Recognizing and commending the name change of the USS Chancellorsville to the USS Robert Smalls, in honor of the late Representative Robert Smalls, an extraordinary native of Beaufort, South Carolina, and his significant contributions to American history.

commends and supports the name change of the USS Chancellorsville to the USS Robert Smalls in recognition of Robert Smalls’ extraordinary contributions to American history and his status as a native of Beaufort, South Carolina;

recognizes Robert Smalls’ heroic escape aboard the CSS Planter as an act of remarkable bravery and ingenuity that played a significant role in the Union’s efforts during the Civil War;

celebrates Robert Smalls’ subsequent accomplishments as a legislator, advocate for civil rights, and pioneering leader during the Reconstruction period, leaving an enduring legacy of courage, perseverance, and dedication to justice;

acknowledges that the renaming of the USS Chancellorsville to the USS Robert Smalls serves as a reminder of the importance of honoring individuals who have made significant contributions to American history, particularly those whose stories have been historically marginalized;

encourages the citizens of Beaufort, South Carolina, and the Nation as a whole to learn from Robert Smalls’ remarkable life and continue striving for equality, justice, and the protection of fundamental rights for all individuals;

expresses gratitude to the United States Navy for recognizing the significance of Robert Smalls’ story and for commemorating his legacy by renaming the USS Chancellorsville to the USS Robert Smalls; and

requests the Clerk of the House of Representatives to transmit a copy of this resolution to the Secretary of the Navy and the commanding officers of the USS Robert Smalls, expressing the support and appreciation of the House of Representatives for this momentous name change.