IV 

115TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION H. RES. 321 

Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives that a commemorative 

postage stamp should be issued in honor of the Chinese railroad workers 

from 1865 to 1869, and that the Citizens’ Stamp Advisory Committee 

should recommend to the Postmaster General that such a stamp be 

issued. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

MAY 11, 2017 

Ms. MENG (for herself and Mr. ROYCE of California) submitted the following 

resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform 

RESOLUTION 

Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives that 

a commemorative postage stamp should be issued in 

honor of the Chinese railroad workers from 1865 to 

1869, and that the Citizens’ Stamp Advisory Committee 

should recommend to the Postmaster General that such 

a stamp be issued. 

Whereas the Transcontinental Railroad was one of the most 

remarkable engineering feats of the 19th century; 

Whereas the construction of the Transcontinental Railroad 

took six years and stretched for nearly 2,000 miles; 


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Whereas the completion of the Transcontinental Railroad facilitated commerce and reduced cross-country travel times 

from 6 months to a single week after being completed; 

Whereas the 150th anniversary of the completion of the 

Transcontinental Railroad will take place on May 10, 

2019; 

Whereas nearly 12,000 Chinese immigrants were employed in 

the construction of the Transcontinental Railroad, comprising more than 80 percent of the workforce of Central 

Pacific Railroad Company; 

Whereas the Chinese railroad workers were considered indispensable by their foremen and were respected for their 

work ethic and discipline; 

Whereas the Chinese railroad workers set a world record by 

laying 10 miles of railroad track in just one work day; 

Whereas the Chinese railroad workers were given the most 

difficult, dangerous jobs and were paid lower wages than 

other railroad workers; 

Whereas nearly 1,200 Chinese railroad workers died from 

work accidents, avalanches, and explosions while working 

in the Sierra Nevada Mountains; 

Whereas the Department of Labor has inducted the Chinese 

railroad workers into the Labor Hall of Honor for their 

courage in organizing in pursuit of fair wages and safe 

working conditions; 

Whereas the Chinese railroad workers set an example for the 

millions of Asian Americans who came to the United 

States after them through their fight against discrimination; 


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Whereas both the descendants of these workers and the wider 

Asian-American community view the sacrifices of the Chinese railroad workers as being integral to the creation of 

the vibrant and growing Asian-American community that 

exists throughout the country today; and 

Whereas the Chinese railroad workers continue to have a profound, positive impact on the American way of life by advancing the ideals of equal opportunity and the dignity 

of work for everyone: Now, therefore, be it 

1 Resolved, That it is the sense of the House of Rep2 resentatives that— 

3 (1) a commemorative postage stamp should be 

4 issued by the United States Postal Service honoring 

5 the Chinese railroad workers; and 

6 (2) the Citizens’ Stamp Advisory Committee 

7 should recommend to the Postmaster General that 

8 such a postage stamp be issued. 

Æ 


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