[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 107 (Friday, July 25, 1997)]
[House]
[Pages H5805-H5806]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




   AUTHORIZING USE OF CATAFALQUE IN U.S. CAPITOL IN CONNECTION WITH 
      MEMORIAL SERVICES FOR THE LATE HONORABLE WILLIAM J. BRENNAN

  Mr. THOMAS. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee 
on House Oversight be discharged

[[Page H5806]]

from further consideration of the concurrent resolution (H. Con. Res 
123) providing for the use of the catafalque situated in the crypt 
beneath the rotunda of the Capitol in connection with memorial services 
to be conducted in the Supreme Court Building for the late honorable 
William J. Brennan, former Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of 
the United States, and ask unanimous consent for its immediate 
consideration.
  The Clerk read the title of the concurrent resolution.

                              {time}  1345

  The SPEAKER pro tempore [Mr. LaTourette]. Is there objection to the 
request of the gentleman from California?
  Mr. HASTINGS of Florida. Mr. Speaker, reserving the right to object, 
though obviously I will not object, I yield to the gentleman from 
California [Mr. Thomas] to explain his request.
  Mr. THOMAS. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding to me.
  Mr. Speaker, apropos the gentleman's earlier comments to the majority 
leader, it is unfortunate that Associate Justice Brennan has passed on. 
The administrative assistant to the Chief Justice has asked the 
Architect of the Capitol, as they did with former Chief Justice Warren 
Burger, if they might use the catafalque in the basement for memorial 
services over at the Supreme Court building.
  It is entirely appropriate, given the former career of the gentleman 
from Florida, because he fully appreciates the focus of the Lincoln 
catafalque for an Associate Justice of the U.S. Supreme Court, and 
especially a Justice like William J. Brennan, appointed by a Republican 
President, with a very distinguished career in first amendment freedom 
protection.
  Mr. HASTINGS of Florida. Reclaiming my time, Mr. Speaker, I fully 
concur with the gentleman's resolution and am entirely in support of 
same, reminding all of us that the Lincoln catafalque is reserved for 
giants in our history, as it was for former Chief Justice Warren 
Burger, retired, on June 28, 1995.
  We anticipate that Justice Brennan will lie in repose at the family's 
request possibly for 24 hours, beginning on Monday, July 28, 1997. As 
we have indicated, the majority leader, working with the minority 
leader, we are hopeful that they will make arrangements for those of us 
desirous of attending the funeral.
  One final thing is to join my colleague in saying that our Nation has 
lost a great leader, one who wrote over 1,200 opinions and shaped a 
large portion of the history of this country in the 1960's, 
particularly the one-person, one-vote decision of Justice Brennan.
  On Monday night the Congressional Black Caucus and other interested 
Members are going to hold a special order, and I would ask all our 
colleagues to support the concurrent resolution and to participate in 
the special order, and as many as possible to attend the funeral.
  Mr. THOMAS. If the gentleman will continue to yield, Mr. Speaker, the 
gentleman has eloquently indicated the reason why with pleasure, 
although with sadness, we will allow the Supreme Court to utilize the 
Lincoln catafalque.
  Mr. HASTINGS of Florida. I thank the gentleman.
  Mr. Speaker, I withdraw my reservation of objection.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from California?
  There was no objection.
  The Clerk read the concurrent resolution, as follows:

                            H. Con. Res. 123

       Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate 
     concurring), That the Architect of the Capitol is authorized 
     and directed to transfer to the custody of the Chief Justice 
     of the United States the catafalque which is presently 
     situated in the crypt beneath the rotunda of the Capitol so 
     that such catafalque may be used in the Supreme Court 
     Building in connection with services to be conducted there 
     for the late honorable William J. Brennan, former Associate 
     Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States.
  The concurrent resolution was agreed to.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

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