,,iv  #aai? ,,congress  #a/ ,session    
,h4 ,,res4 #agc  ,,9 ,,! ,,h\se ,,(     
,,repres5tatives  ,febru>y #bg1         
#bjbe,ms4 ,kamlag]-,dove 7= h]self1 ,ms4
 ,tlaib1 ,mr4 ,jackson ( ,ill9ois1 ,ms4 
,ocasio-,cortez1 ,mrs4 ,beatty1 ,ms4    
,pressley1 ,ms4 ,moore ( ,wiscons91     
,mrs4 ,mc,iver1 & ,mrs4 ,watson         
,coleman7 submitt$ ! foll[+ resolution2 
:i* 0 ref]r$ to ! ,committee on !       
,judici>y  ,,resolution  ,re/or+ !      
promise ( fre$om3 honor+1 pres]v+1 &    
inve/+ 9 ,fre$m5's ,settlem5ts4  ,:]eas 
ov] #a1bjj fre$m5's settlem5ts & ,black 
t[ns 7 e/abli%$ ?r\gh\t ! ,s\? & across 
! ,nation be=e & aft] emancipation by   
free & =m]ly enslav$ ,african ,am]icans 
to create saf]1 self-su/a9+1 & ?riv+    
communities away f racial viol5ce &     
economic discrim9ation2 ,:]eas !        
fre$m5's settlem5ts & t[ns are !        
embodim5t ( gr\nd-up emancipation & !   
untold /ory ( community resili5ce1      
collective economics1 & community build+
 ( *ur*es1 s*ools1 & ent]prises root$ 9 

! ,african e?ic ( ,ubuntu 7,i am because
 y_/we are72 ,:]eas _m ( ^! fre$m5's    
settlem5ts & t[ns 7 de/roy$ by ,s\!rn   
dome/ic t]rori/s1 or o!rwise became     
impov]i%$ by c5turies ( public & private
 dive/m5t1 :i* includes uncomp5sat$     
enslav$ labor1 fail$ ,recon/ruction1 & !
 unmet ,fre$m5's ,bureau's              
po/emancipation promises to transition p
 :o 7 =m]ly enslav$ into ! ,unit$ ,/ates
 economy1 ,jim ,cr[ laws1 economic &    
h\s+ discrim9ation ?r\gh r$l9+1 public  
h\s+1 & transportation policies1 &      
environm5tal racism2 ,:]eas1 9          
ackn[l$gm5t ( extreme economic & racial 
disp>ities1 ! ,environm5tal ,protection 
,ag5cy laun*$ ! ,environm5tal & ,climate
 ,ju/ice ,program 9 #bjbb to provide    
f9ancial & te*nical assi/ance to        
implem5t environm5tal & climate ju/ice  
activities to b5efit und]s]v$ &         
ov]burd5$ communities across ! ,nation1 
:i* h cont9u$ disproportionate          
environm5tal heal? burd5s1 population   
vuln]ability1 & limits to effective     

p>ticipation 9 decisions ) environm5tal 
consequ5ces2 ,:]eas ! ,:ite ,h\se fur!r 
recogniz$ ! ne$ = great] inve/m5t 9     
disadvantag$ communities ?r\gh !        
,ju/ice#dj ,initiative 9 #bjbb1 :]e !   
,f$]al ,gov]nm5t set a goal to direct   
#dj p]c5t ( ov]all b5efits ( ,f$]al     
inve/m5ts to communities t lack clean   
wat]1 sew] infra/ructure1 clean en]gy1  
clean transit1 af=dable & su/a9able     
h\s+1 tra9+ & work=ce developm5t1 &     
rem$iation & mitigation ( legacy        
pollution2 ,:]eas1 approximately #de    
p]c5t ( ! resid5ts ( ! un9corporat$     
community ( ,s& ,bran*1 ,texas1 e/abli%$
 z a fre$m5's settlem5t 9 #ahgh1 live   
bel[ ! pov]ty l9e1 & ! community is     
surr\nd$ by environm5tally pollut+      
facilities su* z cem5t plants & is also 
a dump+ gr\nd = tires & o!r tra%1 has no
 local s*ool1 no proximity to m$ical    
facilities1 & has n _h access to clean  
runn+ wat] = ov] #cj ye>s due to        
contam9ation ( ! local well sy/em1 & !re
 is no access to municipal wat] or sew] 

sy/em1 & al?\gh hydropanels h rec5tly   
be5 in/all$ to provide dr9k+ wat]1      
resid5ts cont9ue to rely on limit$      
donations ( bottl$ wat] to meet !       
majority ( _! wat] ne$s2 ,:]eas !       
un9corporat$ community ( ,africat[n1    
,alabama1 e/abli%$ 9 ! #ahfjs z a       
fre$m5's settlem5t by ,we/ ,africans    
br\ght to ! ,unit$ ,/ates illegally     
abo>d ! %ip ,clotilda1 consi/s ( #a1bae 
p1 ( :i* #cd p]c5t live bel[ ! pov]ty   
l9e1 & are surr\nd$ by indu/ry-zon$ l& &
 pot5tial expansions ( *emical plants1  
result+ 9 cont9u$ improp] wa/e          
managem5t1 caus+ pollution1 toxic       
exposure1 contam9ation1 & canc] 9       
resid5ts2 ,:]eas ! un9corporat$         
community ( ,mossville1 ,l\isiana1      
e/abli%$ 9 #agij1 has be5 encircl$ by   
ov] a doz5 petro*emical plants1         
ref9]ies1 & o!r indu/rial facilities t  
pollute ! air & wat]1 caus+ elevat$     
rates ( canc] & o!r diseases among      
resid5ts z mult9ational corporations    
cont9ue to exp& 9 ! area1 displac+ _m   

,mossville families & ?reat5+ !         
community's long-t]m survival2 ,:]eas ! 
community ( ,edmondson1 ,arkansas1      
incorporat$ 9 #aiaa1 em]g$ z a ?riv+ hub
 ( ,black-own$ bus9esses1 *ur*es1 &     
cotton f>m+1 ) ,african ,am]icans       
con/itut+ its civic lead]%ip f ! outset1
 & despite ! inju/ice fac$ 9 ! #aicjs by
 sy/ematic ,:ite racism to /eal hundr$s 
( t[n lots f ! orig9al ,black own]s & ! 
c\nty %]iff mak+ false decl>ations ( !  
del9qu5t prop]ty tax /atus ( ,black     
families1 ! ,edmondson community p]si/$ 
& p]sev]$1 rebuild+ *ur*es1 homes1 & a  
s5se ( cohesion aft] floods1 fires1 &   
/orms2 ,:]eas ! community ( ,all5swor?1 
,cali=nia1 e/abli%$ 9 #aijh & ! fir/ t[n
 9 ,cali=nia to be f\nd$1 fund$1 &      
gov]n$ by ,african ,am]icans1 0 once a  
promis+ burgeon+ t[n (f a ma9 railroad  
l9e1 b fac$ raci/ dis9ve/m5t ?r\gh !    
relocation ( _! tra9 /op1 seizure ( wat]
 res\rces & subsequ5t dr\ght & pollution
 ( ! aquif]1 leav+ ! t[n und]res\rc$ &  
sp>sely populat$1 & s9ce !n1 ! resid5ts 

h organiz$ to revitalize ! t[n ?r\gh    
agriculture & hi/oric pres]vation1 & are
 lay+ ! gr\ndwork = a full community    
revitalization us+ #dj1jjj1jjj ( ,/ate  
fund+ allocat$ to ! t[n 9 #bjbb2 ,:]eas 
,ob]l9 ,village1 ,nor? ,c>ol9a1 e/abli%$
 9 #ahff1 0 once a prosp]\s free ,black 
community ) successful small bus9esses1 
s*ools1 & univ]sity *ur*es1 & fac$      
discrim9ation & displacem5t ?r\gh !     
mid-#bj? c5tury & is n[ und]go+ vigor\s 
ef=ts by ! community-l$ ,fri5ds ( ,ob]l9
 ,village to re/ore hi/oric build+s1    
pres]ve oral hi/ories1 & ensure t !     
community c cont9ue to ?rive 9 ! future2
 ,:]eas ,indep5d5ce ,heights1 ,texas1 0 
fir/ e/abli%$ 9 #aijh & became ! fir/   
,black city 9 ,texas 9 #aiae1 & !       
community built a municipal             
infra/ructure & an ecosy/em ( #dj       
,black-own$ small bus9esses1 & n[ faces 
?reats f natural disa/]s & g5trification
 t are displac+ resid5ts1 includ+ ^? :o 
own prop]ty pass$ d[n ?r\gh g5]ations1  
lead+ ! community to organize vehicles  

su* z ! ,indep5d5ce ,heights            
,r$evelopm5t ,c\ncil to ensure community
 lead]%ip 9 developm5t projects &       
pres]ve its cultural & hi/oric id5tity2 
,:]eas communities su* z ,edmonson1     
,all5swor?1 ,ob]l9 ,village1 &          
,indep5d5ce ,heights %\ld n be          
exceptional cases ( communities ov]com+ 
_! circum/ances1 b r models = !         
possibility ( rep>ation1 re/oration1    
protection1 & ?riv+ ( fre$m5's settlem5t
 communities2 ,:]eas x is difficult to  
fully quantify & und]/& ! hi/ory &      
curr5t /atus ( all ! fre$m5's settlem5ts
 9 ! ,unit$ ,/ates due to lack ( rese>* 
& inve/m5t 9 analyz+1 pres]v+1 &        
support+ ^! hi/oric settlem5ts1 t[ns1 & 
communities1 ) a l>ge "p ( ?is hi/ory   
held by ! desc5dants ( ! f\nd]s &       
resid5ts2 ,:]eas ^! fre$m5's settlem5ts 
c s]ve z pill>s ( inspiration & model+ (
 l& reg5]ation1 ecobas$ economies       
organiz$ ar\nd communal & collective l&1
 & economic policies = dive/$           
communities2 ,:]eas a h&ful ( =m]       

fre$m5's settlem5ts h receiv$ ,/ate or  
local designation = _! hi/oric /atus1   
(f]+ !m an opportunity = pres]vation &  
public ackn[l$gm5t1 su* z ! ,fre$m5's   
,t[n ,hi/oric ,di/rict 9 ,h\/on1 ,texas2
 ,:]eas !re is an ongo+ call1 ga9+ mu*  
traction today1 to pres]ve & docum5t !  
hi/ory ( fre$m5's settlem5ts1 lead+ to  
projects su* z ! ,texas ,fre$om         
,colonies ,project1 ! ,mapp+ ,blackness 
,project1 z well z ! ,fre$m5's ,bureau  
,se>* ,portal creat$ by ! ,national     
,museum ( ,african ,am]ican ,hi/ory &   
,culture1 among o!rs2 ,:]eas1 ) a great]
 focus & lev]ag+ ( ! p[] ( v>i\s ,f$]al 
ag5cies' support1 protection1 &         
inve/m5t1 trans=mation becomes possible 
= all ^! hi/oric communities across !   
,unit$ ,/ates2 & ,:]eas ! curr5t mom5t  
pres5ts an opportunity = ! ,f$]al       
,gov]nm5t to exp& on ! promises made :5 
,junete5? 0 designat$ a ,f$]al holiday  
by n only fulfill+ ! unmet promises &   
possibilities ( ! ,fre$m5's ,bureau & ! 
l>g] ,recon/ruction movem5t1 b also to  

help+ "r ! hi/oric & pres5t wrongs t h  
plac$ ! fre$m5's settlem5ts & ,black    
frontl9e communities 9 su* *ronically   
vuln]able positions3 ,n[1 !re=e1 be x ,t
 ! ,h\se ( ,repres5tatives--  7#a7      
affirms1 t on ,junete5? #bjbd1 #aeh ye>s
 aft] ! #bej1jjj enslav$ 9 ,galve/on    
,bay1 ,texas1 receiv$ ! news f ,union   
troops t !y 7 fre$1 t ! ef=ts = racial  
ju/ice aft] #bej ye>s ( ,unit$ ,/ates   
slav]y did n end on ,june #ai1 #ahfe2   
7#b7 ackn[l$ges t foll[+ ,junete5?1 _m  
,african ,am]icans fac$ t]ror &         
repression :i* suppress$ _! ability to  
create /able & resili5t communities or  
fre$m5's settlem5ts aft] ! ,civil ,w>2  
7#c7 honors ! ri* hi/ory ( emancipat$   
,african ,am]icans :o built communities 
by acquir+ l& & h\s+ security = fre$m5's
 settlem5ts2  7#d7 supports pres]v+     
fre$m5's settlem5ts ?r\gh compreh5sive  
docum5tation t utilizes oral hi/ories & 
exi/+ records z well z physical         
commemoration ( settlem5t remnants2     
7#e7 enc\rages inve/+ 9 ! la/+ legacies 

( fre$m5's settlem5ts ) designat$ fund+ 
= hi/oric pres]vation & fund+ economic  
ju/ice initiatives to support !         
desc5dants & rema9+ resid5ts ( ^!       
communities2  7#f7 recognizes ! ne$ =   
coord9ation among/ ! ,f$]al ,gov]nm5t1  
,/ate gov]nm5ts1 ag5cies1 & nonpr(it    
organizations is w>rant$ to bett] und]/&
 ! p[] dynamics ( ! hi/orical inju/ices 
t h tak5 place 9 ! fre$m5's settlem5ts2 
7#g7 expresses a commitm5t to id5tify   
,unit$ ,/ates fre$m5's settlem5ts to    
en%r9e _! hi/oric community pres]vation1
 includ+ protect+ communities f         
developm5t1 g5trification1 &            
environm5tal haz>ds ?r\gh /rategic      
inve/m5t1 ext]nal developm5t regulation1
 community-l$ & driv5 economic          
developm5t1 small bus9ess creation1     
work=ce developm5t1 & education2  7#h7  
urges ! ,f$]al ,gov]nm5t1 ,/ates1       
localities1 nonpr(it organizations1     
s*ools1 & community organizations to    
provide ongo+ support to ! resid5ts &   
desc5dants ( ! f\nd]s ( fre$m5's        

settlem5ts :o hold long-/&+ k ( ! hi/ory
 ( _! communities to pres]ve ! hi/orical
 f\ndation ( ?is ,nation2  7#i7         
recognizes t coord9ation among ! ,f$]al 
,gov]nm5t1 ,/ate gov]nm5ts1 ag5cies1 &  
nonpr(it organizations is w>rant$ to    
support fre$m5's settlem5t communities &
 municipalities1 includ+1 b n limit$ to1
 ! ,environm5tal ,protection ,ag5cy1 !  
,dep>tm5t ( ,h\s+ & ,urban ,developm5t1 
food assi/ance programs1 hi/oric l&     
pres]vation1 & clean wat] f\ndations2   
7#aj7 affirms t fre$m5's settlem5ts 9 ! 
,unit$ ,/ates h fair /&>ds ( liv+1      
includ+ sewage1 roads1 em]g5cy s]vices1 
climate-resili5t infra/ructure1 & an    
ov]all focus on ! heal?1 well-be+1      
su/a9ability1 & resili5ce ( ^!          
communities2  7#aa7 recognizes t        
recogniz+ & provid+ res\rces = fre$m5's 
settlem5ts w lead to great] equity &    
inve/m5t 9 hi/orically disadvantag$     
communities t h fac$ c5turies ( racism1 
discrim9ation1 environm5tal & climate   
inju/ices1 & viol5ce1 z conceiv$ s9ce ! 

colonization ( ! ,am]icas & is          
cont9ually built ^u today2 &  7#ab7     
honors ! legacies ( fre$om1 +5uity1     
resili5ce1 & community c>e creat$ by !  
communities 9 ! fre$m5's settlem5ts &   
br+s recognition & honor to ! ef=ts ( ^!
 =m]ly enslav$ p on ,junete5? #bjbd4