IV
119THCONGRESS
1
STSESSION H. RES. 315
Recognizing the 159th anniversary of the Civil Rights Act of 1866.
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
APRIL9, 2025
Mr. J
ACKSONof Illinois (for himself, Ms. TLAIB, Ms. CROCKETT, Ms. BROWN,
Ms. G
ARCIAof Texas, Mr. KENNEDYof New York, Mr. FIELDS, Mr.
T
HANEDAR, Ms. STEVENS, Mr. ESPAILLAT, and Ms. NORTON) submitted
the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on the Ju-
diciary
RESOLUTION
Recognizing the 159th anniversary of the Civil Rights Act
of 1866.
Whereas, on April 9, 1866, the Civil Rights Act of 1866 was
passed and enacted into law;
Whereas this year marks the 159th anniversary of the Civil
Rights Act of 1866;
Whereas the Civil Rights Act of 1866 was the first Federal
law to define citizenship and affirm that all citizens are
equally protected by the law;
Whereas the intent of the Civil Rights Act of 1866 was to
combat the attempted suppression of the Emancipation
Proclamation;
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•HRES 315 IH
Whereas President Andrew Johnson established a reconstruc-
tion policy that forced former Confederate States to
maintain abolition, swear loyalty to the United States,
and pay their war debts in order to rejoin the Union;
Whereas under President Johnson’s policy, Southern States
adopted and enacted a series of laws designed to restrict
freed Blacks and ensure their availability in the labor
force;
Whereas these laws severely denied Black citizens equal pro-
tection under the law;
Whereas under restricted laws, Blacks were refrained from
owning property, entering contracts, and benefiting from
labor rights;
Whereas a brave set of legislators believed the Federal Gov-
ernment had a role in shaping a multiracial society in
postwar South;
Whereas Senator Lyman Trumbull of Illinois introduced the
Civil Rights Act of 1866 in the Senate on January 5,
1866;
Whereas, on February 2, 1866, the Senate voted in favor of
the bill 33–13;
Whereas, on March 13, 1866, the House of Representatives
voted in favor of the Civil Rights Act of 1866 by a vote
of 111–38, with 34 Members not voting;
Whereas, on March 27, 1866, President Andrew Johnson ve-
toed the Civil Rights Act of 1866;
Whereas, on April 6, 1866, the Senate voted 33–15 to over-
ride President Johnson’s veto;
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•HRES 315 IH
Whereas, on April 9, 1866, the House also voted to override
President Johnson’s veto by a vote of 122–41 with 21
Members not voting; and
Whereas as a result of both Chambers voting to override
President Johnson’s veto, the Civil Rights Act of 1866
became the law of the land: Now, therefore, be it
Resolved, That the House of Representatives— 1
(1) recognizes the significance of the Civil 2
Rights Act of 1866 and its impact on establishing 3
that all Americans, despite their race, are protected 4
equally under the law; 5
(2) recognizes that the Civil Rights Act of 1866 6
is the framework from which the Thirteenth and 7
Fourteenth Amendments were crafted; and 8
(3) recognizes the importance of the rule of law 9
and advocates to support, protect, and defend the 10
rights of all Americans. 11
Æ
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