[Congressional Record Volume 146, Number 126 (Wednesday, October 11, 2000)]
[Senate]
[Pages S10266-S10267]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




      PROVIDING FOR DISPOSITION AND ARCHIVING OF RECORDS OF JOINT 
            CONGRESSIONAL COMMITTEES ON INAUGURAL CEREMONIES

  Mr. WARNER. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate 
proceed to the immediate consideration of S. Con. Res. 148, submitted 
earlier today by Senator McConnell.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will report the concurrent 
resolution by title.
  The legislative clerk read as follows:

       A concurrent resolution (S. Con. Res. 148) to provide for 
     the disposition and archiving of the records, files, 
     documents, and other materials of Joint Congressional 
     Committees on inaugural ceremonies.

  There being no objection, the Senate proceeded to consider the 
concurrent resolution.
  Mr. McCONNELL. Mr. President, earlier this year the Joint 
Congressional Committee on Inaugural Ceremonies held an organizational 
meeting to officially begin preparations for the next Presidential 
Inauguration hosted by Congress to be held on Saturday, January 20, 
2001.
  Next year marks more historic milestones as it will be the 200th 
anniversary of the first Presidential Inauguration in our Nation's 
Capital, the first Presidential Inauguration of the 21st Century, and, 
not least of all, the first inauguration of the new millennium. 2001 
also marks the 100th birthday of the Joint Congressional Committee on 
Inaugural Ceremonies, an entity which I am greatly honored to serve as 
Chairman.

[[Page S10267]]

  As we approach adjournment for this Congress, let us look forward 
with great anticipation and excitement to our Nation's 54th 
Presidential Inauguration and celebrate this remarkable American 
tradition in which the peaceful transference of power takes place with 
all our citizens as witnesses.
  In 1789, our Nation's Father and first President, George Washington, 
recited the oath of office on the Balcony of Federal Hall in New York 
City. By 1801, the seat of the U.S. Government had moved from New York 
City, to Philadelphia, and finally to Washington, D.C.
  On March 4, 1801, Thomas Jefferson became the first President to be 
inaugurated at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C., in a room now 
known as the ``Old Supreme Court Chamber.'' In 1829, Andrew Jackson 
became the first President to be inaugurated on the East Front of the 
Capitol, where the majority of swearing-in ceremonies continued to take 
place until the late twentieth century. It was not until President 
Ronald Reagan's inauguration on January 20, 1981, that the swearing-in 
ceremony moved to the West Front of the Capitol where larger crowds 
could be accommodated. Though below-freezing temperatures in 1985 
forced the second Reagan inaugural ceremony inside to the Capitol 
Rotunda, the West Front set the standard for the next three 
Congressionally hosted ceremonies. The 2001 Presidential inaugural 
ceremonies will continue that tradition.
  It is interesting to note that until 1901 the Presidential inaugural 
ceremonies were planned and conducted solely by the Senate. A century 
later, the Joint Congressional Committee on Inaugural Ceremonies brings 
together the Senate and the House of Representatives in welcoming 
America's President-elect to the Capitol for the public swearing-in 
ceremony.
  Upon undertaking this endeavor, it became apparent that steps needed 
to be taken to direct that the important historic materials generated 
by the JCCIC were preserved. For a committee reconstituted every four 
years, these documents are critical tools for conducting this massive 
quadrennial event. To ensure these materials are preserved in an 
appropriate manner, I am introducing a resolution to establish the 
procedures for archiving the records of the Joint Congressional 
Committee on Inaugural Ceremonies.
  Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that a press release which 
documents the May 24 organizational meeting of the Joint Congressional 
Committee on Inaugural Ceremonies and the text of Senate Concurrent 
Resolutions 89 and 90 be printed in the Record.
  There being no objection, the material was ordered to be printed in 
the Record, as follows:

U.S. Senator Mitch McConnell Named Chairman of the Joint Congressional 
                   Committee on Inaugural Ceremonies

       Washington, DC.--U.S. Senator Mitch McConnell (R-KY), 
     Chairman of the Senate Committee on Rules and Administration, 
     today was appointed Chairman of the Joint Congressional 
     Committee on Inaugural Ceremonies.
       Joining McConnell on the committee are Majority Leader 
     Trent Lott (R-MS), Senator Christopher Dodd (D-CT), Speaker 
     of the House J. Dennis Hastert (R-IL), House Majority Leader 
     Richard Armey (R-TX) and House Minority Leader Richard 
     Gephardt (D-MO).
       The members met today and appointed McConnell as the 
     Chairman of the Joint Congressional Committee, approved the 
     committee's budget and selected the West Front of the Capitol 
     for the location of the ceremony. McConnell is the third 
     Kentuckian to Chair the Congressional Committee since it was 
     formed in 1901.
       ``I am truly honored to have been selected as Chairman of 
     this Congressional Inaugural Committee,'' said McConnell. ``I 
     look forward to the extraordinary privilege of planning the 
     first Presidential Inauguration of the 21st century.''
       The JCCIC is charged with the planning and execution of the 
     Inaugural activities at the Capitol: the swearing-in ceremony 
     and the traditional luncheon which follows.
       The Presidential Inauguration will be held Saturday, 
     January 20, 2001.
                                  ____


                            S. Con. Res. 89

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

     SECTION 1. ESTABLISHMENT OF JOINT COMMITTEE.

       There is established a Joint Congressional Committee on 
     Inaugural Ceremonies (in this resolution referred to as the 
     ``joint committee'') consisting of 3 Senators and 3 
     Representatives, to be appointed by the President of the 
     Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives, 
     respectively. The joint committee is authorized to make the 
     necessary arrangements for the inauguration of the President-
     elect and Vice President-elect of the United States on 
     January 20, 2001.

     SEC. 2. SUPPORT OF THE JOINT COMMITTEE.

       The joint committee--
       (1) is authorized to utilize appropriate equipment and the 
     services of appropriate personnel of departments and agencies 
     of the Federal Government, under arrangements between the 
     joint committee and the heads of those departments and 
     agencies, in connection with the inaugural proceedings and 
     ceremonies; and
       (2) may accept gifts and donations of goods and services to 
     carry out its responsibilities.
                                  ____


                            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.

  Mr. WARNER. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the 
concurrent resolution be agreed to, the motion to reconsider be laid 
upon the table, and any statements relating to the concurrent 
resolution be printed in the Record.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  The concurrent resolution (S. Con. Res. 148) was agreed to, as 
follows:

                            S. Con. Res. 148

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

     SECTION 1. RECORDS OF EACH JOINT CONGRESSIONAL COMMITTEE ON 
                   INAUGURAL CEREMONIES.

       (a) In General.--Upon the conclusion of the business of a 
     joint congressional committee on Presidential inaugural 
     ceremonies and the closing out of its affairs, all records, 
     files, documents, and other materials in the possession, 
     custody, or control of the joint committee shall be 
     transferred subject to--
       (1) such terms and conditions relating to access and use of 
     such materials as the Committee on Rules and Administration 
     of the Senate shall prescribe; and
       (2) the provisions of Senate Resolution 474 (96th Congress, 
     2d Session).
       (b) Prior Records.--The records, files, documents, and 
     other materials of any joint congressional committee on 
     Presidential inaugural ceremonies in the custody of the 
     Senate on the date of adoption of this resolution shall be 
     shall be transferred subject to--
       (1) such terms and conditions relating to access and use of 
     such materials as the Committee on Rules and Administration 
     of the Senate shall prescribe; and
       (2) the provisions of Senate Resolution 474 (96th Congress, 
     2d Session).

                          ____________________