[Congressional Record Volume 140, Number 28 (Tuesday, March 15, 1994)]
[House]
[Page H]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[Congressional Record: March 15, 1994]
From the Congressional Record Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
KING HOLIDAY AND SERVICE ACT OF 1994
Mr. SAWYER. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the
bill (H.R. 1933) to authorize appropriations for the Martin Luther
King, Jr. Federal Holiday Commission, to extend such Commission, and to
support the planning and performance of national service opportunities
in conjunction with the Federal legal holiday honoring the birthday of
Martin Luther King, Jr., as amended.
The Clerk read as follows:
H.R. 1933
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of
the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``King Holiday and Service Act
of 1994''.
SEC. 2. MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR. FEDERAL HOLIDAY COMMISSION.
The Act entitled ``An Act to establish a commission to
assist in the first observance of the Federal legal holiday
honoring Martin Luther King, Jr.'', approved August 27, 1984
(36 U.S.C. 169j and following) is amended--
(1) in section 3(1) by inserting ``(including service
opportunities)'' after ``activities'';
(2) in section 4(a) by striking ``and'' at the end of
paragraph (5), by striking the period at the end of paragraph
(6) and inserting ``; and'', and by adding at the end the
following:
``(7) the Chief Executive Officer of the Corporation for
National and Community Service, appointed under section 193
of the National and Community Service Act of 1990 (42
U.S.C. 12651c).'';
(3) in section 6(a) by striking ``maximum rate of pay
payable for grade GS-18 of the General Schedule under section
5332'' and inserting ``rate of pay for level IV of the
Executive Schedule under section 5315'';
(4) by amending section 7 to read as follows:
``Sec. 7. There are authorized to be appropriated to carry
out this Act--
``(1) $300,000 for fiscal year 1995;
``(2) $350,000 for fiscal year 1996;
``(2) $400,000 for fiscal year 1997;
``(2) $450,000 for fiscal year 1998; and
``(2) $500,000 for fiscal year 1999.'';
(5) in section 8 by inserting after ``under this Act'' the
following: ``or under the National and Community Service Act
of 1990''; and
(6) in section 9 by striking ``April 20, 1994'' and
inserting ``September 30, 1999''.
SEC. 3. MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR., SERVICE DAY.
(a) Additional Corporation Activity to Support National
Service.--Section 198 of the National and Community Service
Act of 1990 (42 U.S.C. 12653) is amended by adding at the end
the following new subsection:
``(s) Martin Luther King, Jr., Service Day.--
``(1) Assistance.--The Corporation may make grants to
eligible entities described in paragraph (2) to pay for the
Federal share of the cost of planning and carrying out
service opportunities in conjunction with the Federal legal
holiday honoring the birthday of Martin Luther King, Jr. Such
service opportunities shall consist of activities reflecting
the life and teachings of Martin Luther King, Jr., such as
cooperation and understanding among racial and ethnic groups,
nonviolent conflict resolution, equal economic and
educational opportunities, and social justice.
``(2) Eligible entities.--Any entity otherwise eligible for
assistance under the national services laws shall be eligible
to receive a grant under this subsection.
``(3) Consultation.--In making grants under this
subsection, the Corporation shall consult with the Martin
Luther King, Jr. Federal Holiday Commission established under
section 2 of Public Law 98-399 (36 U.S.C. 169j-1).
``(4) Federal share.--Grants provided under this subsection
to an eligible entity to support the planning and carrying
out of a service opportunity in conjunction with the Federal
legal holiday honoring the birthday of Martin Luther King,
Jr., together with all other Federal funds used to plan or
carry out the service opportunity, may not exceed 30 percent
of the cost of planning and carrying out the service
opportunity.
``(5) Calculation of entity contributions.--In determining
the non-Federal share of the costs of planning and carrying
out a service opportunity supported by a grant under this
subsection, the Corporation shall consider in-kind
contributions (including facilities, equipment, and services)
made to plan or carry out the service opportunity.''.
(b) Technical and Conforming Amendments.--
(1) Reference to repealed section.--Section 101(a)(3) of
the National and Community Service Trust Act of 1993 (Public
Law 103-82; 107 Stat. 788) is amended by striking ``through
136'' and inserting ``through 135''.
(2) Incorrect reference to act.--Section 203(a)(3) of the
National and Community Service Trust Act of 1993 (Public Law
103-82; 107 Stat. 891) is amended by striking ``Act of
1993'' and inserting ``Act of 1990''.
(3) Description of national service participants.--Section
137(c) of the National and Community Service Act of 1990 (42
U.S.C. 12591(c)), as added by section 101(b) of the National
and Community Service Trust Act of 1993 (Public Law 103-82;
107 Stat. 809), is amended by striking ``subsection
(a)(5)(A)'' and inserting ``subsection (a)(5)''.
(4) Educational award eligibility requirements.--Section
146(a) of the National and Community Service Act of 1990 (42
U.S.C. 12602(a)), as added by section 102(a) of the National
and Community Service Trust Act of 1993 (Public Law 103-82;
107 Stat. 818), is amended by striking the second paragraph
(3).
(5) Civilian community corps.--
(A) Use of incorrect term.--Section 155(e) of the National
and Community Service Act of 1990 (42 U.S.C. 12615(e)), as
redesignated by section 104(b)(3) of the National and
Community Service Trust Act of 1993 (Public Law 103-82; 107
Stat. 840), is amended by striking ``Corps'' and inserting
``Camps''.
(B) Reference to section.--Subsection (C)(2)(C)(i) of
section 159 of the National and Community Service Act of 1990
(42 U.S.C. 12619), as amended by section 104(e)(2)(E)(ii) of
the National and Community Service Trust Act of 1993 (Public
Law 103-82; 107 Stat. 847), is amended by striking ``section
section 162(a)(2)'' and inserting ``section 162(a)(2)''.
(C) Cross reference.--Section 162(a)(1)(B)(ii) of the
National and Community Service Act of 1990 (42 U.S.C.
12622(a)(1)(B)(ii)), as redesignated by section 104(b)(3) of
the National and Community Service Trust Act of 1993 (Public
Law 103-82; 107 Stat. 840), is amended by striking ``section
4462 of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal
Year 1993'' and inserting ``section 1143a of title 10, United
States Code''.
(6) Punctuation.--Section 198(q)(1) of the National and
Community Service Act of 1990 (42 U.S.C. 12653(q)(1)), as
added by section 104(c) of the National and Community Service
Trust Act of 1993 (Public Law 103-82; 107 Stat. 840), is
amended by striking ``1995'' and inserting ``1995,''.
(7) Redesignated paragraph.--Subsection (b)(6) of section
103 of the Domestic Volunteer Service Act of 1973 (42 U.S.C.
4953), as redesignated by section 323(b)(3) of the National
and Community Service Act of 1993 (Public Law 103-82; 107
Stat. 900), is amended by striking ``(6)'' and inserting
``(5)''.
(8) Subparagraph indentation.--Subsection (c)(1)(F) of
section 103 of the Domestic Volunteer Service Act of 1973 (42
U.S.C. 4953), as amended by section 323(c)(1)(D) of the
National and Community Service Trust Act of 1993 (Public Law
103-82; 107 Stat. 900), is amended by moving the left margin
two ems to the left.
(9) Correct execution of amendment.--Section 224 of the
Domestic Volunteer Service Act of 1973 (42 U.S.C. 5024) is
amended by striking ``volunteer projects for older
Americans'' and inserting ``National Senior Volunteer Corps
projects''.
(10) Effective dates.--
(A) In general.--Except as provided in subparagraph (B),
the amendments made by this subsection shall take effect on
the date of the enactment of this Act.
(B) Retroactive effective date.--The amendments made by
paragraphs (1) and (2) shall take effect as of October 1,
1993.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from
Ohio [Mr. Sawyer] will be recognized for 20 minutes, and the gentleman
from Wisconsin [Mr. Petri] will be recognized for 20 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Ohio [Mr. Sawyer].
Mr. SAWYER. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to bring the King Holiday and Service Act
before the House. I want to commend the bill's chief sponsor, my good
friend from Georgia, Congressman John Lewis, for his dedication to
keeping Dr. King's dream alive.
I also want to recognize the work of Congressman Ralph Regula, who is
the Vice Chairman of the Martin Luther King, Jr. Federal Holiday
Commission, and to thank him for his guidance and assistance.
Finally, Mr. Speaker, I want to thank Congressman Bill Clay, chairman
of the Committee on Post Office and Civil Service, and Congressman Bill
Ford, chairman of the Committee on Education and Labor, for their
efforts in getting this measure to the floor today.
H.R. 1933 would extend the life of the Martin Luther King, Jr.
Federal Holiday Commission and authorize an annual appropriation for
its operation. It also broadens the Commission's legislative mandate to
make the promotion of community service opportunities an explicit part
of the Commission's purpose.
As a member of the Commission since 1989, I have firsthand knowledge
of its worthwhile activities. I believe that all Americans will benefit
enormously if the Commission's work continues.
Thanks to the tireless efforts of the Commission, all 50 States
recognized Dr. King's birthday with a paid holiday this year. Despite
that work, however, many continue to perceive the King holiday as a
holiday for black Americans alone.
Only 18 percent of private sector employers observe the occasion. Dr.
King did not represent one segment of our population. He worked to
ensure equality of opportunity for all Americans. Clearly, more work is
needed to ensure that this holiday is truly inclusive and meaningful,
as it was intended to be.
The Commission devotes considerable time and resources to promoting
racial harmony and understanding through the holiday, at a time when
our Nation is becoming more diverse. Equally important, with its
limited resources, the Commission uses the holiday to focus attention
on community involvement, and efforts to combat violence, crime, drugs,
and illiteracy, as well as the importance of voter registration and
urban economic development.
While the Commission sponsors activities throughout the year, it is
the Federal holiday that casts the necessary light on the continued
importance of Dr. King's legacy to so many facets of our lives today. I
believe that the Commission is a modest investment for the Federal
Government to make in bridging the often wide gap between people of
different races and cultures that threatens both social and economic
progress in our country.
Dr. King left our Nation, and the world, a legacy that is priceless.
Surely, passage of H.R. 1933 is not too high a price to pay to hold on
to that dream.
Mr. Speaker, H.R. 1933 has 3 major provisions.
First, the bill extends the life of the Commission for 5 years,
through fiscal year 1999. We all agree that the Commission has
accomplished a great deal since its inception. However, there is still
a lot of work ahead if we want the King holiday to be a point from
which we can educate all Americans about Dr. King's philosophy and
contributions to our progress as a nation. Extending the life of the
Commission will allow it to accomplish that important goal.
Second, the bill authorizes $300,000 for fiscal year 1995; and
increases that amount by a modest $50,000 each year through fiscal year
1999.
Third, H.R. 1933 authorizes the Corporation for National and
Community Service to make grants for planning and carrying out
community service opportunities in conjunction with the King holiday.
The bill limits the Federal share of any such grants to 30 percent of
the funds used to plan and carry out those activities.
I know that some of my colleagues are concerned that the extension of
the King Commission represents a personal benefit to Mrs. King and her
family. While I understand that concern, I think it is wrong and
unfounded.
Dr. King's legacy transcends his family. Neither Mrs. King nor any of
her children are employees of the Commission. Their service on the
Commission is borne out of a commitment to their country and its future
well-being.
The work of the King Commission provides us with an opportunity to
renew our commitment to Dr. King's dream. Americans of all races and
ethnic backgrounds are entitled to share in the challenge of economic
recovery and social healing.
Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this important
legislation.
{time} 1220
Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. PETRI. Mr. Speaker, I yield 4 minutes to the distinguished
gentleman from Ohio [Mr. Regula].
Mr. REGULA. Mr. Speaker, I rise today as the Vice Chairman of the
Martin Luther King, Jr. Federal Holiday Commission. It has been my real
privilege to serve with many fine and dedicated individuals on this
Commission and especially with my friend Coretta Scott King.
One of the reasons that I support the King Holiday is that Dr. King
was largely responsible for leading our society through the upheavals
we faced in the 1960's with the doctrine of nonviolence as his banner.
We are affirming that nonviolence is the honorable way to promote
change in our society.
I support the extension of this Commission because this is an unusual
Federal holiday; this holiday is more than a day off. We honor Dr. King
by setting aside this day to serve other people--to work on behalf of
people who are less fortunate than ourselves.
Thus, the legislation to reauthorize the King Holiday is designed to
transform the observance of Dr. King's birthday into a national day of
service. It is not enough to write laws that punish people for criminal
behavior. It is not enough to prohibit certain actions and to criticize
people for hurting others. We must act positively--help people find
ways to work within the community, to support each other and to keep
busy helping others.
Mr. Speaker, I might add that historically the King Commission has
worked on the education program, and now the focus has shifted to one
of community service to encourage young people in the communities
around the United States to work with each other and to work with the
institutions to improve the quality of life, and that is the real way
in which we will solve many of the problems of our urban society.
According to Martin Luther King, Jr.:
Peace is not merely the absence of some negative force, it
is the presence of a positive force. True peace is not merely
the absence of tension, but it is the presence of justice and
brotherhood.
Those are certainly words we should all live by. While we are engaged
in a national debate on crime and safety--I hope that we can consider
the value of encouraging positive forces and activities in our
communities.
Mr. Speaker, I urge all the Members to join me in voting to
reauthorize the King Holiday Commission and to continue its great work
under the leadership of Coretta Scott King that has been accomplished
thus far and that will take place likewise in the future.
Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding me the time.
Mr. SAWYER. Mr. Speaker, it is my privilege to yield 2 minutes to the
gentleman from Alabama [Mr. Hilliard], whose 1-minute speech preceded
this debate.
Mr. HILLIARD. Mr. Speaker, Martin Luther King was truly an American.
He was a loyal American. He took the difficult side. He took the dark
side and brought light to it. He enlightened all of America on the
evils. He enlightened all of America on the worst part of our system.
But he also moved to correct the evil, to shed not only light but to
bring those evils to the forefront and to terminate them and eradicate
them from our society. During his lifetime he was only partially
successful in doing this. It is up to the rest of us to continue his
good work. To reauthorize this act means that we reaffirm what he had
started. It means that we wish to continue what he has done. It means
that we wish to continue to strengthen democracy. His legacy proves to
us that it was needed. To remember him is to improve on that legacy. As
we look at our society, all those things that are good and all those
things that we wish to preserve, we often think of our heroes and what
they have done to improve the past.
Mr. Speaker, this is one hero whose legacy we must preserve. We must
preserve what he started. We must continue to improve on it. And we do
that when we reauthorize the act that set his date as a national
holiday. It is not a day just to remember him but is a day to be joyful
that a man of his caliber came along and set the record straight and
changed America.
It was his desire to do good. It ought to be our desire to continue
goodness.
Mr. PETRI. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself as much time as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, I rise in opposition to H.R. 1933. While I by no means
question the past important and successful work of the Commission, I
feel its work is complete. We cannot and should not authorize the use
of taxpayers' funds for the continuation of a commission that has done
its job. All 50 States, the District of Columbia and the Federal
Government now commemorate Dr. King's birthday and his legacy with a
paid holiday.
President's Day, Independence Day, Memorial Day, Veterans' Day, and
other public holidays, all of which serve as equally important
reminders of our national heritage, do not have holiday commission.
There is no precedent for a commission of this type, much less the
appropriation of Federal funds for its operation. No other Federal
holiday has ever had anything similar.
Mr. Speaker, H.R. 1933 completely changes the original legislative
purpose of the Martin Luther King, Jr. Holiday Commission, which was
charged only with assisting in the first observance of the Federal
legal holiday honoring Dr. King and his legacy. It was to sunset in 2
years and was not to receive any Federal funds. It was only after the
second extension in 1989 that the Commission began receiving Federal
dollars.
H.R. 1933 would permit the Commission to become involved in a number
of activities which are totally unrelated to its original mandate.
Mr. Speaker, the Commission's justification in requesting an
extension is that it believes there is a need to continue promoting Dr.
King's ideals of community service, racial harmony and economic
opportunity. While I in no way question the importance of these
activities, they are not related to the original legislative mandate of
the Commission. Many Members of Congress supported establishing the
Commission because it was not to become a permanent structure and was
to be funded only by private donations.
Those who support H.R. 1933 to extend the life of the Commission and
its appropriations contend that the Commission would be in a position
to encourage and sponsor more activities aimed at combating violence,
crime, drugs and illiteracy as well as promoting voter registration and
urban economic development.
I feel that our Federal, State and local governments, along with
hundreds of private and professional organizations, presently have
outreach programs similar to those programs and activities which the
Martin Luther King Jr. Holiday Commission is now seeking to undertake.
Mr. Speaker, rather than declaring victory and closing down, the
Martin Luther King Jr. Holiday Commission is searching out new programs
and activities to justify its existence.
Martin Luther King, Jr. has a special honored place in our history
and the heart of the Nation. All 50 States, the District of Columbia,
the Federal Government, and many foreign countries now celebrate and
honor Dr. King's legacy and ideals of nonviolence and social change.
The Commission has successfully completed its congressional mandate. It
is time we terminate the Commission.
Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
{time} 1230
Mr. SAWYER. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to yield 1 minute to the
gentlewoman from Florida [Mrs. Meek].
Mrs. MEEK of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 1933,
which will, among other things, extend the life of the Martin Luther
King, Jr. Federal Holiday Commission to September 30, 1999. The
Congress must not be silent on this extension.
H.R. 1933, through its provisions, will bring focus and understanding
on the life and the teachings of Dr. King. In doing so, it seeks to
ensure the continuity and universal acceptance of one day of
commemoration. That day commemorates one man who, more than any other,
symbolizes the sometimes painful and frequently painfully slow
embodiment of Judeo-Christian racial justice in 20th Century American
society.
There are many--many of all races--who feel that the freedoms dreamed
and sought by the Reverend King are as significant to every American as
were the freedoms sought by the American Revolution. The strength and
acceptance of those freedoms--the freedoms that accompany equality--
will grow with each generation, unless we allow them to atrophy. If we
do allow our commitment to those freedoms to diminish, we as a nation
become equally diminished. The objectives sought by H.R. 1933 are those
that will pass to our children the common hope, shared by all
Americans, in the emergence of a society of harmony, equality, and
peace.
Mr. Speaker, I hope that it will be the pleasure of each and every
one of my colleagues to join me in passing this bill.
Mr. SAWYER. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentlewoman from
North Carolina [Mrs. Clayton].
(Mrs. CLAYTON asked and was given permission to revise and extend her
remarks.)
Mrs. CLAYTON. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of the continuation of
the Martin Luther King, Jr. Holiday Commission. There are those who
would say this commission is no longer necessary because we now
celebrate the King holiday nationwide.
But, one needs only listen to the daily news, and read the headlines
to know that we need this commission, now more than ever.
Our young people are dying in great numbers on the streets, in their
classrooms, and in their homes, from violent acts, Mr. Speaker. That is
a fact. And the most frightening thing about that fact is--our children
are killing each other.
The King Holiday Commission is dedicated to teaching the tenants of
nonviolence, and the value of community service to our young people.
Children who are taught to respect the sanctity of life and to serve
their fellow human beings, do not commit acts of random violence.
There was a time when the entire community accepted responsibility
for teaching the young, that is no longer the case.
We also have to acknowledge that there are many children who come
from dysfunctional families, families that do not offer them the kind
of support they need to become productive citizens.
We should not abandon these young people, Mr. Speaker. We should
empower them with the tools they need to grow up safe, well and happy.
We need to teach them to hold high the banner of nonviolence. The
King Holiday Commission will ensure that we make the teaching of
nonviolence a national priority. It will reinforce the words of Dr.
King, who said:
Non-violence is a powerful and just weapon. It is a weapon
unique in history, which cuts without wounding and ennobles
the man who wields it. It is a sword that heals.
Let us empower our young people to save their own lives. Let us
empower them with the tools of nonviolence and community service. Mr.
Speaker, we have at our disposal the Martin Luther King Holiday
Commission, an organization that is ready, willing and able to carry
out this mission.
Let us give them the financial resources they need to be successful.
I can think of no better investment than the lives of our children.
Mr. SAWYER. Mr. Speaker, it is my privilege to yield such time as he
may consume to the gentleman from Georgia [Mr. Lewis], the chief
sponsor of the measure before us.
Mr. LEWIS of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I wish to thank my good friend and
colleague, the gentleman from Ohio [Mr. Sawyer], for yielding. The
gentleman from Ohio is more than a cosponsor, but a wholehearted
sponsor and supporter of this piece of legislation.
Mr. Speaker, today I rise in support of a very important piece of
legislation which I have introduced in the House and which Senator
Harris Wofford has introduced in the Senate, the King Holiday and
Service Act of 1993.
In 1963, Dr. King said that, ``violence is the voice of the
unheard.'' These are still important words today.
I ask my colleagues, how can we ask our children to call upon their
inner strength if we do not teach them to recognize the value of their
own souls? How will our children resolve conflicts if the greatest
strength they know is a gun or a knife in their hand? How will we
justify our negligence if we do not make an active effort to pass the
teachings of Dr. King on to our children?
We must use every resource to show our children that they can work
together and that together they can achieve a common good, a higher
good.
The Martin Luther King, Jr., Federal Holiday Commission has made
important inroads. When the Commission began its work, only 17 States
celebrated the King holiday. Now, Dr. King's birthday is celebrated in
all 50 States, the District of Columbia, and more than 100 nations.
When the Commission began its work, many of the children now involved
in Commission activities spent their free time in the streets. Now, the
Commission has enlisted over 27,000 youth in ``Youth Against Violence
Symposiums.'' The Commission has recruited 4 million young people to
sign a pledge committing themselves to a life of nonviolence. And the
Commission has brought together 1,000 youth leaders at youth assemblies
that address major social problems such as drug abuse and illiteracy.
I believe we can do more. We must.
Today, some 100,000 students take guns to school every day. Another
160,000 stay home out of fear of violence at school. We are still a
society divided by race and class. Our cities and our schools have
become centers of crime and violence. They have become places of
despair.
Dr. King's method was love. His weapon was truth. And his goal was
the ``Beloved Community''--a community based on justice, a community at
peace.
Dr. King could speak and the masses understood from his words that
they were somebody. He was a spokesman not only for one race, but for
human beings of every kind.
{time} 1240
We no longer hear his voice, but we still hear his words. We can no
longer take part in his actions, but we can take actions of our own. We
must not allow the King holiday to become a day of nothing in
particular--a day of shopping, a day of recreating. We must make the
holiday a day of action, for ourselves and for our children.
One of the most important things I tell young people today is that
you must believe in the possibility for positive change. I have always
had a firm belief in the idea that people of good will can work
together and bring about positive change. But, change takes effort.
Change takes organization.
The Martin Luther King, Jr. Federal Holiday Commission is a
tremendous and important source of this effort.
It is a tremendous and important source of organization for the cause
of peace, for the cause of nonviolence, for the cause of building a
sense of family, a sense of community. I believe we can make a little
sacrifice; we can afford a little effort to make the lives of our
children better today and tomorrow. We can afford a little effort to
involve our children in nonviolent activity and esteem-building
activities such as a community service.
We must allow the important work of the Martin Luther King, Jr.
Federal Holiday Commission to continue. I believe with the King Holiday
Commission, we will witness in our country in the days to come a
nonviolent revolution, a revolution of values, a revolution of ideas
that we will create a sense of community. We will create a sense of
family. We will create America's house.
Mr. PETRI. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to my colleague on the
Committee on Education and Labor, the distinguished gentleman from New
York [Mr. Owens].
(Mr. OWENS asked and was given permission to revise and extend his
remarks.)
Mr. OWENS. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of H.R. 1933, the
King Holiday Service Act of 1994. Ten years after the Martin Luther
King, Jr., Federal Holiday Commission was established to
institutionalize the holiday marking the birth of Dr. King and to
encourage appropriate activities celebrating his life, all 50 States
officially observe the King holiday. However, few private employers
observe the holiday and many people continue to perceive the King
holiday as an event for African-Americans alone.
Clearly, more must be done to ensure that this holiday is as
meaningful and inclusive as it is intended to be. One way in which the
Commission continues to work toward this objective is advancing
community service opportunities which promote nonviolence, racial
cooperation and understanding, and social justice. H.R. 1933 authorizes
the Corporation for National and Community Service to make grants for
service activities which promote Dr. King's timeless ideals of
community service and racial harmony, and are a fitting tribute to his
life. In his own words delivered in a June 1961 commencement address
entitled ``The American Dream'' Dr. King said:
* * * We have made of this world a neighborhood; now * * *
we must make of it a brotherhood * * * we must all learn to
live together as brothers or we will perish together as
fools. We must come to see that no individual can live alone
* * * we must all live together; we must all be concerned
about one another.
I would like to add that I am particularly proud of the Martin Luther
King Commission in my district in Brooklyn. As our diverse Nation
continues to struggle with acts of racism and violence, the Commission
in Brooklyn sponsors activities to promote Dr. King's teachings. This
Commission recognizes the achievements of talented and thoughtful young
people who, through creative essays and artwork, reflect on Dr. King's
life. It is only if every successive generation of youth fully embrace
Dr. King's ideals that we will achieve his dream of a nation that will
``rise up and live out the true meaning of its creed--that all men are
created equal,'' a nation where people are judged ``by the content of
their character, not by the color of their skin.''
Mr. PETRI. Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for time, and I
yield back the balance of my time.
Mr. SAWYER. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
I pause only to thank the gentleman from Wisconsin for raising the
kinds of questions which he has raised in so thoughtful a manner. They
are the kinds of questions that ought to be raised by any measure of
this kind as it comes before us.
Mr. PAYNE of New Jersey. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to rise in strong
support of the bill to extend the life of the Martin Luther King, Jr.
Federal Holiday Commission to September 30, 1999.
Although it has been over two decades since Dr. King was laid to
rest, his spirit is very much with us today. His challenge to people of
all races to embrace justice, equality and nonviolence is more relevant
today then ever.
Our society still has a long way to go in overcoming obstacles and
achieving the racial harmony envisioned by Dr. King.
When we have a school principal in Alabama telling a child her birth
was a mistake because her parents are of different races, we have
really not come very far in heeding Dr. King's message of tolerance and
acceptance.
I feel privileged to have known Dr. King personally. About a week
before his untimely death, Dr. King visited New Jersey to mobilize
support for a cause that was important to him--the Poor People's
Campaign. I spent some time with him that day as he spoke to students
at a local high school and to a congregation at a local church.
I am proud that in my hometown of Newark we have now dedicated the
Martin Luther King, Jr. Federal Building in honor of this great leader.
It is important that we as a nation keep Dr. King's dream alive. The
bill we are considering today accomplished that goal in a number of
ways. In addition to allowing the Commission to continue its work in
addressing violence, crime, drug abuse and illiteracy, the measure also
allows the Corporation on National and Community Service to make grants
available to help with planning national service programs held in
conjunction with the Martin Luther King, Jr. holiday.
I urge my colleagues to join me in voting for this extension to allow
the Martin Luther King, Jr. Federal Holiday Commission to continue its
important work.
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