[Congressional Record Volume 145, Number 152 (Tuesday, November 2, 1999)]
[House]
[Pages H11248-H11249]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
SUPPORTING NATIONAL CIVILITY WEEK
Mrs. BIGGERT. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to
the resolution (H. Res. 324) supporting National Civility Week, Inc.,
in its efforts to restore civility, honesty, integrity, and respectful
consideration in the United States.
The Clerk read as follows:
H. Res. 324
Whereas our civilization is founded upon the values of
honesty, courtesy, and respectful consideration among its
citizens;
Whereas we seek to teach and reaffirm these fundamental
values of civility;
Whereas a lack of civility in recent years has become
frighteningly apparent, as seen in media tales of road rage
and school violence, of personal deceit and public
corruption;
Whereas common courtesy has become bewilderingly uncommon;
Whereas a large part of many Americans' behavior can be
traced to a failure to honor the codes of civil conduct that
have governed society for many generations;
Whereas the teaching of courtesy has declined while the
celebration of vulgarity and effrontery has increased;
Whereas many Americans have ceased to honor the good
examples that surround them;
Whereas in this context, too many people find it easy to
manifest disrespect for other age groups, races, and
religions;
Whereas National Civility Week, Inc. is a nonpartisan and
nonprofit corporation devoted to reintroducing civility in
our Nation;
Whereas National Civility Week, Inc. has encouraged the
establishment of Civility Weeks in a number of states in an
effort to reaffirm society's commitment to adhere to well-
established rules of civil conduct;
Whereas National Civility Week, Inc. will honor those who
practice common decency and simple honesty; and
Whereas National Civility Week, Inc. will draw attention to
the behaviors and standards that we respect as a people, and
will celebrate the conduct that ties together the threads of
our social fabric: Now, therefore, be it
Resolved, That the House of Representatives supports these
efforts to restore civility, honesty, integrity, and
respectful consideration in the United States.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentlewoman from
Illinois (Mrs. Biggert) and the gentleman from California (Mr. Lantos)
each will control 20 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentlewoman from Illinois (Mrs. Biggert).
General Leave
Mrs. BIGGERT. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members
may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks
on the resolution under consideration.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the
gentlewoman from Illinois?
There was no objection.
Mrs. BIGGERT. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of House Resolution 324, supporting
National Civility Week. I would like to thank the distinguished
chairman of the House Committee on Government Reform, the gentleman
from Indiana (Mr. Burton), who recognized the importance of this
measure and assured its consideration today on the House floor. I also
want to express my appreciation to the gentleman from California (Mr.
Lantos) for introducing this important legislation as well.
This resolution provides an opportunity for all of us to reflect upon
the changing nature of our culture and its increasing lack of civility.
In 1998, former Secretary of Education William Bennett and former
Senator Sam Nunn of Georgia collaborated on an assessment of our
Nation's civic health. After reviewing rates of volunteerism and other
forms of civic participation, they concluded that civility among the
American people has declined dramatically in recent decades.
We do not need to look too far to understand that this lack of
civility is permeating our political discussion. In the first papers of
The Federalist, the author expressed hope that Americans might
establish good government through reflection and choice. In contrast to
what later essays in The Federalist would call the heat and violence
[[Page H11249]]
of faction, the founders hoped that our government would come to
reflect the deliberate sense of the community.
Too frequently today this body's deliberations represent the violence
of faction through partisan posturing. Too often in our deliberations
we hear accusations and innuendo. The occasional lack of civility in
this body reflects what is happening to our culture in a broader sense.
As a society, we have become detached from and, in many ways, no longer
honor the traditional codes of civil conduct.
Reattaching ourselves to a system that honors decency and promotes
common courtesy is one of the most important things we can do. This
recognition of National Civility Week, while a small gesture, provides
an opportunity to reaffirm the importance of civility in our culture as
well as in this body's political deliberations. It can provide
additional impetus to the bipartisan congressional retreats we hold
each year at Hershey and elevate the quality and civility of our
political discussions.
I am pleased to have the opportunity to offer this legislation for
consideration, and trust that it will draw attention to behaviors and
standards that we ought to expect but do not always practice. When I
was elected to this body, I pledged to work to restore faith in
government through honesty, decency, and personal responsibility.
{time} 1400
We must hold ourselves to a higher standard, not a lower one, that we
expect of other people. I encourage my colleagues to support this
resolution.
Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. LANTOS. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, I first wanted to thank many of my colleagues who have
worked on this legislation: The gentleman from Indiana (Chairman
Burton), chairman of the Committee on Government Reform; the gentleman
from California (Mr. Waxman), the ranking Democrat; the gentleman from
Florida (Mr. Scarborough), the chairman of the Subcommittee on Civil
Service; and the gentleman from Maryland (Mr. Cummings), the ranking
member.
I particularly want to thank my friend and distinguished colleague,
the gentlewoman from Illinois (Mrs. Biggert), for managing this
legislation. Although she has been with us only a short time, she has
brought a great deal of civility to this body for which we are deeply
grateful.
I also want to thank our colleagues who have been the principal
cosponsors of this legislation, the gentleman from Illinois (Mr.
LaHood) and the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Sawyer).
As my colleague the gentlewoman from Illinois (Mrs. Biggert) has
already indicated, these two colleagues have been committed to
increasing the civility here within this House. They have been the
leading force behind our biannual retreats in an effort to improve
personal relations among colleagues here in this body.
Their commitment to improving relations between Members is fully
consistent with the purpose of this resolution that we are considering
today. I am grateful for their enthusiastic support.
Mr. Speaker, a student-created and student-run nonprofit
organization, National Civility Week, Incorporated, deserves our
support to restore civility, honesty, integrity, and respectful
consideration in the United States.
Our civilization, Mr. Speaker, is founded upon and cannot function
without the values of honesty and courtesy and respectful consideration
among its citizens. As parents and grandparents, we seek to teach and
reaffirm these fundamental values of civility. But unfortunately, the
lack of civility in recent years has become frighteningly apparent, as
seen in road rage and school violence, personal deceit, and public
corruption.
Common courtesy has become bewilderingly uncommon. A large part of
many Americans' behavior can be traced to a failure to honor the codes
of civil conduct that have governed other societies for so many
generations. The teaching of courtesy has declined, while the
celebration of vulgarity and effrontery have increased.
Many Americans have ceased to honor the good examples that surround
them. In this context, too many people find it easy to manifest
disrespect for other age groups, other races, other religions. National
Civility Week, Incorporated, is a nonpartisan and nonprofit corporation
which is devoted to reintroducing civility to our Nation.
It honors those who practice common decency and simple honesty. It
draws attention to the behaviors and standards that we respect as a
people and celebrates the conduct that ties together the threads of our
social fabric.
I strongly urge all of my colleagues to support this resolution.
Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mrs. BIGGERT. Mr. Speaker, I have no other speakers and I reserve the
balance of my time.
Mr. LANTOS. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, in conclusion, I want to pay tribute to the young
founder of this organization, Ms. Charity Tillemann-Dick, for her
outstanding efforts in bringing this measure to our attention.
I urge my colleagues to support the resolution.
Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
Mrs. BIGGERT. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time.
Mr. Speaker, House Resolution 324 provides a wonderful opportunity to
strengthen the character and manner of our public and political
deliberations, as well as to improve the way we treat each other.
Congress should seize this opportunity to lead by example. Not only
should we pass House Resolution 324, celebrating National Civility
Week, but we should provide on a daily basis the examples of civil
speech and conduct that contribute to the rule of reason and show the
American public that civility does count.
I congratulate the gentleman from California (Mr. Lantos) for
sponsoring this fine legislation. I am proud to bring it to the floor
and ask for the full support of all Members on this resolution.
Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Shimkus). The question is on the motion
offered by the gentlewoman from Illinois (Mrs. Biggert) that the House
suspend the rules and agree to the resolution, House Resolution 324.
The question was taken; and (two-thirds having voted in favor
thereof) the rules were suspended and the resolution was agreed to.
A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.
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