H. Res. 434 

In the House of Representatives, U. S., 

December 12, 2013. 

Whereas Nelson Mandela’s defiance of injustice and commitment to peace and reconciliation, were critical to achieving the abolition of apartheid, a system of racially based 

social, political, and economic discrimination, and to 

adopting in its place a system of multiparty democracy 

and universal suffrage for all South Africans; 

Whereas on August 5, 1962, Nelson Mandela was arrested 

for his acts to end the discriminatory policies of apartheid and was found guilty of all charges against him and 

sentenced to life in prison; 

Whereas during his imprisonment, Nelson Mandela was confined to a small cell and forced to perform hard labor 

while being gravely mistreated by prison officials; 

Whereas during 18 of his 27 years of imprisonment on 

Robben Island, Nelson Mandela was permitted only one 

visitor a year, and for only 30 minutes; 

Whereas Nelson Mandela remained resolute, refusing offers 

to renounce his struggle against oppression in exchange 

for his freedom, and became widely viewed and respected 

as a symbol of the anti-apartheid movement; 

Whereas the United States Congress dramatically shifted its 

policy toward South Africa and supported the political 
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ideals that Nelson Mandela struggled for, by enacting the 

Comprehensive Anti-Apartheid Act of 1986 (Public Law 

99–440) on October 2, 1986, and has honored Nelson 

Mandela by passing the Mandela Freedom Resolution in 

the House of Representatives on September 18, 1984 (H. 

Res. 430), and in the Senate on October 10, 1984 (S. 

Res. 386), by adopting the resolution concerning United 

States support for the new South Africa on October 5, 

1994 (H. Res. 560), and by awarding Nelson Mandela 

the Congressional Gold Medal on July 29, 1998; 

Whereas on February 11, 1990, under growing international 

and domestic pressure, Nelson Mandela was released 

from prison, marking the end of his 27 years, 6 months, 

and 1 week of continuous incarceration; 

Whereas former United States President William J. Clinton 

honored Nelson Mandela with the Philadelphia Liberty 

Medal in 1993; 

Whereas in 1994, following the first fully representative, multiracial national elections, Nelson Mandela was elected on 

May 9 as President of the Democratic Republic of South 

Africa under a Government of National Unity; 

Whereas President Nelson Mandela led the peaceful transition from minority rule and apartheid to a multicultural, 

multiracial democracy, and played a critical role in initiating South Africa’s ongoing efforts to foster national 

reconciliation; 

Whereas President Nelson Mandela sought to promote equal 

opportunity for jobs and education, access to social services, and quality-of-life improvements for all South Africans; 
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Whereas during the presidency of Nelson Mandela, South Africa established the Truth and Reconciliation Commission 

to investigate gross human rights violations committed 

during the apartheid years; 

Whereas former United States President George W. Bush 

honored Nelson Mandela with the Presidential Medal of 

Freedom in 2002; and 

Whereas Nelson Mandela leaves a legacy that transcends his 

time and place in history and will guide and inspire generations to come: Now, therefore, be it 

Resolved, That the House of Representatives— 

(1) has learned with profound sorrow of the death 

of Nelson Mandela, former President of the Republic of 

South Africa; 

(2) tenders its deep sympathies to the members of 

the family of the late President Nelson Mandela and his 

fellow citizens; 

(3) honors the life, accomplishments, and legacy of 

former President Nelson Mandela and for his friendship 

to the United States; 

(4) requests the Secretary of State to communicate 

these expressions of sentiment to the family of the deceased and to the Parliament of the Republic of South 

Africa; and 
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(5) requests that when the House adjourns today it 

do so as a mark of respect to the memory of the late 

President Nelson Mandela. 

Attest: 

Clerk.