[Congressional Record Volume 145, Number 52 (Thursday, April 15, 1999)]
[House]
[Pages H2101-H2102]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




PERMITTING USE OF ROTUNDA OF CAPITOL FOR CEREMONY IN HONOR OF FIFTIETH 
  ANNIVERSARY OF NATO, AND WELCOMING REPUBLIC OF POLAND, REPUBLIC OF 
               HUNGARY, AND THE CZECH REPUBLIC INTO NATO

  Mr. THOMAS. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee 
on House Administration be discharged from further consideration of the 
concurrent resolution (H. Con. Res. 81) permitting the use of the 
rotunda of the Capitol for a ceremony in honor of the Fiftieth 
Anniversary of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) and 
welcoming the three newest members of NATO, the Republic of Poland, the 
Republic of Hungary, and the Czech Republic, into NATO, and ask for its 
immediate consideration in the House.
  The Clerk read the title of the concurrent resolution.

[[Page H2102]]

  The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Shimkus). Is there objection to the 
request of the gentleman from California?
  Mr. HOYER. Mr. Speaker, reserving the right to object, and I will not 
object, but under my reservation I would be pleased to allow the 
chairman of the Committee on House Administration, the gentleman from 
California (Mr. Thomas), the opportunity to explain the resolution.
  Mr. THOMAS. Mr. Speaker, will the gentleman yield?
  Mr. HOYER. I yield to the gentleman from California.
  Mr. THOMAS. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding.
  As was indicated, this is the use of the rotunda for the celebration 
of the fiftieth anniversary of NATO, and it is an especially important 
fiftieth anniversary because of the beginning of the expansion of NATO 
across what we used to know historically as the Iron Curtain.

                              {time}  1615

  It is, in fact, probably the best evidence we have seen of the 
reunification of Europe with the admission of the Republic of Poland 
and the Republic of Hungary and the Czech Republic.
  Mr. HOYER. Mr. Speaker, further reserving the right to object, I of 
course agree with the characterization of this resolution and would 
add, under my reservation, my own remarks that it is certainly 
appropriate that this House recognize and allow the recognition of NATO 
in the Rotunda.
  NATO is one of the, perhaps, if not the most successful alliance in 
the history of the world in terms of maintaining and keeping peace. 
There is certainly none that excel it. And I am pleased to join with 
the gentleman from California (Mr. Thomas) in the support of this 
resolution.
  Mr. Speaker, I withdraw my reservation of objection.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from California?
  Mr. GILMAN. Mr. Speaker, reserving the right to object, but I will 
not object, I welcome this measure. Next week we will be privileged to 
host in Washington the 50th anniversary of our North Atlantic Treaty 
Organization. The Congress is honored to be able to play a part in 
these festivities.
  The resolution will enable us to utilize the Rotunda to hold an 
appropriate ceremony in connection with this very important 50th 
anniversary commemoration. I urge my colleagues to support the 
resolution.
  Mr. Speaker, I withdraw my reservation of objection.
  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. 81

       Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate 
     concurring), That the rotunda of the United States Capitol is 
     authorized to be used on April 23, 1999, for a ceremony in 
     honor of the Fiftieth Anniversary of the North Atlantic 
     Treaty Organization (NATO) and welcoming the three newest 
     members of NATO, the Republic of Poland, the Republic of 
     Hungary, and the Czech Republic, into NATO. Physical 
     preparations for the ceremony shall be carried out in 
     accordance with such conditions as the Architect of the 
     Capitol may prescribe.

  The concurrent resolution was agreed to.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

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