[Congressional Bills 105th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 2353 Introduced in Senate (IS)]







105th CONGRESS
  2d Session
                                S. 2353

To redesignate the legal public holiday of ``Washington's Birthday'' as 
``Presidents' Day'' in honor of George Washington, Abraham Lincoln, and 
    Franklin Roosevelt and in recognition of the importance of the 
  institution of the Presidency and the contributions that Presidents 
   have made to the development of our Nation and the principles of 
                         freedom and democracy.


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                             July 24, 1998

Mr. Durbin (for himself, Mr. Kennedy, Mr. Lautenberg, Mr. Moynihan, Mr. 
    McCleland, Mr. Grams, Mr. Sarbanes, Mr. Levin, and Mr. DeWine) 
introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the 
                       Committee on the Judiciary

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
To redesignate the legal public holiday of ``Washington's Birthday'' as 
``Presidents' Day'' in honor of George Washington, Abraham Lincoln, and 
    Franklin Roosevelt and in recognition of the importance of the 
  institution of the Presidency and the contributions that Presidents 
   have made to the development of our Nation and the principles of 
                         freedom and democracy.

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. FINDINGS.

    The Senate finds that--
            (1) great American Presidents have led our country through 
        its greatest challenges and crises, and advanced the principles 
        of freedom and democracy upon which our country was founded;
            (2) President George Washington, father of our country, 
        provided critical leadership to launch our Nation's experiment 
        in democracy and set high standards for the Office of President 
        of the United States;
            (3) President Abraham Lincoln, whose strength and wisdom 
        guided the Nation through its gravest domestic crisis, overcame 
        the forces of division to preserve our democratic system, ended 
        the blight of slavery, and inspired a new commitment to the 
        principles of freedom, justice, and equality;
            (4) President Franklin Roosevelt led our Nation through the 
        tragedy of the Great Depression and the fight against tyranny 
        in World War II;
            (5) the leadership and dedication of great Presidents have 
        brought peace, prosperity, freedom, and greater equality to the 
        American people;
            (6) the Office of the President of the United States is an 
        important symbol of liberty and freedom to nations throughout 
        the world; and
            (7) an occasion should be established on which our Nation 
        can acknowledge the important contributions that great 
        Presidents have made to the development of our Nation and the 
        advancement of the principles of freedom and democracy upon 
        which it is founded.

SEC. 2. SENSE OF THE SENATE.

    It is the sense of the Senate that in order to enhance the 
understanding and study of the institution of the Presidency and the 
important contributions of the persons who have occupied the Office of 
the President of the United States, the President should issue a 
proclamation declaring the week that begins on the Sunday before 
``Presidents' Day'', of each year, as ``United States Presidential 
History Week''.

SEC. 3. REDESIGNATION.

    (a) In General.--Section 6103(a) of title 5, United States Code, is 
amended by striking ``Washington's Birthday'' and inserting 
``Presidents' Day, in honor of George Washington, Abraham Lincoln, and 
Franklin Roosevelt and in recognition of the importance of the 
institution of the Presidency and the contributions that Presidents 
have made to our Nation's development and the principles of freedom and 
democracy (also referred to as `Presidents' Day')''.
    (b) References.--Except where inappropriate, any reference to 
``Washington's Birthday'' in any law, Executive order, rule, or other 
document shall include a reference to ``Presidents' Day''.
                                 <all>