Declaring unconditional war on racism and invidious discrimination and providing for the establishment of a Cabinet-level Department of Reconciliation charged with eliminating racism and invidious discrimination.

IV 116TH CONGRESS 2D SESSION H. RES. 992 Declaring unconditional war on racism and invidious discrimination and pro- viding for the establishment of a Cabinet-level Department of Reconcili- ation charged with eliminating racism and invidious discrimination. IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES JUNE 4, 2020 Mr. GREEN of Texas (for himself, Ms. CLARKE of New York, Ms. HAALAND, Mr. HASTINGS, Mr. PAYNE, Ms. OMAR, Mr. DAVID SCOTT of Georgia, Mr. CLAY, Ms. FUDGE, Mr. KENNEDY, Mr. BLUMENAUER, Ms. JACKSON LEE, and Mr. CLEAVER) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary RESOLUTION Declaring unconditional war on racism and invidious dis- crimination and providing for the establishment of a Cabinet-level Department of Reconciliation charged with eliminating racism and invidious discrimination. Whereas this resolution is presented in the spirit of President Lyndon B. Johnson, who—on January 8, 1964, after the assassination of President John F. Kennedy, during a time of great turmoil—proclaimed, ‘‘This administration today, here and now, declares unconditional war on pov- erty in America . . . Our aim is not only to relieve the symptoms of poverty, but to cure it and, above all, to prevent it.’’; VerDate Sep 11 2014 19:55 Jun 05, 2020 Jkt 099200 PO 00000 Frm 00001 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6300 E:\BILLS\HR992.IH HR992 pamtmann on DSKBC07HB2PROD with BILLS 2 •HRES 992 IH Whereas President Barack Obama indicated, ‘‘In fact, if we hadn’t declared ‘unconditional war on poverty in Amer- ica,’ millions more Americans would be living in poverty today.’’; Whereas some of the programs produced by the War on Pov- erty include Medicaid, Medicare, expanded Social Secu- rity, and Head Start—all of which are still needed today; Whereas racism and invidious discrimination—like poverty in 1964—remain pervasive in our country; Whereas history is replete with examples of victims of racism and invidious discrimination being denied life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness; Whereas systemic and institutionalized racism and invidious discrimination exist in virtually all areas of American life, including policing, criminal justice, housing, banking, vot- ing, employment, education, the environment, and health care; and Whereas the protestations in the aftermath of the tragic death of George Floyd are a clear indication that it has become necessary for Congress to take decisive, imme- diate and long-term legislative action to address the elimination of racism and invidious discrimination: Now, therefore, be it Resolved, That the House of Representatives— 1 (1) condemns racism and invidious discrimina- 2 tion as evil and antithetical to the U.S. Constitution; 3 (2) declares unconditional war on racism and 4 invidious discrimination in America and will provide 5 the resources and funding for their defeat; and 6 VerDate Sep 11 2014 19:55 Jun 05, 2020 Jkt 099200 PO 00000 Frm 00002 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\HR992.IH HR992 pamtmann on DSKBC07HB2PROD with BILLS 3 •HRES 992 IH (3) shall pass legislation establishing a Cabinet- 1 level Department of Reconciliation charged with end- 2 ing racism and invidious discrimination, developing 3 and coordinating the implementation of a com- 4 prehensive national strategy to eliminate racism and 5 invidious discrimination, with a budget that shall be 6 the equivalent of not less than 10 percent of the De- 7 fense Department’s budget, and headed by a Sec- 8 retary of Reconciliation appointed by the President 9 with the advice and consent of the Senate who shall 10 make semi-annual progress reports to Congress. 11 Æ VerDate Sep 11 2014 19:55 Jun 05, 2020 Jkt 099200 PO 00000 Frm 00003 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6301 E:\BILLS\HR992.IH HR992 pamtmann on DSKBC07HB2PROD with BILLS