[Congressional Bills 115th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S.J. Res. 53 Engrossed in Senate (ES)]

<DOC>
115th CONGRESS
  2d Session
S. J. RES. 53

_______________________________________________________________________

                            JOINT RESOLUTION


 
         Honoring the life of William ``Billy'' F. Graham, Jr.

Whereas William ``Billy'' F. Graham, Jr., was born on November 7, 1918, in 
        Charlotte, North Carolina;
Whereas, in 1939, Reverend Graham was ordained by Peniel Baptist Church in 
        Florida;
Whereas Reverend Graham studied at Florida Bible Institute and graduated from 
        Wheaton College in Wheaton, Illinois, in 1943;
Whereas Reverend Graham married his wife of nearly 64 years, Ruth McCue Bell, in 
        1943;
Whereas Reverend Graham had 3 daughters, 2 sons, 19 grandchildren, and numerous 
        great-grandchildren;
Whereas, in 1950, Reverend Graham founded the Billy Graham Evangelistic 
        Association, which is based in Charlotte, North Carolina;
Whereas Reverend Graham preached to nearly 215,000,000 individuals in more than 
        185 countries and territories on 6 continents;
Whereas Reverend Graham provided spiritual counsel for every President since 
        Harry Truman;
Whereas Reverend Graham prayed with members of the Armed Forces in combat zones 
        in South Korea and Vietnam;
Whereas Reverend Graham spoke against the communist Soviet Union, saying, 
        ``Communism has decided against God, against Christ, against the Bible, 
        and against all religion.'';
Whereas Reverend Graham--

    (1) fought for racial integration;

    (2) invited Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., to preach with him in New York 
City in 1957; and

    (3) bailed Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., out of jail when Dr. King was 
arrested for protesting segregation;

Whereas, following the terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001, Reverend Graham 
        spoke words of hope and comfort to the people of the United States at 
        the Washington National Cathedral;
Whereas Reverend Graham authored 34 books, including the bestselling 
        autobiography, ``Just as I Am'', which began by discussing his early 
        days on a dairy farm in North Carolina and continued through his career 
        as a preacher and evangelist; and
Whereas Reverend Graham received numerous honors, including--

    (1) the North Carolina Award for Public Service;

    (2) the Presidential Medal of Freedom;

    (3) the Ronald Reagan Freedom Award; and

    (4) the Congressional Gold Medal: Now, therefore, be it

    Resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United 
States of America in Congress assembled, That Congress--
            (1) extends its sympathies to the family of William 
        ``Billy'' F. Graham, Jr.; and
            (2) honors--
                    (A) the life and ministry of Reverend Graham; and
                    (B) the contributions of Reverend Graham to--
                            (i) the State of North Carolina;
                            (ii) the United States of America; and
                            (iii) the moral and religious lives of 
                        millions of individuals.

            Passed the Senate February 28, 2018.

            Attest:

                                                             Secretary.
115th CONGRESS

  2d Session

                             S. J. RES. 53

_______________________________________________________________________

                            JOINT RESOLUTION

         Honoring the life of William ``Billy'' F. Graham, Jr.