S.Res. 308Senate119th Congress (2025-2027)Passed Congress

A resolution honoring the life, achievements, and legacy of Frederick W. Smith.

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Submitted in the Senate, considered, and agreed to without amendment and with a preamble by Unanimous Consent. (consideration: CR S3549; text: CR S3566)

June 26, 2025

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SenateIntro Referral

Introduced in Senate

June 26, 2025

SenateFloor

Submitted in the Senate, considered, and agreed to without amendment and with a preamble by Unanimous Consent. (consideration: CR S3549; text: CR S3566)

June 26, 2025

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What members said about S.Res. 308 on the floor

1 Republican

Sen. Marsha BlackburnR-TN · Jun 26, 2025

Mr. President, last week, our Nation lost a revolutionary business leader, a committed philanthropist, an incredible Tennessean; his name, Fred Smith. Like all great leaders, Fred had a vision for a…

Mr. President, last week, our Nation lost a revolutionary business leader, a committed philanthropist, an incredible Tennessean; his name, Fred Smith.

Like all great leaders, Fred had a vision for a better future, and he did everything possible to make it happen. That is why, in 1973, he founded FedEx with a simple yet bold idea: improve overnight delivery.

Today, we take instant shipping for granted in many ways. It is the engine of our global economy, but back then, it was not considered to be a practical or workable idea.

So it took Fred to make it happen. He pioneered innovations in transportation and logistics, and those pioneering innovations have defined the industry ever since. He truly led the way, and it was not easy. But with his commitment to excellence, he grew FedEx into a $53 billion company that employs half a million people, connects more than 220 countries and territories, and moves more than 17 million shipments each and every day.

Even with his global accomplishments, Fred never lost sight of home. He based his company in his hometown of Memphis, turning the city into a center for global logistics. And through his philanthropic support for education, community programs, arts, healthcare, and more, he always found ways to give back to his community and to make Memphis a better place.

In many ways, service truly defined his life. Before founding FedEx, Fred served for 4 years in the U.S. Marine Corps, including two tours in Vietnam. He was decorated with a Silver Star, Bronze Star, and two Purple Hearts.

But for Fred, the greatest honor was serving alongside his troops as a company commander. In an interview last year, Fred recounted a time when the men in his company dug his foxhole for him so that he could get more rest.

They were as tired or more tired, but they took their

energy to take care of me. And it was one of the best things

that ever happened to me, because it told me they cared for

me, they appreciated my leadership.

We should all be grateful for Fred Smith and that he chose a life of leadership and service.

On behalf of all Tennesseans, I extend my heartfelt condolences to Fred's beloved wife Diane, his nine children, and his entire family.

Mr. President, as if in legislative session and notwithstanding rule XXII, I ask unanimous consent, the Senate proceed to the consideration of S. Res. 308, which is at the desk.

I ask unanimous consent the resolution be agreed to, the preamble be agreed to, and that the motions to reconsider be considered made and laid upon the table with no intervening action or debate.

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Agreed to SenateIssued June 26, 2025

III

119th CONGRESS

1st Session

S. RES. 308

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

June 26 (legislative day, June 24), 2025

Mrs. Blackburn (for herself, Mr. Hagerty, Mr. Grassley, Mr. Barrasso, Mr. Daines, Mrs. Capito, Mr. Wicker, Mrs. Hyde-Smith, and Mr. Sullivan) submitted the following resolution; which was considered and agreed to

RESOLUTION

Honoring the life, achievements, and legacy of Frederick W. Smith.

Whereas Frederick W. Smith was born on August 11, 1944, in Marks, Mississippi;

Whereas Fred Smith was raised and lived most of his life in Memphis, Tennessee;

Whereas Fred Smith attended elementary school at Presbyterian Day School and high school at Memphis University School, where he was voted Best All-Round by his class;

Whereas Fred Smith earned his bachelor’s degree in economics from Yale University;

Whereas, upon graduation, Fred Smith was commissioned in the United States Marine Corps, during which time he served 2 tours of duty in the Vietnam War, was honorably discharged in 1973 with the rank of captain, and received the Silver Star, the Bronze Star, and 2 Purple Hearts;

Whereas, after 4 years of service in the Marines, Fred Smith launched Federal Express (referred to in this preamble as FedEx), a company dedicated to the overnight shipping of small packages and documents, originally only offering service to 25 cities with a fleet of 14 jets;

Whereas, in the first few years of the existence of FedEx, Fred Smith worked tirelessly to keep FedEx open for business;

Whereas, because of the hard work of Fred Smith, FedEx quickly grew to become one of the most successful and iconic corporations in the United States, with operations that include more than 700 aircraft, more than 200,000 vehicles, approximately 5,000 operating facilities, and hundreds of thousands of employees;

Whereas, due to the vision of Fred Smith, FedEx revolutionized the package delivery system and has become a global giant in transportation, logistics, and e-commerce;

Whereas the air shipping operations of FedEx are based at its primary hub at Memphis International Airport, making the city of Memphis, Tennessee, a center for global logistics;

Whereas, in addition to his immense successes with FedEx, Fred Smith also gave back to his community, launching numerous philanthropic initiatives that worked to make the world better for children, the people of Memphis, and all people of the United States;

Whereas Fred Smith was preceded in death by his daughter, Windland Smith Rice, and is survived by his wife, Diane Smith, and his 9 children, 31 grandchildren, and 2 great-grandchildren; and

Whereas Fred Smith was a trailblazer who revolutionized global logistics, set an example for entrepreneurs across the United States, and worked his entire life to serve his community and the United States: Now, therefore, be it

That the Senate—

(1)

honors the life, achievements, and legacy of Frederick W. Smith for—

(A)

his accomplishments as a pioneer who revolutionized the transportation and express delivery industry;

(B)

his inspiration to future generations of community leaders, innovators, and entrepreneurs in the United States; and

(C)

his dedication to Memphis, Tennessee, a city that he loved dearly and committed to supporting and uplifting throughout his entire life; and

(2)

respectfully requests the Secretary of the Senate—

(A)

communicate this resolution to the House of Representatives; and

(B)

transmit an enrolled copy of this resolution to the family of Fred Smith.