[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 592 Introduced in House (IH)]
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119th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. RES. 592
Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives on Nelson Mandela
International Day.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
July 17, 2025
Mr. Johnson of Georgia (for himself, Mr. Thompson of Mississippi, Ms.
Clarke of New York, Mrs. McIver, Ms. Norton, Mr. Carson, Mr. Evans of
Pennsylvania, Mr. Gottheimer, Mr. Jackson of Illinois, Ms. Jacobs, Mr.
Krishnamoorthi, Ms. Moore of Wisconsin, Mr. Thanedar, Ms. Titus, Ms.
Tlaib, Ms. Velazquez, Ms. Wilson of Florida, Ms. Brown, and Mr. Scott
of Virginia) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to
the Committee on Foreign Affairs
_______________________________________________________________________
RESOLUTION
Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives on Nelson Mandela
International Day.
Whereas Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela was born to the Thembo Dynasty in Mvezo in the
Umtata District of Transkei, South Africa, on July 18, 1918;
Whereas, as a young man, Nelson Mandela became an activist through acts of
boycotts, strikes, civil disobedience, and other forms of noncooperation
during the fight against apartheid, a system of racial segregation in
South Africa;
Whereas, as a leader of the African National Congress (ANC) and the African
National Congress Youth League, Nelson Mandela and 9 of his fellow ANC
leaders were arrested, charged, and tried for plotting the violent
overthrow of the Government of South Africa;
Whereas, on June 12, 1964, 8 of the accused, including Nelson Mandela, were
sentenced to life imprisonment;
Whereas, from 1964 to 1982, Nelson Mandela was incarcerated at Robben Island
Prison, off the coast of Cape Town, South Africa, before being moved to
the maximum-security Pollsmoor Prison in the Cape Town suburb of Tokai;
Whereas, during the years of his imprisonment, Nelson Mandela became widely
accepted as the most significant Black leader in South Africa and a
symbol of resistance against apartheid, discrimination, and injustice;
Whereas a global movement to release Nelson Mandela and end the South African
system of apartheid included international economic sanctions, like the
Comprehensive Anti-Apartheid Act of 1986 (Public Law 99-440), and the
condemnation of apartheid by countless leaders, artists, intellectuals,
and activists;
Whereas at 4:14 p.m. on February 11, 1990, Nelson Mandela was released from the
Victor Verster prison in Paarl after being a political prisoner for 27
years, 6 months, and 1 week;
Whereas the release of Nelson Mandela was a defining moment in the global effort
to end apartheid;
Whereas, in 1993, Nelson Mandela and South African President F.W. de Klerk
accepted the Nobel Peace Prize and pledged to continue working towards a
democratic, nonracial South Africa;
Whereas a series of negotiations between the Government of South Africa and the
ANC resulted in the abolishment of apartheid and an election in which
almost 20,000,000 South Africans of all ethnicities cast their vote
under a national policy of universal suffrage;
Whereas Nelson Mandela was inaugurated as President of the Republic of South
Africa on May 10, 1994, and pledged to lead a ``united, democratic, non-
racial and non-sexist government'' for all people of South Africa;
Whereas, during President Mandela's tenure, there were distinct advancements in
racial relations as South Africa transitioned from apartheid and
minority rule to a country that aspired to achieve reconciliation,
equality, and peace;
Whereas, through President Mandela's leadership, the spirit of ``ubuntu'', the
African philosophy of the interconnectedness, caring, sharing, and
harmony of humanity, has spread throughout the world;
Whereas, in 1999, President Mandela retired to private life in his town of
birth, Qunu, Transkei;
Whereas upon leaving elected office, President Mandela continued to fight for
peace, reconciliation, and social justice causes, including championing
HIV/AIDS awareness and treatment;
Whereas Nelson Mandela established a number of organizations, which include the
Nelson Mandela Foundation and The Elders, an independent group of public
figures committed to addressing global problems and easing human
suffering;
Whereas, on September 21, 2013, the South African Embassy, led by Ambassador
Ebrahim Rasool, unveiled a Washington, DC, statue of President Mandela
that was designed by sculptor Jean Doyle and modeled after images of the
anti-apartheid leader leaving prison in 1990 after 27 years of
incarceration;
Whereas, on December 5, 2013, President Mandela died at age 95 surrounded by
family and loved ones in his home;
Whereas the United Nations delegates from the countries of Spain and Turkey
jointly introduced a resolution to designate July 18 as Nelson Mandela
International Day;
Whereas the United States was a proud sponsor of the resolution;
Whereas, when speaking in support of the United Nations resolution, Ms. Laura
Ross, United States delegate to the United Nations, stated that
``Mandela used his moral power for a moral purpose. He turned enemies
into partners, fear into trust, hatred into forgiveness, and
discrimination into democracy.''; and
Whereas the United Nations General Assembly unanimously adopted A/Res/64/13 to
designate July 18 as Nelson Mandela International Day, beginning in
2010: Now, therefore, be it
Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
(1) applauds the United Nations General Assembly for
uniting to honor President Mandela's selfless contribution to
international peace and freedom;
(2) recognizes the global impact of President Mandela's
legacy and commitment to nonviolence, respect, and dialogue;
(3) expresses support for the international community's
recognition of United Nations Nelson Mandela International Day;
and
(4) urges all citizens of the United States to reflect on
the importance of peace, tolerance, democracy, human rights,
and reconciliation in honor of Nelson Mandela International
Day.
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