H.Res. 315

[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 315 Introduced in House (IH)]

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119th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. RES. 315

Recognizing the 159th anniversary of the Civil Rights Act of 1866.

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IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

April 9, 2025

Mr. Jackson of Illinois (for himself, Ms. Tlaib, Ms. Crockett, Ms. 
Brown, Ms. Garcia of Texas, Mr. Kennedy of New York, Mr. Fields, Mr. 
Thanedar, Ms. Stevens, Mr. Espaillat, and Ms. Norton) submitted the 
following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on the 
Judiciary

_______________________________________________________________________

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;
Whereas President Andrew Johnson established a reconstruction 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 protection 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 Government 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 vetoed the Civil Rights Act 
of 1866;
Whereas, on April 6, 1866, the Senate voted 33-15 to override President 
Johnson's veto;
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) recognizes the significance of the Civil Rights Act of 
1866 and its impact on establishing that all Americans, despite 
their race, are protected equally under the law;
(2) recognizes that the Civil Rights Act of 1866 is the 
framework from which the Thirteenth and Fourteenth Amendments 
were crafted; and
(3) recognizes the importance of the rule of law and 
advocates to support, protect, and defend the rights of all 
Americans.
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