[Congressional Bills 110th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 1026 Introduced in House (IH)]







110th CONGRESS
  2d Session
H. RES. 1026

Recognizing the 100th anniversary of the founding of the Congressional 
                                 Club.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                             March 6, 2008

Mr. Bishop of Georgia (for himself, Mr. Tiahrt, Ms. Matsui, Mr. Miller 
 of Florida, and Mr. Tanner) submitted the following resolution; which 
    was referred to the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
Recognizing the 100th anniversary of the founding of the Congressional 
                                 Club.

Whereas the Congressional Club was organized in 1908 by 25 women who were 
        influential in Washington's official life and who wanted to establish a 
        nonsectarian and nonpolitical group that would promote friendship and 
        cordiality in public life, and founded the Club to bring the wives of 
        Members of Congress together in a hospitable and compatible environment 
        in the Nation's Capital;
Whereas the Congressional Club was officially established in 1908 by a unanimous 
        vote in both the House and Senate and is the only club in the world to 
        be founded by an act of Congress;
Whereas the resolution establishing the Congressional Club was signed by 
        President Theodore Roosevelt on May 30, 1908;
Whereas the Congressional Club's founding was secured by womanly wiles and 
        feminine determination in the passage of the enacting resolution 
        unanimously on May 28, 1908, in order to overcome the opposition of 
        Representative John Sharp Williams of Mississippi, who opposed all 
        women's organizations;
Whereas when Representative Williams was called out of the chamber by Mrs. 
        Williams, the good-mannered representative obliged and withdrew his 
        opposition and request for a recorded vote, saying, ``upon this 
        particular bill there will not be a roll call, because it would cause a 
        great deal of domestic unhappiness in Washington if there were'';
Whereas the first Congressional Clubhouse was at 1432 K Street Northwest in 
        Washington, DC, and opened on December 11, 1908, with a reception for 
        President-elect and Mrs. William Taft, but after Mrs. John B. Henderson 
        of Missouri donated land on the corner of New Hampshire Avenue and U 
        Street, the cornerstone of the current Clubhouse was laid at that 
        location on May 21, 1914;
Whereas the Congressional Clubhouse was built by George Totten in the Beaux Arts 
        style and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places, and its 
        mortgage was paid for by the sales of the Club's cookbook and burned by 
        Mrs. Bess Truman in a silver bowl on the 40th Anniversary of the Club's 
        founding;
Whereas the Congressional Club has remained a good neighbor on the U Street 
        corridor for over 90 years, encouraging the revitalization of the area 
        throughout the time of socioeconomic challenges, and leading the way in 
        upkeep and maintenance of historic property;
Whereas the Congressional Club honors and supports the people of its 
        neighborhood by inviting the local police and fire departments to the 
        Clubhouse for lunch and delivering trays of Member-made cookies and 
        candies to them during the holidays, by hosting an annual Senior 
        Citizens Appreciation Day luncheon for residents of a neighborhood 
        nursing home, and by hosting an annual holiday brunch for neighborhood 
        children each December which includes a festive meal, gifts, and a visit 
        from Santa;
Whereas the Congressional Club hosts the annual First Lady's Luncheon every 
        spring since 1912 to honor our First Lady, and donates tens of thousands 
        of dollars to charities in the name of the First Lady annually;
Whereas the Congressional Club has chosen among its many charitable recipients 
        mentoring programs, United National Indian Tribal Youth, literacy 
        programs, the White House library, youth dance troupes, domestic 
        shelters, and child care centers;
Whereas the Congressional Club members, upon the suggestion of Mrs. Eleanor 
        Roosevelt, are encouraged to become discussion leaders on national 
        security in their home States, from the trials of World War II to the 
        threats of terrorism;
Whereas the Congressional Club extends the hand of friendship and goodwill 
        globally by hosting an annual diplomatic reception to entertain the 
        spouses of ambassadors to the United States;
Whereas the Congressional Club is solely supported by membership dues and the 
        sale of cookbooks, and has never received any Federal funding;
Whereas the 14 editions of the Congressional Club cookbook, first published in 
        1928, reflect the life and times of the United States with recipes and 
        signatures of Members of Congress, First Ladies, Ambassadors, and 
        members of the Club;
Whereas the Congressional Club membership has expanded to include spouses and 
        daughters of Representatives, Senators, Supreme Court Justices, and 
        Cabinet members, and has included 7 members who became First Lady: Mrs. 
        Florence Harding, Mrs. Lou Hoover, Mrs. Bess Truman, Mrs. Jacqueline 
        Kennedy, Mrs. Patricia Nixon, Mrs. Betty Ford, and Mrs. Barbara Bush;
Whereas several members of the Congressional Club have been elected to Congress, 
        among whom are Past President Mrs. Lindy Boggs, Mrs. Jo Ann Emerson, 
        Mrs. Lois Capps, Mrs. Mary Bono, and Past President Mrs. Doris Matsui;
Whereas leading figures in politics, the arts, and the media have visited the 
        Clubhouse for the past 100 years;
Whereas the Congressional Club is home to the First Lady's gown display, a 
        museum with replica inaugural and ball gowns of the First Ladies from 
        Mrs. Mary Todd Lincoln to Mrs. Laura Bush;
Whereas the Congressional Club is charged with receiving the Presidential 
        couple, honoring the Vice-President and spouse, the Speaker of the House 
        of Representatives and spouse, and the Chief Justice and spouse, and for 
        the orientation of spouses of new Members of Congress; and
Whereas the Congressional Club will celebrate its 100-year anniversary with 
        festivities and ceremonies during 2008 that include the ringing of the 
        official bells of the United States Congress, a Founder's Day program, a 
        birthday cake at the First Lady's Luncheon, an anniversary postage stamp 
        and cancellation stamp, a 100-year pin/pendant designed by Past 
        President Lois Breaux, and invitations to President and Mrs. Bush, 
        Speaker and Mr. Pelosi, Chief Justice and Mrs. Roberts to visit and 
        celebrate 100 years of public service, civility, and growth at the 
        Congressional Club: Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
            (1) recognizes the 100th anniversary of the founding of the 
        Congressional Club;
            (2) acknowledges the contribution of political spouses to 
        public life in America and around the world through the 
        Congressional Club for the past 100 years;
            (3) honors the past and present membership of the 
        Congressional Club;
            (4) encourages all Americans to strive for greater 
        friendship, civility, and generosity in order to heighten 
        public service, elevate the culture, and enrich humanity; and
            (5) encourages all Americans to seek out opportunities to 
        give financially and to volunteer to assist charitable 
        organizations in their own communities.
                                 <all>