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

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.