Whereas, on April 9, 1866, the Civil Rights Act of 1866 was passed and enacted into law;

Whereas this year marks the 159th anniversary of the Civil Rights Act of 1866;

Whereas the Civil Rights Act of 1866 was the first Federal law to define citizenship and affirm that all citizens are equally protected by the law;

Whereas the intent of the Civil Rights Act of 1866 was to combat the attempted suppression of the Emancipation Proclamation;

Whereas President Andrew Johnson established a reconstruction policy that forced former Confederate States to maintain abolition, swear loyalty to the United States, and pay their war debts in order to rejoin the Union;

Whereas under President Johnson’s policy, Southern States adopted and enacted a series of laws designed to restrict freed Blacks and ensure their availability in the labor force;

Whereas these laws severely denied Black citizens equal protection under the law;

Whereas under restricted laws, Blacks were refrained from owning property, entering contracts, and benefiting from labor rights;

Whereas a brave set of legislators believed the Federal Government had a role in shaping a multiracial society in postwar South;

Whereas Senator Lyman Trumbull of Illinois introduced the Civil Rights Act of 1866 in the Senate on January 5, 1866;

Whereas, on February 2, 1866, the Senate voted in favor of the bill 33–13;

Whereas, on March 13, 1866, the House of Representatives voted in favor of the Civil Rights Act of 1866 by a vote of 111–38, with 34 Members not voting;

Whereas, on March 27, 1866, President Andrew Johnson vetoed the Civil Rights Act of 1866;

Whereas, on April 6, 1866, the Senate voted 33–15 to override President Johnson’s veto;

Whereas, on April 9, 1866, the House also voted to override President Johnson’s veto by a vote of 122–41 with 21 Members not voting; and

Whereas as a result of both Chambers voting to override President Johnson’s veto, the Civil Rights Act of 1866 became the law of the land: Now, therefore, be it