IV 

118TH CONGRESS 

2D SESSION H. RES. 1121 

Recognizing the 158th anniversary of the Civil Rights Act of 1866. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

APRIL 9, 2024 

Mr. JACKSON of Illinois (for himself, Ms. NORTON, Mr. ESPAILLAT, Mrs. DINGELL, Mr. THANEDAR, Mr. DAVIS of Illinois, Mr. GRIJALVA, Mrs. 

CHERFILUS-MCCORMICK, Ms. TLAIB, and Ms. PLASKETT) submitted the 

following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary 

RESOLUTION 

Recognizing the 158th anniversary of the Civil Rights Act 

of 1866. 

Whereas, on April 9, 1866, the Civil Rights Act of 1866 was 

passed and enacted into law; 

Whereas this year marks the 158th anniversary of the Civil 

Rights Act of 1866; 

Whereas the Civil Rights Act of 1866 was the first Federal 

law to define citizenship and affirm that all citizens are 

equally protected by the law; 

Whereas the intent of the Civil Rights Act of 1866 was to 

combat the attempted suppression of the Emancipation 

Proclamation; 


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•HRES 1121 IH 

Whereas President Andrew Johnson established a reconstruction policy that forced former Confederate States to 

maintain abolition, swear loyalty to the United States, 

and pay their war debts in order to rejoin the Union; 

Whereas under President Johnson’s policy, Southern States 

adopted and enacted a series of laws designed to restrict 

freed Blacks and ensure their availability in the labor 

force; 

Whereas these laws severely denied Black citizens equal protection under the law; 

Whereas under restricted laws, Blacks were refrained from 

owning property, entering contracts, and benefiting from 

labor rights; 

Whereas a brave set of legislators believed the Federal Government had a role in shaping a multiracial society in 

postwar South; 

Whereas Senator Lyman Trumbull of Illinois introduced the 

Civil Rights Act of 1866 in the Senate on January 5, 

1866; 

Whereas, on February 2, 1866, the Senate voted in favor of 

the bill 33–13; 

Whereas, on March 13, 1866, the House of Representatives 

voted in favor of the Civil Rights Act of 1866 by a vote 

of 111–38, with 34 Members not voting; 

Whereas, on March 27, 1866, President Andrew Johnson vetoed the Civil Rights Act of 1866; 

Whereas, on April 6, 1866, the Senate voted 33–15 to override President Johnson’s veto; 


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•HRES 1121 IH 

Whereas, on April 9, 1866, the House also voted to override 

President Johnson’s veto by a vote of 122–41 with 21 

Members not voting; and 

Whereas as a result of both Chambers voting to override 

President Johnson’s veto, the Civil Rights Act of 1866 

became the law of the land: Now, therefore, be it 

1 Resolved, That the House of Representatives— 

2 (1) recognizes the significance of the Civil 

3 Rights Act of 1866 and its impact on establishing 

4 that all Americans, despite their race, are protected 

5 equally under the law; 

6 (2) recognizes that the Civil Rights Act of 1866 

7 is the framework from which the Thirteenth and 

8 Fourteenth Amendments were crafted; and 

9 (3) recognizes the importance of the rule of law 

10 and advocates to support, protect, and defend the 

11 rights of all Americans. 

Æ 


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