This Senate resolution honors the life and legacy of Ben Nighthorse Campbell, a former U.S. Senator and Representative from Colorado who passed away. Campbell, born in 1933, was a Korean War veteran who served in the Air Force, became an Olympic judo competitor in 1964 as the first Native American on the U.S. Olympic judo team, and later built a successful jewelry business before entering politics. He served four years in the Colorado State Legislature, then six years in the House of Representatives starting in 1986, and finally in the Senate from 1993 where he chaired the Committee on Indian Affairs and was the first and only American Indian to hold that position. During his congressional career, he authored significant legislation including the establishment of the National Museum of the American Indian, the creation of Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park, and the Sand Creek Massacre National Historic Site, while also securing important water rights for Native American tribes. The resolution, supported by all 100 senators, formally expresses the Senate's sorrow at his death and directs that an enrolled copy be sent to his family.
Take Action
Your position
Add a comment
to comment on this bill.
Annotate the text
Highlight any passage on the Summary or Full Text tab to attach a note. Annotations appear on the Annotations tab.