[Congressional Bills 107th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Con. Res. 475 Introduced in House (IH)]







107th CONGRESS
  2d Session
H. CON. RES. 475

  Recognizing and celebrating the origin and purposes of Constitution 
                                 Week.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                           September 19, 2002

Mr. Smith of Texas (for himself and Mr. Chabot) submitted the following 
   concurrent resolution; which was referred to the Committee on the 
                               Judiciary

_______________________________________________________________________

                         CONCURRENT RESOLUTION


 
  Recognizing and celebrating the origin and purposes of Constitution 
                                 Week.

Whereas September 17th marks the anniversary of the signing of the United States 
        Constitution;
Whereas this date was designated as Constitution Day until 1952 when Congress 
        changed the name of that date to Citizenship Day;
Whereas the National Society Daughters of the American Revolution felt this 
        change of emphasis away from the Constitution was not warranted, and in 
        1953 they passed a resolution asking Congress to restore Constitution 
        Day;
Whereas in 1955 Daughters of the American Revolution President General Gertrude 
        Carraway met with then Vice President Richard Nixon and Senators Lyndon 
        Johnson and William Knowland and presented the case for a Constitution 
        Week;
Whereas Senator Knowland introduced a resolution requesting and authorizing 
        President Eisenhower to proclaim September 17-23 as Constitution Week;
Whereas the resolution was passed by Congress, and President Eisenhower issued a 
        proclamation for Constitution Week but was reluctant to establish it as 
        an annual celebration;
Whereas at the urging of the Daughters of the American Revolution, Senator 
        Knowland introduced a joint resolution on January 5, 1956, urging the 
        President to annually designate September 17-23 as Constitution Week;
Whereas this resolution was adopted and signed into law on August 2, 1956;
Whereas thus conceived and instituted, Constitution Week is now an annual event 
        commemorating and celebrating the Constitution; and
Whereas President George W. Bush stated, ``We each should serve our Nation by 
        actively supporting and shaping our Government's institutions, by 
        working together to build strong communities, and by loving our 
        neighbors . . . doing this will ensure that the American dream will 
        become real for every willing citizen, and, in fulfilling this call 
        together, we will honor the spirit of our powerful and enduring 
        Constitution'': Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate concurring), 
That Congress recognizes and celebrates the origin and purposes of 
Constitution Week.
                                 <all>