H. Con. Res. 80 Agreed to June 6, 2001

One Hundred Seventh Congress

of the

United States of America

AT THE FIRST SESSION

Begun and held at the City of Washington on Wednesday,

the third day of January, two thousand and one

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 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;

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,
H. Con. Res. 80—2

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;
H. Con. Res. 80—3

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

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

Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate concurring),

SECTION. 1. CONGRATULATING DETROIT AND ITS RESIDENTS.

The Congress, on the occasion of the tricentennial of the

founding of the city of Detroit, congratulates Detroit and its residents for their important contributions to the economic, social,

and cultural development of the United States.

SEC. 2. TRANSMITTAL.

The Clerk of the House of Representatives shall transmit copies

of this resolution to the Mayor of Detroit and the City Council

of Detroit.

Attest:

Clerk of the House of Representatives.

Attest:

Secretary of the Senate.