    [United States Statutes at Large, Volume 117, 108th Congress, 1st Session]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

    RALPH BUNCHE--HUMAN RIGHTS CONTRIBUTIONS
    <>

    Whereas Ralph Bunche's life of achievement made him truly one of the
    twentieth century's foremost figures and a role model for youth;

    Whereas Ralph Bunche graduated valedictorian, summa cum laude, and Phi
    Beta Kappa from the University of California at Los Angeles in 1927
    with a degree in International Relations;

    Whereas Ralph Bunche was the first African-American to receive a Ph.D.
    in Government and International Relations at Harvard University in
    1934;

    [[Page 2968]]
    117 STAT. 2968

    Whereas Ralph Bunche served as a professor and established and chaired
    the Political Science Department at Howard University from 1928 to
    1941;

    Whereas, in 1941, Ralph Bunche served as an analyst for the Office of
    Strategic Services;

    Whereas Ralph Bunche joined the Department of State in 1944 as an
    advisor;

    Whereas Ralph Bunche served as an advisor to the United States
    delegation to the 1945 San Francisco conference charged with
    establishing the United Nations and drafting the Charter of the
    nascent international organization;

    Whereas Ralph Bunche was instrumental in drafting Chapters 11 and 12 of
    the United Nations Charter, dealing with non-self-governing
    territories and the International Trusteeship System, which helped
    African countries achieve their independence and assisted in their
    transition to self-governing, sovereign states;

    Whereas, in 1946, Ralph Bunche was appointed Director of the Trusteeship
    Division of the United Nations;

    Whereas, in 1948, Ralph Bunche was named acting Chief Mediator in
    Palestine for the United Nations, and, in 1949, successfully
    brokered an armistice agreement between Israel, Egypt, Jordan,
    Lebanon, and Syria;

    Whereas Ralph Bunche was deeply committed to ending colonialism and
    restoring individual state sovereignty through peaceful means;

    Whereas the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People
    awarded its highest honor, the Spingarn Medal, to Ralph Bunche in
    1949;

    Whereas for his many significant contributions and efforts towards
    achieving a peaceful resolution to seemingly intractable national
    and international disputes, Ralph Bunche was awarded the Nobel Peace
    Prize in 1950, the first African-American and the first person of
    color to be so honored;

    Whereas Ralph Bunche was named United Nations Under Secretary General in
    1955, in charge of directing peacekeeping missions in several
    countries;

    Whereas, in 1963, Ralph Bunche was presented by President John F.
    Kennedy with the United States' highest civilian award, the Medal of
    Freedom; and

    Whereas Ralph Bunche's critical contributions to the attempt to resolve
    the Arab-Israeli conflict and towards the de-colonization of Africa,
    and his commitment to and long service in the United Nations and
    numerous other national and international humanitarian efforts,
    warrant his commemoration: Now, therefore, be it

    Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate concurring),
    That Congress--
    (1) recognizes and honors Ralph Bunche as a pivotal 20th
    century figure and fighter in the struggle for the realization
    and attainment of human rights on a global scale; and
    (2) urges the President to take appropriate measures to

    [[Page 2969]]
    117 STAT. 2969

    encourage the celebration and remembrance of Ralph Bunche's many
    significant achievements.

    Agreed to November 22, 2003.