[Congressional Record Volume 146, Number 28 (Tuesday, March 14, 2000)]
[House]
[Page H940]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




AUTHORIZING USE OF CAPITOL ROTUNDA BY JOINT CONGRESSIONAL COMMITTEE ON 
                          INAUGURAL CEREMONIES

  Mr. THOMAS. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and concur in 
the Senate concurrent resolution (S. Con. Res. 90) to authorize the use 
of the rotunda of the Capitol by the Joint Congressional Committee on 
Inaugural Ceremonies in connection with the proceedings and ceremonies 
conducted for the inauguration of the President-elect and the Vice 
President-elect of the United States.
  The Clerk read as follows:

                            S. Con. Res. 90

       Resolved by the Senate (the House of Representatives 
     concurring),

     SECTION 1. USE OF THE ROTUNDA OF THE CAPITOL.

       The rotunda of the United States Capitol is authorized to 
     be used on January 20, 2001, by the Joint Congressional 
     Committee on Inaugural Ceremonies in connection with the 
     proceedings and ceremonies conducted for the inauguration of 
     the President-elect and the Vice President-elect of the 
     United States.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from 
California (Mr. Thomas) and the gentleman from Maryland (Mr. Hoyer) 
each will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from California (Mr. Thomas).
  Mr. THOMAS. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, this is obviously an adjoining resolution which, having 
created the structure of the committee to assist in this inaugural 
ceremony, the facilities of the Capitol Rotunda are made available.
  Oftentimes, the Rotunda is used for, in essence, social and 
ceremonial activities. However, those Members who were here might 
remember that January day of 1985 at the inaugural ceremony of the 
second term of then President Ronald Reagan.
  His 1980 election was a balmy spring-like day with the West Front 
being the focal point for the inauguration. In January of 1985, it was 
an extremely cold and bitter snowy January, and in fact, the swearing-
in ceremony had to take place in that Rotunda, packed as tightly as I 
have ever seen it packed with people anticipating, once again, the 
inauguration of a president of the United States.

                              {time}  1415

  This Senate concurrent resolution offered by the chairman of the 
Senate Committee on Rules and the ranking member, as it states quite 
clearly, would be in connection with the ceremonies. Let us hope that 
it is, in fact, a social and ceremonial use of the rotunda rather than 
cover because of the kind of weather that no one wants to accompany an 
inauguration of the President of the United States.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. HOYER. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, all of us were very pleased that the judgment was made 
to move into the rotunda, and, that in fact, the rotunda was available 
on January 20, 1985. I think the temperature outside with the windchill 
was many degrees below zero. It was a very cold period. Very frankly, 
the health of all of those in attendance, including the President 
himself, would have been at stake had we remained outside.
  More than that, however, the rotunda, of course, is one of our most 
historical sites, in the middle of the United States Capitol, which is 
perceived around the world as the center of democracy.
  I rise in support of this resolution.
  Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. THOMAS. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, no matter how cold that day was, the event certainly 
warmed the hearts of all Americans. We look forward to the ceremonies 
surrounding the next President of the United States, and it certainly 
will warm all of our hearts once again.
  Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Stearns). The question is on the motion 
offered by the gentleman from California (Mr. Thomas) that the House 
suspend the rules and concur in the Senate concurrent resolution, S. 
Con. Res. 90.
  The question was taken; and (two-thirds having voted in favor 
thereof) the rules were suspended and the Senate concurrent resolution 
was concurred in.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

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