This concurrent resolution authorizes the use of the rotunda of the Capitol for a ceremony to present the statue of Mary McLeod Bethune from the people of Florida for placement in National Statuary Hall.
The statue shall temporarily be displayed in the rotunda and then be moved to its permanent location in the hall.
[Congressional Bills 116th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Con. Res. 94 Introduced in House (IH)]
<DOC>
116th CONGRESS
2d Session
H. CON. RES. 94
Authorizing the use of the rotunda of the Capitol for a ceremony to
present the statue of Mary McLeod Bethune from the people of Florida
for placement in National Statuary Hall.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
February 28, 2020
Mr. Waltz (for himself, Mrs. Demings, Mr. Hastings, Mr. Diaz-Balart,
Mrs. Murphy of Florida, Mr. Deutch, Mr. Soto, Ms. Castor of Florida,
Mr. Lawson of Florida, Mr. Mast, Mr. Posey, Ms. Shalala, Mr. Spano, Mr.
Rutherford, Ms. Wilson of Florida, Ms. Wasserman Schultz, Mr.
Bilirakis, Ms. Mucarsel-Powell, Mr. Crist, and Ms. Frankel) submitted
the following concurrent resolution; which was referred to the
Committee on House Administration
_______________________________________________________________________
CONCURRENT RESOLUTION
Authorizing the use of the rotunda of the Capitol for a ceremony to
present the statue of Mary McLeod Bethune from the people of Florida
for placement in National Statuary Hall.
Whereas Mary McLeod Bethune was born on July 10, 1875, in Mayesville, South
Carolina, and she was the first member of her family, including all of
her 16 siblings, born free following the conclusion of the Civil War;
Whereas beginning at a young age, Mary McLeod Bethune became engaged with
learning and teaching after receiving an opportunity to attend Trinity
Presbyterian Mission School in her hometown, and her dedication was
evidenced through attending as many classes as she could and teaching
her parents and siblings what she had learned;
Whereas Mary McLeod Bethune was awarded a scholarship allowing her to enroll at
the then-Scotia Seminary for Girls in Concord, North Carolina, from
which she graduated in 1893, and she went on to continue her studies at
the Moody Bible Institute in Chicago;
Whereas upon graduating from the Moody Bible Institute, Mary McLeod Bethune
became a teacher and taught at schools in Georgia and South Carolina
before moving to Florida to teach at the Palatka Mission School;
Whereas through observing the burgeoning Black population in the area prompted
by labor needed for railroad construction, Mary McLeod Bethune decided
to follow through with her dream of opening her own school;
Whereas Mary McLeod Bethune bought a small cottage in Daytona Beach to allow for
the opening of the Daytona Literary and Industrial Training School for
Negro Girls in 1904 and through her commitment to fundraising, the
school's enrollment grew from 5 to 250 students in just 2 years;
Whereas the school continued to grow, which eventually resulted in its merger
with the Cookman Institute for Men in Jacksonville to form Bethune-
Cookman College, where she later served as president;
Whereas Mary McLeod Bethune's advocacy continued with her founding of the
National Council of Negro Women and her appointment as Director of the
Division of Negro Affairs of the National Youth Administration by
President Franklin Delano Roosevelt;
Whereas through her position as the highest ranking African-American woman in
the Federal Government, Mary McLeod Bethune was able to assist African-
American youth in finding employment and worked with the Women's Army
Corps during World War II to recruit African-American female officers;
Whereas upon her death in 1955, Mary McLeod Bethune's inspirational leadership
was praised by many, including former First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt, who
lauded ``her wisdom and her goodness'';
Whereas in 1995, the United States National Park Service established the Mary
McLeod Bethune Council House National Historic Site in Washington, DC,
which has preserved the townhouse that was once her personal residence
and the first headquarters of the National Council of Negro Women;
Whereas Mary McLeod Bethune's legacy continues to be felt in Florida through the
continued success of Bethune-Cookman University, whose enrollment is
currently approaching a record high of 4,000 students;
Whereas Mary McLeod Bethune's significant contributions to advance equality for
all persons represent the highest ideals of America;
Whereas, on March 19, 2018, the Florida legislature passed, and the Governor of
Florida signed into law, legislation authorizing the placement of a
statue memorializing Mary McLeod Bethune in the National Statuary Hall
collection; and
Whereas Mary McLeod Bethune's significant contributions to advance equality for
all persons represent the highest ideals of America, and her statue
deserves permanent placement in a location within the Capitol complex
that has high public visibility in order to inspire future generations
of Americans: Now, therefore, be it
Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate concurring),
SECTION 1. USE OF ROTUNDA FOR CEREMONY FOR PRESENTATION OF STATUE OF
MARY MCLEOD BETHUNE FROM THE PEOPLE OF FLORIDA FOR
PLACEMENT IN NATIONAL STATUARY HALL.
(a) Ceremony To Present Statue.--The State of Florida is authorized
to use the rotunda of the Capitol on a date mutually agreed to by the
Speaker of the House of Representatives and the majority leader of the
Senate for a ceremony to present the statue of Mary McLeod Bethune from
the people of Florida for placement in National Statuary Hall. The
Architect of the Capitol and the Capitol Police Board shall take such
action as may be necessary with respect to physical preparations and
security for the ceremony.
(b) Display in Rotunda.--The statue shall be displayed in the
rotunda of the Capitol for a period of not more than 6 months, after
which period the statue shall be moved to its permanent location in
National Statuary Hall.
SEC. 2. TRANSMITTAL.
The Clerk of the House of Representatives shall transmit a copy of
this concurrent resolution to the Governor of Florida, the Mayor of
Daytona Beach, Florida, and the President of Bethune-Cookman University
in Daytona Beach, Florida.
<all>
Introduced in House
Introduced in House
Referred to the House Committee on House Administration.
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