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[Congressional Bills 113th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. Res. 218 Introduced in Senate (IS)]

113th CONGRESS
  1st Session
S. RES. 218

 Honoring the legacy of A. Philip Randolph and saluting his efforts on 
  behalf of the people of the United States to form ``a more perfect 
                                union''.

_______________________________________________________________________

                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                           September 9, 2013

 Mr. Nelson submitted the following resolution; which was referred to 
                     the Committee on the Judiciary

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION

 
 Honoring the legacy of A. Philip Randolph and saluting his efforts on 
  behalf of the people of the United States to form ``a more perfect 
                                union''.

Whereas A. Philip Randolph was born on April 15, 1889, and grew up in 
        Jacksonville, Florida;
Whereas Mr. Randolph attended the Cookman Institute, one of the first high 
        schools for African-Americans in the United States, located in 
        Jacksonville, Florida, and graduated valedictorian of his class in 1907;
Whereas Mr. Randolph was an inspirational person who demonstrated an unyielding 
        struggle for human rights on behalf of marginalized groups in society;
Whereas Mr. Randolph was active in both the civil rights movement and the labor 
        movement in the United States;
Whereas Mr. Randolph was a tireless and highly effective advocate for African-
        American rights during the 1930s and 1940s, focusing particularly on 
        employment rights;
Whereas Mr. Randolph led the effort to organize the porters of the Pullman 
        Company, one of the largest railroad car companies in the United States 
        at that time;
Whereas Mr. Randolph founded the Brotherhood of Sleeping Car Porters, an 
        organization that advanced the rights of African-American workers to 
        dignity, respect, and a decent livelihood;
Whereas Mr. Randolph urged President Franklin Roosevelt to end employment 
        discrimination against African-Americans in the Federal Government;
Whereas, after the urging of Mr. Randolph, President Roosevelt issued Executive 
        Order 8802 (6 Fed. Reg. 3109) on June 25, 1941, declaring that ``there 
        shall be no discrimination in the employment of workers in defense 
        industries and in government because of race, creed, color, or national 
        origin'' and established the Fair Employment Practices Commission to 
        oversee that order;
Whereas Mr. Randolph urged President Harry Truman to end segregation in the 
        Armed Forces of the United States;
Whereas, after the urging of Mr. Randolph, President Truman issued Executive 
        Order 9981 (13 Fed. Reg. 4313) on July 26, 1948, declaring that 
        ``[T]here shall be equality of treatment and opportunity for all persons 
        in the armed services without regard to race, color, religion or 
        national origin. This policy shall be put into effect as rapidly as 
        possible, having due regard to the time required to effectuate any 
        necessary changes without impairing efficiency or morale.'' and closed 
        the segregated Marine Corps boot camp at Montford Point in Jacksonville, 
        North Carolina;
Whereas Mr. Randolph was actively involved in the planning and organization of 
        many civil rights efforts, including the prayer pilgrimage for freedom 
        in 1957, the marches for school integration in 1958 and 1959, and the 
        March on Washington in 1963;
Whereas Mr. Randolph was the first speaker of the day at the March on Washington 
        on August 28, 1963, during which Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., delivered 
        his famous ``I Have a Dream'' speech;
Whereas the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (Public Law 88-352; 78 Stat. 241), the 
        Voting Rights Act of 1965 (Public Law 89-110; 79 Stat. 437), and the 
        Civil Rights Act of 1968 (Public Law 90-284; 82 Stat. 73) are the fruits 
        of the seeds that Mr. Randolph and others like him sowed many years 
        before;
Whereas Mr. Randolph helped to found the Leadership Conference on Civil and 
        Human Rights;
Whereas Amtrak named one of its luxury sleeping cars, the Superliner II Deluxe 
        Sleeper 32503, the ``A. Philip Randolph'' in honor of Mr. Randolph;
Whereas a bust in the likeness of Mr. Randolph stands in Union Station in 
        Washington, DC, as a tribute to his work on behalf of African-American 
        rail workers;
Whereas, in 1964, Mr. Randolph was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom by 
        President Lyndon Johnson;
Whereas the civil rights revolution was launched, in no small part, based on the 
        efforts of Mr. Randolph and the work of statesmen like him; and
Whereas, upon the celebration of the 50th anniversary of the March on Washington 
        in 2013, it is fitting to honor the work of Mr. Randolph and his 
        commitment to a better United States: Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved, That the Senate honors the legacy of A. Philip Randolph 
and salutes his efforts on behalf of the people of the United States to 
form ``a more perfect union''.
                                 <all>
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