IV 
115TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION 
H. RES. 425 
Supporting the protection of the name Harlem. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
JUNE 29, 2017 
Mr. ESPAILLAT (for himself, Mr. NADLER, Ms. VELA´ZQUEZ, Mr. JEFFRIES, 
Ms. CLARKE of New York, Mr. CROWLEY, Mr. MEEKS, Mrs. CAROLYN 
B. MALONEY of New York, Mr. SERRANO, Ms. MENG, and Mr. ENGEL) 
submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee 
on Oversight and Government Reform 
RESOLUTION 
Supporting the protection of the name Harlem. 
Whereas Harlem is a treasure of New York and throughout 
its history has played a significant role in shaping the 
culture and political landscape of the United States; 
Whereas the name Harlem is inextricably connected to its 
history and legacy; 
Whereas since the early 20th century, Harlem has been rec-
ognized internationally as a major residential, cultural, 
and business center with a strong Black history; 
Whereas the Harlem Renaissance attracted the greatest Afri-
can American writers, artists, musicians, and thinkers 
from across the country and allowed these intellectuals to 
fully express themselves and thrive in their fields; 
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Whereas the Harlem Renaissance redefined how the United 
States and the world viewed African Americans and con-
tinues to inspire African American artists and intellec-
tuals to this day; 
Whereas Harlem is an icon and capital of the African Dias-
pora; 
Whereas thousands of foreigners travel to Harlem for tourism 
each week to learn about and see the history of the 
neighborhood; 
Whereas love for Harlem runs through the veins of longtime 
residents and instantly inspires those who visit; 
Whereas the deep love that residents’ have for Harlem can 
be found for similarly historical and influential neighbor-
hoods around the world; 
Whereas Harlem is a state of mind and way of being, and 
residents have long possessed resilience, pride, and fear-
lessness; 
Whereas Congressmen Adam Clayton Powell and Charles B. 
Rangel were born and raised in Harlem and represented 
the neighborhood in the House of Representatives for a 
combined 72 years; 
Whereas Harlem’s legacy has been instrumental in the leg-
acies of Malcolm X, Arturo Alfonso Schomburg, Harry 
Belafonte, W.E.B. Du Bois, Colin Powell, Countee 
Cullen, Marcus Garvey, Langston Hughes, Josephine 
Baker, Zora Neale Hurston, Alice Dunbar-Nelson, Duke 
Ellington, Ella Fitzgerald, Billie Holiday, Lena Horne, 
Bessie Smith, and Jacob Lawrence; 
Whereas Harlem is home to 56 registered landmarks includ-
ing Apollo Theater, Harlem Hospital Center, Hotel The-
resa, Mount Sinai Hospital, Rucker Park, Savoy Ball-
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room, Strivers’ Row, Sylvia’s Soul Food, Lenox Lounge, 
and Abyssinian Baptist Church; and 
Whereas an attempt to rebrand Harlem as ‘‘SoHa’’ is insult-
ing: Now, therefore, be it 
Resolved, That the House of Representatives— 
(1) supports the protection of the name Har-
lem; 
(2) supports imposing limitations on the ability 
to change the name of a neighborhood based on eco-
nomic gain; 
(3) expresses support for the inclusion of com-
munity input in any decision to change the name of 
the Harlem neighborhood; 
(4) expresses that a single entity should not 
have the jurisdiction to change the name of a neigh-
borhood; 
(5) encourages a formal and public vote as a re-
quirement for any change to the name of the neigh-
borhood; 
(6) hopes that GPS manufacturers will recog-
nize Harlem as an official destination for travelers; 
and 
(7) encourages input from the community, con-
sideration of its residents, and a formal and public 
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vote before any change to the name or historical 
landmark of Harlem. 
Æ 
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