Skip to main content
CivicGate

HRES 137
Passed House Re-checks Congress.gov for new actions and updates the bill's status, and fills in any sponsors, committees, or related bills that are missing. It does not re-pull sponsors/cosponsors/committees/related — those rarely change — and it skips all work if nothing has changed upstream, so it's cheap to click.

Resolution designating the House Press Gallery (Rooms H-315, H-316, H-317, H-318, and H-319 in the United States Capitol) as the 'Frederick Douglass Press Gallery’

Introduced Feb 14, 2025

Latest action (Jun 9, 2025) The title of the measure was amended. Agreed to without objection.

Referred to
Transportation and Infrastructure Committee
Policy area
Congress
Legislative subjects (2)
U.S. CapitolU.S. history

Summary

- Designates the House Press Gallery (Rooms H-315, H-316, H-317, H-318, and H-319 in the United States Capitol) as the "Frederick Douglass Press Gallery".

AI-generated plain-language summary of the bill text — neutral, and may be imperfect. See the full text below for the exact wording.

Sponsor (1)
5 cosponsors

Money behind the sponsor

Top reported contributors to Byron Donalds’s campaign committee (2024 cycle) — who funds the bill’s sponsor, not a claim about this bill. Data from FEC.

  • Employer not reported $212,903
  • ENTREPRENEUR $17,899
  • ANDREESSEN HOROWITZ $13,200
  • ROBINHOOD MARKETS INC $12,750
  • SAULSBURY INDUSTRIES $9,900

Organizations whose employees gave the most — itemized individual contributions grouped by the donor’s reported employer (FEC Schedule A). Full finance for Byron Donalds → · Outside spending →

Actions (14)
  1. Jun 9, 2025 The title of the measure was amended. Agreed to without objection. · house
  2. Jun 9, 2025 On motion to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution, as amended Agreed to by voice vote. (text: CR H2549-2550) · house
  3. Jun 9, 2025 Passed/agreed to in House: On motion to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution, as amended Agreed to by voice vote. (text: CR H2549-2550)
  4. Jun 9, 2025 DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H. Res. 137. · house
  5. Jun 9, 2025 Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H2549-2551) · house
  6. Jun 9, 2025 Mr. Graves moved to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution, as amended. · house
  7. Jun 6, 2025 Placed on the House Calendar, Calendar No. 31. · house
  8. Jun 6, 2025 Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. H. Rept. 119-150. · house
  9. Apr 2, 2025 Ordered to be Reported (Amended) by Voice Vote. · house
  10. Apr 2, 2025 Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held · house
  11. Apr 2, 2025 Subcommittee on Economic Development, Public Buildings, and Emergency Management Discharged · house
  12. Feb 14, 2025 Referred to the Subcommittee on Economic Development, Public Buildings, and Emergency Management. · house
  13. Feb 14, 2025 Referred to the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. · house
  14. Feb 14, 2025 Submitted in House

More bills on these subjects (8)

Other bills that carry the most legislative subjects in common with this one (topical discovery — distinct from the procedural related bills above).

  • HCONRES 109 — Allowing Emancipation Hall to be used for a ceremony to dedicate the Semiquincentennial Congressional Time Capsule on Wednesday, June 24, 2026. (shares 2 subjects)
  • SCONRES 29 — A concurrent resolution authorizing the use of Emancipation Hall in the Capitol Visitor Center for an event to celebrate the birthday of King Kamehameha I. (shares 2 subjects)
  • S 3705 — Semiquincentennial Congressional Time Capsule Act (shares 2 subjects)
  • HR 1834 — To advance policy priorities that will break the gridlock. (shares 2 subjects)
  • HCONRES 62 — Authorizing the use of Emancipation Hall in the Capitol Visitor Center for an event to unveil the statue of Barbara Rose Johns. (shares 2 subjects)
  • HR 6243 — Semiquincentennial Congressional Time Capsule Act (shares 2 subjects)
  • HCONRES 24 — Authorizing the use of Emancipation Hall in the Capitol Visitor Center for an event to celebrate the birthday of King Kamehameha I. (shares 2 subjects)
  • HR 250 — To direct the Joint Committee on the Library to procure a statue of Benjamin Franklin for placement in the Capitol. (shares 2 subjects)

Similar bills (6)

Bills with similar text or summary — includes reintroductions across Congresses. Ranked by semantic similarity of the bill text (computed locally); a neutral discovery aid, not a claim the bills are duplicates.

  • HRES 31 — Directing the Architect of the Capitol to place a public debt clock in the Cannon House Office Building. · Introduced Jan 6, 1993 · Cong. 103 52%
  • HRES 493 — Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives that the United States must take urgent, coordinated action to address the national housing crisis through preservation and production of affordable housing. · Introduced Jun 10, 2025 · Cong. 119 49%
  • HR 6308 — To direct the Librarian of Congress to obtain a stained glass panel depicting the seal of the District of Columbia and install the panel among the stained glass panels depicting the seals of States, which overlook the Main Reading Room of the Library of Congress Thomas Jefferson Building. · Introduced Nov 26, 2025 · Cong. 119 49%
  • HRES 633 — Original Resolution Honoring Prince Hall · Introduced Aug 5, 2025 · Cong. 119 49%
  • HR 8543 — Build the Ballroom Act · Introduced Apr 28, 2026 · Cong. 119 49%
  • HR 1584 — Democracy in Design Act · Introduced Feb 25, 2025 · Cong. 119 49%

Text versions (3)
  • Engrossed in House · Jun 9, 2025
  • Reported in House · Jun 6, 2025
  • Introduced in House · Feb 14, 2025

Full text

In the House of Representatives, U. S.,

June 9, 2025.

Whereas Frederick Douglass was born to an enslaved family in 1818; Whereas Douglass bravely escaped slavery in 1838, and spent much of his adult life as a journalist in Rochester, New York; Whereas Douglass published his first newspaper, The North Star, using his own money in the pre-Civil War era; Whereas Douglass was known for fiercely opposing slavery, championing equal rights and women’s rights, and for being a forceful speaker; Whereas, during the Civil War, Douglass was a recruiter for the first African- American Army regiment; Whereas Douglass met twice with President Lincoln, first about the pay and treatment of Black soldiers and then to discuss the President’s desire to assist escaping slaves; Whereas after Douglass’ Rochester home was destroyed by fire (which Douglass believed resulted from arson), he moved his family to Anacostia in Washington, DC; Whereas, in 1870, Douglass was asked to become editor of the New National Era, which chronicled the progress of Blacks throughout the United States, and he later bought the paper; Whereas Douglass was the first Black reporter allowed into the Capitol press galleries, where journalists watch lawmakers on the floors of the Senate and the House of Representatives; Whereas Douglass was a member of the congressional press galleries from 1871- 1875; Whereas Douglass reported on House and Senate legislation regularly to update the African-American community during Reconstruction following the 13th, 14th, and 15th Amendments to the Constitution; Whereas Douglass was recorded frequently in the congressional directory and spent a significant amount of time writing and studying from the House Press Gallery; Whereas Douglass often visited the Capitol following his time as a member of the congressional press galleries; Whereas Douglass delivered the keynote speech at the unveiling of the Emancipation Memorial in Washington’s Lincoln Park; Whereas, in 2007, Douglass was recognized by placing a plaque and painting of him in his honor in the House Press Gallery; Whereas, in 2012, Congress passed and the President signed Public Law 112-174, which directed Frederick Douglass’ statue placement in the Capitol Visitor Center’s Emancipation Hall; and Whereas Douglass was a pioneer in journalism who broke through glass ceilings throughout one of the most crucial times in American history, exhibited great perseverance to become an American hero, and became a legend known in the House Press Gallery: Now, therefore, be it Resolved, That the House Press Gallery (Rooms H-315, H-316, H-317, H-318, and H-319 of the United States Capitol) is designated as the “Frederick Douglass Press Gallery”. Attest:

Clerk.

Comments

Comments

Loading comments…