Title: Recognizing Chinese railroad workers who worked on the Transcontinental Railroad from 1865 to 1869, and their important contribution to the growth of the United States.
Policy area: Transportation and Public Works

Summary:
This resolution (1) recognizes the Chinese railroad workers for their contributions to the construction of the Transcontinental Railroad and the growth of the United States; (2) honors the Chinese railroad workers who lost their lives working in the Sierra Nevada Mountains; and (3) acknowledges the Chinese railroad workers for all the risks they faced, while enduring discrimination and unequal pay and treatment, to complete the construction of the Transcontinental Railroad.

[Congressional Bills 116th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 165 Introduced in House (IH)]

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116th CONGRESS
  1st Session
H. RES. 165

Recognizing Chinese railroad workers who worked on the Transcontinental 
  Railroad from 1865 to 1869, and their important contribution to the 
                      growth of the United States.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                           February 28, 2019

 Ms. Meng (for herself, Ms. Judy Chu of California, Mr. Cisneros, Ms. 
 Clarke of New York, Mr. Cohen, Mr. Curtis, Mr. Gonzalez of Texas, Mr. 
 Huffman, Ms. Jackson Lee, Mr. Khanna, Ms. Lee of California, Mr. Ted 
Lieu of California, Mr. Peters, Mr. Sablan, Mr. San Nicolas, Mr. Smith 
   of Washington, Mr. Soto, Mr. Suozzi, Ms. Velazquez, Ms. Wilson of 
    Florida, Mr. Zeldin, Mr. Meeks, and Mr. McAdams) submitted the 
     following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on 
                   Transportation and Infrastructure

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
Recognizing Chinese railroad workers who worked on the Transcontinental 
  Railroad from 1865 to 1869, and their important contribution to the 
                      growth of the United States.

Whereas the Transcontinental Railroad was one of the most remarkable engineering 
        feats of the 19th century;
Whereas the construction of the Transcontinental Railroad spanned 6 years and 
        stretched for nearly 2,000 miles;
Whereas the completion of the Transcontinental Railroad facilitated commerce and 
        reduced cross-country travel times from 6 months to a single week after 
        being completed;
Whereas the 150th anniversary of the completion of the Transcontinental Railroad 
        will take place on May 10, 2019;
Whereas nearly 12,000 Chinese immigrants were employed in the construction of 
        the Transcontinental Railroad, comprising more than 80 percent of the 
        workforce of the Central Pacific Railroad Company;
Whereas the Chinese railroad workers were considered indispensable by their 
        foremen and were respected for their work ethic and discipline;
Whereas the Chinese railroad workers set a world record by laying 10 miles of 
        railroad track in just one work day;
Whereas the Chinese railroad workers were given the most difficult, dangerous 
        jobs and were paid lower wages than other railroad workers;
Whereas nearly 1,200 Chinese railroad workers died from work accidents, 
        avalanches, and explosions while working in the Sierra Nevada Mountains;
Whereas, in 2014, the Department of Labor has inducted the Chinese railroad 
        workers into the Labor Hall of Honor for their courage in organizing in 
        pursuit of fair wages and safe working conditions;
Whereas the Chinese railroad workers' fight against discrimination set an 
        example for the millions of Asian Americans who came to the United 
        States after them;
Whereas both the descendants of these workers and the wider Asian-American 
        community view the sacrifices of the Chinese railroad workers as being 
        integral to the creation of the vibrant and growing Asian-American 
        community that exists throughout the country today; and
Whereas the legacy of the Chinese railroad workers continues to have a profound, 
        positive impact on the American way of life by advancing the ideals of 
        equal opportunity and the dignity of work for everyone: Now, therefore, 
        be it
    Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
            (1) recognizes the Chinese railroad workers for their 
        contributions to the construction of the Transcontinental 
        Railroad and the growth of the United States;
            (2) honors the Chinese railroad workers who lost their 
        lives working in the Sierra Nevada Mountains; and
            (3) acknowledges the Chinese railroad workers for all the 
        risks they faced, while enduring discrimination and unequal pay 
        and treatment, to complete the construction of the 
        Transcontinental Railroad.
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