Providing for Design of Slave Labor Marker in Capitol Visitor Center

PROVIDING FOR DESIGN OF SLAVE LABOR MARKER IN CAPITOL VISITOR CENTER -- (House of Representatives - July 07, 2009)

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Mr. JOHNSON of Georgia. I yield myself as much time as I may consume.

Mr. Speaker, in May 2005 the congressional leadership appointed a task force to study the contributions of enslaved African Americans to the construction of this great edifice, our United States Capitol. The task force was also asked to recommend appropriate steps to recognize their contribution. In support of that effort, the architectural historian to the Architect of the Capitol produced a report on the contributions of slave laborers to the Capitol's construction. During the 110th Congress the Committee on House Administration conducted a hearing to receive recommendations of the task force, chaired by the gentleman from Georgia, my colleague and mentor, Congressman John Lewis. The task force devoted considerable time and effort to reviewing the Architect's report on the use of slaves during the Capitol's construction and developing recommendations. Mr. Speaker, Americans now living cannot remove the stain of our Nation's past, but we can admit our forebears' sin. We must acknowledge the sacrifices of those Americans who, without choice, worked to build a government that kept them in bondage. The task force's report recommended a number of steps to do what we can.

Several of their recommendations, including the naming of Emancipation Hall in the new Capitol Visitor Center, have already been completed.

The placement of a marker in Emancipation Hall requires further legislative action as embodied in this resolution. This resolution will provide for the installation of a marker by the Architect of the Capitol, under the supervision of the House Administration Committee and the Senate Committee on Rules and Administration.

As the resolution contemplates, the committees will make every effort to use some of the original, slave-quarried stones. These stones were removed from the Capitol during previous renovations and are held in storage.

I urge all Members to support the resolution, which proposes a fitting commemoration of slave laborers' contribution to this temple of democracy.

I reserve the balance of my time.

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Mr. JOHNSON of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, again, I would want to commend the conscience of the Congress, the Honorable Congressman from the great State of Georgia and the great city of Atlanta. I would like to commend him for taking on this measure and proceeding with it to conclusion. And I want to congratulate you, sir, for this and for all of the things you will continue to do to make sure that everyone's contribution throughout the history of this great country is recognized.

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Mr. JOHNSON of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of H. Con. Res. 135, the resolution directing the Architect of the Capitol to place a marker in Emancipation Hall in the Capitol Visitor Center which acknowledges the role that slave labor played in the construction of the United States Capitol, and for other purposes. I would like to thank my colleague and fellow Georgian, Representative John Lewis for introducing this important piece of legislation, as well as the co-sponsors.

I stand in support of this resolution because it recognizes the important contributions that African-American slaves have made to the establishment of this country, particularly the Capitol Building, which is the foundation of our country's government. It is in this very building where the biggest decisions of our country are made. Therefore, we can all imagine how important this structure really is to the wellbeing of our nation.

It has almost been 150 years since the Thirteenth Amendment of the U.S. Constitution was ratified, which officially abolished slavery was passed within these same walls. It is in due time that slaves be recognized for the back breaking labor that they endured while building this great building that we now stand in. If it was not for the crucial intervention of Philip Reid, an African-American slave foundry worker, the Statue of Freedom that sits on top of the Capitol Dome may not have existed. Reid figured out how to separate the 5-piece plaster model for casting when all others workers failed to figure out how this could be done.

The true purpose of this resolution is to draw recognition to the past, so that we can move on to a better future of race relations in America. There is no better time than now, than on the coat tails of one of the most historic presidential elections in United States history. By no means is this resolution erasing or justifying slavery. Instead it shows America and the world the positive progression that our nation is making in its journey to ensure that all people be treated equally. I urge my colleagues to support this resolution.

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