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[Congressional Bills 118th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 1121 Introduced in House (IH)]

<DOC>

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;
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;
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
    Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
            (1) recognizes the significance of the Civil Rights Act of 
        1866 and its impact on establishing that all Americans, despite 
        their race, are protected equally under the law;
            (2) recognizes that the Civil Rights Act of 1866 is the 
        framework from which the Thirteenth and Fourteenth Amendments 
        were crafted; and
            (3) recognizes the importance of the rule of law and 
        advocates to support, protect, and defend the rights of all 
        Americans.
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