Honoring Velvalea "Vel" Phillips for a life of public service.

Vel Whereas Velvalea Vel Whereas Velvalea Vel Whereas after graduating from Howard, she returned to Milwaukee and began volunteering at the local chapter of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP); Whereas after getting married in 1948, she and her husband moved to Madison, Wisconsin, to together attend the University of Wisconsin Law School where they were the first Black married couple to integrate the university’s family housing; Whereas despite immense hostility, Velvalea Vel Whereas soon after, she and her husband moved to Milwaukee, Wisconsin, where she joined the League of Women Voters to register her neighbors to vote; Whereas, in 1953, she ran for the Milwaukee School Board and although unsuccessful, she became the first Black candidate to make it past a nonpartisan city-wide primary election, and despite this momentary setback, she continued to challenge School Board policies that disadvantaged African-American teachers and students; Whereas, in 1956, Velvalea Vel Whereas, in 1958, she was elected to the Democratic National Committee, becoming the first Black person of either gender to serve on the national committee of either party, and she used that forum to convince soon-to-be President Kennedy to adopt a national platform fully committed to civil rights; Whereas as a Member of the Common Council, Velvalea Vel It is to be the policy of the City of Milwaukee to assure the equal opportunity to all persons to live in decent housing facilities regardless of race, color or national origin Whereas on the first occasion that resolution came to a vote, it received one vote in favor, but not one who is easily deterred, she would bring up the measure repeatedly over the years; Whereas, in August 1967, 200 activists marched across the bridge dividing the city’s South Side and North Side to demand fair and equal housing access as part of civil rights protests in the city; Whereas Vel participated in the protests and became the first known elected official to be arrested while holding office; Whereas as a result of her participation in these protests, she was also subject to threats and violence, such as gunshots fired into her home and hate mail threatening her children’s lives, but undeterred, she persisted; Whereas, in 1968, after the assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., the Milwaukee Common Council would pass her fair housing ordinance, a victory that reverberated around the country and quickly influenced other municipal housing laws; Whereas, in 1971, Velvalea Vel Whereas, in 1978, Velvalea Vel Whereas after leaving public office, Velvalea Vel Whereas in recognition of her many accomplishments, she was invited to serve as Distinguished Visiting Professor of Law at Marquette’s Law School during the 2002–2003 school year; Whereas, in 2006, she started the Vel Phillips Foundation to establish equality and opportunity for minorities through social justice, education, housing, and jobs and to help high school students successfully make the transition to college; Whereas, in 2006, she was recognized by the Wisconsin Historical Society as one of the biggest historical contributors to the State, winning the Robert and Belle La Follette Award for Distinction in Public Service; Whereas she remained active in Milwaukee’s Community Brainstorming Conference, which focuses on grassroots leadership; Whereas this list of accomplishments does no justice to the number of individual lives she touched and inspired in her community, throughout Wisconsin, and the Nation; Whereas Velvalea Vel Whereas Vel Whereas the life of this remarkable woman and American is filled with accomplishments that were unheard of during her time and is a testament to her fearless and steadfast pursuit of equitable living conditions for each American which helped transform our country into a better, more just, and morally advanced society: Now, therefore, be it That the House of Representatives— (1) recognizes and honors the achievements of Velvalea Vel leader of leaders (2) commends the courage, hard work, commitment, and dedication of Velvalea Vel (3) honors the achievements of all American women who have overcome adversity to play a contributing role in society.

Summary: Recognizes the achievements of Velvalea "Vel" Phillips as a ground breaker, role model, and civil rights leader.