[Congressional Record Volume 146, Number 123 (Thursday, October 5, 2000)]
[Senate]
[Page S10011]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 200TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE FIRST MEETING OF THE CONGRESS IN WASHINGTON, 
                                   DC

  Mr. MACK. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate now 
proceed to the immediate consideration of S. Con. Res. 144, submitted 
earlier by Senator Lott and Senator Daschle.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will report.
  The legislative clerk read as follows:

       A Senate concurrent resolution (S. Con. 144) commemorating 
     the 200th anniversary of the first meeting of the Congress in 
     Washington, DC.

  There being no objection, the Senate proceeded to consider the 
concurrent resolution.
  Mr. MACK. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the concurrent 
resolution be agreed to, the preamble be agreed to, the motion to 
reconsider be laid upon the table, and any statements relating to the 
resolution be printed in the Record.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  The concurrent resolution (S. Con. Res. 144) was agreed to.
  The preamble was agreed to.
  The concurrent resolution with its preamble reads as follows:

                            S. Con. Res. 144

       Whereas November 17, 2000, is the 200th anniversary of the 
     first meeting of Congress in Washington, DC;
       Whereas Congress, having previously convened at the Federal 
     Hall in New York City and at the Congress Hall in 
     Philadelphia, has met in the United States Capitol Building 
     since November 17, 1800;
       Whereas President John Adams, on November 22, 1800, 
     addressed a joint session of Congress in Washington, DC, for 
     the first time, stating, ``I congratulate the people of the 
     United States on the assembling of Congress at the permanent 
     seat of their Government; and I congratulate you, gentlemen, 
     on the prospect of a residence not to be changed.'';
       Whereas, on December 12, 1900, Congress convened a joint 
     meeting to observe the centennial of its residence in 
     Washington, DC;
       Whereas since its first meeting in Washington, DC, on 
     November 17, 1800, Congress has continued to cultivate and 
     build upon a heritage of respect for individual liberty, 
     representative government, and the attainment of equal and 
     inalienable rights, all of which are symbolized in the 
     physical structure of the United States Capitol Building; and
       Whereas it is appropriate for Congress, as the first branch 
     of the government under the Constitution, to commemorate the 
     200th anniversary of the first meeting of Congress in 
     Washington, DC, in order to focus public attention on its 
     present duties and responsibilities: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved by the Senate (the House of Representatives 
     concurring), That it is the sense of Congress that--
       (1) November 17, 2000, be designated as a day of national 
     observance for the 200th anniversary of the first meeting of 
     Congress in Washington, DC; and
       (2) the people of the United States be urged and invited to 
     observe such date by celebrating and examining the 
     legislative process by which members of Congress convene and 
     air differences, learn from one another, subordinate 
     parochial interests, compromise, and work towards achieving a 
     constructive consensus for the good of the people of the 
     United States.

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