107TH CONGRESS

1ST SESSION H. CON. RES. 80

CONCURRENT RESOLUTION

Congratulating the city of Detroit and its residents

on the occasion of the tricentennial of the city’sfounding.

107TH CONGRESS

1ST SESSION H. CON. RES. 80

CONCURRENT RESOLUTION

Whereas Detroit is the 10th most populous city in the United

States and the most populous city in Michigan;

Whereas Detroit is the oldest major city in the Midwest, and

2001 is the 300th anniversary of Detroit’s founding;

Whereas Detroit began as a French community on the Detroit River when Antoine de la Mothe Cadillac founded a
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•HCON 80 EH

strategic garrison and fur trading post on the site in

1701;

Whereas Detroit was named Fort Pontchartrain de’ Etroit

(meaning ‘‘strait’’) at the time of its founding and became known as Detroit because of its position along the

Detroit River;

Whereas the Detroit region served as a strategic staging area

during the French and Indian War, became a British

possession in 1760, and was transferred to the British by

the peace treaty of 1763;

Whereas the Ottawa Native American Chieftain Pontiac attempted a historic but unsuccessful campaign to wrest

control of the garrison at Detroit from British hands in

1763;

Whereas in the nineteenth century, Detroit was a vocal center

of antislavery advocacy and, for more than 40,000 individuals seeking freedom in Canada, an important stop on

the Underground Railroad;

Whereas Detroit entrepreneurs, including Henry Ford, perfected the process of mass production and made automobiles affordable for people from all walks of life;

Whereas Detroit is the automotive capital of the Nation and

an international leader in automobile manufacturing and

trade;

Whereas the contributions of Detroit residents to civilian and

military production have astounded the Nation, contributed to United States victory in World War II, and resulted in Detroit being called the Arsenal of Democracy;

Whereas residents of Detroit played a central role in the development of the organized labor movement and contributed to protections for workers’ rights;
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Whereas Detroit is home to the United Auto Workers Union

and many other building and service trades and industrial unions;

Whereas Detroit has a rich sports tradition and has produced

many sports legends, including Ty Cobb, Al Kaline,

Willie Horton, Hank Greenberg, Mickey Cochrane, and

Sparky Anderson of the Detroit Tigers; Dick ‘‘Night

Train’’ Lane, Joe Schmidt, Billy Sims, Dutch Clark, and

Barry Sanders of the Detroit Lions; Dave Bing, Bob Lanier, Isaiah Thomas, and Joe Dumars of the Detroit Pistons; Gordie Howe, Terry Sawchuk, Ted Lindsay, and

Steve Yzerman of the Detroit Red Wings; boxing greats

Joe Louis, Sugar Ray Robinson, and Thomas Hearns;

and Olympic speed skater Jeanne Omelenchuk;

Whereas Detroit’s cultural attractions include the Detroit Institute of Arts, the Charles H. Wright Museum of African-American History (the largest museum devoted exclusively to African-American art and culture), the Detroit Historical Museum, the Detroit Symphony, the

Michigan Opera Theater, the Detroit Science Center, and

the Dossin Great Lakes Museum;

Whereas several centers of educational excellence are located

in Detroit, including Wayne State University, the University of Detroit Mercy, Marygrove College, Sacred Heart

Seminary College, the Center for Creative Studies—College of Art and Design, and the Lewis College of Business (the only institution in Michigan designated as a

‘‘Historically Black College’’);

Whereas residents of Detroit played an integral role in developing the distinctly American sounds of jazz, rhythm and

blues, rock ’n roll, and techno; and
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Whereas Detroit was the home of Berry Gordy, who created

the musical genre that has been called the Motown

Sound, and many great musical artists, including Aretha

Franklin, Anita Baker, and the Winans family: Now,

therefore, be it

1 Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate

2 concurring),

3 SECTION. 1. CONGRATULATING DETROIT AND ITS RESI4 DENTS.

5 The Congress, on the occasion of the tricentennial of

6 the founding of the city of Detroit, congratulates Detroit

7 and its residents for their important contributions to the

8 economic, social, and cultural development of the United

9 States.

10 SEC. 2. TRANSMITTAL.

11 The Clerk of the House of Representatives shall

12 transmit copies of this resolution to the Mayor of Detroit

13 and the City Council of Detroit.

Passed the House of Representatives May 22, 2001.

Attest:

Clerk.