[Congressional Bills 111th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.J. Res. 22 Introduced in House (IH)]

111th CONGRESS
  1st Session
H. J. RES. 22

 Requiring the President to issue each year a proclamation recognizing 
  the anniversary of the birth of President Abraham Lincoln, and for 
                            other purposes.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                           February 12, 2009

Mr. Schock (for himself, Mr. Shimkus, Mr. Akin, Ms. Bean, Mr. Davis of 
Illinois, Mr. Guthrie, Mr. Jackson of Illinois, Mr. Kirk, Mr. Lamborn, 
    Mr. Lipinski, Mr. Luetkemeyer, Mr. Manzullo, Mr. Rush, and Ms. 
   Schakowsky) introduced the following joint resolution; which was 
      referred to the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform

_______________________________________________________________________

                            JOINT RESOLUTION


 
 Requiring the President to issue each year a proclamation recognizing 
  the anniversary of the birth of President Abraham Lincoln, and for 
                            other purposes.

Whereas Abraham Lincoln, the 16th President of the United States, was born of 
        humble roots on February 12, 1809, in Larue County, Kentucky;
Whereas Abraham Lincoln rose to political prominence as an attorney with a 
        reputation for fairness and honesty;
Whereas Abraham Lincoln served with an Illinois militia company during the Black 
        Hawk War and was elected by his fellow soldiers as their Captain;
Whereas in 1834, Abraham Lincoln was elected to the Illinois Legislature and was 
        successfully reelected to serve Sangamon County until 1840;
Whereas in 1846, Abraham Lincoln was elected to serve in the United States House 
        of Representatives to represent Cass, Logan, Marshall, Mason, Menard, 
        Morgan, Putnam, Sangamon, Scott, Tazewell, and Woodford counties in 
        central Illinois;
Whereas Abraham Lincoln introduced legislation to ban slavery in Washington, DC 
        as a member of the United States House of Representatives serving 
        central Illinois;
Whereas in 1854, Abraham Lincoln reentered political life as a reaction to the 
        passage of the Kansas-Nebraska Act, which allowed slavery in the newly 
        created territories of Kansas and Nebraska, which he opposed;
Whereas in June of 1858, Abraham Lincoln gave his famous ``House Divided'' 
        speech at the Illinois Republican State Convention in Springfield, 
        Illinois;
Whereas in 1858, Abraham Lincoln expounded on his views of natural rights during 
        the series of Lincoln-Douglas debates, declaring in Charleston, 
        Illinois, that natural rights were ``. . .enumerated in the Declaration 
        of Independence, the right to life, liberty and the pursuit of 
        happiness'' and the ability to clearly express these views during those 
        debates brought Lincoln national attention;
Whereas Abraham Lincoln was nominated as the Republican Presidential candidate 
        due to his leadership, patriotism, and courage, which served him as he 
        ran his Presidential campaign from Springfield, Illinois;
Whereas, on November 6, 1860, Abraham Lincoln was elected to office as the 16th 
        President of the United States;
Whereas, on January 1, 1863, Abraham Lincoln, as a leader who united America 
        during the Civil War, wrote the Emancipation Proclamation, freeing all 
        slaves in Southern States that seceded from the Union;
Whereas, on November 19, 1863, Abraham Lincoln famously delivered the Gettysburg 
        Address, advocating the principles of human equality and the birth of 
        new freedom;
Whereas, on November 8, 1864, Abraham Lincoln was reelected President by 55 
        percent of the popular vote and proceeded to give his second inaugural 
        address espousing ``malice toward none. . .[and] charity for all'';
Whereas, on April 15, 1865, Abraham Lincoln gave the ultimate sacrifice for his 
        country, dying 6 weeks into his second term;
Whereas Abraham Lincoln was laid to rest in central Illinois after 37 years of 
        living there;
Whereas February 12, 2009, will be the Bicentennial anniversary of the birth of 
        Abraham Lincoln, and concurrently will be the start of annual 
        celebrations of Abraham Lincoln's birth; and
Whereas all Americans could benefit from studying the life of Abraham Lincoln as 
        a model of achieving the American Dream through honesty, integrity, 
        leadership, and a lifetime of education: Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United 
States of America in Congress assembled, That the President is required 
to issue each year (beginning in 2009) a proclamation--
            (1) recognizing the anniversary of the birth of President 
        Abraham Lincoln;
            (2) calling upon the people of the United States to observe 
        such anniversary with appropriate ceremonies and activities; 
        and
            (3) encouraging State and local government educational 
        agencies to devote sufficient time to study and appreciate the 
        significance and importance of Abraham Lincoln in the 
        development of American history, and the spread of freedom 
        worldwide.
                                 <all>