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[Congressional Bills 107th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Con. Res. 335 Introduced in House (IH)]

107th CONGRESS
  2d Session
H. CON. RES. 335

      Recognizing the significance of Black History Month and the 
contributions of Black Americans as a significant part of the history, 
              progress, and heritage of the United States.

_______________________________________________________________________

                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                           February 27, 2002

 Mr. Watts of Oklahoma submitted the following concurrent resolution; 
        which was referred to the Committee on Government Reform

_______________________________________________________________________

                         CONCURRENT RESOLUTION

 
      Recognizing the significance of Black History Month and the 
contributions of Black Americans as a significant part of the history, 
              progress, and heritage of the United States.

Whereas the first Black Americans were brought to these shores as early as the 
        17th century;
Whereas these first Black Americans and subsequent generations were enslaved and 
        brought to America against their free will;
Whereas, despite this enslavement, early Black Americans made significant 
        contributions to the economic, educational, political, artistic, 
        literary, scientific, and technological advancement of the United 
        States;
Whereas many of these enslaved Black Americans fought and died in the 
        Revolutionary War and the Civil War;
Whereas, despite official and social discrimination, subsequent generations of 
        Black Americans have continued to build on these early contributions and 
        continue to make important advancements in politics, business, culture, 
        education, art, literature, science, and technology;
Whereas Black Americans have worked consistently and arduously to strengthen the 
        Constitutional values of freedom, liberty, and equality;
Whereas Black Americans have disproportionately contributed to protecting the 
        Nation's security and freedom through service in the Armed Forces;
Whereas Black Americans have built many of the Nation's strongest faith-based 
        institutions which serve the Nation's poorest citizens, strengthen the 
        Nation's moral core, and uplift its spirit; and
Whereas the month of February is officially celebrated as Black History Month, 
        which dates back to 1926, when Dr. Carter G. Woodson set aside a special 
        period of time in February to recognize the heritage and achievements of 
        Black Americans: Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate concurring), 
That--
            (1) Congress recognizes the significance of Black History 
        Month, an important time to recognize the contributions of 
        Black Americans in the Nation's history, and encourages the 
        continued celebration of this month to provide an opportunity 
        for all people of the United States to learn more about the 
        past and to better understand the experiences that have shaped 
        the Nation; and
            (2) it is the sense of Congress that--
                    (A) the contributions of Black Americans are a 
                significant part of the history, progress, and heritage 
                of the United States; and
                    (B) the ethnic and racial diversity of the United 
                States enriches and strengthens the Nation.
                                 <all>
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