CHAPTER 36 Ceremonies and Awards § 1. Scope § 2. Commemorative Occasions § 3. —Federal Holidays § 4. —Patriotic Observances § 5. —Patriotic Observances of Another Country § 6. —Religious Observances § 7. —Pan American Day § 8. —Flag Day; Pause for Pledge Commemoration § 9. —Presidential §10. Memorial Services §11. —Supreme Court Justices §12. —Current and Former Members of the House and the Senate §13. —Moments of Silence §14. —Holocaust Days of Remembrance §15. —Honoring Slain Capitol Police Officers §16. —Honoring Victims of National Tragedies §17. Former Members’ Day §18. Birthday Felicitations §19. Military Awards; Receptions for Generals and As- tronauts §20. Presentation of Gifts and Awards §21. Statuary §22. Dedication of Buildings and Structures §23. Ceremonies for Visiting Dignitaries §24. Congressional Gold Medals §25. Presidential Inaugurations Commentary and editing by M. Elizabeth Woodworth, J.D., and Andrew S. Neal, J.D.; manuscript editing by Deborah Woodard Khalili. 135 VerDate 0ct 09 2002 14:45 Jan 25, 2011 Jkt 000000 PO 00000 Frm 00147 Fmt 8890 Sfmt 8890 F:\PRECEDIT\VOL17\17COMP~1 27-2A Ch. 36 DESCHLER-BROWN-JOHNSON PRECEDENTS §26. Vice Presidential Swearing-in Ceremonies 136 VerDate 0ct 09 2002 14:45 Jan 25, 2011 Jkt 000000 PO 00000 Frm 00148 Fmt 8890 Sfmt 8890 F:\PRECEDIT\VOL17\17COMP~1 27-2A Ceremonies and Awards § 1. Scope rades, balls, and the like, are not included here. For a detailed ex- This chapter presents a broad amination of the uses of the sampling of the types of celebra- House facilities and Capitol tions, ceremonies, and awards in grounds, the reader is referred (5) which the House participates.(1) elsewhere. Ceremonies concerned with joint sessions of Congress to receive Presidential messages, such as the state of the Union address, § 2. Commemorative Occa- are included in the chapter on sions Presidential communications.(2) Joint sessions to count the elec- The House has marked a num- toral vote are detailed else- ber of important national anniver- saries and notable events with where.(3) Although this chapter ceremonies and observations. does include examples of memo- Among these have been cere- rial services for various individ- monies commemorating events in uals, the reader is encouraged to American history, such as the an- consult the chapter on Death for a niversaries of the Constitution(1) complete discussion on the House and the First Congress;(2) com- procedure for ceremonies related memorations marking historically to the death of individuals.(4) Re- significant dates of other na- ceptions at the White House, pa- tions;(3) observances of a religious nature;(4) observances of Pan 1. The reader is encouraged to consult American Day and Flag Day;(5) Ch. 24, supra, generally. For infor- and ceremonies commemorating mation on the ban on commemora- (6) tive bills, see Rule XII clause 5, Presidents. House Rules and Manual § 823 On two occasions Congress has (2007); and House Practice Ch. 6 § 23 engaged in ceremonial functions (2003). For information on the ban on naming public works after sitting 5. See Ch. 4, supra. Members, see Rule XXI clause 6, 1. See § 4.5, infra. House Rules and Manual § 1068a 2. See §§ 4.1–4.4, infra. (2007). See also § 22.6, infra. 3. See § 5, infra. 2. See Ch. 35, supra. 4. See § 6, infra. 3. See Ch. 10, supra. 5. See §§ 7 and 8, infra. 4. See Ch. 38, infra. 6. See § 9, infra. 137 VerDate 0ct 09 2002 14:45 Jan 25, 2011 Jkt 000000 PO 00000 Frm 00149 Fmt 8875 Sfmt 8875 F:\PRECEDIT\VOL17\17COMP~1 27-2A Ch. 36 § 2 DESCHLER-BROWN-JOHNSON PRECEDENTS outside the seat of government to The ban on commemoratives mark significant events in the Na- was waived in 2001 for the des- tion’s history. The first occurred (12) in 1987, when it participated in a ignation of Patriot Day. ceremony in Philadelphia, Penn- f sylvania, to commemorate the bi- centennial of the Constitution;(7) § 2.1 Form of resolution, aver- the second occurred in 2002 when ring in its preamble the it held a ceremonial meeting in meaning of a specified week Federal Hall in New York to mark of celebration, and declaring the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, in its resolving clause sup- (8) 2001. port for the goals and ideas The 104th Congress added a of such a week; and con- prohibition against commemora- taining a request that the tive legislation within the House President proclaim that the rules.(9) The rule prohibits the in- troduction of any bill or resolution people should celebrate or amendment if it establishes a those goals and ideas, with- commemoration. The rule defines out specifying a date for a commemoration as a ‘‘remem- such celebrations or other- brance, celebration, or recognition wise ‘‘designating a specified for any purpose through the des- period of time’’ within the ignation of a specified period of meaning of Rule XII clause time.’’ 5(1) (proscribing ‘‘commemo- This prohibition, does not apply ratives’’). to measures that do not specify a ( ) specific date in the resolving On Sept. 22, 1999, 2 Mr. Doug clause.(10) For example, a resolu- Ose, of California, asked for unan- tion may declare in its resolving imous consent that the Committee clause support for the goals and ideas of such a commemoration.(11) on Government Reform be dis- charged from further consider- 7. See § 4.5, infra. ation of House Resolution 293. 8. See § 16.4, infra. 9. Rule XII clause 5, House Rules and The proceedings were as follows: Manual § 823 (2007). Prior to the 106th Congress, this rule was found 12. See §§ 3.1, 3.2, infra. under former clause 2(b) of Rule 1. House Rules and Manual § 823 XXII. (2007). 10. See §§ 2.1, infra. 2. 146 CONG. REC. 22269, 22270, 11. Id. 22273, 106th Cong., 1st Sess. 138 VerDate 0ct 09 2002 14:45 Jan 25, 2011 Jkt 000000 PO 00000 Frm 00150 Fmt 8875 Sfmt 8875 F:\PRECEDIT\VOL17\17COMP~1 27-2A CEREMONIES AND AWARDS Ch. 36 § 3 SENSE OF THE HOUSE IN SUP- privileged students to attain their PORT OF NATIONAL HISTORI- full potential through higher edu- CALLY BLACK COLLEGES AND cation; UNIVERSITIES WEEK Whereas the achievements and goals of historically black colleges Mr. OSE. Mr. Speaker, I ask unani- and universities are deserving of na- mous consent that the Committee on tional recognition; and Government Reform be discharged Whereas Senate Resolution 178 from further consideration of the reso- would designate the week beginning lution (H. Res. 293), expressing the September 19, 1999, as ‘‘National sense of the House of Representatives Historically Black Colleges and Uni- in support of ‘‘National Historically versities Week’’: Now, therefore be it Black Colleges and Universities Week,’’ Resolved, The the House of Representatives– and ask for its immediate consider- (1) supports the goals and ideas of ation in the House. National Historically Black Colleges The SPEAKER pro tempore.(3) Is and Universities Week; and there objection to the request of the (2) requests that the President gentleman from California? issue a proclamation calling on the Mr. [Elijah] CUMMINGS [of Mary- people of the United States and in- land]. Mr. Speaker, reserving the right terested groups to conduct appro- priate ceremonies, activities, and to object, under my reservation, I yield programs to demonstrate support for to the gentleman from California (Mr. historically black colleges and uni- OSE) to explain the bill . versities in the United States. The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. The resolution was agreed to. COOKSEY). Is there objection to the re- A motion to reconsider was laid on quest of the gentleman from Cali- the table. fornia? Parliamentarian’s Note: It was There was no objection. important that the identification The Clerk read the resolution, as fol- of the week beginning Sept. 19, lows: 1999, was confined to the pre- H. RES. 293 amble. Whereas there are 105 historically black colleges and universities in the United States; Whereas black colleges and uni- § 3. —Federal Holidays versities provide the quality edu- cation so essential to full participa- Holidays are a subject within tion in a complex, highly techno- logical society; the jurisdiction of the Committee Whereas black colleges and uni- on Oversight and Government Re- versities have a rich heritage and form.(1) They were formerly within have played a prominent role in American history; the jurisdiction of the Committee Whereas black colleges and uni- on Post Office and Civil Service, versities have allowed many under- 1. Rule X clause 1(m)(5), House Rules 3. John Cooksey (LA). and Manual § 732 (2007). 139 VerDate 0ct 09 2002 14:45 Jan 25, 2011 Jkt 000000 PO 00000 Frm 00151 Fmt 8875 Sfmt 8875 F:\PRECEDIT\VOL17\17COMP~1 27-2A Ch. 36 § 3 DESCHLER-BROWN-JOHNSON PRECEDENTS and prior to that, the Committee PALLONE). Mr. Speaker, I ask unani- on the Judiciary.(2) mous consent that, notwithstanding The following demonstrate ex- the provisions of clause 5 of rule XII, Representative FOSSELLA of New York amples of how the House observes be authorized to introduce a joint reso- and commemorates certain Fed- lution to amend title 36, United States eral holidays. Code, to designate September 11 as Adjournments and recesses by United We Stand Remembrance Day. the House over holidays are dis- The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. ( ) cussed elsewhere in this volume. 3 OSBORNE).(3) Is there objection to the request of the gentleman from Cali- f fornia? There was no objection. United We Stand Day f § 3.1 The House by unanimous consent waived the prohibi- MAKING IN ORDER ON THURS- (1) DAY, OCTOBER 25, 2001, CON- tion in Rule XII clause 5(a) SIDERATION OF JOINT RESO- against introduction of a LUTION DESIGNATING SEP- TEMBER 11 AS UNITED WE measure expressing or estab- STAND REMEMBRANCE DAY lishing a commemoration for a measure described by spon- Mr.