[Congressional Record Volume 145, Number 150 (Friday, October 29, 1999)]
[Senate]
[Pages S13576-S13577]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




          HISTORY OF THE HOUSE AWARENESS AND PRESERVATION ACT

  Mrs. HUTCHISON. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent the Rules 
Committee be discharged from further consideration of H.R. 2303, and 
the Senate then proceed to its immediate consideration.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered. The clerk 
will report the bill by title.
  The legislative clerk read as follows:

       A bill (H.R. 2303) to direct the Librarian of Congress to 
     prepare the history of the House of Representatives and for 
     other purposes.

  There being no objection, the Senate proceeded to consider the bill.
  Mr. DODD. Mr. President, I rise in support of H.R. 2303, the History 
of the House Awareness and Preservation Act, and wish to take a moment 
of the Senate to congratulate the author of this legislation, the 
Honorable John B. Larson of the First Congressional District of 
Connecticut.
  John has proven himself to be a skilled legislator and an articulate 
and creative advocate for the people of his district, the State of 
Connecticut, and indeed the entire Nation. For twelve years John served 
with distinction in the Connecticut State Senate, serving as President 
Pro Tempore for eight years. It is altogether fitting that this 
initiative is John's first legislative accomplishment. As a former high 
school teacher, John is in a unique position to understand the 
significance and importance of recording the deliberations and history 
of the House for the benefit of future generations.
  As a newly elected member of the House of Representatives, John 
arrived in Washington at a time when it appeared that partisanship and 
acrimony

[[Page S13577]]

would be the order of the day. True to his reverence for our system of 
government, and his respect and admiration for the institution he now 
serves in, John initiated this idea in response to calls for a return 
to civility in the House of Representatives. It is a testament to his 
skill and effectiveness that this legislation garnered 313 cosponsors, 
including both the Speaker of the House, Mr. Hastert, and the House 
Minority Leader, Mr. Gephardt, and was adopted by the House in just a 
little over four months from its introduction on June 22 of this year. 
The United States Senate is deeply indebted to our distinguished 
colleague, Senator Robert C. Byrd, for his considerable efforts to 
preserve the history of the Senate through his four-volume history. The 
House of Representatives, and students of government across this 
Nation, will be indebted to John Larson for his efforts as well.
  I am privileged to count John as a friend and an advisor and I 
commend him on the enactment of this, his first, legislative 
initiative. It is an honor for me, as the Ranking Member of the 
Committee on Rules and Administration, to play a small role in 
assisting his efforts to preserve the rich history of the House of 
Representatives for future generations. I urge the adoption of this 
legislation.
  Mrs. HUTCHISON. I ask unanimous consent the bill be read three times, 
passed, the motion to reconsider be laid on the table, and any 
statements relating thereto be printed in the Record.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  The bill (H.R. 2303) was read the third time and passed.

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