--- title: SR 285. Andrew J. Young Day; recognize February 28, 2025 collection: bills id: 2025-2026/sr285 cite_as: SR 285, 2025-2026 Regular Session (Ga.) canonical_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/sr285 md_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/sr285.md text_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/sr285/text source_url: https://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/70893 date: 2025-02-27 status: passed corpus_version: bills-2026-09-13 license: Public record of the Georgia General Assembly, via LegiScan; see about.md publisher: Georgia Commons, an independent project of Georgia Civic Data. Not the State of Georgia. Not legal advice. up: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026.md previous: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/sr284.md next: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/sr286.md index: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/index.md omitted: votes and history omitted_chars: 94 omitted_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/sr285.md?full=1 bill_number: SR 285 session: 2025-2026 Regular Session session_slug: 2025-2026 chamber: Senate bill_type: resolution status_date: 2025-02-27 last_action: Senate Read and Adopted sponsors: - Emanuel Jones - Elena Parent - Kim Jackson - Harold Jones - Kenya Wicks - RaShaun Kemp - Sally Harrell - Donzella James - Randal Mangham - Ed Harbison - Freddie Sims - Derek Mallow - Sheikh Rahman - Nabilah Islam Parkes - Tonya Anderson - David Lucas text_version: Enrolled has_text: true legiscan_url: https://legiscan.com/GA/bill/SR285/2025 upstream_id: 1985840 summaries_model: claude-sonnet-5 topic_tags: - Andrew J. Young - civil rights recognition - Georgia Senate resolutions - Atlanta history --- # SR 285. Andrew J. Young Day; recognize February 28, 2025 ## Text Senate Resolution 285 By: Senators Jones of the 10th, Parent of the 44th, Jackson of the 41st, Jones II of the 22nd, Wicks of the 34th and others A RESOLUTION Recognizing February 28, 2025, as Andrew J. Young Day at the state capitol; and for other purposes. WHEREAS, Andrew J. Young has earned worldwide recognition as a pioneer and champion of civil and human rights who has dedicated more than 65 years to public service through roles in government, diplomacy, and advocacy; and WHEREAS, through his leadership, countries throughout the world have created a successful model that combines religion, education, democracy, and free enterprise in ways that support the public good; and WHEREAS, he began his political career in the United States House of Representatives as the first African American representative from the State of Georgia since Reconstruction and thereafter served as the United States ambassador to the United Nations under President Jimmy Carter; and WHEREAS, during his tenure as the United States ambassador, he negotiated an end to white-minority rule in Namibia and Zimbabwe as well as promoted President Carter's emphasis on human rights in global diplomacy efforts; and WHEREAS, as a two-term Mayor of Atlanta, Andrew J. Young was instrumental in the city's economic expansion, attracting more than 1,100 businesses, securing over $70 billion in foreign direct investments, and generating more than a million jobs; and WHEREAS, he has further served on numerous boards, including the Martin Luther King Center for Nonviolent Social Change, Morehouse College, the Andrew Young School of Policy Studies at Georgia State University, and AmericasMart; and WHEREAS, he has been recognized with numerous prestigious awards, including an Emmy Lifetime Achievement Award in 2011 and the Dan Sweat Award in 2017, and his portrait has been inducted into the permanent collection of the Smithsonian National Portrait Gallery, cementing his legacy in American history; and WHEREAS, the devotion of his time, efforts, and energy to the service of others and his many achievements are worthy of recognition during this special time. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE that the members of this body recognize February 28, 2025, as Andrew J. Young Day at the state capitol in honor of his extraordinary contributions to civil rights, diplomacy, public service, and economic development. BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Secretary of the Senate is authorized and directed to make an appropriate copy of this resolution available for distribution to Andrew J. Young. ## Summaries written by Georgia Commons The following was written by claude-sonnet-5 from the text above and is not part of the resolution. Quote the text, not the summary. A Georgia Senate resolution designates February 28, 2025 as Andrew J. Young Day at the state capitol, honoring his decades of civil rights and diplomatic work. ### Plain-language summary This resolution is a ceremonial honor passed by the Georgia Senate. It recognizes February 28, 2025 as Andrew J. Young Day at the state capitol, citing his more than 65 years of public service, his time as a U.S. congressman from Georgia, his role as U.S. ambassador to the United Nations under President Carter, his two terms as Mayor of Atlanta, and his many honors and board memberships. The resolution does not create any new law, program, or funding. It simply states the Senate's recognition of Young's contributions and directs the Secretary of the Senate to prepare a copy of the resolution for delivery to him. ### What it does - Formally designates February 28, 2025 as Andrew J. Young Day at the Georgia state capitol. - Recites Young's biography, including his service in Congress, as U.N. ambassador, and as Atlanta mayor, without altering any statute. - Directs the Secretary of the Senate to prepare and distribute a copy of the resolution to Andrew J. Young. - Creates no funding, penalties, or ongoing legal obligations; it is a one-time honorary declaration. ### Who it affects This resolution mainly affects Andrew J. Young himself, as the honoree, and the Georgia Senate, which formally recognizes him. It has no direct legal or financial effect on the general public, businesses, or government agencies. ### Why it matters The resolution has no practical legal effect on Georgians' daily lives. Its significance is symbolic: it is a formal, public acknowledgment by the state Senate of Andrew J. Young's contributions to civil rights, diplomacy, and Atlanta's economic growth. ### Key provisions - The resolution's whereas clauses describe Young's background, including his congressional service, U.N. ambassadorship, and role in ending white-minority rule in Namibia and Zimbabwe. - It notes his tenure as Atlanta mayor, crediting him with attracting over 1,100 businesses and more than $70 billion in foreign investment. - It resolves that the Senate recognizes February 28, 2025 as Andrew J. Young Day at the state capitol. - It directs the Secretary of the Senate to make a copy of the resolution available for distribution to Andrew J. Young. ## Status - Status: Passed (2025-02-27) - Last action: Senate Read and Adopted (2025-02-27) - Sponsors: Emanuel Jones, Elena Parent, Kim Jackson, Harold Jones, Kenya Wicks, RaShaun Kemp, Sally Harrell, Donzella James, Randal Mangham, Ed Harbison, Freddie Sims, Derek Mallow, Sheikh Rahman, Nabilah Islam Parkes, Tonya Anderson, David Lucas - Official page: https://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/70893 > The history, votes, and amendments (94 characters) are at https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/sr285.md?full=1