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[Congressional Bills 111th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. Res. 609 Introduced in Senate (IS)]

111th CONGRESS
  2d Session
S. RES. 609

 Congratulating the National Urban League on its 100th year of service 
                         to the United States.

_______________________________________________________________________

                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                             August 5, 2010

 Mr. Cardin submitted the following resolution; which was referred to 
                     the Committee on the Judiciary

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION

 
 Congratulating the National Urban League on its 100th year of service 
                         to the United States.

Whereas the National Urban League (referred to in this preamble as the 
        ``League'') is a historic civil rights organization dedicated to 
        promoting economic empowerment to improve the standard of living in 
        historically underdeveloped urban communities;
Whereas, by promoting education, civic engagement, economic development, and 
        civil justice, the League has been a consistent advocate for improving 
        the quality of life for struggling communities;
Whereas, on July 28, 2010, the League will open its Centennial Conference in 
        Washington, DC;
Whereas, on the centennial anniversary of the National Urban League, the country 
        can look back with great pride on the extraordinary accomplishments of 
        the League;
Whereas, since its inception in 1910, the League has made tremendous gains in 
        equality and empowerment in the African-American community throughout 
        the United States;
Whereas the National Urban League has remarkable predecessors, including the 
        National League for the Protection of Colored Women (established in 
        1906), the Committee for Improving the Industrial Condition of Negroes 
        in New York (established in 1906), and the Committee on Urban Conditions 
        Among Negroes (established in 1910);
Whereas the League began as a multiracial, diverse grassroots campaign by Mrs. 
        Ruth Standish Baldwin and Dr. George Edmund Haynes;
Whereas, between 1910 and 2010, the League expanded to 25 national programs, 
        with more than 100 local affiliates in 36 States and the District of 
        Columbia;
Whereas, during the civil rights movement, the League worked closely with A. 
        Phillip Randolph, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., and many other 
        exceptional leaders;
Whereas, throughout the 1970s, the partnership between the League and the 
        Federal Government experienced tremendous growth, with the 2 entities 
        delivering aid to urban areas and making improvements in housing, 
        education, health, and minority-owned small businesses;
Whereas the partnership between the League and the Federal Government 
        revolutionized how the United States viewed race relations, challenging 
        the deep discrimination within the social structure of the United States 
        and cementing the League as a premier social justice organization;
Whereas the League employs a 5-point approach to increase the quality of life of 
        people in the United States, particularly African-Americans;
Whereas the League carries out the 5-point approach through programs such as 
        ``Education and Youth Empowerment'', ``Economic Empowerment'', ``Health 
        and Quality of Life Empowerment'', ``Civic Engagement and Leadership 
        Empowerment'', and ``Civil Rights and Racial Justice Empowerment'';
Whereas, through the Housing and Community Development division of the League, 
        programs such as ``Foreclosure Prevention'', ``Homeownership 
        Preparation'', and ``Financial Literacy'' aided more than 50,000 people 
        in 2009;
Whereas, with assistance provided by the ``Foreclosure Prevention'' program of 
        the League, 3,000 people were able to avoid filing foreclosure in 2009;
Whereas, through the Education and Youth Development division of the League, 
        programs such as ``Project Ready'' prepare students to transition from 
        high school to college or to the workforce;
Whereas the League publishes the ``State of Black America'', an annual report 
        analyzing social and economic conditions affecting African-Americans;
Whereas the ``State of Black America'' report includes the Equality Index, a 
        statistical measure of the disparities between Black and White people 
        across 5 categories: economics, education, health, civic engagement, and 
        social justice;
Whereas the programs of the League not only emphasize the importance of 
        leadership and community in local areas, but also enhance the quality of 
        life by studying and addressing specific problems within the 
        communities;
Whereas, throughout 100 years of service, the League has assisted millions of 
        people in the United States, especially African-Americans, in combating 
        poverty, inequality, and social injustice;
Whereas the League has outlined 4 aspirational goals as part of the ``I AM 
        EMPOWERED'' campaign, which marks the centennial anniversary of the 
        League;
Whereas the ``I AM EMPOWERED'' campaign will galvanize millions of people to 
        take a pledge to help achieve the 4 aspirational goals of education, 
        jobs, housing, and health care by 2025, namely, by ensuring that--

    (1) every child in the United States is ready for college, work, and 
life;

    (2) every person in the United States has access to jobs with a living 
wage and good benefits;

    (3) every person in the United States lives in safe, decent, 
affordable, and energy-efficient housing on fair terms; and

    (4) every person in the United States has access to quality and 
affordable health care solutions;

Whereas the work of the League has been pivotal in improving the lives of 
        millions of African-Americans through community-oriented programs, civil 
        rights, and leadership opportunities, at times when these changes have 
        been needed most; and
Whereas the National Urban League remains an essential organization: Now, 
        therefore, be it
    Resolved, That the Senate--
            (1) welcomes the National Urban League to the capital of 
        the United States to commemorate the National Urban League's 
        100th year of service to the Nation;
            (2) expresses deep gratitude for the hardworking and 
        dedicated men and women of the National Urban League who, 
        during the last 100 years, have struggled to improve the 
        society of the United States and the lives of all people in the 
        United States; and
            (3) commends the ongoing and tireless efforts of the 
        National Urban League to address areas of inequality and fight 
        for the right of all people of the United States to live with 
        freedom, dignity, and prosperity.
                                 <all>
```