IV
119THCONGRESS
1
STSESSION H. RES. 137
Designating the House Press Gallery, Rooms H–315, H–316, H–317, H–
318, and H–319 in the United States Capitol, as the ‘‘Frederick Doug-
lass Press Gallery’’.
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
FEBRUARY14, 2025
Mr. D
ONALDS(for himself, Mr. CARSON, Mr. HORSFORD, Mr. HUNT, and Mr.
O
WENS) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the
Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure
RESOLUTION
Designating the House Press Gallery, Rooms H–315, H–
316, H–317, H–318, and H–319 in the United States
Capitol, as the ‘‘Frederick Douglass Press Gallery’’.
Whereas Frederick Douglass was born to an enslaved family
in 1818;
Whereas Douglass bravely escaped slavery in 1838, and spent
much of his adult life as a journalist in Rochester, New
York;
Whereas Douglass published his first newspaper, The North
Star, using his own money in the pre-Civil War era;
Whereas Douglass was known for fiercely opposing slavery,
championing equal rights and women’s rights, and for
being a forceful speaker;
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•HRES 137 IH
Whereas, during the Civil War, Douglass was a recruiter for
the first African-American army regiment;
Whereas Douglass met twice with President Lincoln, first
about the pay and treatment of Black soldiers and then
to discuss the President’s desire to assist escaping slaves;
Whereas after Douglass’ Rochester home was destroyed by
fire (which Douglass believed resulted from arson), he
moved his family to Anacostia in Washington, DC;
Whereas, in 1870, Douglass was asked to become editor of
the New National Era, which chronicled the progress of
Blacks throughout the United States, and he later
bought the paper;
Whereas Douglass was the first Black reporter allowed into
the Capitol press galleries, where journalists watch law-
makers on the floors of the Senate and the House of
Representatives;
Whereas Douglass was a member of the congressional press
galleries from 1871–1875;
Whereas Douglass reported on House and Senate legislation
regularly to update the African-American community
during Reconstruction following the 13th, 14th, and 15th
Amendments to the Constitution;
Whereas Douglass was recorded frequently in the congres-
sional directory and spent a significant amount of time
writing and studying from the House Press Gallery;
Whereas Douglass often visited the Capitol following his time
as a member of the congressional press galleries;
Whereas Douglass delivered the keynote speech at the unveil-
ing of the Emancipation Memorial in Washington’s Lin-
coln Park;
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•HRES 137 IH
Whereas, in 2007, Douglass was recognized by placing a
plaque and painting of him in his honor in the House
Press Gallery;
Whereas, in 2012, Congress passed and the President signed
Public Law 112–174, which directed Frederick Douglass’
statue placement in the Capitol Visitor Center’s Emanci-
pation Hall; and
Whereas Douglass was a pioneer in journalism who broke
through glass ceilings throughout one of the most crucial
times in American history, exhibited great perseverance
to become an American hero, and became a legend known
in the House Press Gallery: Now, therefore, be it
Resolved, That the House Press Gallery, Rooms H– 1
315, H–316, H–317, H–318, and H–319 in the United 2
States Capitol, is designated as the ‘‘Frederick Douglass 3
Press Gallery’’. 4
Æ
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