[Congressional Record Volume 145, Number 116 (Thursday, September 9, 1999)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1822-E1823]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                              LIBERTY DAY

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. THOMAS G. TANCREDO

                              of colorado

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, September 8, 1999

  Mr. TANCREDO. Mr. Speaker, I rise to call to the House's attention an 
event--actually, a celebration--which is expanding across the country. 
The celebration is Liberty Day, which honors the Declaration of 
Independence and the U.S. Constitution. Liberty Day was begun by the 
Colorado Lions and now represents a collaborative project among service 
clubs. It is totally nonpartisan and supported by all political parties 
in my state, has been unanimously endorsed by the state legislature, 
teachers, the state board of education and many others. Booklets 
containing copies of the Constitution and the Declaration of 
Independence are printed with private donations, and are distributed to 
school kids by elected officials who visit classes and speak about the 
importance of the founding documents.
  Earlier this year, I visited West Middle School in Greenwood Village, 
Colorado to mark Liberty Day in Colorado. Liberty Day Colorado is 
officially celebrated on March 16th, the birthday of James Madison. I 
believe that every student in America should take at least one day to 
study these documents, learning how these documents give us such 
remarkable rights and responsibilities as citizens.
  I would like to submit the following six proclamations into the 
Record. They were issued by Governor Bill Owens of Colorado; Governor 
Jim Geringer of Wyoming; Governor Gray Davis of California; the 
Colorado State Legislature; the Colorado State Board of Education; and 
the Colorado Federation of Teachers.
  I believe that our founding documents are essential to understanding 
what it means to be an American. The ideas embodied in these historical 
documents, so unprecedented at the time of the Founders, continue to 
make our country unique in the world today.
  I urge members to take advantage of the opportunity to start Liberty 
Day in their state. For information, please contact Andy McKean at the 
Liberty Day Colorado Information Clearinghouse at 3600 E. 48th Avenue, 
Denver, Colorado 80216; (phone) 303-333-3434; (fax) 303-339-1011; or 
(e-mail) Liberty D[email protected].

                     Colorado Honorary Proclamation

       Whereas, we as Americans enjoy our liberties through the 
     documents that our founding fathers created, those being 
     known as the Declaration of Independence and the U.S. 
     Constitution with its Bill of Rights; and
       Whereas, James Madison wrote the Virginia Plan, the model 
     and the basis of discussion for the forming of a new 
     constitution, in the constitutional convention of 1787, which 
     new constitution established our new form of government, 
     replacing the Articles of Confederation; and
       Whereas, James Madison wrote many of the newspaper articles 
     which outlined the reasons that the states should endorse the 
     new constitution. These articles became known as the 
     Federalist Papers. James Madison served in the U.S. House of 
     Representatives from 1789 until 1797 during which time he 
     introduced into Congress the Bill of Rights; and
       Whereas, James Madison was President of the United States 
     from 1809 until 1817; and Tuesday, March 16, 1999 is the 
     243rd anniversary of the birth of James Madison;
       Now Therefore, I, Bill Owens, Governor of the State of 
     Colorado, do hereby proclaim March 16, 1999, as Liberty Day 
     in the State of Colorado.
       Given under my hand and the Executive Seal of the State of 
     Colorado, this sixteenth day of February, 1999--Bill Owens, 
     Governor.
                                  ____


                    Wyoming Governor's Proclamation

       We, as Americans, enjoy our liberties which are preserved 
     by the documents that our founding fathers created, namely 
     the Declaration of Independence and the United States 
     Constitution with its Bill of Rights.
       James Madison was a contributing author of the Virginia 
     Plan, the model and the basis of discussion for the forming 
     of a new constitution, in the Constitutional Convention of 
     1787. The new constitution established our new form of 
     government, replacing the Articles of Confederation.
       James Madison kept written records of the Debates in the 
     Federal Convention of 1787, which * * * and compromises 
     finally produced the Constitution of the United States.
       Such records were not made public until the last signer 
     died, who was James Madison. His wife, Dolly Madison, sold 
     the records to the United States government, and they were 
     published around 1840.
       These articles became known as the Federalist Papers, and 
     were co-written with Alexander Hamilton and John Jay and 
     still stand as some of the best arguments for our form of 
     government, a representative republic.
       James Madison served in the United States House of 
     Representatives from 1769 until 1797, during which time he 
     introduced into Congress the Bill of Rights, which was 
     ratified by the States in 1791.
       James Madison was Secretary of State from 1801 until 1809, 
     and President of the United States from 1809 until 1817.
       For these significant reasons, I, Jim Geringer, Governor of 
     the State of Wyoming, do hereby honor and proclaim Tuesday, 
     March 16, 1999, as ``Liberty Day'' in Wyoming

[[Page E1823]]

     and that the month of March, 1999 be proclaimed Liberty Month 
     in Wyoming in celebration and recognition of the 249th 
     anniversary of the birth of James Madison.
       In witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and caused 
     the Great Seal of the State of Wyoming to be affirmed this 
     24th day of February, 1999.
                                  ____


                   California Governor's Proclamation

       Whereas, we as Americans enjoy our liberties through the 
     documents that our founding fathers created, those being 
     known as the Declaration of Independence and the United 
     States Constitution with its Bill of Rights; and
       Whereas, James Madison had considerable influence in the 
     creating of the United States Constitution, in that he wrote 
     the Virginia Plan, which served as the model and basis for 
     discussion for the forming of that new constitution which has 
     so preserved our liberties in this country; and
       Whereas, James Madison wrote many of the articles (which 
     became known as the ``Federal Papers'') that persuaded the 
     inhabitants of this new country to endorse and accept the 
     United States Constitution; and
       Whereas, James Madison served in the first House of 
     Representatives under the new government (from 1789 to 1797), 
     during which time he introduced the Bill of Rights into 
     Congress, for the full protection and preservation of our 
     liberties; and
       Whereas, James Madison was President of the United States 
     from 1809 until 1817; and March 16, 2000 is the 249th 
     anniversary of the birth of James Madison;
       Now therefore, I, Gray Davis, Governor of the State of 
     California, do hereby proclaim March 16, 2000 as Liberty Day, 
     in the State of California.
                                  ____


 Senate Joint Resolution 99-016 Concerning the Recognition of Liberty 
                   Day and Liberty Month in Colorado

       Whereas, We as Americans enjoy our liberties as a result of 
     the documents that our founding fathers created, those 
     documents being the Declaration of Independence and the 
     United States Constitution with its Bill of Rights; and
       Whereas, James Madison was a contributing author of the 
     Virginia Plan, the model and the basis of discussion for the 
     forming of a new constitution in the constitutional 
     convention of 1787, which new constitution established our 
     new form of government, replacing the Articles of 
     Confederation; and
       Whereas, James Madison kept written records of the Debates 
     in the Federal Convention of 1787, which debates and 
     compromises finally produced the Constitution of the United 
     States; and
       Whereas, Such records were not made public until the last 
     signer died, who was James Madison, and his wife, Dolley 
     Madison, sold the records to the United States government, 
     and they were published around 1840, and
       Whereas, James Madison wrote many of the newspaper articles 
     which outlined the reasons that the states should endorse the 
     new constitution; and
       Whereas, These articles became known as the Federalist 
     Papers, and were co-written with Alexander Hamilton and John 
     Jay and still stand as some of the best arguments for our 
     form of government, a representative republic; and
       Whereas, James Madison served in the United States House of 
     Representatives from 1789 until 1797, during which time he 
     introduced into Congress the Bill of Rights, which was 
     ratified by the states in 1791; and
       Whereas, James Madison was Secretary of State from 1801 
     until 1809, and president of the United States from 1809 
     until 1817; and
       Whereas, Tuesday, March 16, 1999, is the 248th anniversary 
     of the birth of James Madison; now, therefore,
       Be It Resolved by the Senate of the Sixty-second General 
     Assembly of the State of Colorado, the House of 
     Representatives concurring herein:
       That, Tuesday, March 16, 1999, be proclaimed Liberty Day 
     Colorado and that the month of March 1999 be proclaimed 
     Liberty Month Colorado.
                                  ____


Colorado State Board of Education Resolution To Support Liberty Day and 
                       Liberty Month in Colorado

       Whereas, We as Americans enjoy our liberties through the 
     documents that our founding fathers created, those being 
     known as the Declaration of Independence and the United 
     States Constitution with its Bill of Rights; and
       Whereas, James Madison was a contributing author of the 
     Virginia Plan, the model and the basis of discussion for the 
     forming of a new constitution, in the constitutional 
     convention of 1787, which new constitution established our 
     new form of government replacing the Articles of 
     Confederation; and
       Whereas, James Madison kept written records of the Debates 
     in the Federal Convention of 1787, which debates and 
     compromises finally produced the Constitution of the United 
     States; and
       Whereas, Such records were not made public until the last 
     signer died, who was James Madison, and his wife, Dolly 
     Madison, sold the records of the United States government, 
     and they were published around 1840; and
       Whereas, James Madison wrote many of the newspaper articles 
     which outlined the reasons that the states should endorse the 
     new constitution; and
       Whereas, These articles became known as the Federalist 
     Papers, and were co-written with Alexander Hamilton and John 
     Jay and still stand as some of the best arguments for our 
     form of government, a representative republic; and
       Whereas, James Madison served in the United States House of 
     Representatives from 1789 until 1797, during which time he 
     introduced into Congress the Bill of Rights, which was 
     ratified by the states in 1791; and
       Whereas, James Madison was Secretary of State from 1801 
     until 1809, and president of the United States from 1809 
     until 1817; and
       Whereas, Tuesday, March 16, 1999 is the 248th anniversary 
     of the birth of James Madison;
       Be it Resolved, That the Colorado State Board of Education 
     proclaim Tuesday, March 16, 1999 Liberty Day Colorado, and 
     that month of March 1999 be proclaimed Liberty Month 
     Colorado.
                                  ____


 Colorado Federation of Teachers, School, Health, and Public Employees 
 Executive Board Resolution Regarding Liberty Day Colorado, March 16, 
                                  1999

       Whereas the members of the Executive Board of the Colorado 
     Federation of Teachers, School, Health and Public Employees 
     supports all efforts to provide or supplement meaningful 
     education experiences for students in the area of our 
     democratic republic, its structure, function, and history, 
     and
       Whereas, Liberty Day Colorado is a statewide, non-partisan 
     celebration of the Declaration of Independence and the 
     Constitution of the United States of America conducted on the 
     16th of March, James Madison's birthday, each year, and
       Whereas, Colorado students across the state benefit from 
     Liberty Day Colorado through direct instruction and 
     interaction with guest speakers;
       Therefore, be it Resolved, That the Executive Board of the 
     Colorado Federation of Teachers, School, Health and Public 
     Employees unanimously voices its support for Liberty Day 
     Colorado to be celebrated on Tuesday, March 16, 1999, and
       Be it further Resolved, That this celebration be made known 
     to our members and their participation encouraged.

     

                          ____________________