119-hres615

[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 615 Introduced in House

    (IH) ]

<DOC>

119th CONGRESS
 1st Session
H. RES. 615

Celebrating the 324th anniversary of the city of Detroit's founding and 
 impact on United States culture.

_______________________________________________________________________

 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

 July 25, 2025

Mr. Thanedar submitted the following resolution; which was referred to 
 the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform

_______________________________________________________________________

 RESOLUTION

Celebrating the 324th anniversary of the city of Detroit's founding and 
 impact on United States culture.

Whereas, on July 24, 1701, Detroit was established by French military leader and 
 trader, Antoine de la Mothe Cadillac;
Whereas Detroit is the oldest major city in the Midwest;
Whereas Detroit was a major station on the Underground Railroad in the 19th 
 century, paving the way forward for thousands of enslaved Americans to 
 freedom;
Whereas, in 1909, Detroit became the first city in the world to build a mile-
 long concrete highway;
Whereas Detroit serves as a major source of automobile innovation, having been 
 the birthplace of Henry Ford's Model T automobile, and hosts the three 
 major automotive companies: General Motors, Ford, and Stellantis 
 (formerly Chrysler);
Whereas, in 1920, Detroit became the first city to use three-colored four-way 
 traffic lights;
Whereas, in August 1920, Detroit became home to the first government-licensed 
 radio station in the United States;
Whereas Detroit became known as the ``Arsenal of Democracy'' during World War 
 II, as its industrial base, particularly the automotive factories of 
 Ford, General Motors, and Chrysler, was rapidly converted to produce 
 tanks, airplanes, trucks, and other critical military equipment, making 
 Detroit essential to the Allied victory;
Whereas Detroit is home to the United Auto Workers Union, which has championed 
 workers' rights and played a vital role in supporting wartime production 
 and postwar labor protections;
Whereas Detroit is the birthplace of Motown Records, which launched the careers 
 of music legends like Stevie Wonder, Diana Ross, Marvin Gaye, the 
 Temptations, and transformed American musical culture;
Whereas, in the 1980s, ``techno'' music originated from Detroit;
Whereas Detroit is home to the famous Detroit-Style Pizza, said to have been 
 first served around 1946;
Whereas Belle Isle Park, located in the Detroit River, is the largest city-owned 
 park in the Nation and serves as a treasured green space for residents 
 and visitors alike;
Whereas Detroit's Eastern Market is the largest open-air, wholesale and retail 
 market in the United States;
Whereas Detroit hosts the largest free jazz festival in the world, the Detroit 
 Jazz Festival, every Labor Day weekend;
Whereas Detroit is home to a proud sports legacy, featuring the NFL Detroit 
 Lions, MLB Detroit Tigers, NHL Detroit Red Wings, and the NBA Detroit 
 Pistons, with Detroit to soon host a WNBA team starting in 2029;
Whereas Detroit serves as a hub for trade between the United States and Canada, 
 and the Ambassador Bridge is the busiest international crossing in North 
 America; and
Whereas Detroit has a vibrant and diverse population that reflects the cultural 
 richness of the African American, White, Latino, Arab American, and 
 immigrant communities that have shaped the city's character: Now, 
 therefore, be it
 Resolved, That the House of Representatives--

    (1) celebrates the 324th anniversary of the founding of 
 Detroit;

    (2) recognizes the important contributions the city of 
 Detroit has made to American culture and identity; and

    (3) honors the contributions of Detroit's residents, past 
 and present, to the Nation's industrial strength, civil rights 
 movements, labor reforms, and artistic legacy.
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