Congressman Charles B. Rangel released the following statement today after the House passed − by a vote of 395 to 23 − his resolution honoring A. Philip Randolph and his work in ending discrimination and promoting equal employment opportunities for all Americans:

"A. Philip Randolph was an inspirational figure of his times who demonstrated an unyielding struggle for human rights that impacted marginalized groups in society. With a hand in both the Civil Rights Movement and Labor Movement, Randolph was a tireless and highly effective advocate for African American rights during the 1930s and 1940s, focused particularly on employment rights. His great life's work is an American story of struggle and triumph, and it is long overdue that his legacy be acknowledged and celebrated in the records of Congress.

He led the effort to organize the Pullman Company − one of the most powerful businesses in the nation. This led to the formation of the Brotherhood of Sleeping Car Porters, an organization that advanced the claims of African-Americans to dignity, respect, and a decent livelihood. His successful negotiations with the Pullman Company encouraged him to put pressure on President Franklin D. Roosevelt to end employment discrimination against Blacks in the federal government. In 1955, Randolph was elected vice president of the newly merged AFL-CIO, and he was a leading force behind the 1963 March on Washington, in which more than 250,000 Americans joined together under the slogan of "Jobs and Freedom." The march led in part to the signing of the Civil Rights Act of 1964.

His commitment to bettering America cannot be listed or measured quantifiably − it was the leading cause of his life and one he accomplished many times over. We owe many of the rights and freedoms we enjoy to his hard work. Today, the House revisited that illustrious segment of our history and chose to honor the man and his legacy as a storied example of an American fighting for a more perfect union."

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