This week, the House of Representatives passed H. Con. Res. 242, Congressman Al Green’s (TX-09) resolution honoring the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) on the occasion of its 101st anniversary, by a vote of 421-0.

          “The NAACP stands for what America stands for, and that is liberty and justice for all,” stated Representative Green while presenting the resolution on the floor of the House. Before becoming a Member of Congress, Rep. Green served as president of the Houston Branch of the NAACP, which is the nation’s largest and oldest civil rights organization, for almost ten years.

          During his speech on the House floor, Congressman Al Green stressed the NAACP’s multi-ethnic nature from its foundation in 1909 saying, “While I applaud all that was done by African-Americans who were a part of this organization, I also have to mention other persons who are not African-Americans, because we simply did not get here by ourselves. There were persons of good will, of all ethnicities who benefited us because they paved the way for us to receive the opportunities we have today.”

          Representative Al Green also referred to the multitude of relevant legal cases regarding social issues in which the NAACP has been directly involved through the years, such as the Civil Rights Acts of 1957, 1960 and 1964, as well as the Voting Rights Act of 1965 and the Fair Housing Act. “We live where we live, we sleep where we sleep and we eat where we eat because of the NAACP.” Green added, “This organization welcomes anyone who desires to be a part of the fight for human dignity and freedom.”

          H. Con. Res. 242, which had 65 co-sponsors, emphasizes many of the successful campaigns lead by the NAACP through its history, such as the fight against segregation in public schools, as well as the new course the organization outlined at the beginning of the 21st century by focusing on programs related to health, education, and housing, among others.

          Congressman Al Green has introduced this resolution in every Congress since being elected in 2004 and, meanwhile in the 111th Congress, Senator Christopher Dodd (D-CO) introduced the companion resolution, S. Con. Res. 3, in the Senate.