Iowa Democrat Tom Harkin first introduced the measure years ago. Today he suggested, however, that it passed in light-year speed, by Senate time-keeping standards. “Let’s face it, it’s more meaningful to those who fought discrimination for years, many of them still alive today,” Harkin said. “I mean we didn’t really end segregation in this country until 1964, the Civil Rights Act.”

Republican Sam Brownback of Kansas co-sponsored the resolution but it took more than a year of negotiations to agree on the language.

About the blogger

Bob Collins has been with Minnesota Public Radio since 1992, emigrating to Minnesota from Massachusetts where he was vice president of programming for Berkshire Broadcasting Company. Previously, he was an editor at the RKO Radio network in New York, and WHDH Radio in Boston. He is the founder of the MPR News’ website.