A resolution relating to the death of the Honorable Fred R. Harris, former Senator for the State of Oklahoma.

Bill: 118-sres-925
Sponsor: full_name: Sen. Lankford, James [R-OK]
Introduced: 2024-12-10
Policy area: Congress
Subjects: Congressional tributes

Members of Congress

Oklahoma

Senate
Latest action: action_date: 2024-12-10
text: Submitted in the Senate, considered, and agreed to without amendment and with a preamble by Unanimous Consent. (consideration: CR S6936-6937; text: CR S6915)

Summaries:
action_date: 2024-12-10
action_desc: Passed Senate
text: <p>This resolution expresses the condolences of the Senate regarding the death of Fred&nbsp;R. Harris, former Senator for Oklahoma.</p>

tv_txt: III 118th CONGRESS 2d Session S. RES. 925 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES December 10, 2024 Mr. Lankford (for himself, Mr. Mullin , Mr. Schumer , Mr. McConnell , Ms. Baldwin , Mr. Barrasso , Mr. Bennet , Mrs. Blackburn , Mr. Blumenthal , Mr. Booker , Mr. Boozman , Mr. Braun , Mrs. Britt , Mr. Brown , Mr. Budd , Ms. Cantwell , Mrs. Capito , Mr. Cardin , Mr. Carper , Mr. Casey , Mr. Cassidy , Ms. Collins , Mr. Coons , Mr. Cornyn , Ms. Cortez Masto , Mr. Cotton , Mr. Cramer , Mr. Crapo , Mr. Cruz , Mr. Daines , Ms. Duckworth , Mr. Durbin , Ms. Ernst , Mr. Fetterman , Mrs. Fischer , Mrs. Gillibrand , Mr. Graham , Mr. Grassley , Mr. Hagerty , Ms. Hassan , Mr. Hawley , Mr. Heinrich , Mr. Hickenlooper , Ms. Hirono , Mr. Hoeven , Mrs. Hyde-Smith , Mr. Johnson , Mr. Kaine , Mr. Kelly , Mr. Kennedy , Mr. Kim , Mr. King , Ms. Klobuchar , Mr. Lee , Mr. Luján , Ms. Lummis , Mr. Manchin , Mr. Markey , Mr. Marshall , Mr. Merkley , Mr. Moran , Ms. Murkowski , Mr. Murphy , Mrs. Murray , Mr. Ossoff , Mr. Padilla , Mr. Paul , Mr. Peters , Mr. Reed , Mr. Ricketts , Mr. Risch , Mr. Romney , Ms. Rosen , Mr. Rounds , Mr. Rubio , Mr. Sanders , Mr. Schatz , Mr. Schiff , Mr. Schmitt , Mr. Scott of Florida , Mr. Scott of South Carolina , Mrs. Shaheen , Ms. Sinema , Ms. Smith , Ms. Stabenow , Mr. Sullivan , Mr. Tester , Mr. Thune , Mr. Tillis , Mr. Tuberville , Mr. Van Hollen , Mr. Vance , Mr. Warner , Mr. Warnock , Ms. Warren , Mr. Welch , Mr. Whitehouse , Mr. Wicker , Mr. Wyden , and Mr. Young ) submitted the following resolution; which was considered and agreed to RESOLUTION Relating to the death of the Honorable Fred R. Harris, former Senator for the State of Oklahoma.

Whereas the Honorable Fred R. Harris (referred to in this preamble as Senator Harris ) was born in Walters, Oklahoma, on November 13, 1930, to Fred Byron Harris and Eunice Alene Pearson Harris; Whereas, in 1948, Senator Harris graduated with honors from Walters High School; Whereas Senator Harris attended the University of Oklahoma where he graduated with a bachelor’s degree in 1952 and a bachelor of laws degree in 1954; Whereas Senator Harris practiced law in Lawton, Oklahoma; Whereas Senator Harris founded the law firm of Harris, Newcombe, Redman, and Doolin; Whereas, in 1956, Senator Harris was elected to the Oklahoma Senate, where he served for 8 years as one of its youngest members; Whereas, in 1959, Senator Harris was chosen as Junior Chamber of Commerce Outstanding Young Man of Oklahoma; Whereas, in 1964, Senator Harris won a runoff election to serve as a Senator representing the State of Oklahoma; Whereas Senator Harris was first elected to the Senate at age 33; Whereas, in 1966, Senator Harris was re-elected to serve a full 6-year Senate term; Whereas Senator Harris served as a member of several Senate committees, including— (1) from 1965 to 1973— (A) the Committee on Government Operations of the Senate; and (B) the Select Committee on Small Business of the Senate; (2) from 1965 to 1967, the Committee on Public Works of the Senate; and (3) from 1967 to 1973, the Committee on Finance of the Senate; Whereas, in 1971, Senator Harris appointed Julie Price as one of the first female Senate pages; Whereas, while serving in the Senate, Senator Harris— (1) was instrumental in the creation of the Subcommittee on Executive Reorganization and Government Research of the Senate; and (2) focused on improving the welfare system in the United States; Whereas, in 1968, Senator Harris served as co-chair of the presidential campaign of Hubert Humphrey; Whereas, in 1969 and 1970, Senator Harris served as Chairman of the Democratic National Committee, where he ushered in reforms to allow more women and minorities to serve as delegates and in leadership positions; Whereas, in 1967, Senator Harris was appointed by President Lyndon B. Johnson to the National Advisory Commission on Civil Disorders; Whereas, following his time in the Senate and politics, Senator Harris moved to New Mexico; Whereas, from 1976 to 2006, Senator Harris served as a professor of political science at the University of New Mexico; Whereas Senator Harris founded the Fred Harris Congressional Internship Program within the University of New Mexico Political Science Department; Whereas Senator Harris served as the Director of the Fred Harris Congressional Internship Program and a faculty member until 2018; Whereas Senator Harris continued authoring books on political topics; and Whereas, on November 23, 2024, Senator Harris died at the age of 94, leaving behind his wife, Margaret, and 3 children, Kathryn, Byron, and Laura: Now, therefore, be it

That— (1) the Senate— (A) has heard with profound sorrow and deep regret the announcement of the death of the Honorable Fred R. Harris, former Senator for the State of Oklahoma; and (B) respectfully request that the Secretary of the Senate— (i) communicate this resolution to the House of Representatives; and (ii) transmit an enrolled copy of this resolution to the family of the Honorable Fred R. Harris; and (2) when the Senate adjourns on the date of adoption of this resolution, the Senate stands adjourned as a further mark of respect to the memory of the Honorable Fred R. Harris.