1Recognizing the year 2014 as the 50th anniversary of the passage
2of the Civil Rights Act of 1964.

3WHEREAS, On June 11, 1963, President John F. Kennedy called
4for legislation "giving all Americans the right to be served in
5facilities which are open to the public - hotels, restaurants,
6theaters, retail stores, and similar establishments," as well as
7"greater protection for the right to vote."; and

8WHEREAS, Following President Kennedy's assassination, newly
9sworn-in President Lyndon B. Johnson first addressed the joint
10session of Congress on November 27, 1963, telling legislators
11"No memorial oration or eulogy could more eloquently honor
12President Kennedy's memory than the earliest possible passage of
13the civil rights bill for which he fought so long"; and

1WHEREAS, The Civil Rights Act of 1964 was signed into law by
2President Johnson on July 2, 1964; and

3WHEREAS, Upon the signing of the Civil Rights Act, President
4Johnson addressed the American public on July 2, 1964, stating
5that the newly passed act "does not restrict the freedom of any
6American, so long as he respects the rights of others. It does
7not give special treatment to any citizen...It does say that
8there are those who are equal before God shall now also be equal
9in the polling booths, in the classrooms, in the factories, and
10in hotels, restaurants, movie theaters, and other places that
11provide service to the public...This Civil Rights Act is a
12challenge to all of us to go to work in our communities and our
13States, in our homes and in our hearts, to eliminate the last
14vestiges of injustice in our beloved country"; and

15WHEREAS, The Civil Rights Act of 1964 sets a benchmark
16standard for civil rights protection across each of the fifty
17United States. The act prohibits discrimination on the basis of
18race, color, religion, sex or national origin and brought an end
19to the tumultuous era of racial segregation. Its passage set the
20precedent that discrimination would no longer be codified and
21was further expanded in 1965 to encompass equal voting rights
22for all citizens; therefore be it

23RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives recognize the
24year of 2014 as the 50th anniversary of the passage of the Civil
25Rights Act of 1964 and that the citizens of this Commonwealth be
26encouraged to honor and celebrate this momentous piece of
27landmark legislation.