IV 

115TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION H. RES. 425 

Supporting the protection of the name Harlem. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

JUNE 29, 2017 

Mr. ESPAILLAT (for himself, Mr. NADLER, Ms. VELA ́ZQUEZ, Mr. JEFFRIES, 

Ms. CLARKE of New York, Mr. CROWLEY, Mr. MEEKS, Mrs. CAROLYN

B. MALONEY of New York, Mr. SERRANO, Ms. MENG, and Mr. ENGEL) 

submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee 

on Oversight and Government Reform 

RESOLUTION 

Supporting the protection of the name Harlem. 

Whereas Harlem is a treasure of New York and throughout 

its history has played a significant role in shaping the 

culture and political landscape of the United States; 

Whereas the name Harlem is inextricably connected to its 

history and legacy; 

Whereas since the early 20th century, Harlem has been recognized internationally as a major residential, cultural, 

and business center with a strong Black history; 

Whereas the Harlem Renaissance attracted the greatest African American writers, artists, musicians, and thinkers 

from across the country and allowed these intellectuals to 

fully express themselves and thrive in their fields; 


SSpencer on DSKBBV9HB2PROD with BILLS
2 

•HRES 425 IH 

Whereas the Harlem Renaissance redefined how the United 

States and the world viewed African Americans and continues to inspire African American artists and intellectuals to this day; 

Whereas Harlem is an icon and capital of the African Diaspora; 

Whereas thousands of foreigners travel to Harlem for tourism 

each week to learn about and see the history of the 

neighborhood; 

Whereas love for Harlem runs through the veins of longtime 

residents and instantly inspires those who visit; 

Whereas the deep love that residents’ have for Harlem can 

be found for similarly historical and influential neighborhoods around the world; 

Whereas Harlem is a state of mind and way of being, and 

residents have long possessed resilience, pride, and fearlessness; 

Whereas Congressmen Adam Clayton Powell and Charles B. 

Rangel were born and raised in Harlem and represented 

the neighborhood in the House of Representatives for a 

combined 72 years; 

Whereas Harlem’s legacy has been instrumental in the legacies of Malcolm X, Arturo Alfonso Schomburg, Harry 

Belafonte, W.E.B. Du Bois, Colin Powell, Countee 

Cullen, Marcus Garvey, Langston Hughes, Josephine 

Baker, Zora Neale Hurston, Alice Dunbar-Nelson, Duke 

Ellington, Ella Fitzgerald, Billie Holiday, Lena Horne, 

Bessie Smith, and Jacob Lawrence; 

Whereas Harlem is home to 56 registered landmarks including Apollo Theater, Harlem Hospital Center, Hotel Theresa, Mount Sinai Hospital, Rucker Park, Savoy BallVerDate Sep 11 2014 04:01 Jun 30, 2017 Jkt 069200 PO 00000 Frm 00002 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6300 E:\BILLS\HR425.IH HR425

SSpencer on DSKBBV9HB2PROD with BILLS
3 

•HRES 425 IH 

room, Strivers’ Row, Sylvia’s Soul Food, Lenox Lounge, 

and Abyssinian Baptist Church; and 

Whereas an attempt to rebrand Harlem as ‘‘SoHa’’ is insulting: Now, therefore, be it 

1 Resolved, That the House of Representatives— 

2 (1) supports the protection of the name Har3 lem; 

4 (2) supports imposing limitations on the ability 

5 to change the name of a neighborhood based on eco6 nomic gain; 

7 (3) expresses support for the inclusion of com8 munity input in any decision to change the name of 

9 the Harlem neighborhood; 

10 (4) expresses that a single entity should not 

11 have the jurisdiction to change the name of a neigh12 borhood; 

13 (5) encourages a formal and public vote as a re14 quirement for any change to the name of the neigh15 borhood; 

16 (6) hopes that GPS manufacturers will recog17 nize Harlem as an official destination for travelers; 

18 and 

19 (7) encourages input from the community, con20 sideration of its residents, and a formal and public 


SSpencer on DSKBBV9HB2PROD with BILLS
4 

•HRES 425 IH 

1 vote before any change to the name or historical 

2 landmark of Harlem. 

Æ 


SSpencer on DSKBBV9HB2PROD with BILLS