H. Con. Res. 80
Agreed to June 6, 2001
One Hundred Seventh Congress
of the
United States of America
AT THE FIRST SESSION
Begun and held at the City of Washington on Wednesday,
the third day of January, two thousand and one
Concurrent Resolution
Whereas Detroit is the 10th most populous city in the United
States and the most populous city in Michigan;
Whereas Detroit is the oldest major city in the Midwest, and 2001
is the 300th anniversary of Detroit’s founding;
Whereas Detroit began as a French community on the Detroit
River when Antoine de la Mothe Cadillac founded a strategic
garrison and fur trading post on the site in 1701;
Whereas Detroit was named Fort Pontchartrain de’ Etroit (meaning
‘‘strait’’) at the time of its founding and became known as Detroit
because of its position along the Detroit River;
Whereas the Detroit region served as a strategic staging area
during the French and Indian War, became a British possession
in 1760, and was transferred to the British by the peace treaty
of 1763;
Whereas the Ottawa Native American Chieftain Pontiac attempted
a historic but unsuccessful campaign to wrest control of the
garrison at Detroit from British hands in 1763;
Whereas in the nineteenth century, Detroit was a vocal center
of antislavery advocacy and, for more than 40,000 individuals
seeking freedom in Canada, an important stop on the Under-
ground Railroad;
Whereas Detroit entrepreneurs, including Henry Ford, perfected
the process of mass production and made automobiles affordable
for people from all walks of life;
Whereas Detroit is the automotive capital of the Nation and an
international leader in automobile manufacturing and trade;
Whereas the contributions of Detroit residents to civilian and mili-
tary production have astounded the Nation, contributed to United
States victory in World War II, and resulted in Detroit being
called the Arsenal of Democracy;
Whereas residents of Detroit played a central role in the develop-
ment of the organized labor movement and contributed to protec-
tions for workers’ rights;
Whereas Detroit is home to the United Auto Workers Union and
many other building and service trades and industrial unions;
Whereas Detroit has a rich sports tradition and has produced
many sports legends, including Ty Cobb, Al Kaline, Willie Horton,
Hank Greenberg, Mickey Cochrane, and Sparky Anderson of the
Detroit Tigers; Dick ‘‘Night Train’’ Lane, Joe Schmidt, Billy Sims,
Dutch Clark, and Barry Sanders of the Detroit Lions; Dave Bing,
H. Con. Res. 80—3
Whereas Detroit’s cultural attractions include the Detroit Institute
of Arts, the Charles H. Wright Museum of African-American
History (the largest museum devoted exclusively to African-Amer-
ican art and culture), the Detroit Historical Museum, the Detroit
Symphony, the Michigan Opera Theater, the Detroit Science
Center, and the Dossin Great Lakes Museum;
Whereas several centers of educational excellence are located in
Detroit, including Wayne State University, the University of
Detroit Mercy, Marygrove College, Sacred Heart Seminary Col-
lege, the Center for Creative Studies—College of Art and Design,
and the Lewis College of Business (the only institution in
Michigan designated as a ‘‘Historically Black College’’);
Whereas residents of Detroit played an integral role in developing
the distinctly American sounds of jazz, rhythm and blues, rock
’n roll, and techno; and
Whereas Detroit was the home of Berry Gordy, who created the
musical genre that has been called the Motown Sound, and many
great musical artists, including Aretha Franklin, Anita Baker,
and the Winans family: Now, therefore, be it
Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate concur-
ring),
SECTION. 1. CONGRATULATING DETROIT AND ITS RESIDENTS.
The Congress, on the occasion of the tricentennial of the
founding of the city of Detroit, congratulates Detroit and its resi-
dents for their important contributions to the economic, social,
and cultural development of the United States.
SEC. 2. TRANSMITTAL.
The Clerk of the House of Representatives shall transmit copies
of this resolution to the Mayor of Detroit and the City Council
of Detroit.
Attest:
Clerk of the House of Representatives.
Attest:
Secretary of the Senate.