IV 
118TH CONGRESS 
2D SESSION 
H. RES. 1121 
Recognizing the 158th anniversary of the Civil Rights Act of 1866. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
APRIL 9, 2024 
Mr. JACKSON of Illinois (for himself, Ms. NORTON, Mr. ESPAILLAT, Mrs. DIN-
GELL, Mr. THANEDAR, Mr. DAVIS of Illinois, Mr. GRIJALVA, Mrs. 
CHERFILUS-MCCORMICK, Ms. TLAIB, and Ms. PLASKETT) submitted the 
following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on the Judici-
ary 
RESOLUTION 
Recognizing the 158th anniversary of the Civil Rights Act 
of 1866. 
Whereas, on April 9, 1866, the Civil Rights Act of 1866 was 
passed and enacted into law; 
Whereas this year marks the 158th anniversary of the Civil 
Rights Act of 1866; 
Whereas the Civil Rights Act of 1866 was the first Federal 
law to define citizenship and affirm that all citizens are 
equally protected by the law; 
Whereas the intent of the Civil Rights Act of 1866 was to 
combat the attempted suppression of the Emancipation 
Proclamation; 
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•HRES 1121 IH 
Whereas President Andrew Johnson established a reconstruc-
tion policy that forced former Confederate States to 
maintain abolition, swear loyalty to the United States, 
and pay their war debts in order to rejoin the Union; 
Whereas under President Johnson’s policy, Southern States 
adopted and enacted a series of laws designed to restrict 
freed Blacks and ensure their availability in the labor 
force; 
Whereas these laws severely denied Black citizens equal pro-
tection under the law; 
Whereas under restricted laws, Blacks were refrained from 
owning property, entering contracts, and benefiting from 
labor rights; 
Whereas a brave set of legislators believed the Federal Gov-
ernment had a role in shaping a multiracial society in 
postwar South; 
Whereas Senator Lyman Trumbull of Illinois introduced the 
Civil Rights Act of 1866 in the Senate on January 5, 
1866; 
Whereas, on February 2, 1866, the Senate voted in favor of 
the bill 33–13; 
Whereas, on March 13, 1866, the House of Representatives 
voted in favor of the Civil Rights Act of 1866 by a vote 
of 111–38, with 34 Members not voting; 
Whereas, on March 27, 1866, President Andrew Johnson ve-
toed the Civil Rights Act of 1866; 
Whereas, on April 6, 1866, the Senate voted 33–15 to over-
ride President Johnson’s veto; 
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•HRES 1121 IH 
Whereas, on April 9, 1866, the House also voted to override 
President Johnson’s veto by a vote of 122–41 with 21 
Members not voting; and 
Whereas as a result of both Chambers voting to override 
President Johnson’s veto, the Civil Rights Act of 1866 
became the law of the land: Now, therefore, be it 
Resolved, That the House of Representatives— 
(1) recognizes the significance of the Civil 
Rights Act of 1866 and its impact on establishing 
that all Americans, despite their race, are protected 
equally under the law; 
(2) recognizes that the Civil Rights Act of 1866 
is the framework from which the Thirteenth and 
Fourteenth Amendments were crafted; and 
(3) recognizes the importance of the rule of law 
and advocates to support, protect, and defend the 
rights of all Americans. 
Æ 
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