ASSEMBLYMAN VAN TRAN PROPOSES ABRAHAM LINCOLN BICENTENNIAL COMMISSION AT NO COST TO CALIFORNIA

Tran Hopes AB2871 Will Remind Americans, Young And Old, Of Our 16th President's Passionate Opposition To Slavery And His Brave Pronouncement Of The Emancipation Proclamation. 

SACRAMENTO - This morning, on the anniversary of the death of President Lincoln, Assemblyman Van Tran's bill, AB 2871, passed in the Assembly Business and Professions Committee by a vote of 9-0.  AB 2871 seeks to establish a commission to honor and celebrate the Abraham Lincoln Bicentennial and the American Civil War Sesquicentennial.

"In the context of history, this is an appropriate day for our legislature to consider legislation that would establish a commission to honor and celebrate President Lincoln as well as the achievements gained for our country through the sacrifices made during the Civil War," said Assemblyman Tran.

Abraham Lincoln is consistently celebrated as one of America's greatest presidents.  He is known as the "Great Emancipator" for his leadership and courage during the Civil War.  The sesquicentennial, or 150-year anniversary, presents an opportunity to honor and celebrate the Civil War and its meaning and legacy.

"How many people know the complete story of Abraham Lincoln and the Republican Party?  Not many!" said Tran.  "How many know that the 1964 Civil Rights Act and the 1965 Voting Rights Act were reforms that our Republican Party struggled for in vain during the Reconstruction era a hundred years earlier?  Fewer still.  The 13th amendment banning slavery, the 14th amendment extending the Bill of Rights to the states, and the 15th Amendment granting voting rights to African-Americans - all three were a direct result of Lincoln's efforts."

Tran hopes the Abraham Lincoln Bicentennial commission will remind Americans, young and old, of our 16th President's passionate opposition to slavery and his brave pronouncement of the Emancipation Proclamation.  In an 1857 speech, Lincoln's stated, "The Republicans inculcate, with whatever of ability they can, that the [African-American] is a man; that his bondage is cruelly wrong, and that the field of his oppression ought not to be enlarged."

AB 2871 allows California to join many other states that have Abraham Lincoln Bicentennial and American Civil War Sesquicentennial commissions or committees that are already formed.  Even the federal government has taken action to honor these events.  It is appropriate for California to form this commission to honor these remarkable historical events.

The commission shall be comprised of 11 members; ranging from representatives of the community, the legislature, and the governor.  AB 2871 includes provisions that funding for the commission shall come from private donations and federal grant monies.