IV 

115TH CONGRESS 

2D SESSION H. RES. 863 

Honoring Velvalea ‘‘Vel’’ Phillips for a life of public service. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

APRIL 27, 2018 

Ms. MOORE (for herself, Ms. FUDGE, Ms. ADAMS, Mr. EVANS, Mr. PAYNE, 

Mr. AL GREEN of Texas, Mr. CLYBURN, Mr. THOMPSON of Mississippi, 

Mr. MCEACHIN, Ms. JACKSON LEE, Mr. BUTTERFIELD, Mr. CLEAVER, 

Mr. JOHNSON of Georgia, Ms. LEE, Ms. BLUNT ROCHESTER, Mrs. 

DEMINGS, Ms. KELLY of Illinois, Ms. NORTON, Mr. SCOTT of Virginia, 

Mrs. BEATTY, Mrs. LAWRENCE, Mr. RICHMOND, Mr. POCAN, Mrs. DINGELL, and Mr. KIND) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform 

RESOLUTION 

Honoring Velvalea ‘‘Vel’’ Phillips for a life of public service. 

Whereas Velvalea ‘‘Vel’’ Phillips was born Velvalea Hortense 

Rodgers in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, on February 18, 1924, 

and passed away on Tuesday, April 17, 2018, at age 94; 

Whereas Velvalea ‘‘Vel’’ Phillips, graduated from North Division High School in 1942 and received a bachelor’s degree from Howard University in 1946; 

Whereas after graduating from Howard, she returned to Milwaukee and began volunteering at the local chapter of the 

National Association for the Advancement of Colored 

People (NAACP); 


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•HRES 863 IH 

Whereas after getting married in 1948, she and her husband 

moved to Madison, Wisconsin, to together attend the 

University of Wisconsin Law School where they were the 

first Black married couple to integrate the university’s 

family housing; 

Whereas despite immense hostility, Velvalea ‘‘Vel’’ Phillips 

became the first African-American woman to graduate 

from the University of Wisconsin Law School in 1951, 

and she and her husband, Dale Phillips, were the first 

husband-wife team admitted to the Federal bar; 

Whereas soon after, she and her husband moved to Milwaukee, Wisconsin, where she joined the League of 

Women Voters to register her neighbors to vote; 

Whereas, in 1953, she ran for the Milwaukee School Board 

and although unsuccessful, she became the first Black 

candidate to make it past a nonpartisan city-wide primary election, and despite this momentary setback, she 

continued to challenge School Board policies that disadvantaged African-American teachers and students; 

Whereas, in 1956, Velvalea ‘‘Vel’’ Phillips was the first 

woman and first African American elected to the Milwaukee Common Council; 

Whereas, in 1958, she was elected to the Democratic National Committee, becoming the first Black person of either gender to serve on the national committee of either 

party, and she used that forum to convince soon-to-be 

President Kennedy to adopt a national platform fully 

committed to civil rights; 

Whereas as a Member of the Common Council, Velvalea 

‘‘Vel’’ Phillips fought for fair and affordable housing in 

the city of Milwaukee, and in 1962, introduced MilwauVerDate Sep 11 2014 22:38 Apr 27, 2018 Jkt 079200 PO 00000 Frm 00002 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6300 E:\BILLS\HR863.IH HR863

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kee’s first fair housing ordinance, a landmark resolution 

that dared to declare that, ‘‘It is to be the policy of the 

City of Milwaukee to assure the equal opportunity to all 

persons to live in decent housing facilities regardless of 

race, color or national origin’’; 

Whereas on the first occasion that resolution came to a vote, 

it received one vote in favor, but not one who is easily 

deterred, she would bring up the measure repeatedly over 

the years; 

Whereas, in August 1967, 200 activists marched across the 

bridge dividing the city’s South Side and North Side to 

demand fair and equal housing access as part of civil 

rights protests in the city; 

Whereas Vel participated in the protests and became the first 

known elected official to be arrested while holding office; 

Whereas as a result of her participation in these protests, she 

was also subject to threats and violence, such as gunshots 

fired into her home and hate mail threatening her children’s lives, but undeterred, she persisted; 

Whereas, in 1968, after the assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., the Milwaukee Common Council would 

pass her fair housing ordinance, a victory that reverberated around the country and quickly influenced other municipal housing laws; 

Whereas, in 1971, Velvalea ‘‘Vel’’ Phillips became the first 

woman judge in Milwaukee County, and the first AfricanAmerican judge in Wisconsin; 

Whereas, in 1978, Velvalea ‘‘Vel’’ Phillips reached another 

milestone with her election as Wisconsin Secretary of 

State, becoming the first and only African American to 

ever win statewide office in the State of Wisconsin; 


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Whereas after leaving public office, Velvalea ‘‘Vel’’ Phillips 

remained engaged in the community; 

Whereas in recognition of her many accomplishments, she 

was invited to serve as Distinguished Visiting Professor 

of Law at Marquette’s Law School during the 2002–2003 

school year; 

Whereas, in 2006, she started the Vel Phillips Foundation to 

establish equality and opportunity for minorities through 

social justice, education, housing, and jobs and to help 

high school students successfully make the transition to 

college; 

Whereas, in 2006, she was recognized by the Wisconsin Historical Society as one of the biggest historical contributors to the State, winning the Robert and Belle La 

Follette Award for Distinction in Public Service; 

Whereas she remained active in Milwaukee’s Community 

Brainstorming Conference, which focuses on grassroots 

leadership; 

Whereas this list of accomplishments does no justice to the 

number of individual lives she touched and inspired in 

her community, throughout Wisconsin, and the Nation; 

Whereas Velvalea ‘‘Vel’’ Phillips’ undeterred tenacity laid the 

foundation for other women, African Americans, and people in general to muster the courage to strive for the sustained social progress of our young Nation; 

Whereas ‘‘Vel’’ served as chairwoman of the first successful 

campaign of an African American for Congress in the 

State of Wisconsin; and 

Whereas the life of this remarkable woman and American is 

filled with accomplishments that were unheard of during 

her time and is a testament to her fearless and steadfast 


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pursuit of equitable living conditions for each American 

which helped transform our country into a better, more 

just, and morally advanced society: Now, therefore, be it 

1 Resolved, That the House of Representatives— 

2 (1) recognizes and honors the achievements of 

3 Velvalea ‘‘Vel’’ Phillips as a ground breaker, ‘‘leader 

4 of leaders’’, role model, and civil rights leader; 

5 (2) commends the courage, hard work, commit6 ment, and dedication of Velvalea ‘‘Vel’’ Phillips in 

7 fighting for equality for all; and 

8 (3) honors the achievements of all American 

9 women who have overcome adversity to play a con10 tributing role in society. 

Æ 


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