110TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION 
H. CON. RES. 31
CONCURRENT RESOLUTION
Whereas over 45 years ago African-American workers em-
ployed by the Mare Island Naval Shipyard in Vallejo, 
California, despite having work experiences and qualifica-
tions comparable to their counterparts, experienced racial 
discrimination resulting in the denial of opportunities in 
employment, training, and apprenticeship positions, su-
pervisory positions, promotions, and awards;
•HCON 31 EH 
Whereas in March 1961 President John F. Kennedy issued 
Executive Order No. 10925 establishing the President’s 
Committee on Equal Employment Opportunity and re-
affirming the prohibition of discrimination against any 
employee of, or applicant for employment by, the Federal 
Government because of race, color, religion, or national 
origin; 
Whereas Executive Order No. 10925 laid the foundation for 
title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964; 
Whereas on November 17, 1961, 21 African-American ship-
yard workers at Mare Island Naval Shipyard filed a ra-
cial discrimination complaint with the Committee on 
Equal Employment Opportunity; 
Whereas the complaint outlined nine allegations of racial dis-
crimination in employment at Mare Island Naval Ship-
yard and requested that the Committee investigate and 
correct the deplorable conditions at Mare Island Naval 
Shipyard; 
Whereas the filing of this complaint along with other similar 
complaints of racial discrimination led to an acknowledg-
ment by then Defense Secretary Robert McNamara in 
1963 that there was employment discrimination based on 
race in the military; 
Whereas on November 8, 1963, the Original 21ers Club was 
officially recognized with the purpose of elevating quali-
fied minorities in every phase of Mare Island employ-
ment, creating a better relationship between management 
and employees and better acquainting their membership 
with the working conditions of every occupation; 
Whereas the actions and persistence of the Original 21ers 
provided the means for overturning racial discrimination
•HCON 31 EH 
in employment at Mare Island Naval Shipyard and re-
sulted in new employment opportunities for African-
American workers at Mare Island Naval Shipyard; 
Whereas the Original 21ers went on to organize for equal em-
ployment opportunities in other local military facilities in 
the San Francisco Bay Area of California; and 
Whereas the heroic deeds of the Original 21ers have re-
mained heretofore unacknowledged: Now, therefore, be it
Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate 
concurring), That the Congress—
(1) recognizes the historic accomplishments of 
the Mare Island Original 21ers in combating racial 
discrimination in employment as envisioned in title 
VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and providing 
equal employment opportunities for African-Amer-
ican shipyard workers; 
(2) recognizes the importance of the Committee 
on Equal Employment Opportunity as a forerunner 
to the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission 
which continues the fight in resolving complaints of 
racial discrimination in employment; and 
(3) recognizes the importance of title VII of the 
Civil Rights Act of 1964 as a powerful and ongoing
•HCON 31 EH 
tool for eliminating racial discrimination in employ-
ment. 
Passed the House of Representatives January 17, 
2007. 
Attest:
Clerk.
110TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION 
H. CON. RES. 31
CONCURRENT RESOLUTION 
Honoring the Mare Island Original 21ers for their 
efforts to remedy racial discrimination in employ-
ment at Mare Island Naval Shipyard.