79–009 

111TH CONGRESS REPORT " ! HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 1st Session 111–153 

DIRECTING THE ARCHITECT OF THE CAPITOL TO PLACE A MARKER IN 

EMANCIPATION HALL IN THE CAPITOL VISITOR CENTER WHICH ACKNOWLEDGES THE ROLE THAT SLAVE LABOR PLAYED IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE UNITED STATES CAPITOL, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES 

JUNE 12, 2009.—Committed to the Committee of the Whole House on the State of 

the Union and ordered to be printed 

Mr. BRADY of Pennsylvania, from the Committee on House 

Administration, submitted the following 

R E P O R T 

[To accompany H. Con. Res. 135] 

[Including cost estimate of the Congressional Budget Office] 

The Committee on House Administration, to whom was referred 

the concurrent resolution (H. Con. Res. 135) directing the Architect 

of the Capitol to place a marker in Emancipation Hall in the Capitol Visitor Center which acknowledges the role that slave labor 

played in the construction of the United States Capitol, and for 

other purposes, having considered the same, report favorably thereon without amendment and recommend that the concurrent resolution be agreed to. 

PURPOSE AND SUMMARY OF THE LEGISLATION

In May of 2005, House and Senate Leadership announced appointments to a Task Force to study the contributions of enslaved 

African Americans in building the U.S. Capitol. The Task Force 

was also charged with the task of developing recommendations to 

the Congress concerning appropriate recognition of these efforts. In 

support of this effort, in June 2005, the Architectural Historian of 

the Architect of the Capitol provided a report on the contributions 

of slave laborers to the construction of the Capitol. On November 

7, 2007, during the 110th Congress, the Committee on House Administration held a hearing to receive the recommendations of the 

Slave Labor Task Force Working Group, chaired by Representative 

John Lewis of Georgia. The Task Force spent several years exploring the extensive role played by slaves in the construction of the 

Capitol. 


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Of course, Americans now living cannot rectify these sins of the 

past, nor can we even thank the slave laborers for their sacrifice. 

But we can acknowledge those sins and the sacrifices of the laborers. The Task Force’s report recommended a number of steps be 

taken to do what we can. Several of their recommendations, including the naming of Emancipation Hall in the new Capitol Visitor 

Center, have already been achieved. 

However, the placement of a new marker in Emancipation Hall, 

as proposed by this concurrent resolution (H. Con. Res. 135) requires further legislative action. This resolution will provide for the 

installation of such a marker by the Architect of the Capitol, under 

the supervision of this Committee and the Senate Committee on 

Rules and Administration. As the resolution contemplates, the committees will make every effort to use some of the original slavequarried stones that were removed from the original walls of the 

Capitol during previous renovations. 

COMMITTEE CONSIDERATION

On June 10, 2009, the Committee considered H. Con. Res. 135, 

introduced May 21, 2009, by Representative John Lewis of Georgia. 

By voice vote, the Committee ordered the concurrent resolution reported without amendment. No recorded votes were taken during 

the Committee’s consideration of the resolution. 

DESCRIPTION OF H. CON. RES. 135

Section 1. Provides for placement of a marker in the Capitol Visitor Center to acknowledge the role of slave labor in the construction of the Capitol. 

(a) Requires the Architect of the Capitol, subject to the approval 

of the Committee on House Administration and the Senate Rules 

and Administration Committee, to design, procure, and place in a 

prominent location in Emancipation Hall in the Capitol Visitor 

Center a marker that acknowledges the role that slave labor played 

in the construction of the United States Capitol. 

(b) In the development of the marker, the Architect must consider the recommendations of the Slave Labor Task Force Working 

Group; ensure that the marker includes stone quarried by slaves 

in the construction of the Capitol to the greatest extent possible; 

and ensure that the marker includes a plaque or inscription that 

describes the purpose of the marker. 

MATTERS REQUIRED UNDER THE RULES OF THE HOUSE

Committee votes 

Clause 3(b) of House Rule XIII requires the results of each recorded vote on an amendment or motion to report, together with 

the names of those voting for and against, to be printed in the committee report. No recorded votes were taken during the Committee’s consideration of H. Con. Res. 135. 

Oversight findings 

Clause 3(c)(1) of Rule XIII requires each committee report to contain oversight findings and recommendations required pursuant to 

clause 2(b)(1) of House rule X. The Committee has general overVerDate Nov 24 2008 06:47 Jun 13, 2009 Jkt 079009 PO 00000 Frm 00002 Fmt 6659 Sfmt 6602 E:\HR\OC\HR153.XXX HR153

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sight responsibility for the House wing of the Capitol and the Capitol Visitor Center. 

In the exercise of oversight of these historic structures and those 

who manage them, the Committee finds that the absence of an appropriate marker acknowledging the role of slave laborers in the 

Capitol’s construction omits this important aspect of the building’s 

and the country’s history. The Committee therefore recommends 

the adoption of H. Con. Res. 135. 

Statement of new budget authority and related items 

Clause 3(c)(2) of House rule XIII and Section 308(a)(1) of the 

Congressional Budget Act of 1974 (CBA) require most bills and resolutions providing new budget authority, new spending authority, 

new credit authority or an increase or decrease in revenues or tax 

expenditures to include such information. H. Con. Res. 135 provides no budget, spending or credit authority or any change in revenues or tax expenditures. 

Congressional Budget Office estimate 

Clause 3(c)(3) of House rule XIII requires the report of a committee on a measure which has been approved by the committee to 

include a cost estimate prepared by the Director of the Congressional Budget Office pursuant to section 402 of the CBA, if timely 

submitted. The Director submitted the following estimate: 

JUNE 11, 2009. 

Hon. ROBERT A. BRADY, 

Chairman, Committee on House Administration, 

House of Representatives, Washington, DC. 

DEAR MR. CHAIRMAN: The Congressional Budget Office has prepared the enclosed cost estimate for H. Con. Res. 135, directing the 

Architect of the Capitol to place a marker in Emancipation Hall in 

the Capitol Visitor Center which acknowledges the role that slave 

labor played in the construction of the United States Capitol, and 

for other purposes. 

If you wish further details on this estimate, we will be pleased 

to provide them. The CBO staff contact is Matthew Pickford. 

Sincerely, 

DOUGLAS W. ELMENDORF. 

Enclosure. 

H. Con. Res. 135—Directing the Architect of the Capitol to place a 

marker in Emancipation Hall in the Capitol Visitor Center 

which acknowledges the role that slave labor played in the construction of the United States Capitol, and for other purposes 

H. Con. Res. 135 would direct the Architect of the Capitol (AOC), 

with the approval of the Committee on House Administration and 

the Senate Committee on Rules and Administration, to design, procure, and place in a prominent location in Emancipation Hall in 

the Capitol Visitor Center a marker acknowledging the role that 

slave labor played in constructing the United States Capitol. Based 

on information from the AOC, CBO estimates that implementing 

the legislation would cost less than $300,000, subject to the availability of appropriated amounts. The legislation would have no affect on direct spending or revenues. 


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The CBO staff contact for this estimate is Matthew Pickford. The 

estimate was approved by Theresa Gullo, Deputy Assistant Director for Budget Analysis. 

Statement of general performance goals and objectives 

Clause 3(c)(4) of House rule XIII requires committee reports to 

include a statement of general performance goals and objectives for 

which the measure authorizes funding. House Concurrent Resolution 135 authorizes no appropriations. The Committee believes that 

adoption of the concurrent resolution will advance the Congress’ 

goal of promoting widespread knowledge and understanding among 

the American people of this aspect of the history of their Capitol 

and their country. 

Federal mandates 

Section 423 of the CBA requires committee reports on bills or 

resolutions to include specific information about federal mandates. 

The concurrent resolution imposes no federal mandates. 

Æ 


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