[Congressional Bills 108th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 645 Introduced in House (IH)]







108th CONGRESS
  1st Session
                                H. R. 645

To amend title 36, United States Code, to designate the square dance as 
                        the national folk dance.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                            February 5, 2003

  Mr. Whitfield (for himself and Mr. Saxton) introduced the following 
       bill; which was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
To amend title 36, United States Code, to designate the square dance as 
                        the national folk dance.

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

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE; FINDINGS.

    (a) Short Title.--This Act may be cited as the ``Promenade Act''.
    (b) Findings.--The Congress finds as follows:
            (1) The square dance has been a popular tradition in 
        America since early colonial days.
            (2) The square dance has attained a revered status as part 
        of the folklore of this Nation.
            (3) The square dance is a joyful expression of the vibrant 
        spirit of the people of the United States.
            (4) The square dance promotes the practice of good manners 
        and proper etiquette.
            (5) The square dance is a traditional form of family 
        recreation that fosters family unity, a basic strength of this 
        Nation.
            (6) The square dance embodies democratic principles by 
        dissolving arbitrary social distinctions among its 
        participants.
            (7) The square dance includes the round dance, the contra 
        dance, the line dance, the heritage dance, and clogging.

SEC. 2. DESIGNATION OF THE SQUARE DANCE AS THE NATIONAL FOLK DANCE.

    (a) Designation.--Chapter 3 of title 36, United States Code, is 
amended by inserting after section 304 the following new section:
``Sec. 305. National folk dance
    ``The square dance is the national folk dance.''.
    (b) Conforming Amendments.--
            (1) The table of sections for chapter 3 of title 36, United 
        States Code, is amended to read as follows:

  ``CHAPTER 3--NATIONAL ANTHEM, MOTTO, FLORAL EMBLEM, MARCH, AND FOLK 
                                 DANCE

``Sec.
``301. National anthem.
``302. National motto.
``303. National floral emblem.
``304. National march.
``305. National folk dance.''.
            (2) The table of chapters for subtitle I of title 36, 
        United States Code, is amended by striking the item relating to 
        chapter 3 and inserting the following new item:

``3. National Anthem, Motto, Floral Emblem, March, and Folk      301''.
                            Dance.
                                 <all>