If enacted, this resolution would not create new laws but would establish an important day of remembrance which could influence educational initiatives and public consciousness regarding slavery and its ramifications. The resolution encourages government institutions, educational entities, and community organizations to observe this day through ceremonies and activities that reflect on the historical injustices associated with slavery. This can serve as a platform to foster dialogue about the implications of slavery on contemporary society, particularly concerning systemic racism and social justice.
Summary
HJR113 is a joint resolution proposing the establishment of 'Slavery Remembrance Day' on August 20, intended to serve as an annual reminder of the atrocities of slavery. This date commemorates the arrival of the first enslaved Africans in English North America in 1619 and aims to honor the lives of all enslaved individuals while denouncing the enduring legacy of slavery. The resolution expresses a need for collective recognition of slavery's impact, not only in historical contexts but in ongoing societal issues connected to racial injustice.
Contention
While the resolution is largely seen as a step towards honoring the historical significance of slavery, it may also encounter opposition from those who feel that designating a specific day could oversimplify or politicize the complex legacies of slavery. Furthermore, it raises questions about the effectiveness of such acts of remembrance in bringing about meaningful social change. Some advocates argue that while such initiatives are necessary, they alone are insufficient to combat the root causes of racial injustice that persist today.
A resolution designating June 19, 2024, as "Juneteenth Independence Day" in recognition of June 19, 1865, the date on which news of the end of slavery reached the slaves in the Southwestern States.
A resolution supporting the observation of National Trafficking and Modern Slavery Prevention Month during the period beginning on January 1, 2024, and ending on February 1, 2024, to raise awareness of, and opposition to, human trafficking and modern slavery.
A resolution supporting the goals and principles of Transgender Day of Remembrance by recognizing the epidemic of violence toward transgender people and memorializing the lives lost this year.
Removal of the Highway Plan and Building Restriction Line from Lot 9 in Square 5914 along the West Side of Congress Street, S.E., S.O. 22-01642, Act of 2024
Urges Congress to provide for joint session at Independence Hall in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, in honor of semiquincentennial of Declaration of Independence.
Urging the Congress of the United States to propose and submit to the states for ratification a federal balanced budget amendment to the Constitution of the United States and, in the event that Congress does not submit such an amendment on or before December 31, 2011, applying to Congress to call a convention for the specific and exclusive purpose of proposing an amendment to that constitution to provide, in the absence of a national emergency and on a two-thirds vote of Congress, for a federal balanced budget and requesting that the legislatures of each of the several states that compose the United States apply to Congress to call a convention to propose such an amendment.
A resolution recognizing the expiration of the Equal Rights Amendment proposed by Congress in March 1972, and observing that Congress has no authority to modify a resolution proposing a constitutional amendment after the amendment has been submitted to the States or after the amendment has expired.