's modern-day 
slave trade, human trafficking, and I appreciate that the gentleman 
from Pennsylvania recognized that there are lessons learned that need 
to be applied to our current battle against modern-day slavery.
  Madam Speaker, William Wilberforce was 21 years old when he was 
elected to the House of Commons in 1780. And perhaps like some of us, 
later said, ``The first years in Parliament I did nothing, nothing to 
any purpose. My own distinction was my darling object.''
  But that all changed, Madam Speaker, after a profound conversion to 
Christianity and a serious rethinking as to whether politics, with all 
of its diversions, distractions, vanity, lies, and deception, was 
compatible with his ever-deepening religious faith. He even thought of 
quitting politics and entering into a ministry.
  John Newton, the former slave captain turned convert to Christ, among 
others, encouraged him to fight the battle against slavery where it 
could be won, in Parliament. The Commons is the place where you can 
stop slavery. Wilberforce agreed, and then poured his life into that 
battle.
  William Wilberforce once said: ``Never, never will we desist until we 
extinguish every trace of this bloody traffic to which our posterity, 
looking back to the history of these enlightened times, will scarce 
believe that it has been suffered to exist so long to disgrace and 
dishonor this country.''
  He also said: ``So enormous, so dreadful, so remediable did the 
trade's wickedness quickly appear that my own mind was completely made 
up for its abolition.''
  Madam Speaker, 200 years ago the slave trade was abolished, and he 
went on for the rest of his life with a group of prayer warriors, men 
and women who prayed every day for the abolishment of the slave trade, 
who believed it was a blight not just against man and woman, but 
against God himself. And it was through prayer and action that they 
came up with a number of very interesting and creative legislative ways 
of trying to stop it.
  Wilberforce was also tenacious. Time and time again, he would offer 
his bill to abolish the slave trade, only to have all kinds of 
shenanigans, filibusters and misinformation, diversions, and threats 
including physical threats to

[[Page 10838]]

himself, used as a way of deferring action, but he nevertheless 
persisted and in the end, he prevailed.
  We need to learn from that example, Madam Speaker, because we have a 
slave trade today. In 1990s, the phenomenon of human trafficking, ever 
present in all of history, exploded in prevalence, sophistication and 
cruelty.
  With the breakup of the Soviet Union and the Warsaw Pact nations, 
suddenly new mobsters, many of them former KBG operatives, were all of 
a sudden on the scene buying and selling young women as commodities.
  Additionally, the Internet suddenly brought pornography, including 
child porn, into homes all over the world, furthering the demand for 
victims. The sleazy X-rated theater went mainstream.
  Organized crime in countries all over the world, including the United 
States, made profits seemingly without limit while incurring next to no 
risk of prosecution.
  As Mr. Pitts pointed out earlier, today the United States is the net 
importer of upwards of 18,000 people, mostly women or children, who are 
trafficked into this country to be exploited. That is an abomination.
  We also have our own interstate slave trade where young girls who are 
runaways are quickly picked up by pimps and bought and sold like 
commodities. That, too, must stop.

                              {time}  1530

  Madam Speaker, I believe that because too much evil is involved here 
and because the prospect of making billions of dollars has enticed some 
of the most unsavory and cruel individuals, including and especially 
organized crime, into this nefarious trade we have to beef up our 
efforts to stop this slavery. Because too much demand enabled by crass 
indifference, unbridled hedonism and misogynistic attitudes has turned 
people, especially women, into objects valued only for their utility in 
the brothel or in the sweat shop we have to accelerate and expand our 
fight, and because of the relative lack of visibility, all of this 
makes the task of combating trafficking in modern day slavery all the 
more difficult.
  But trafficking, like germs, infection and disease, thrives only in 
the shadows and in the murky places and cannot survive when brought to 
the light. Light remains a very, very powerful disinfectant.
  So my challenge to all of us is that we have to bring the light, the 
bright light of scrutiny, of criminal investigations, the disinfecting 
of investigations and convictions, probing legislative inquiry, having 
the students, as Mr. Pitts in this bill encourages them to do, to form 
student groups to look into slavery. We need to use every tool, best 
practice and well-honed strategy to win the freedom of the slaves and 
to spare others the agony, especially through prevention measures, the 
agony of slavery.
  Together, we can make the pimps and the exploiters pay by doing 
serious jail time, as well as the forfeiture of their assets. The 
boats, the villas and the fat-cat bank accounts must go. Together we 
can end this barbaric and utterly cruel modern day slavery, just as 
William Wilberforce and other great men and women did so in antiquity.
  Make no mistake about it; the abolition of modern day slavery is a 
winnable war. We need to fight in ways so as to win. We need to pray. I 
believe we need to fast, and we need to have good, well-developed 
strategies, and we need to work as a bipartisan team, to end this 
cruelty.
  Mr. PAYNE. Madam Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentlewoman from 
California (Ms. Lee), a member of the Appropriations Committee.
  Ms. LEE. Madam Speaker, I thank again Mr. Payne for yielding.
  Let me commend Mr. Pitts and all those who have cosponsored this 
resolution, and say how important it is today for us to be discussing 
this in a bipartisan way and commending and remembering Mr. 
Wilberforce.
  This resolution talks about how he devoted his life to the 
suppression and abolition of the institution of slavery, but it also 
calls upon the youth of the United States, especially, to form clubs 
and groups dedicated to working against modern slave trade and human 
trafficking and the degradation of human dignity.
  Also it calls on the reflection of Mr. Wilberforce's selfless 
dedication to fight against slavery and his commitment to the neediest 
in society. I think we should today remind ourselves that we need to 
rededicate ourselves to the principles and values which Mr. Wilberforce 
demonstrated through his life.
  Let me give you some examples of how we really can do this today. 
When you look at this budget and the appropriations process, we are 
talking about cutting programs such as GEAR UP and TRIO that really 
help our youth, especially our African American and Latino youth, 
receive an education that allows them a level playing field.
  When you look at California, affirmative action ended. We have very 
few students entering into the University of California, very few 
African American and Latino businesses because we have ended equal 
opportunity efforts in California, very few people of color employed by 
the State of California. And why? Because they did not adhere to Mr. 
Wilberforce's ideals and his principles.
  When you look at the prison population and the disparities, when you 
look at African American young men and women, the huge disparities in 
the prison populations, huge disparities in the dropout rate. Why? You 
have to understand, and I think this resolution, as minded, talks about 
the vestiges and the legacy of slavery; and so in rededicating 
ourselves to end this, we need to do what we can do today and close 
these disparities and make the right, correct budget decisions as we 
look at these budgets that we are putting together.
  Mr. PITTS. Madam Speaker, we have no additional speakers; therefore, 
I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. PAYNE. Madam Speaker, I yield as much time as he may consume to 
the Representative from the 14th District of Michigan (Mr. Conyers), 
chairman of the Judiciary Committee and dean of the Congressional Black 
Caucus.
  Mr. CONYERS. Madam Speaker, I rise to join in this discussion to 
congratulate my colleague from New Jersey Don Payne and my dear friend 
who brought this to my attention only yesterday from California (Ms. 
Lee). I am so pleased to hear this discussion going on commemorating 
the 200th anniversary of the abolition of the transatlantic slave 
trade, but also the recognition of William Wilberforce, after whom the 
famous African American university, Wilberforce, was named, a 
distinguished member of the British House of Commons.
  What we are discussing here is not just ancient history. It is not 
just a recollection of why we have a 13th amendment to the Constitution 
prohibiting slavery. But we are talking about one of the great 
iniquities of our civilization. Slavery has always been a problem that 
we have dealt with across our centuries; but today and in countries all 
over the world, we are beginning to examine where it goes.
  We heard the distinguished gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Smith) 
recite present problems. We have heard the gentlewoman from California 
(Ms. Lee) talk about things that lead us into conditions of such abject 
poverty that people are made vulnerable to the whole question of being 
subjugated and eventually so impoverished that they end up being 
oppressed or exploited.
  We know that many are still being trapped in trying to leave one 
country to improve their economic conditions, and they end up under 
false pretences in a forced work circumstance. Frequently, it's 
prostitution for young women. And for this 110th Congress, with these 
resolutions, H. Res. 272 and H. Res. 158, are now beginning to deal 
with this subject, not only in the present circumstance but examining 
the roots and the origins of this obnoxious, inhumane, indescribably 
evil circumstance in which we find men, women and children still under 
such oppression today.
  For that reason, I am proud to stand here as the chairman of the 
committee that has jurisdiction over our constitutional amendments and 
to join with

[[Page 10839]]

the distinguished members of the Foreign Affairs Committee who 
recognize that after many unsuccessful attempts, the British Parliament 
finally abandoned and made slavery illegal, but finally, after a great 
deal of effort were able to stop it. It didn't stop because we passed a 
law. Slavery and second-class citizenship and the denial of the rights 
of Americans didn't stop because we passed the 13th amendment. It 
didn't even stop after we passed a series of Voting Rights Acts to 
enforce the 13th, 14th and 15th amendments.
  So here we are today, again recommitting this Nation through the 
people's House to make certain that everyone understands how this came 
about, how the Atlantic slave trade was so evil and that its legacy 
lingers over this Nation today.
  I congratulate all of the leaders of these two measures and in 
commemorating the legacy and remembering this great Parliamentarian 
from England, William Wilberforce. Many of our predecessors worked, as 
tirelessly as we do, through the last couple centuries to deliver on 
the simple promise of freedom; but guess what, it doesn't turn on us 
just keeping people free. A free people have to become educated. They 
have to work. They have to raise their family. We have to put this 
enormously important consideration into the context of what it means.
  To be free is not free. To be free means that you can get educated to 
compete in a computerized technology. It means to be able to be healthy 
and to live and grow to make everyone have this wonderful opportunity. 
It was said so then to every man and woman and child the chance, the 
chance, the gold shining opportunity to become whatever they could in 
the course of one's life.
  We celebrated the life yesterday of our dearest colleague Juanita 
Millender-McDonald as she was memorialized in Los Angeles. What a 
dynamic, unusual, amazing circumstance of a young girl from Alabama 
transporting herself to the first elected chairwoman of color of the 
House Administration Committee.
  These are the kinds of opportunities that are open to us, to the 43 
members of the Congressional Black Caucus, who all have equally 
poignant stories. We have an African American chairman who had to join 
the Army because he could not get a job. That is existing today.
  It is in that spirit of looking back and yet confronting the 
realities that I am so proud to join my colleagues on both sides of the 
aisle who have made this an important day to remember, to reflect on 
and to plan how we move the condition and the plight of all 300 million 
of our citizens forward.
  I thank the gentleman from New Jersey for yielding me this time.
  Mr. PAYNE. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Let me conclude once again by thanking the prime sponsor, Congressman 
Pitts, for this resolution and just say that as I was indicating before 
about a little bit about our history, it is important that we remember 
history. It is important that the House of Commons fought and Mr. 
Wilberforce would not give up his fight.
  Actually, New Jersey back in 1863 passed the 13th amendment that was 
proposed by President Lincoln, although New Jersey did not support 
Lincoln in his elections. The Republicans passed the 13th amendment, 
but interestingly enough, the Democrats opposed this, and in the next 
election the Democrats swept out all the Republicans in the New Jersey 
State legislature and actually rescinded the 13th amendment.

                              {time}  1545

  So New Jersey did not pass the 13th amendment, refused to take up the 
debate on the 14th or 15th amendments. There was a time in our State 
where we were called, rather than down south was called up north or 
down north, because we did have problems, even in the North, attempting 
to get basic things like 13th amendment abolishing slavery; 14th 
amendment, due process under the law; and 15th amendment, giving the 
right to vote to all citizens.
  We still have to fight injustice. No one would think that our great 
Garden State, which today is such a leader in the right things, had 
such a spotted past and a troubled history.
  I urge support of this resolution.
  Mr. CUMMINGS. Madam Speaker, I rise today in celebration of this 
resolution that commends the 200th anniversary of the abolition of the 
transatlantic slave trade, which marks the beginning of the end of the 
deportation of slavery. This tremendous moment in time carries with it 
historical significance in African American history and culture.
  As many of my colleagues know, many of our ancestors were brought 
here in the grips of iron chains on slave ships. They were subjected to 
tremendous inhumane treatment. Many died and the ones that did survive 
were left to try and survive in a new and unforgiving world. Over the 
course of 4 centuries 11 to 12 million African men, women, and children 
were brought to the United States, the Caribbean, and Latin America 
against their will. The transatlantic slave trade enabled the 
kidnapping, purchase, and commercial export of Africans, mostly from 
West and Central Africa between the 15th and late 19th century.
  Despite this ignoble beginning, the people of Africa created a noble 
culture that encompasses the African spirit of survival through 
adversity. Nevertheless, with all the horrors and inhumanity, the 
transatlantic slave trade was critical to the formation of the new 
world. We can now celebrate the trials, tribulations, accomplishments, 
and contributions of our ancestors. They certainly created and attained 
so much in history.
  Madam Speaker, I would like to share with you the words of Frederick 
Douglass, one of the most famous African American abolitionists, slave, 
editor, orator, author, statesman and reformer. He stated:

       Power concedes nothing without a demand. It never did and 
     it never will. Find out just what any people will quietly 
     submit to and you have found out the exact measure of 
     injustice and wrong which will be imposed upon them, and 
     these will continue till they are resisted with either words 
     or blow, or with both. The limits of tyrants are prescribed 
     by the endurance of those whom they oppress.

  The struggle to end the transatlantic slave trade and slavery was 
achieved by African resistance and economic factors as well as through 
humanitarian campaigns. Africans fought tirelessly to overcome the 
brutal treatment that they endured. The years that our ancestors fought 
for freedom were among the most difficult times that Africans faced.
  It is because of the sacrifices that our ancestors made that African 
Americans are free today, and able to be part of this wonderful body. 
We must not forget what our ancestors have done for us. We must teach 
our children and the generations not yet born of the sacrifices that 
were made in the name of our freedom. We must continue to celebrate the 
anniversaries such as this so our history may never go forgotten.
  The 200th anniversary of the abolition of the transatlantic slave 
trade marks a tremendous accomplishment in African American history. It 
is with great honor that I am able to speak on such a significant part 
of my history.
  Mr. PAYNE. Madam 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 agree to the resolution, H. Res. 158, as amended.
  The question was taken; and (two-thirds being in the affirmative) the 
rules were suspended and the resolution, as amended, was agreed to.
  The title was amended so as to read: ``Resolution encouraging the 
people of the United States, particularly the youth of the United 
States, to observe the 200th anniversary of the abolition of the 
British slave trade and remember the life and legacy of William 
Wilberforce, a member of the British House of Commons who devoted his 
life to the suppression and abolition of the institution of slavery, 
and to work for the protection of human rights throughout the world''.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

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