[Congressional Record Volume 140, Number 110 (Wednesday, August 10, 1994)]
[House]
[Page H]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[Congressional Record: August 10, 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 ask unanimous consent to take from the 
Speaker's table 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., with Senate 
amendments thereto, and concur in the Senate amendments.
  The Clerk read the title of the bill.
  The Clerk read the Senate amendments, as follows:

       Senate amendments: Page 2, strike out lines 17 to 21 and 
     insert:
       (3) in section 6--
       (A) in subsection (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'';
       (B) in subsection (b)(1) by adding the following at the 
     end: ``A person who has been detailed under the preceding 
     sentence for as many as 365 days (continuously or 
     intermittently) may not subsequently be detailed to the 
     Commission.''; and
       (C) All Federal employees on loan to the King Commission on 
     the day of enactment of this Act may remain detailed to the 
     Martin Luther King Holiday Commission for not more than 365 
     days.
       Page 3, strike out all after line 3 down to and including 
     ``1990'''' in line 6 and insert:
       (5) by amending section 8 to read as follows:

     ``SEC. 8. COMMISSION REPORT.

       ``(a) In General.--Not later than April 20 of each year, 
     the Commission shall submit a report to the President and the 
     Congress concerning its activities under this Act or under 
     the National and Community Service Act of 1990.
       ``(b) Analysis Required.--The Commission shall include in 
     its annual report--
       ``(1) a detailed description of all activities undertaken 
     by the Commission;
       ``(2) an analysis of the spending practices of the 
     Commission indicating how much of the funds of the Commission 
     are dedicated to salaries, travel expenses, and other 
     overhead costs and how much are dedicated to the stated goals 
     of the Commission; and
       ``(3) a detailed description of any grants made by the 
     Corporation for National and Community Service with the 
     consultation of the Commission.'';
       Page 3, line 6, strike out ``; and''
       Page 3, line 8, strike out the period and insert a 
     semicolon
       Page 3, after line 8, insert:
       (7) by adding at the end the following new section:
       ``Sec. 10. None of the funds appropriated or donated to the 
     Commission may be used for the purpose of purchasing first 
     class air travel or first class hotel accommodations.''; and
       Page 3, after line 8, insert:
       (8) by adding at the end the following:

     ``SEC. 11. ACCOUNTING PROCEDURES.

       ``The Commission shall follow a comprehensive basis of 
     accounting, as defined by the Comptroller General in B-
     255473. The Commission shall establish an accounting system 
     for review by the Comptroller General under section 3512 of 
     title 31, United States Code. The Comptroller General is 
     authorized to review and audit the Commission, its programs, 
     activities, operations, and financial transactions. The 
     Comptroller General, and his agents, shall have access to all 
     records, files, documents, and papers of the Commission, as 
     necessary, to accomplish such audits.''.

  Mr. SAWYER (during the reading). Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent 
that the Senate amendments to the bill be considered as read and 
printed in the Record.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore [Mr. Clyburn]. Is there objection to the 
request of the gentleman from Ohio?
  There was no objection.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the initial request of 
the gentleman from Ohio?
  Mr. GILMAN. Mr. Speaker, reserving the right to object, I yield to my 
good friend and colleague, the gentleman from Ohio [Mr. Sawyer], 
chairman of the Subcommittee on Census, Statistics, and Postal 
Personnel of the Committee on Post Office and Civil Service, for an 
explanation of the Senate amendments.
  Mr. SAWYER. Mr. Speaker, first of all, let me thank my friend and 
colleague, the gentleman from New York. We have worked closely on this 
and a number of other pieces of important legislation, and I appreciate 
his cooperation.
  Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support H.R. 1933, the King 
Holiday and Service Act, as amended by the Senate.
  As passed by the House last March, H.R. 1933 contained three major 
provisions. First, it would extend the life of the Martin Luther King, 
Jr. Federal Holiday Commission for 5 years, through fiscal year 1999.
  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.
  Finally, H.R. 1993 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 Commission sponsors activities throughout the year. However, it 
is the Federal holiday that casts the necessary light on the continued 
importance of Martin Luther King, Jr.'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.
  The Senate considered and passed H.R. 1933 on May 24, with several 
amendments. The amendments do not make any substantive changes to the 
bill. They are intended to improve the operation of the Commission and 
to ensure the most cost-effective use of fiscal and human resources.
  Therefore, I urge my colleagues to approve the King Holiday and 
Service Act, as amended by the Senate.
  Mr. GILMAN. Mr. Speaker, further reserving the right to object, I 
want to thank the gentleman for his explanation of this important 
commission.
  Mr. Speaker, under my reservation of objection, I am pleased to yield 
to the gentleman from Georgia [Mr. Lewis].
  Mr. LEWIS of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I wish to thank my good friend and 
colleague, the gentleman from New York, for yielding. I also thank the 
gentleman from Ohio [Mr. Sawyer], who has been a strong leader on 
behalf of this legislation. I want to thank him for his initiative, his 
vision, his leadership, and his wholehearted support. I would like to 
also thank the gentleman from New York for his support.
  Mr. Speaker, I strongly urge passage of H.R. 1933, as amended by the 
Senate, to reauthorize the Martin Luther King, Jr. Federal Holiday 
Commission. The King Commission has done an excellent job of promoting 
the King holiday. As we know, the King holiday is now celebrated in all 
50 States, the District of Columbia, in the military, and in more than 
100 nations.
  But I believe there is work left to be done. Today, we are witnessing 
an increase in violence in our schools, in our streets, on our 
playgrounds. Our children have become victims of violence at the hands 
of other children. Gang killings have nearly tripled in the last 4 
years; 100,000 children bring guns to school each day. Too many of us 
have had young friends killed by violence. Too many of us have lost our 
sons. Lost our daughters.
  We must stop the violence.
  The King Commission is out on the front lines, in our communities, in 
our cities, fighting violence. It has provided the leadership, 
guidance, and resources for activities promoting nonviolence throughout 
the Nation. It is fighting to end the cycle of violence and drug use in 
our schools, in our communities. It is fighting to make the King 
holiday a day of reaching out and helping others, a day of interracial 
cooperation.
  Dr. King spoke to the heart and conscience of all of us who believed 
that nonviolence offered a more excellent way of achieving equality in 
this country. He was a spokesperson, not only for African-Americans, 
but for every American. A day in celebration of what he stood for 
should be a day in celebration of what we all stand for. It should be a 
celebration of community. It should be a celebration of coming 
together. It should be a celebration of what America should be, what 
America could be. It should be a promise of Dr. King's beloved 
community, a community founded on love, respect, and hope.
  We must extend the life of the King Commission, and help make the 
Martin Luther King, Jr. holiday a holiday for us all.
  Mr. GILMAN. Mr. Speaker, further reserving the right to object, I am 
pleased to yield to the gentleman from Ohio [Mr. Sawyer].
  Mr. SAWYER Mr. Speaker, I thank my friend, the gentleman from New 
York, for yielding to me.
  Mr. Speaker, I appreciate the opportunity simply to associate myself 
with the remarks of our colleague, the gentleman from Georgia [Mr. 
Lewis], and to thank him for his leadership and sponsorship of this 
measure, and to also thank our colleague, the gentleman from Ohio [Mr. 
Regula] for his leadership throughout this, although he could not be 
with us this afternoon.
  Mr. GILMAN. Mr. Speaker, I withdraw my reservation of objection.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the initial request of 
the gentleman from Ohio?
  There was no objection.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

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