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[Congressional Bills 112th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. Con. Res. 49 Introduced in Senate (IS)]

112th CONGRESS
  2d Session
S. CON. RES. 49

    To direct the Joint Committee on the Library to accept a statue 
depicting Frederick Douglass from the District of Columbia and display 
           the statue in a suitable location in the Capitol.

_______________________________________________________________________

                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                             June 21, 2012

   Mr. Schumer (for himself and Mr. Durbin) submitted the following 
concurrent resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Rules and 
                             Administration

_______________________________________________________________________

                         CONCURRENT RESOLUTION

 
    To direct the Joint Committee on the Library to accept a statue 
depicting Frederick Douglass from the District of Columbia and display 
           the statue in a suitable location in the Capitol.

Whereas Frederick Douglass, born Frederick Augustus Washington Bailey in 
        Maryland in 1818, escaped from slavery and became a leading writer, 
        orator, and publisher, and one of the Nation's most influential 
        advocates for abolitionism, women's suffrage, and the equality of all 
        people;
Whereas the contributions of Frederick Douglass over many decades were crucial 
        to the abolition of slavery, the passage of the 13th, 14th, and 15th 
        Amendments to the Constitution of the United States, the support for 
        women's suffrage, and the advancement of African-Americans after the 
        Civil War;
Whereas after living in New Bedford, Massachusetts, Frederick Douglass resided 
        for 25 years in Rochester, New York, where he published and edited ``The 
        North Star'', the leading African-American newspaper in the United 
        States, and other publications;
Whereas self-educated, Frederick Douglass wrote several influential books, 
        including his best-selling first autobiography, ``Narrative of the Life 
        of Frederick Douglass, an American Slave'', published in 1845;
Whereas Frederick Douglass worked tirelessly for the emancipation of African-
        American slaves, was a pivotal figure in Underground Railroad activities 
        in Western New York, and was an inspiration to enslaved Americans who 
        aspired to freedom;
Whereas as a well-known speaker in great demand, Frederick Douglass traveled 
        widely, visiting countries such as England and Ireland, to spread the 
        message of emancipation and equal rights;
Whereas Frederick Douglass was the only African-American to attend the Seneca 
        Falls Convention, a women's rights convention held in Seneca Falls, New 
        York in 1848;
Whereas during the Civil War, Frederick Douglass recruited African-Americans to 
        volunteer as soldiers for the Union Army, including two of his sons who 
        served nobly in the Fifty-Fourth Massachusetts Regiment;
Whereas in 1872, Frederick Douglass moved to Washington, DC, after a fire 
        destroyed his home in Rochester, New York;
Whereas Frederick Douglass was appointed as a United States Marshal in 1877 and 
        was named Recorder of Deeds for the District of Columbia in 1881;
Whereas Frederick Douglass became the first African-American to receive a vote 
        for nomination as President of the United States at a major party 
        convention for the 1888 Republican National Convention;
Whereas from 1889 to 1891, Frederick Douglass served as minster-resident and 
        consul-general to the Republic of Haiti;
Whereas Frederick Douglass was recognized around the world as one of the most 
        important political activists in the history of the United States;
Whereas Frederick Douglass died in 1895 in Washington, DC and is buried in 
        Rochester, New York;
Whereas the statues and busts in the Capitol depicting distinguished Americans 
        number more than 180 and include only two African-Americans;
Whereas that imbalance fails to show the historically significant contributions 
        of African-Americans to the United States;
Whereas it is time to display in the Capitol the statues and busts of 
        outstanding African-Americans whose contributions to the Nation deserve 
        that recognition; and
Whereas Frederick Douglass's achievements and influence on the history of the 
        United States merit recognition in the Capitol: Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved by the Senate (the House of Representatives concurring), 
That--
            (1) not later than 2 years after the date on which this 
        resolution is agreed to by both Houses of Congress, the Joint 
        Committee on the Library shall accept from the District of 
        Columbia the donation of a statue depicting Frederick Douglass, 
        subject to the terms and conditions that the Joint Committee 
        considers appropriate;
            (2) the Joint Committee shall place the statue in a 
        suitable permanent location in the Capitol; and
            (3) all costs associated with the donation, including 
        transportation of the statue to, and placement in, the Capitol, 
        shall be paid by the District of Columbia.
                                 <all>
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