PRINTER'S NO. 2189
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
HOUSE RESOLUTION
No.
415
Session of
2019
INTRODUCED BY KIM, KINSEY, ZABEL, HARRIS, SCHLOSSBERG, HILL-
EVANS, ROTHMAN, MILLARD, CALTAGIRONE, McCLINTON, FREEMAN,
GALLOWAY, STURLA, BURNS, MARKOSEK, WILLIAMS, FITZGERALD,
HOHENSTEIN AND TOOHIL, JUNE 19, 2019
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON STATE GOVERNMENT, JUNE 19, 2019
A RESOLUTION
Recognizing the historical importance of the 15th Amendment to
the Constitution of the United States and encouraging the
establishment of a monument upon the grounds of the
Pennsylvania State Capitol Complex.
WHEREAS, The 15th Amendment to the Constitution of the United
States prohibits the Federal Government and each state from
denying a citizen the right to vote based on that citizen's
"race, color, or previous condition of servitude"; and
WHEREAS, The 15th Amendment was ratified on February 3, 1870,
and the 150th anniversary of that ratification is being
celebrated in 2020; and
WHEREAS, The Historic 8th Ward of Harrisburg, where the
Pennsylvania State Capitol Complex currently is located, was a
major site during the process of ratification of the 15th
Amendment by the Commonwealth; and
WHEREAS, The General Assembly recognizes and celebrates that
the right of citizens of the United States to vote shall not be
denied or abridged by the United States or by any state on
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account of race, color or previous condition of servitude;
therefore be it
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives recognize the
historical importance of the 15th Amendment to the Constitution
of the United States and encourage the establishment of a
monument upon the grounds of the Pennsylvania State Capitol
Complex; and be it further
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives encourage private
funding for the design and construction of the monument, with
the final design approval of the Department of General Services;
and be it further
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives request that the
Department of General Services accept ownership of the monument
while allowing the installation and upkeep of the monument
through private funds as not to burden the Commonwealth
generally or the Department of General Services specifically;
and be it further
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives urge the monument
being located on the lawn of the Speaker K. Leroy Irvis Office
Building within the Pennsylvania State Capitol Complex, the
former site of Harrisburg's 8th Ward; and be it further
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives recommend the
installation and upkeep of the monument through private funds as
not to burden the Commonwealth; and be it further
RESOLVED, That copies of this resolution be transmitted to
the Governor and the Secretary of General Services to confirm
the endorsement of this monument by the House of
Representatives.
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