HRES-1080-119
Referred to the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform.
Sponsored by Al Green (D-TX)
What it does
This resolution would formally express the House of Representatives' recognition of Black History Month 2026 and its theme, "A Century of Black History Commemorations." It recounts historical figures, events, and scholarly contributions related to African American history. It encourages the continuation of Black history celebrations to raise awareness of African American contributions to the United States.
Who benefits
African Americans and Black communities whose history and contributions are formally acknowledged. Educational institutions, museums, libraries, and cultural organizations that host Black history programming, as the resolution lends congressional recognition to their work. The Association for the Study of African American Life and History (ASALH), which is specifically named and elevated. Scholars and descendants of the historical figures named in the resolution.
Who is hurt
This resolution carries no binding legal effect and imposes no mandates or costs, so no group is directly harmed in a material sense. Members of Congress who oppose the resolution's specific characterizations — including its direct criticism of the current administration's policies — may object to those provisions. Taxpayers bear a negligible administrative cost associated with floor time and printing, as with all resolutions.
Supporters argue
Supporters argue that commemorative resolutions serve an important civic function by placing Congress on record in recognition of historically marginalized communities and their contributions to American society. They contend that the resolution's detailed historical recounting — covering figures such as Carter G. Woodson, Mary McLeod Bethune, and Claudette Colvin — corrects longstanding gaps in the public record and fulfills Congress's role in affirming national values of equality and historical accuracy.
Opponents argue
Opponents argue that the resolution moves beyond nonpartisan commemoration by including explicit criticism of the current administration's executive actions — such as references to removing exhibits and terminating diversity programs — making it a partisan political document rather than a straightforward historical tribute. They contend that embedding contested policy characterizations into a commemorative resolution undermines its stated purpose and sets a precedent for using ceremonial measures as vehicles for political messaging.