[House Report 111-153]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]


111th Congress                                                   Report
                        HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
 1st Session                                                    111-153

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      DIRECTING THE ARCHITECT OF THE CAPITOL TO PLACE A MARKER IN 
EMANCIPATION HALL IN THE CAPITOL VISITOR CENTER WHICH ACKNOWLEDGES THE 
 ROLE THAT SLAVE LABOR PLAYED IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE UNITED STATES 
                    CAPITOL, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES

                                _______
                                

 June 12, 2009.--Committed to the Committee of the Whole House on the 
              State of the Union and ordered to be printed

                                _______
                                

Mr. Brady of Pennsylvania, from the Committee on House Administration, 
                        submitted the following

                              R E P O R T

                    [To accompany H. Con. Res. 135]

      [Including cost estimate of the Congressional Budget Office]

    The Committee on House Administration, to whom was referred 
the concurrent resolution (H. Con. Res. 135) directing the 
Architect of the Capitol to place a marker in Emancipation Hall 
in the Capitol Visitor Center which acknowledges the role that 
slave labor played in the construction of the United States 
Capitol, and for other purposes, having considered the same, 
report favorably thereon without amendment and recommend that 
the concurrent resolution be agreed to.

                 PURPOSE AND SUMMARY OF THE LEGISLATION

    In May of 2005, House and Senate Leadership announced 
appointments to a Task Force to study the contributions of 
enslaved African Americans in building the U.S. Capitol. The 
Task Force was also charged with the task of developing 
recommendations to the Congress concerning appropriate 
recognition of these efforts. In support of this effort, in 
June 2005, the Architectural Historian of the Architect of the 
Capitol provided a report on the contributions of slave 
laborers to the construction of the Capitol. On November 7, 
2007, during the 110th Congress, the Committee on House 
Administration held a hearing to receive the recommendations of 
the Slave Labor Task Force Working Group, chaired by 
Representative John Lewis of Georgia. The Task Force spent 
several years exploring the extensive role played by slaves in 
the construction of the Capitol.
    Of course, Americans now living cannot rectify these sins 
of the past, nor can we even thank the slave laborers for their 
sacrifice. But we can acknowledge those sins and the sacrifices 
of the laborers. The Task Force's report recommended a number 
of steps be taken to do what we can. Several of their 
recommendations, including the naming of Emancipation Hall in 
the new Capitol Visitor Center, have already been achieved.
    However, the placement of a new marker in Emancipation 
Hall, as proposed by this concurrent resolution (H. Con. Res. 
135) requires further legislative action. This resolution will 
provide for the installation of such a marker by the Architect 
of the Capitol, under the supervision of this Committee and the 
Senate Committee on Rules and Administration. As the resolution 
contemplates, the committees will make every effort to use some 
of the original slave-quarried stones that were removed from 
the original walls of the Capitol during previous renovations.

                        COMMITTEE CONSIDERATION

    On June 10, 2009, the Committee considered H. Con. Res. 
135, introduced May 21, 2009, by Representative John Lewis of 
Georgia. By voice vote, the Committee ordered the concurrent 
resolution reported without amendment. No recorded votes were 
taken during the Committee's consideration of the resolution.

                    DESCRIPTION OF H. CON. RES. 135

    Section 1. Provides for placement of a marker in the 
Capitol Visitor Center to acknowledge the role of slave labor 
in the construction of the Capitol.
    (a) Requires the Architect of the Capitol, subject to the 
approval of the Committee on House Administration and the 
Senate Rules and Administration Committee, to design, procure, 
and place in a prominent location in Emancipation Hall in the 
Capitol Visitor Center a marker that acknowledges the role that 
slave labor played in the construction of the United States 
Capitol.
    (b) In the development of the marker, the Architect must 
consider the recommendations of the Slave Labor Task Force 
Working Group; ensure that the marker includes stone quarried 
by slaves in the construction of the Capitol to the greatest 
extent possible; and ensure that the marker includes a plaque 
or inscription that describes the purpose of the marker.

             MATTERS REQUIRED UNDER THE RULES OF THE HOUSE

Committee votes

    Clause 3(b) of House Rule XIII requires the results of each 
recorded vote on an amendment or motion to report, together 
with the names of those voting for and against, to be printed 
in the committee report. No recorded votes were taken during 
the Committee's consideration of H. Con. Res. 135.

Oversight findings

    Clause 3(c)(1) of Rule XIII requires each committee report 
to contain oversight findings and recommendations required 
pursuant to clause 2(b)(1) of House rule X. The Committee has 
general oversight responsibility for the House wing of the 
Capitol and the Capitol Visitor Center.
    In the exercise of oversight of these historic structures 
and those who manage them, the Committee finds that the absence 
of an appropriate marker acknowledging the role of slave 
laborers in the Capitol's construction omits this important 
aspect of the building's and the country's history. The 
Committee therefore recommends the adoption of H. Con. Res. 
135.

Statement of new budget authority and related items

    Clause 3(c)(2) of House rule XIII and Section 308(a)(1) of 
the Congressional Budget Act of 1974 (CBA) require most bills 
and resolutions providing new budget authority, new spending 
authority, new credit authority or an increase or decrease in 
revenues or tax expenditures to include such information. H. 
Con. Res. 135 provides no budget, spending or credit authority 
or any change in revenues or tax expenditures.

Congressional Budget Office estimate

    Clause 3(c)(3) of House rule XIII requires the report of a 
committee on a measure which has been approved by the committee 
to include a cost estimate prepared by the Director of the 
Congressional Budget Office pursuant to section 402 of the CBA, 
if timely submitted. The Director submitted the following 
estimate:

                                                     June 11, 2009.
Hon. Robert A. Brady,
Chairman, Committee on House Administration,
House of Representatives, Washington, DC.
    Dear Mr. Chairman: The Congressional Budget Office has 
prepared the enclosed cost estimate for H. Con. Res. 135, 
directing the Architect of the Capitol to place a marker in 
Emancipation Hall in the Capitol Visitor Center which 
acknowledges the role that slave labor played in the 
construction of the United States Capitol, and for other 
purposes.
    If you wish further details on this estimate, we will be 
pleased to provide them. The CBO staff contact is Matthew 
Pickford.
            Sincerely,
                                              Douglas W. Elmendorf.
    Enclosure.

H. Con. Res. 135--Directing the Architect of the Capitol to place a 
        marker in Emancipation Hall in the Capitol Visitor Center which 
        acknowledges the role that slave labor played in the 
        construction of the United States Capitol, and for other 
        purposes

    H. Con. Res. 135 would direct the Architect of the Capitol 
(AOC), with the approval of the Committee on House 
Administration and the Senate Committee on Rules and 
Administration, to design, procure, and place in a prominent 
location in Emancipation Hall in the Capitol Visitor Center a 
marker acknowledging the role that slave labor played in 
constructing the United States Capitol. Based on information 
from the AOC, CBO estimates that implementing the legislation 
would cost less than $300,000, subject to the availability of 
appropriated amounts. The legislation would have no affect on 
direct spending or revenues.
    The CBO staff contact for this estimate is Matthew 
Pickford. The estimate was approved by Theresa Gullo, Deputy 
Assistant Director for Budget Analysis.

Statement of general performance goals and objectives

    Clause 3(c)(4) of House rule XIII requires committee 
reports to include a statement of general performance goals and 
objectives for which the measure authorizes funding. House 
Concurrent Resolution 135 authorizes no appropriations. The 
Committee believes that adoption of the concurrent resolution 
will advance the Congress' goal of promoting widespread 
knowledge and understanding among the American people of this 
aspect of the history of their Capitol and their country.

Federal mandates

    Section 423 of the CBA requires committee reports on bills 
or resolutions to include specific information about federal 
mandates. The concurrent resolution imposes no federal 
mandates.

                                  
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