[Congressional Bills 110th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Con. Res. 360 Introduced in House (IH)]







110th CONGRESS
  2d Session
H. CON. RES. 360

    Recognizing the important social and economic contributions and 
 accomplishments of the New Deal to our Nation on the 75th anniversary 
  of legislation establishing the initial New Deal social and public 
                            works programs.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                              May 21, 2008

   Ms. Lee (for herself, Mr. McDermott, Mr. Grijalva, and Mr. Cohen) 
 submitted the following concurrent resolution; which was referred to 
            the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform

_______________________________________________________________________

                         CONCURRENT RESOLUTION


 
    Recognizing the important social and economic contributions and 
 accomplishments of the New Deal to our Nation on the 75th anniversary 
  of legislation establishing the initial New Deal social and public 
                            works programs.

Whereas this year marks the 75th anniversary of the ``First Hundred Days'', from 
        March 4, 1933, to June 16, 1933, which was an unprecedented period of 
        legislative action that engendered the programs that constituted the New 
        Deal;
Whereas the New Deal was a set of programs and policies with the purpose of 
        promoting economic recovery, as well as social and financial reform, 
        during a time of severe economic and social distress due to conditions 
        created by the Great Depression;
Whereas the New Deal established Federal programs to address these issues, 
        including the Civilian Conservation Corps, Works Progress 
        Administration, Public Works Administration, Farm Securities 
        Administration, National Youth Administration, Home Owners Loan 
        Corporation, Tennessee Valley Authority, and the Rural Electric 
        Administration;
Whereas these programs left behind a massive public works and architectural 
        legacy;
Whereas the United States continues to benefit from infrastructure projects 
        built as a result of the New Deal, including numerous schools, 
        hospitals, courthouses, libraries, city halls, fire houses, housing, 
        public health facilities, roads, bridges, airports, sewer and water 
        systems, flood control projects, dams, trails, parks, playgrounds, and 
        zoos;
Whereas these infrastructure projects employed millions of individuals who 
        planted more than 3,000,000,000 trees and constructed or repaired 
        650,000 miles of public roads, 125,000 public buildings, 75,000 bridges, 
        8,000 parks, 800 airports, and a number of sewage disposal plants;
Whereas the income from the millions of jobs created by the New Deal lifted many 
        people out of poverty and provided stability to every sector of the 
        American economy;
Whereas these programs built renowned structures and facilities, including the 
        Rincon Annex Post Office and Alameda County Courthouse in California; 
        the Timberline Lodge in Mt. Hood, Oregon; the Grand Coulee Dam in 
        Washington; the Fort Peck Dam in Montana; the Norris Dam in Tennessee; 
        Greenbelt towns in Maryland, Ohio, and Wisconsin; Red Rocks Ampitheatre 
        in Colorado; Skyline Drive in the Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia; and 
        airports in New York City, Chicago, and the District of Columbia;
Whereas the Federal programs of the New Deal included projects for art, forest 
        and soil conservation, distribution of food and clothing, education, 
        historical surveys, library and book repair, music, recreation, writing, 
        theater, disaster assistance, and medical, dental, and nursing programs;
Whereas the many cultural programs of the New Deal catalogued and supported the 
        development of distinctive American art and oral histories, and further 
        established the arts as a central and beneficial element of American 
        society;
Whereas the New Deal created important institutions, including Social Security, 
        the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, the Securities Exchange 
        Commission, and the National Labor Relations Board;
Whereas the New Deal illustrates the ability of the Federal Government to act as 
        a positive and instrumental force for change in addressing social and 
        economic crises for the benefit of all people in the United States;
Whereas the current economic crisis, growing income inequality, and the 
        degradation of infrastructure and the environment elicit the need for 
        programs similar to the New Deal, both in spirit and substance; and
Whereas June 15, 2008, through June 21, 2008, would be an appropriate week for 
        the observance of National New Deal Week to promote recognition and 
        appreciation for the New Deal and its legacy: Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate concurring), 
That Congress--
            (1) recognizes the important social and economic 
        contributions and accomplishments of the New Deal to our Nation 
        on the 75th anniversary of legislation establishing the initial 
        New Deal social and public works programs;
            (2) acknowledges the inventiveness, resourcefulness, and 
        creativity of the administrators and workers of the many New 
        Deal programs; and
            (3) encourages the people of the United States to observe 
        National New Deal week.
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