24 LC 46 0925
House Resolution 1643
By: Representatives Mainor of the 56
th
, Stephens of the 164
th
, Gilliard of the 162
nd
, Panitch
of the 51
st
, Mitchell of the 88
th
, and others
A RESOLUTION
Creating the House Study Committee on Atlanta's Historic Civil Rights Communities; and
1
for other purposes.2
WHEREAS, Atlanta is the capital of our great State of Georgia and known to be home of the3
Civil Rights Movement; and4
WHEREAS, a few of the notable founding leaders of Atlanta's Civil Rights Movement are5
Reverend Doctor Martin Luther King, Jr., Ambassador Andrew Young, former Congressman6
John Lewis, Reverend Ralph David Abernathy, Herman J. Russell, Honorable Mayor7
Maynard Jackson, Charlayne Hunter-Gault, Carolyn Long Banks, Ralph Long, Lonnie King,8
Herchelle Sullivan Challenor, Julian Bond, Donn Clendenon, Benjamin Elijah Mays, Leroy9
Johnson, Hamilton Holmes, Grace Towns Hamilton, Hank Aaron, Reverend Doctor Cameron10
Madison Alexander, and others; and11
WHEREAS, some of the notable civil rights organizations founded in Atlanta are The12
Southern Christian Leadership Conference, the Committee on the Appeal for Human Rights,13
the Atlanta Student Movement, the Atlanta University Center, the Student Nonviolent14
Coordinating Committee, and others; and15
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WHEREAS, the State of Georgia has never studied the impact of Atlanta's Civil Rights
16
Movement economically or socially or its potential to strengthen Georgia's role in tourism;17
and18
WHEREAS, Georgia travel and tourism generated $73 billion in total economic impact and19
supported more than 442,600 jobs in 2022. The state welcomed 167.7 million domestic and20
international visitors in 2022 who brought in $39.8 billion in spending; and21
WHEREAS, Atlanta's civil rights legacy is and can continue to be a catalyst for economic22
prosperity and organized efforts to advocate for conservative, religious-based policies that23
promote the values of the United States Constitution, including educational freedom; and24
WHEREAS, although the Civil Rights Movement occurred throughout the United States,25
Georgia can be a leader in the historic preservation of communities, churches, schools,26
colleges and universities, and businesses; and 27
WHEREAS, the oral testimony of those still living has not been documented by the State of28
Georgia; and29
WHEREAS, unless the State of Georgia uses its resources to document such rich history of30
this state, it is feared the historical record will forever be lost; and31
WHEREAS, the State of Georgia aims to document Atlanta's Civil Rights Movement from32
all vested stakeholders regardless of race, ethnicity, or religion because we understand the33
passage of the Civil Rights Movement was a collective effort initiated with the Republican34
Party after the Civil War with the Emancipation Proclamation.35
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NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES:
36
(1) Creation of House study committee. There is created the House Study Committee37
on Atlanta's Historic Civil Rights Communities.38
(2) Members and officers. The committee shall be composed of three members of the39
House of Representatives to be appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives.40
The Speaker shall designate a member of the committee as chairperson of the committee.41
(3) Powers and duties. The committee shall undertake a study of Atlanta's historic42
westside communities and the people and businesses that contributed to Georgia's legacy43
as home to the Civil Rights Movement and how this legacy provides an opportunity for the44
State of Georgia to strengthen its role in tourism and recommend any action or legislation45
which the committee deems necessary or appropriate.46
(4) Meetings. The chairperson shall call all meetings of the committee. The committee47
may conduct such meetings at such places and at such times as it may deem necessary or48
convenient to enable it to exercise fully and effectively its powers, perform its duties, and49
accomplish the objectives and purposes of this resolution.50
(5) Allowances and funding. The legislative members of the committee shall receive the51
allowances provided for in Code Section 28-1-8 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated.52
The allowances authorized by this resolution shall not be received by any member of the53
committee for more than six days unless additional days are authorized. Funds necessary54
to carry out the provisions of this resolution shall come from funds appropriated to the55
House of Representatives.56
(6) Report.57
(A) In the event the committee adopts any specific findings or recommendations that58
include suggestions for proposed legislation, the chairperson shall file a report of the59
same prior to the date of abolishment specified in this resolution, subject to60
subparagraph (C) of this paragraph.61
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(B) In the event the committee adopts a report that does not include suggestions for
62
proposed legislation, the chairperson shall file the report, subject to subparagraph (C) of63
this paragraph.64
(C) No report shall be filed unless the same has been approved prior to the date of65
abolishment specified in this resolution by majority vote of a quorum of the committee.66
A report so approved shall be signed by the chairperson of the committee and filed with67
the Clerk of the House of Representatives.68
(D) In the absence of an approved report, the chairperson may file with the Clerk of the69
House of Representatives a copy of the minutes of the meetings of the committee in lieu70
thereof.71
(7) Abolishment. The committee shall stand abolished on December 1, 2024.72
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