H.Res. 617: Recognizing the enduring cultural and historical significance of emancipation in the Nation's capital on the 150th anniversary of President Abraham Lincoln's signing of the District of Columbia Compensated Emancipation Act, which established the "first freed" on April 16, 1862.

H.Res. 617: Recognizing the enduring cultural and historical significance of emancipation in the Nation's capital on the 150th anniversary of President Abraham Lincoln's signing of the District of Columbia Compensated Emancipation Act, which established the "first freed" on April 16, 1862.

112th Congress · introduced 2012-04-16 · Civil Rights and Liberties, Minority Issues · Latest: Referred to the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform.

federal

Follow this bill, step by step

Where it came from: introduced 2012-04-16 · official record
Who proposed it: Del. Norton, Eleanor Holmes [D-DC-At Large] · what a sponsor is
What happened next: no floor votes in our records yet. Why?
Where it stands now: Referred to the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform. Not final yet: this can still change. We check for updates every day.
If it becomes law and spends money: follow the money to money laws, then agencies and contracts and grants.

What does this mean?

Official title

Recognizing the enduring cultural and historical significance of emancipation in the Nation's capital on the 150th anniversary of President Abraham Lincoln's signing of the District of Columbia Compensated Emancipation Act, which established the "first freed" on April 16, 1862.

Plain summary

Recognizes District of Columbia Emancipation Day, the 150th anniversary of the end of slavery in the District of Columbia, and the aspirations of citizens of the District of Columbia for the same rights and freedoms afforded to all U.S. citizens.

Congressional Research Service summary (Introduced in House), 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.

PSI Sci description of the legislative step (not an opinion).

What does this mean? (plain words)

Official text

Recognizing the enduring cultural and historical significance of emancipation in the Nation's capital on the 150th anniversary of President Abraham Lincoln's signing of the District of Columbia Compensated Emancipation Act, which established the "first freed" on April 16, 1862.

Source: Congressional Research Service summary (Introduced in House)

AI explanation – may be wrong, check the official text

No AI explanation yet. It takes up to a minute to write and is then saved for everyone.

Limited to a few requests an hour per person.

The strongest published arguments

Arguments for (supporters)

Needs sources: no published arguments on this side yet. We only show items backed by a published source. Suggest one.

Arguments against (opponents)

Needs sources: no published arguments on this side yet. We only show items backed by a published source. Suggest one.

Alternatives

Needs sources: no published alternatives yet (for example a different bill, a law instead of an amendment, or keeping current law). We only show items backed by a published source. Suggest one.

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

Officials and money

Sponsor: Del. Norton, Eleanor Holmes [D-DC-At Large] · 0 cosponsors

Cost estimate: No cost estimate published yet.

Sponsor's campaign money: Del. Norton, Eleanor Holmes [D-DC-At Large] reported raising $53,775 (2025–2026). Details. Shown for context only; it does not mean any donor supported this bill.

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 (2)

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 (Introduced in House)
Congress.gov
Data: GovInfo BILLSTATUS bulk data (Library of Congress), BILLSTATUS-112hres617.xml <https://www.govinfo.gov/bulkdata/BILLSTATUS/112/hres>

Record fed-us-cong112-hres617 · catalog fed-us-congress-bills-cong112 · updated 2026-11-15 by psicol fed-bills-cong112