IV 
115TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION 
H. RES. 50 
Recognizing the historical importance of Associate Justice Clarence Thomas. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
JANUARY 12, 2017 
Mr. SESSIONS (for himself and Mr. CARTER of Georgia) submitted the fol-
lowing resolution; which was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary, 
and in addition to the Committee on House Administration, for a period 
to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consider-
ation of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee 
concerned 
RESOLUTION 
Recognizing the historical importance of Associate Justice 
Clarence Thomas. 
Whereas, in 1948, Clarence Thomas was born outside of Sa-
vannah, Georgia, in the small community of Pin Point, 
Georgia; 
Whereas Clarence Thomas was born into poverty and under 
segregation; 
Whereas, notwithstanding his humble beginnings and the 
many impediments he faced, Clarence Thomas dem-
onstrated incredible intellect, discipline, and strength in 
attending and graduating from St. Benedict the Moor 
Catholic School, St. John Vianney Minor Seminar, the 
College of the Holy Cross, and Yale Law School; 
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•HRES 50 IH 
Whereas Clarence Thomas had a distinguished legal career 
with service in State government and all branches of the 
Federal Government, including the Senate, the Depart-
ment of Education, the Equal Employment Opportunity 
Commission, and the United States Court of Appeals for 
the District of Columbia Circuit; 
Whereas, on July 1, 1991, President George Herbert Walker 
Bush nominated Clarence Thomas to be an Associate 
Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States (in 
this preamble referred to as the ‘‘Supreme Court’’); 
Whereas Justice Thomas is the second African American to 
serve on the Supreme Court; 
Whereas, during his quarter century on the Supreme Court, 
Justice Thomas has made a unique and indelible con-
tribution to the jurisprudence of the United States; 
Whereas Justice Thomas has propounded a jurisprudence 
that seeks to faithfully apply the original meaning of the 
text of the Constitution of the United States; 
Whereas Justice Thomas has brought renewed focus to con-
stitutional doctrines that the Framers intended to under-
gird our republican form of government, including fed-
eralism and the separation of powers; 
Whereas, in fostering this philosophy of law, Justice Thomas 
reinvigorated not only the jurisprudence of the United 
States, but also the democracy of the United States; 
Whereas Justice Thomas has been a remarkably prolific As-
sociate Justice, writing influential opinions on topics in-
cluding constitutional law, administrative law, and civil 
rights; 
Whereas, on August 10, 1846, in the name of founding an 
establishment for the increase and diffusion of knowl-
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•HRES 50 IH 
edge, Congress established the Smithsonian Institution as 
a trust to be administered by a Board of Regents and a 
Secretary of the Smithsonian Institution; 
Whereas diversity, including intellectual diversity, is a core 
value of the Smithsonian Institution and the museums of 
the Smithsonian Institution should capitalize on the rich-
ness inherent in differences; 
Whereas, upon opening, the National Museum of African 
American History and Culture (in this preamble referred 
to as the ‘‘Museum’’) is the only national museum de-
voted exclusively to the documentation of African Amer-
ican life, history, and culture; 
Whereas the Museum omits the contribution made by Justice 
Thomas to the United States; and 
Whereas the House of Representatives is hopeful the Museum 
will reflect that important contribution: Now, therefore, 
be it 
Resolved, That it is the sense of the House of Rep-
resentatives that— 
(1) Associate Justice Clarence Thomas is a his-
torically significant African American who has— 
(A) overcome great challenges; 
(B) served his country honorably for more 
than 35 years; and 
(C) made an important contribution to the 
United States, in particular the jurisprudence 
of the United States; and 
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•HRES 50 IH 
(2) the life and work of Justice Thomas are an 
important part of the story of African Americans in 
the United States and should have a prominent 
place in the National Museum of African American 
History and Culture. 
Æ 
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