III 

110TH CONGRESS 

2D SESSION H. CON. RES. 310 

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES 

APRIL 2, 2008 

Received and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary 

CONCURRENT RESOLUTION 

Expressing support for a national day of remembrance for 

Harriet Ross Tubman. 

Whereas Harriet Ross Tubman was born into slavery in 

Bucktown, Maryland, in or around 1820; 

Whereas in 1849 she escaped to Philadelphia and became a 

‘‘conductor’’ on the Underground Railroad; 

Whereas she was commonly referred to as ‘‘Moses’’ due to 

her courage and sacrifice in leading many 


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HCON 310 RFS 

enslaved persons out of bondage into freedom, endeavoring despite great hardship and danger of being reenslaved; 

Whereas Harriet Ross Tubman became an eloquent and effective speaker on behalf of the movement to abolish slavery; 

Whereas during the Civil War, Harriet Ross Tubman assisted 

the Union Army as a cook, nurse, scout, spy, and became 

the first woman to lead an armed expedition in the war, 

leading to the liberation of more than seven hundred 

slaves; 

Whereas after the Civil War, she became active in the women’s suffrage movement and continued to fight for human 

dignity, human rights, opportunity, and justice; 

Whereas in 1896, Harriet Ross Tubman purchased 25 acres 

of land in Auburn, New York, to create a home and hospital for indigent, aged, and sick African-Americans, 

which opened on June 23, 1908, as the Harriet Tubman 

Home for the Sick and Aged, becoming the only charity 

outside of New York City dedicated to the shelter and 

care of African-Americans in New York; 

Whereas in 1944 the United States Maritime Commission 

launched the SS Harriet Tubman (Hull Number 3032), 

the first Liberty ship ever named for an African-American woman; 

Whereas in 1978, Harriet Ross Tubman was the first honoree in the United States Postal Service Black Heritage 

Stamp Series; 

Whereas the Episcopal Church has designated Harriet Ross 

Tubman a saint in its Book of Common Prayer; 


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Whereas Harriet Ross Tubman, whose courageous and dedicated pursuit of the promise of American ideals and common principles of humanity continues to serve and inspire 

all people who cherish freedom, died at her home in Auburn, New York, on March 10, 1913; 

Whereas March 10, 1990, was designated as Harriet Ross 

Tubman Day and States such as Delaware, Georgia, 

Maryland, New York, and Texas host annual celebrations 

that honor the life of Harriet Tubman; and 

Whereas we support honoring the contributions of Harriet 

Ross Tubman annually on March 10: Now, therefore, be 

it 

1 Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate 

2 concurring), That the Congress— 

3 (1) supports the designation of a national day 

4 of remembrance for Harriet Ross Tubman; and 

5 (2) encourages the people of the United States 

6 to support and participate in appropriate cere7 monies, programs, and other activities to commemo8 rate a national day of remembrance for Harriet Ross 

9 Tubman. 

Passed the House of Representatives April 1, 2008. 

Attest: LORRAINE C. MILLER, 

Clerk. 


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