[Congressional Record Volume 145, Number 65 (Thursday, May 6, 1999)]
[Senate]
[Page S4897]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

      By Mr. WARNER:
  S. 978. A bill to specify that the legal public holiday known as 
Washington's Birthday be called by that name; to the Committee on the 
Judiciary.


               george washington bicentennial act of 1999

Mr. WARNER. Mr. President, I rise today to introduce 
legislation to reestablish the third Monday in February as a national 
holiday called ``Washington's Birthday.''
  Current law provides that the third Monday in February is a legal 
public holiday designated as ``Washington's Birthday.'' Nonetheless, 
there is an inaccurate misconception that this federal holiday is 
called ``President's Day.'' Not only does the use of the phrase 
``President's Day'' in reference to the third Monday in February have 
no force in federal law, the misnomer obscures the true meaning of the 
holiday.
  Simply put, the true meaning of the federal holiday known as 
``Washington's Birthday'' is to celebrate the birthday of the father of 
our country. Washington's role in achieving our Nation's independence, 
in helping to create our Constitution, and as the first President of 
the United States of America cannot be overestimated.
  As one of Virginia's delegates to the Second Continental Congress 
assembled in Philadelphia in May 1775, Washington was elected Commander 
in Chief of the Continental Army. As Commander in Chief of the Army, 
Washington helped ensure the independence of our Nation when he, with 
the help of French allies, forced the surrender of British forces at 
Yorktown. After the war, Washington soon realized the problems 
associated with the Articles of Confederation, and he became a prime 
mover in the steps leading to the Constitutional Convention in 
Philadelphia in 1787. Washington presided over the Constitutional 
Convention and ultimately yielded to the cries that he serve as our 
country's first President. After the Constitution was ultimately 
ratified, the electoral college twice unanimously elected Washington to 
serve as President of the United States.
  As the father of our country, President Washington deserves to be 
distinguished from other Presidents. Federal law recognizes this 
deserved distinction in that President Washington's birthday is the 
only President's birthday recognized as a federal holiday. However, 
because this holiday is all too often misconceived as ``President's 
Day,'' this legislation is necessary to reestablish that the federal 
holiday is in fact ``Washington's Birthday.''
  This legislation would achieve this objective by simply requiring all 
entities and officials of the United States Government, as well as 
federally funded publications, to refer to this day as ``Washington's 
Birthday.'' This bill in no way infringes on the right of any State or 
local government to recognize a ``President's Day'' or any other 
holiday. In fact, ``President's Day'' is a State holiday in a number of 
states.
  President Buchanan emphasized the importance of Washington's birthday 
when he stated, ``when the birthday of Washington shall be forgotten, 
liberty will have perished from the earth.'' I urge my colleagues to 
support this bill to ensure that President Washington receive the 
distinction he deserves.
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