III 

116TH CONGRESS 

2D SESSION S. RES. 681 

Recognizing the Chinese railroad workers who worked on the Transcontinental 

Railroad from 1865 to 1869 and the important contributions of those 

railroad workers to the growth of the United States. 

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES 

AUGUST 13, 2020 

Ms. CORTEZ MASTO submitted the following resolution; which was referred to 

the Committee on the Judiciary 

RESOLUTION 

Recognizing the Chinese railroad workers who worked on 

the Transcontinental Railroad from 1865 to 1869 and 

the important contributions of those railroad workers 

to the growth of the United States. 

Whereas the Transcontinental Railroad was 1 of the most remarkable engineering feats of the 19th century; 

Whereas construction of the nearly 2,000-mile Transcontinental Railroad spanned 6 years; 

Whereas the completion of the Transcontinental Railroad facilitated commerce and reduced cross-country travel time 

from 6 months to 1 week; 

Whereas nearly 12,000 Chinese immigrants (referred to in 

this preamble as the ‘‘Chinese railroad workers’’) were 

employed in the construction of the Transcontinental 


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•SRES 681 IS 

Railroad, constituting more than 80 percent of the workforce of the Central Pacific Railroad Company; 

Whereas the Chinese railroad workers were— 

(1) considered indispensable by the foremen on the 

project; and 

(2) respected for their work ethic and discipline; 

Whereas the Chinese railroad workers set a world record by 

laying 10 miles of railroad track in just 1 work day; 

Whereas the Chinese railroad workers were— 

(1) given the most difficult and dangerous jobs; and 

(2) paid lower wages than other railroad workers; 

Whereas nearly 1,200 Chinese railroad workers died from 

work accidents, avalanches, and explosions while working 

in the Sierra Nevada Mountains; 

Whereas, in honor of the courage shown by the Chinese railroad workers in organizing for fair wages and safe working conditions, the Department of Labor inducted the 

Chinese railroad workers into the Labor Hall of Honor 

in 2014; 

Whereas the fight of the Chinese railroad workers against 

discrimination set an example for millions of Asian Americans who later came to the United States; 

Whereas the descendants of the Chinese railroad workers and 

the wider Asian-American community view the sacrifices 

of the Chinese railroad workers as integral to the creation of the vibrant and growing Asian-American community that exists throughout the United States; and 

Whereas the legacy of the Chinese railroad workers continues 

to have a profound and positive impact on life in the 

United States by advancing the ideals of equal opporVerDate Sep 11 2014 21:41 Aug 13, 2020 Jkt 099200 PO 00000 Frm 00002 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6300 E:\BILLS\SR681.IS SR681

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•SRES 681 IS 

tunity and the dignity of work for everyone: Now, therefore, be it 

1 Resolved, That the Senate— 

2 (1) recognizes— 

3 (A) the Chinese immigrants who worked 

4 on the Transcontinental Railroad from 1865 to 

5 1869 (referred to in this resolving clause as the 

6 ‘‘Chinese railroad workers’’); and 

7 (B) the contributions of the Chinese rail8 road workers to the construction of the Trans9 continental Railroad and the growth of the 

10 United States; 

11 (2) honors the Chinese railroad workers who 

12 lost their lives working in the Sierra Nevada Moun13 tains; and 

14 (3) acknowledges all of the risks faced by the 

15 Chinese railroad workers in completing the construc16 tion of the Transcontinental Railroad while enduring 

17 discrimination and unequal pay and treatment. 

Æ 


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