III

104TH CONGRESS

2D SESSION S. RES. 229

Commemorating Black History Month and contributions of African-American

United States Senators.

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

FEBRUARY 29 (legislative day, FEBRUARY 28), 1996

Mr. DOLE (for himself, Mr. DASCHLE, Mr. LAUTENBERG, Mrs. FEINSTEIN,

and Mr. D’AMATO) submitted the following resolution; which was considered and agreed to

RESOLUTION

Commemorating Black History Month and contributions of

African-American United States Senators.

Whereas Black History Month in 1996 is a fitting occasion

to direct public attention to the many significant contributions which have been made by African-American

citizens in government service to the people of the United

States of America;

Whereas, 125 years ago on February 25, 1870, Republican

Hiram Rhodes Revels of Natchez, Mississippi, was seated

as the first Black citizen to serve in the United States

Senate;

Whereas the service of Senator Revels, an ordained minister

of the Christian Gospel, was distinguished by conscientious support for desegregated public education, reconcili-
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ation, equal political opportunity and veterans’ benefits

and by opposition to discrimination in government employment and political corruption;

Whereas Blanche Kelso Bruce of Bolivar County, Mississippi,

whose term commenced on March 5, 1875, became the

first Black citizen to serve a full term in the United

States Senate and distinguished himself by supporting

equality in Western State land grants, desegregation in

the United States Army, electoral fairness, equitable

treatment of Native Americans and by opposing fraud

and incompetence in governmental affairs;

Whereas Edward William Brooke of Newton, Massachusetts,

on January 3, 1967, became the first Black citizen to be

elected directly by the people to serve in the United

States Senate (and then was re-elected), distinguished

himself by supporting American history awareness, racial

reconciliation initiatives, strengthened foreign relations,

stronger higher education, improved veterans’ benefits,

affordable housing and the performing arts;

Whereas Carol Moseley-Braun of Chicago, Illinois, on January 3, 1993, became the first Black woman and the first

Black member of the Democrat Party to be seated in the

United States Senate and is currently distinguishing herself for her resolute commitment to equal opportunity in

education, advocacy of women’s and children’s rights,

support for business entrepreneurship, expanded economic opportunity, equity for family farmers and fiscal

responsibility, and for her forceful opposition to all forms

of crime; and

Whereas, on February 29, 1996, the African-American Alliance, the James E. Chaney Foundation, and Local 372

of District Council 37 of the American Federation of
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State, County and Municipal Employees, are sponsoring

ceremonies in the United States Capitol Building to pay

tribute to the pioneering legacy of these intrepid and

highly esteemed role models: Now, therefore, be it

1 Resolved, That the United States Senate does hereby

2 join in honoring these inspiring legislators and expresses

3 profound gratitude for their innumerable substantive con4 tributions to the pursuit of justice, fairness, equality and

5 opportunity for all United States citizens.

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