Recognizing the importance of the Civil Rights Act of 1866 and the laws derived therefrom.

Whereas, in the aftermath of the Civil War, the reunified United States of America struggled to reconstruct its war-torn States or establish laws granting newly freed slaves the same rights afforded to White citizens; Whereas the reconstruction of the United States following the conclusion of the Civil War necessarily included the integration of newly emancipated African Americans into broader society, and with it, their receipt of civil and legal protections; Whereas, as a response to the uncertain and unequal status of newly freed slaves, the 13th Amendment to the Constitution was ratified by the States on December 6, 1865, formally abolishing slavery within the United States, or any place subject to their jurisdiction Whereas, on April 9, 1866, Congress overrode a Presidential veto to enact the Civil Rights Act of 1866, a law written to protect and clarify the newly bestowed rights of persons of African descent; Whereas the Civil Rights Act of 1866 declared that all persons born in the United States are entitled to be citizens, without regard to race, color, or previous condition of slavery or involuntary servitude; Whereas the Civil Rights Act of 1866 was enacted to accomplish three primary objectives: to establish that all persons born in the United States were to be considered citizens, to clearly define the rights guaranteed by American citizenship, and to make it unlawful for any person to deprive another of these rights on the basis of race; Whereas the Civil Rights Act of 1866 served the role of overriding Black Codes Whereas section 1 of the Civil Rights Act of 1866 created an avenue for citizens who fell victim to intentional racial discrimination by allowing them go before a Federal court and allege that he or she was discriminated against while engaging in lawful activity; Whereas section 1 of the Civil Rights Act of 1866 was used to challenge the laws established by southern States to limit the rights and opportunities of newly freed slaves; Whereas under section 1977 of the Revised Statutes ( 42 U.S.C. 1981 Whereas, in 1975, the Supreme Court found in Johnson v. Railway Express Agency, Inc., 421 U.S. 454 (1975), that section 16 of the Enforcement Act of 1870 (16 Stat. 140) allowed for private employers to be held accountable for discrimination within their ranks; Whereas section 1977 of the Revised Statutes ( 42 U.S.C. 1981 Whereas section 1977 of the Revised Statutes ( 42 U.S.C. 1981 Whereas it is well established that section 1977 of the Revised Statutes ( 42 U.S.C. 1981 Whereas, in 1989, the Supreme Court narrowly interpreted section 1977 of the Revised Statutes ( 42 U.S.C. 1981 Whereas the ruling in Patterson v. McLean Credit Union, 491 U.S. 164 (1989) functioned as a major setback in ensuring that all aspects of an employee or individual’s interaction with a business would be free of racial discrimination; Whereas, in 1991, Congress disagreed with a plethora of Supreme Court decisions that undermined Federal antidiscrimination laws and challenged the Court’s restrictive interpretation of section 1977 of the Revised Statutes ( 42 U.S.C. 1981 Whereas the 2008 decision in CBOCS West, Inc. v. Humphries, 553 U.S. 442 (2008), further determined that section 1977 of the Revised Statutes ( 42 U.S.C. 1981 Whereas Congress’ intent is clear through the legislative history of section 1977 of the Revised Statutes ( 42 U.S.C. 1981 Whereas section 1977 of the Revised Statutes ( 42 U.S.C. 1981 [a]ll persons within the jurisdiction of the United States shall have the same right . . . to make and enforce contracts . . . as is enjoyed by white citizens. make and enforce contracts include the making, performance, modification, and termination of contracts, and the enjoyment of all benefits, privileges, terms, and conditions of the contractual relationship. Whereas section 1977 of the Revised Statutes ( 42 U.S.C. 1981 Whereas the most direct interpretation of section 1977 of the Revised Statutes ( 42 U.S.C. 1981 Whereas section 1977 of the Revised Statutes ( 42 U.S.C. 1981 That the House of Representatives— (1) recognizes and honors the historical significance of section 1977 of the Revised Statutes ( 42 U.S.C. 1981 (2) reaffirms its commitment to the 13th, 14th, and 15th amendments, to the Civil Rights Act of 1866 (and the laws derived therefrom), and to the civil rights and liberties of all racial minorities across the country; and (3) reaffirms the congressional intent behind section 1 of the Civil Rights Act of 1866 (and the laws derived therefrom), which was, and remains today, the protection of the rights of minorities seeking refuge from racial discrimination in business.

Summary: This resolution recognizes and honors the importance of statutes giving all persons within the jurisdiction of the United States the full and equal benefit of all laws and proceedings for the security of persons and property as well as the right to enforce contracts, sue and be sued, and give evidence in court. The resolution also reaffirms commitment to the Thirteenth Amendment, Fourteenth Amendment, and Fifteenth Amendment and the laws declaring that all persons born in the United States are citizens and are equally protected by the law.