IV 
115TH CONGRESS 
2D SESSION 
H. RES. 863 
Honoring Velvalea ‘‘Vel’’ Phillips for a life of public service. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
APRIL 27, 2018 
Ms. MOORE (for herself, Ms. FUDGE, Ms. ADAMS, Mr. EVANS, Mr. PAYNE, 
Mr. AL GREEN of Texas, Mr. CLYBURN, Mr. THOMPSON of Mississippi, 
Mr. MCEACHIN, Ms. JACKSON LEE, Mr. BUTTERFIELD, Mr. CLEAVER, 
Mr. JOHNSON of Georgia, Ms. LEE, Ms. BLUNT ROCHESTER, Mrs. 
DEMINGS, Ms. KELLY of Illinois, Ms. NORTON, Mr. SCOTT of Virginia, 
Mrs. BEATTY, Mrs. LAWRENCE, Mr. RICHMOND, Mr. POCAN, Mrs. DIN-
GELL, and Mr. KIND) submitted the following resolution; which was re-
ferred to the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform 
RESOLUTION 
Honoring Velvalea ‘‘Vel’’ Phillips for a life of public service. 
Whereas Velvalea ‘‘Vel’’ Phillips was born Velvalea Hortense 
Rodgers in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, on February 18, 1924, 
and passed away on Tuesday, April 17, 2018, at age 94; 
Whereas Velvalea ‘‘Vel’’ Phillips, graduated from North Divi-
sion High School in 1942 and received a bachelor’s de-
gree from Howard University in 1946; 
Whereas after graduating from Howard, she returned to Mil-
waukee and began volunteering at the local chapter of the 
National Association for the Advancement of Colored 
People (NAACP); 
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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’’ Phillips 
became the first African-American woman to graduate 
from the University of Wisconsin Law School in 1951, 
and she and her husband, Dale Phillips, were the first 
husband-wife team admitted to the Federal bar; 
Whereas soon after, she and her husband moved to Mil-
waukee, 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 pri-
mary election, and despite this momentary setback, she 
continued to challenge School Board policies that dis-
advantaged African-American teachers and students; 
Whereas, in 1956, Velvalea ‘‘Vel’’ Phillips was the first 
woman and first African American elected to the Mil-
waukee Common Council; 
Whereas, in 1958, she was elected to the Democratic Na-
tional Committee, becoming the first Black person of ei-
ther 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’’ Phillips fought for fair and affordable housing in 
the city of Milwaukee, and in 1962, introduced Milwau-
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kee’s first fair housing ordinance, a landmark resolution 
that dared to declare that, ‘‘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 chil-
dren’s lives, but undeterred, she persisted; 
Whereas, in 1968, after the assassination of Dr. Martin Lu-
ther King, Jr., the Milwaukee Common Council would 
pass her fair housing ordinance, a victory that reverber-
ated around the country and quickly influenced other mu-
nicipal housing laws; 
Whereas, in 1971, Velvalea ‘‘Vel’’ Phillips became the first 
woman judge in Milwaukee County, and the first African- 
American judge in Wisconsin; 
Whereas, in 1978, Velvalea ‘‘Vel’’ Phillips reached another 
milestone with her election as Wisconsin Secretary of 
State, becoming the first and only African American to 
ever win statewide office in the State of Wisconsin; 
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Whereas after leaving public office, Velvalea ‘‘Vel’’ Phillips 
remained engaged in the community; 
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 His-
torical Society as one of the biggest historical contribu-
tors 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’’ Phillips’ undeterred tenacity laid the 
foundation for other women, African Americans, and peo-
ple in general to muster the courage to strive for the sus-
tained social progress of our young Nation; 
Whereas ‘‘Vel’’ served as chairwoman of the first successful 
campaign of an African American for Congress in the 
State of Wisconsin; and 
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 
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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 
Resolved, That the House of Representatives— 
(1) recognizes and honors the achievements of 
Velvalea ‘‘Vel’’ Phillips as a ground breaker, ‘‘leader 
of leaders’’, role model, and civil rights leader; 
(2) commends the courage, hard work, commit-
ment, and dedication of Velvalea ‘‘Vel’’ Phillips in 
fighting for equality for all; and 
(3) honors the achievements of all American 
women who have overcome adversity to play a con-
tributing role in society. 
Æ 
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