[Congressional Bills 109th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 669 Introduced in House (IH)]







109th CONGRESS
  2d Session
H. RES. 669

   Directing the Sergeant at Arms of the House of Representatives to 
report to the House on the circumstances surrounding the removal of two 
individuals from the gallery of the House prior to the beginning of the 
State of the Union address on January 31, 2006, based on the allegation 
   that the individuals were engaging in protest solely because the 
          individuals wore shirts with printing on the front.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                            February 1, 2006

Mr. Stark submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the 
                   Committee on House Administration

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
   Directing the Sergeant at Arms of the House of Representatives to 
report to the House on the circumstances surrounding the removal of two 
individuals from the gallery of the House prior to the beginning of the 
State of the Union address on January 31, 2006, based on the allegation 
   that the individuals were engaging in protest solely because the 
          individuals wore shirts with printing on the front.

Whereas at President Bush's fifth State of the Union address on January 31, 
        2006, two individuals were removed from the Gallery of the House of 
        Representatives for allegedly engaging in ``protesting'', in spite of 
        the fact that neither of these individuals made any kind of verbal 
        protest or did anything else to disrupt the proceedings of the House;
Whereas the first individual removed was Cindy Sheehan, who was wearing a shirt 
        with printing on the front stating: ``2245 Dead. How many more?'';
Whereas the second individual removed was Beverly Young, the wife of a Member of 
        the House of Representatives, who was wearing a shirt with printing on 
        the front stating: ``Support the Troops Defending our Freedom.'';
Whereas nothing in the Rules of House of Representatives or any of the rules 
        governing the Gallery prohibits the wearing of shirts with messages 
        printed on the front or places any other kind of restriction on the 
        apparel worn by individuals in the Gallery, other than a prohibition 
        against the wearing of hats;
Whereas in spite of this both Cindy Sheehan and Beverly Young were removed from 
        the Gallery, and Cindy Sheehan was arrested and charged with unlawful 
        conduct; and
Whereas the use of such tactics by the Sergeant at Arms and the United States 
        Capitol Police is completely contrary to the traditions and values of 
        our Nation and has no place in the operations of the House of 
        Representatives, which is rightfully known and revered as the ``people's 
        House'': Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved,

SECTION 1. REPORT ON CIRCUMSTANCES SURROUNDING REMOVAL OF INDIVIDUALS 
              FROM HOUSE GALLERY AT STATE OF THE UNION ADDRESS.

    Not later than 30 days after the date of the adoption of this 
resolution, the Sergeant at Arms of the House of Representatives shall 
submit a report to the House on the circumstances surrounding the 
removal of Cindy Sheehan and Beverly Young from the Gallery of the 
House prior to the beginning of the President's State of the Union 
address on January 31, 2006, and shall include in the report--
            (1) an explanation of the laws or rules that these 
        individuals violated which required them to be removed and 
        required one of them to be arrested; and
            (2) recommendations on actions the Sergeant at Arms may 
        take to ensure that individuals in the Gallery who do nothing 
        to disrupt the proceedings of the House are not removed from 
        the Gallery.
                                 <all>