IV 
116TH CONGRESS 
2D SESSION 
H. RES. 992 
Declaring unconditional war on racism and invidious discrimination and pro-
viding for the establishment of a Cabinet-level Department of Reconcili-
ation charged with eliminating racism and invidious discrimination. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
JUNE 4, 2020 
Mr. GREEN of Texas (for himself, Ms. CLARKE of New York, Ms. HAALAND, 
Mr. HASTINGS, Mr. PAYNE, Ms. OMAR, Mr. DAVID SCOTT of Georgia, 
Mr. CLAY, Ms. FUDGE, Mr. KENNEDY, Mr. BLUMENAUER, Ms. JACKSON 
LEE, and Mr. CLEAVER) submitted the following resolution; which was 
referred to the Committee on the Judiciary 
RESOLUTION 
Declaring unconditional war on racism and invidious dis-
crimination and providing for the establishment of a 
Cabinet-level Department of Reconciliation charged with 
eliminating racism and invidious discrimination. 
Whereas this resolution is presented in the spirit of President 
Lyndon B. Johnson, who—on January 8, 1964, after the 
assassination of President John F. Kennedy, during a 
time of great turmoil—proclaimed, ‘‘This administration 
today, here and now, declares unconditional war on pov-
erty in America . . . Our aim is not only to relieve the 
symptoms of poverty, but to cure it and, above all, to 
prevent it.’’; 
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•HRES 992 IH 
Whereas President Barack Obama indicated, ‘‘In fact, if we 
hadn’t declared ‘unconditional war on poverty in Amer-
ica,’ millions more Americans would be living in poverty 
today.’’; 
Whereas some of the programs produced by the War on Pov-
erty include Medicaid, Medicare, expanded Social Secu-
rity, and Head Start—all of which are still needed today; 
Whereas racism and invidious discrimination—like poverty in 
1964—remain pervasive in our country; 
Whereas history is replete with examples of victims of racism 
and invidious discrimination being denied life, liberty, 
and the pursuit of happiness; 
Whereas systemic and institutionalized racism and invidious 
discrimination exist in virtually all areas of American life, 
including policing, criminal justice, housing, banking, vot-
ing, employment, education, the environment, and health 
care; and 
Whereas the protestations in the aftermath of the tragic 
death of George Floyd are a clear indication that it has 
become necessary for Congress to take decisive, imme-
diate and long-term legislative action to address the 
elimination of racism and invidious discrimination: Now, 
therefore, be it 
Resolved, That the House of Representatives— 
(1) condemns racism and invidious discrimina-
tion as evil and antithetical to the U.S. Constitution; 
(2) declares unconditional war on racism and 
invidious discrimination in America and will provide 
the resources and funding for their defeat; and 
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•HRES 992 IH 
(3) shall pass legislation establishing a Cabinet- 
level Department of Reconciliation charged with end-
ing racism and invidious discrimination, developing 
and coordinating the implementation of a com-
prehensive national strategy to eliminate racism and 
invidious discrimination, with a budget that shall be 
the equivalent of not less than 10 percent of the De-
fense Department’s budget, and headed by a Sec-
retary of Reconciliation appointed by the President 
with the advice and consent of the Senate who shall 
make semi-annual progress reports to Congress. 
Æ 
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