12 2 STA T .5 1 4 1 CON C UR R E NT RESO L UT I ONS —M A Y 2 0, 200 8Wher e asin1964,t he Jo hnson Adm inistration p assed the l andmar kC i v il R i g hts A c to f 1964, w hich b anned de ju re segregation in the N ation ’ s schools and public places
Whereas the Johnson Administration passed the V oting Rights Act of 196 5 , which outlawed obstructive provisions that were rendered impractical and impartial to potential voters; Whereas in Januar y of 1965, the Johnson Administration introduced the G reat S ociety, which included provisions for aid to education, M edicare, urban renewal, beautification, conservation, the development of depressed regions, a wide - scale fight against pov- erty, and the removal of obstacles to the right to vote; Whereas in 196 7 , P resident Johnson nominated T hurgood Marshall as the first African-American to serve on the Supreme Court; Whereas during Johnson’s presidency, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration made spectacular steps forward in space e x ploration when 3 astronauts successfully orbited the moon in D ecember 196 8
Whereas L yndon B. Johnson died at 4
33 p.m. on January 2 2, 1973, at his ranch in Johnson City, Texas, at the age of 64; Whereas Lyndon B. Johnson was posthumously awarded the Presi- dential Medal of F reedom in 198 0
Whereas Lyndon B. Johnson is honored, venerated, and revered for his drive to establish e q uality for all Americans, illustrated in the momentous legislation passed during his Administration; Whereas Congress recogni z es the 100th birthday of Lyndon B. Johnson, the 36th president; Whereas Congress extols the contributions of Lyndon B. Johnson to the U nited States and his commitment to the War on Poverty through the E conomic O pportunity Act; Whereas Congress commends Lyndon B. Johnson for establishing the Medicare Act of 1965 that has helped millions of Americans; and Whereas Congress requests that the President issue a proclamation calling upon the American people to observe the Centennial Celebration of Lyndon B. Johnson and his ‘ ‘can-do spirit’’ with appropriate ceremonies, programs, and activities: Now, therefore, be it Resolv e dbyth e H o u seo f Re pr ese n t a t i ves ( the S enate c oncur - rin g), That the Congress —( 1 ) reaffirms its support for the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Voting Rights Act of 1965; (2) recognizes the significance of the Voting Rights Act of 1965; and (3) honors Lyndon B. Johnson for his work as a civil rights enforcer. Agreed to May 20, 2008
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