[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 137 Reported in House (RH)]
<DOC>
House Calendar No. 31
119th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. RES. 137
[Report No. 119-150]
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''.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
February 14, 2025
Mr. Donalds (for himself, Mr. Carson, Mr. Horsford, Mr. Hunt, and Mr.
Owens) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the
Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure
June 6, 2025
Additional sponsor: Mr. James
June 6, 2025
Reported with amendments, referred to the House Calendar, and ordered
to be printed
[Strike the preamble and insert the part printed in italic]
[Strike all after the resolving clause and insert the part printed in
italic]
_______________________________________________________________________
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;
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 lawmakers 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 congressional 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 unveiling of the
Emancipation Memorial in Washington's Lincoln Park;
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 Emancipation 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
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;
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 lawmakers 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 congressional 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 unveiling of the
Emancipation Memorial in Washington's Lincoln Park;
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 Emancipation 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-315, H-316, H-317,
H-318, and H-319 in the United States Capitol, is designated as the
``Frederick Douglass Press Gallery''.
That the House Press Gallery (Rooms H-315, H-316, H-317, H-318, and H-
319 of the United States Capitol) is designated as the ``Frederick
Douglass Press Gallery''.
Amend the title so as to read: ``Resolution designating the
House Press Gallery (Rooms H-315, H-316, H-317, H-318, and H-
319 of the United States Capitol) as the `Frederick Douglass
Press Gallery'.''.
House Calendar No. 31
119th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. RES. 137
[Report No. 119-150]
_______________________________________________________________________
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''.
_______________________________________________________________________
June 6, 2025
Reported with amendments, referred to the House Calendar, and ordered
to be printed