[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 41 (Thursday, April 2, 1998)]
[Senate]
[Pages S3137-S3138]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

      By Mr. CAMPBELL:
  S. 1922. A bill to amend chapter 61 of title 5, United States Code, 
to make election day a legal public holiday, with such holiday to be 
known as ``Freedom and Democracy Day''; to the Committee on the 
Judiciary.


                 freedom and democracy day legislation

  Mr. CAMPBELL. Mr. President, as our nation approaches the Millennium, 
it is an appropriate time to renew the appreciation and understanding 
of the American people in the democratic heritage and principles which 
make our country the greatest in the world. That is why I am 
introducing legislation today to rename Election Day as Freedom and 
Democracy Day and to renew civic responsibility.
  The two main objectives of this legislation are first, to broaden and 
increase voter turnout, and second, to restore appreciation for our 
country's most fundamental expression of freedom and its democratic 
underpinnings--the right to vote. As a nation, we must all be concerned 
that voter apathy is so high, while voter participation is so low. 
Voting, it seems, has become a neglected, if not cumbersome, privilege 
of Americans. In the past 20 years, voter participation in presidential 
election years has remained barely above 50 percent, and during midterm 
congressional election years it has not been more than 50 percent.
  I am alarmed at the unfortunate fact that voter participation has 
declined to the point that it is now among the lowest of any democratic 
nation. The rate of voter participation among younger Americans--the 
future leaders, teachers, and business executives--has declined 
significantly. It is our responsibility as elected officials, and, more 
importantly, as American citizens, to support additional efforts to 
strengthen the electoral process, to encourage civic awareness, and to 
promote active participation in the exercise of liberty.
  Therefore, the first goal of the bill is to renew civic spirit and 
highlight the importance of Americans to fulfill their civic 
responsibilities by making Election Day a legal public holiday, known 
as Freedom and Democracy Day. This designation gives new meaning to the 
importance of voting on the first Tuesday in November. We need to 
stress the importance of self-government, encourage Americans to 
exercise their freedom and liberty as citizens by voting, and encourage 
Americans to reinvigorate their support for their civic duties.
  Although my bill designates this day as a legal public holiday, I 
want to emphasize that Freedom and Democracy Day will remain a regular 
workday. The bill specifically does not reference statutes relating to 
pay and leave of federal employees, and it does not affect the regular 
operations of the federal government.
  We as legislators and as citizens should do more to promote voter 
turnout and increase understanding of the value and importance of the 
right to vote. That is why the second objective of this bill is to 
encourage communities, schools, civic organizations, charitable 
organizations, companies, radio and television broadcasters, and public 
officials at all levels of government to support and celebrate Freedom 
and Democracy Day. The legislation encourages these key segments of 
society to sponsor and publicize appropriate celebrations and events 
which stress the importance of participation in self government. Their 
programs and support will send a strong message that the legitimacy of 
the democratic process is created from the consent of the governed, and 
voiced in the full participation of an informed, aware and active 
citizenry.
  I believe my bill provides a starting point for a renewed spirit and 
appreciation of freedom and democracy. It is my sincere hope that given 
more incentive to vote, more Americans will seize and exercise this 
expression of freedom. It is a small step in the overall effort to 
encourage all American citizens to take pride and participate in their 
representative system of government.
  Much of the voter apathy reflects many citizens' lack of faith in all 
levels of government. In America, power is supposed to be delegated 
from the citizen and loaned to the government. The Founding Fathers, 
who pledged their lives, their fortunes and their sacred honor for a 
new country, knew that as a nation we must leave room for change and 
growth and development. They knew the nation they left for us would 
modernize, rethink, and restructure.
  Let us be vigilant in remembering that the American idea of democracy 
is a government ``of the people, by the people, for the people.'' This 
is the idea of freedom and liberty; uniquely American. And, it is the 
goal of this bill to strengthen the American people's right to freedom 
and celebrate the spirit of democracy in the country which first 
empowered citizens with ``certain unalienable rights.''
  Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the bill be entered into 
the Record.
  There being no objection, the bill was ordered to be printed in the 
Record, as follows:

[[Page S3138]]

                                S. 1922

         Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives 
     of the United States of America in Congress assembled,

     SECTION 1. FINDINGS.

       The Congress finds that--
       (1) democratic government derives its legitimacy from the 
     consent of the governed, as manifested in the full 
     participation of an informed and aware electorate;
       (2) since 1960 the rate of voter participation in the 
     United States has declined and is now among the lowest of any 
     nation with a democratic form of government;
       (3) since 1972 the rate of voter participation among young 
     people in the United States has declined significantly;
       (4) the Federal Government should encourage personal 
     responsibility and the broader understanding of the value and 
     importance of the right to vote; and
       (5) the establishment of a legal public holiday on election 
     day, the first Tuesday after the first Monday in November of 
     each even numbered year, could provide a substantial 
     incentive to increase voter participation by the American 
     public.

     SEC. 2. SENSE OF THE CONGRESS.

       It is the sense of the Congress that educators, civic and 
     charitable organizations, radio and television broadcasters, 
     and public officials at all levels of government should help 
     the people of the United States celebrate Freedom and 
     Democracy Day through appropriate celebrations and events 
     which stress the importance of self-government.

     SEC. 3. DESIGNATION OF ELECTION DAY AS LEGAL PUBLIC HOLIDAY.

       Section 6103 of title 5, United States Code, is amended--
       (1) by redesignating subsection (d) as subsection (e); and
       (2) by inserting after subsection (c) the following:
       ``(d)(1) Subject to paragraph (2), the first Tuesday after 
     the first Monday in November in each even numbered year, 
     Election Day, shall be a legal public holiday, with such 
     holiday to be known as Freedom and Democracy Day.
       ``(2) Freedom and Democracy Day--
       ``(A) shall be a regular workday;
       ``(B) shall not be treated as a legal public holiday for 
     purposes of statutes relating to pay and leave of employees 
     as defined by section 2105 of this title; and
       ``(C) shall not affect the regular operations of the 
     Federal Government.''.
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