Title: A resolution recognizing the Chinese railroad workers who worked on the Transcontinental Railroad from 1865 to 1869 and the important contributions of those railroad workers to the growth of the United States.
Policy area: Immigration

Summary:
This resolution recognizes the contributions of the Chinese immigrants who worked on the Transcontinental Railroad from 1865 to 1869. The resolution also acknowledges the risks they faced in completing the railroad's construction while enduring discrimination and unequal pay and treatment.



[Congressional Bills 116th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. Res. 681 Introduced in Senate (IS)]

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116th CONGRESS
  2d Session
S. RES. 681

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


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                            August 13, 2020

Ms. Cortez Masto submitted the following resolution; which was referred 
                   to the Committee on the Judiciary

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


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

Whereas the Transcontinental Railroad was 1 of the most remarkable engineering 
        feats of the 19th century;
Whereas construction of the nearly 2,000-mile Transcontinental Railroad spanned 
        6 years;
Whereas the completion of the Transcontinental Railroad facilitated commerce and 
        reduced cross-country travel time from 6 months to 1 week;
Whereas nearly 12,000 Chinese immigrants (referred to in this preamble as the 
        ``Chinese railroad workers'') were employed in the construction of the 
        Transcontinental Railroad, constituting more than 80 percent of the 
        workforce of the Central Pacific Railroad Company;
Whereas the Chinese railroad workers were--

    (1) considered indispensable by the foremen on the project; and

    (2) 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 1 work day;
Whereas the Chinese railroad workers were--

    (1) given the most difficult and dangerous jobs; and

    (2) 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 honor of the courage shown by the Chinese railroad workers in 
        organizing for fair wages and safe working conditions, the Department of 
        Labor inducted the Chinese railroad workers into the Labor Hall of Honor 
        in 2014;
Whereas the fight of the Chinese railroad workers against discrimination set an 
        example for millions of Asian Americans who later came to the United 
        States;
Whereas the descendants of the Chinese railroad workers and the wider Asian-
        American community view the sacrifices of the Chinese railroad workers 
        as integral to the creation of the vibrant and growing Asian-American 
        community that exists throughout the United States; and
Whereas the legacy of the Chinese railroad workers continues to have a profound 
        and positive impact on life in the United States by advancing the ideals 
        of equal opportunity and the dignity of work for everyone: Now, 
        therefore, be it
    Resolved, That the Senate--
            (1) recognizes--
                    (A) the Chinese immigrants who worked on the 
                Transcontinental Railroad from 1865 to 1869 (referred 
                to in this resolving clause as the ``Chinese railroad 
                workers''); and
                    (B) the contributions of the Chinese railroad 
                workers 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 all of the risks faced by the Chinese 
        railroad workers in completing the construction of the 
        Transcontinental Railroad while enduring discrimination and 
        unequal pay and treatment.
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