HRES-181-119
Referred to the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform.
Sponsored by Al Green (D-TX)
What it does
This resolution would formally express the House of Representatives' recognition of Black History Month. It recounts the history of Black labor in America from slavery through the present day, highlights specific historical figures and events, and encourages the continuation of Black History Month celebrations to raise awareness of Black Americans' contributions to the nation.
Who benefits
Black Americans broadly, whose history and contributions would receive formal congressional recognition. Educational institutions and organizations that teach Black history, such as the Association for the Study of African American Life and History (which endorsed the resolution). Labor unions and labor historians whose subject matter is highlighted. Descendants of historically recognized figures named in the resolution.
Who is hurt
No group faces a direct material harm from this resolution. As a purely commemorative measure, it creates no legal obligations, spending, or regulatory changes. Some critics of congressional commemorative resolutions may object to the use of legislative time and resources for symbolic measures.
Supporters argue
Supporters argue that formal congressional recognition of Black History Month affirms the foundational role Black labor played in building the United States economy — from an estimated $5.9 trillion in uncompensated enslaved labor to modern-day contributions — and that acknowledging persistent disparities (e.g., a 6.3% Black male unemployment rate vs. ~3% for White men and women as of January 2025) is a necessary step toward public awareness. They contend that Congress has a long tradition of passing commemorative resolutions to recognize historically marginalized communities, and that this resolution continues that tradition with specific, documented historical grounding.
Opponents argue
Opponents argue that commemorative resolutions consume limited legislative floor time without producing enforceable policy changes, and that the documented disparities cited in the resolution — such as the wage gap and unemployment differential — require substantive legislation rather than symbolic acknowledgment. They may also contend that the resolution's framing of specific historical and economic claims, such as the valuation of enslaved labor or characterizations of convict leasing, reflects particular interpretive perspectives that not all members of Congress share, making a formal House endorsement of those framings potentially divisive rather than unifying.
Constitutional context
No significant constitutional issue is raised by this resolution. Simple resolutions expressing the sense of the House are a well-established congressional practice and do not create law, impose obligations, or implicate enumerated powers. No provisions from the Equal Protection Clause, Commerce Clause, or relevant case law are triggered by a purely commemorative measure.
Checks and balances
The House of Representatives expresses a symbolic position; the resolution has no binding legal effect, requires no Senate action or presidential signature, and creates no new authority for any branch of government.
Historical precedent
Congress has passed similar commemorative resolutions recognizing Black History Month in prior sessions, including H. Res. 109 (116th Congress) and comparable measures in the 117th and 118th Congresses.