Clarence Mitchell, Jr. Statue Act

(1) Clarence Mitchell, Jr. was born in Baltimore on March 8, 1911, attended Baltimore City Public Schools, received his Juris Doctorate from the University of Maryland School of Law, and spent most of his career practicing law in Baltimore.

(2) Early in his career, Clarence Mitchell, Jr. was a reporter for the Baltimore Afro-American newspaper, the longest running African-American family-owned newspaper in the nation. During his time as a reporter, he reported on the lynching of George Armwood, whose death marked the last recorded lynching in Maryland.

(3) According to the Maryland State Archives, Clarence Mitchell, Jr. served as the director of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) Washington Bureau from 1950 to 1978, waging a tireless campaign to secure passage of passage of the 1957 and 1964 Civil Rights Laws, the 1965 Voting Rights Laws, and the 1968 Fair Housing Law.

(4) Clarence Mitchell, Jr.’s success advocating for policy stemmed largely from his fruitful relationships across both sides of the aisle, including partnerships with leaders like former United States Speaker of the House John W. McCormack and United States Senator Everett McKinley Dirksen.

(5) A staunch supporter of civil rights for all, Clarence Mitchell, Jr., was named a member of the United States delegation to the United Nations in 1975.

(6) According to the NAACP, Clarence Mitchell, Jr., firmly established the NAACP's presence in Congress as the leader of the struggle for civil rights laws by testifying at least 180 times before congressional committees in the quest for civil rights laws between 1946 and 1978.

(7) In 1980, then-President Jimmy Carter awarded Clarence Mitchell, Jr. the Presidential Medal of Freedom, with the citation reading: Clarence M. Mitchell, Jr., for decades waged in the halls of Congress a stubborn, resourceful and historic campaign for social justice. The integrity of this 101st Senator earned him the respect of friends and adversaries alike. His brilliant advocacy helped translate into law the protests and aspirations of millions consigned too long to second-class citizenship. The hard-won fruits of his labors have made America a better and stronger nation..

Not later than 2 years after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Joint Committee of Congress on the Library shall enter into an agreement to obtain a statue of Clarence Mitchell, Jr., under such terms and conditions as the Joint Committee considers appropriate consistent with applicable law.

The Joint Committee may authorize the Architect of the Capitol to enter into the agreement and related contracts required under this subsection on its behalf, under such terms and conditions as the Joint Committee may require.

The Joint Committee of Congress on the Library shall place the statue obtained under subsection (a) in a permanent public location in the United States Capitol.

There are authorized to be appropriated such sums as may be necessary to carry out this Act, and any amounts so appropriated shall remain available until expended.