[Congressional Record Volume 147, Number 74 (Friday, May 25, 2001)]
[Senate]
[Page S5712]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                  STATEMENTS ON SUBMITTED RESOLUTIONS

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 SENATE RESOLUTION 95--DESIGNATING AUGUST 3, 2001, AS ``NATIONAL COURT 
                     REPORTING AND CAPTIONING DAY''

  Mr. BREAUX submitted the following resolution; which was referred to 
the Committee on the Judiciary:

                               S. Res. 95

        Whereas for millennia, individuals have wanted the spoken 
     word translated into text to record history and to accomplish 
     this task have relied on scribes;
       Whereas the profession of scribe was born with the rise of 
     civilization;
       Whereas in Ancient Egypt, scribes were considered to be the 
     literate elite, recording laws and other important documents 
     and since that time, have served as impartial witnesses to 
     history;
       Whereas scribes were present with our Nation's founding 
     fathers as the Declaration of Independence and Bill of Rights 
     were drafted;
       Whereas President Lincoln entrusted scribes to record the 
     Emancipation Proclamation;
       Whereas since the advent of shorthand machines, these 
     scribes have been known as ``court reporters'' and have had a 
     permanent place in courtrooms;
       Whereas court reporters are present in Congress, preserving 
     Members' words and actions;
       Whereas court reporters are responsible for the closed 
     captioning seen scrolling across television screens, bringing 
     information to more than 28,000,000 hearing impaired 
     Americans every day;
       Whereas court reporters and captioners translate the spoken 
     word into text and preserve our history; and
       Whereas whether called the scribes of yesterday, court 
     reporters of today, or real time captioners of tomorrow, the 
     individuals that preserve our Nation's history are truly the 
     guardians of the record: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the Senate--
       (1) designates August 3, 2001, as ``National Court 
     Reporting and Captioning Day''; and
       (2) requests that the President issue a proclamation 
     calling on the people of the United States to observe the day 
     with appropriate programs, ceremonies, and activities.

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