S.Res. 540: A resolution recognizing the historical significance of the sloop-of-war USS Constellation as a reminder of the participation of the United States in the transatlantic slave trade and of the efforts of the United States to end the slave trade.

S.Res. 540: A resolution recognizing the historical significance of the sloop-of-war USS Constellation as a reminder of the participation of the United States in the transatlantic slave trade and of the efforts of the United States to end the slave trade.

110th Congress · introduced 2008-04-29 · Commemorations · Latest: Resolution agreed to in Senate without amendment and with a preamble by Unanimous Consent. (consideration: CR S9344-9345; text as passed Senate: CR S9344-9345)

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Where it came from: introduced 2008-04-29 · official record
Who proposed it: Sen. Mikulski, Barbara A. [D-MD] · what a sponsor is
What happened next: no floor votes in our records yet. Why?
Where it stands now: Resolution agreed to in Senate without amendment and with a preamble by Unanimous Consent. (consideration: CR S9344-9345; text as passed Senate: CR S9344-9345) Not final yet: this can still change. We check for updates every day.
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What does this mean?

Official title

A resolution recognizing the historical significance of the sloop-of-war USS Constellation as a reminder of the participation of the United States in the transatlantic slave trade and of the efforts of the United States to end the slave trade.

Plain summary

(This measure has not been amended since it was introduced. The summary has been expanded because action occurred on the measure.) Recognizes the historical and educational significance of the USS Constellation, a 153-year-old warship berthed in Baltimore, Maryland, as a reminder of both the U.S. participation in the slave trade and U.S. government efforts to suppress the inhumane practice. Applauds the historic vessel's preservation and the efforts of the USS Constellation Museum to engage people from all over the world with this vital part of history. Supports the Constellation as an appropriate site to commemorate, in 2008, the bicentennial of the abolition of the transatlantic slave trade.

Congressional Research Service summary (Passed Senate without amendment), quoted unchanged (nonpartisan). Read the source.

What a vote does

A “Yea” vote

A Yea supports adopting this resolution.

A “Nay” vote

If it is not passed, current law stays as it is.

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What does this mean? (plain words)

Official text

A resolution recognizing the historical significance of the sloop-of-war USS Constellation as a reminder of the participation of the United States in the transatlantic slave trade and of the efforts of the United States to end the slave trade.

Source: Congressional Research Service summary (Passed Senate without amendment)

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How did my representative vote? · This bill's floor votes

Officials and money

Sponsor: Sen. Mikulski, Barbara A. [D-MD] · 1 cosponsors

Cost estimate: No cost estimate published yet.

Cosponsors on this site

No linked floor roll calls in our collected records yet. This does not mean the bill has never had a vote. Check the official bill history.

Words on this page, explained (3)

Appropriation: Money a legislature sets aside by law for a specific purpose. Government agencies may spend public money only as it has been appropriated.
Resolution: A formal statement or decision by a legislative body. Simple resolutions often only express an opinion or set rules for one chamber; they do not become law.
Roll-call vote: A vote where each member's position is recorded by name, so the public can see how every member voted. "Yea" means yes, "Nay" means no, "Present" means the member was there but did not take a side.

Plain meanings written from linked sources. All words.

Sources

Congressional Research Service summary (Passed Senate without amendment)
Congress.gov
Data: GovInfo BILLSTATUS bulk data (Library of Congress), BILLSTATUS-110sres540.xml <https://www.govinfo.gov/bulkdata/BILLSTATUS/110/sres>

Record fed-us-cong110-sres540 · catalog fed-us-congress-bills-cong110 · updated 2026-11-15 by psicol fed-bills-cong110