IV

107TH CONGRESS

1ST SESSION H. RES. 94

Honoring the contributions of Venus and Serena Williams.

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

MARCH 20, 2001

Ms. MILLENDER-MCDONALD submitted the following resolution; which was

referred to the Committee on Government Reform

RESOLUTION

Honoring the contributions of Venus and Serena Williams.

Whereas, although Venus and Serena Williams are only 20

and 19 years old and only in their sixth and third full

years as professional tennis players respectively, they

have over 43 professional titles between them;

Whereas Venus and Serena Williams have broken racial and

socioeconomic barriers with pride and poise by showing

the world that tennis is a sport for all people;

Whereas Venus Williams is the first African-American woman

to win the Wimbledon Championships since 1958, is the

first United States woman since 1924 to win an Olympic

gold medal in both singles and doubles, holds the women’s world record for the fastest serve at 127 miles per

hour, and is one of only seven women to win the singles
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titles in both the Wimbledon Championships and the U.S.

Open in the same year;

Whereas Serena Williams is only the second African-American woman ever to win a Grand Slam singles title, is

only the sixth American woman to win the U.S. Open

singles title since 1968, is only the fifth woman to win

both singles and doubles Grand Slam titles in the same

year, and is the first woman to reach the finals in a U.S.

Open debut since 1978;

Whereas Venus and Serena Williams are the first sisters in

professional tennis history to each win a Grand Slam singles title, the first to be ranked in the top ten simultaneously since 1991, the first to win a Grand Slam doubles title together, the first to compete against one another in a Women’s Tennis Association Tour final, and

the first to win an Olympic gold medal in doubles together;

Whereas Venus and Serena Williams have inspired and encouraged people of all backgrounds and ages, especially

those in their hometown of Compton, California, demonstrating through the spirit of sport that education, a

good work ethic, teamwork, fortitude, and determination

are ingredients for success;

Whereas Venus and Serena Williams are African-American

role models, coached to excellence by their father, and encouraged by both parents to be leaders, to demonstrate

high moral and ethical standards, to value education, and

to never stray from these family values; and

Whereas Venus and Serena Williams have been beacons of

light to their community, passing out tennis rackets and

conducting tennis clinics for low income children, raising
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funds for community development, and joining our Nation’s leaders in support of the Department of Transportation’s seat belt campaign ‘‘Buckle Up America!’’: Now,

therefore, be it

1 Resolved, That the House of Representatives—

2 (1) honors and recognizes the achievements and

3 strides made by Venus and Serena Williams by giv4 ing back to their community, promoting excellence,

5 breaking barriers with pride and poise, showing that

6 tennis is a sport for all people; and

7 (2) urges all Americans to recognize the con8 tributions to American society made by Venus and

9 Serena Williams through their achievements and

10 community involvement.

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