[Congressional Record Volume 149, Number 31 (Wednesday, February 26, 2003)]
[House]
[Pages H1338-H1341]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[[Page H1338]]
CELEBRATING THE 140TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE EMANCIPATION PROCLAMATION AND
COMMENDING ABRAHAM LINCOLN'S EFFORTS TO END SLAVERY
Mrs. JO ANN DAVIS of Virginia. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the
rules and agree to the concurrent resolution (H. Con. Res. 36)
encouraging the people of the United States to honor and celebrate the
140th anniversary of the Emancipation Proclamation and commending
Abraham Lincoln's efforts to end slavery.
The Clerk read as follows:
H. Con. Res. 36
Whereas Abraham Lincoln, the sixteenth President of the
United States, issued a proclamation on September 22, 1862,
declaring that on the first day of January, 1863, ``all
persons held as slaves within any State or designated part of
a State the people whereof shall then be in rebellion against
the United States shall be then, thenceforward, and forever
free'';
Whereas the proclamation declared ``all persons held slaves
within the insurgent States''--with the exception of
Tennessee, southern Louisiana, and parts of Virginia, then
within Union lines--``are free'';
Whereas, for two and half years, Texas slaves were held in
bondage after the Emancipation Proclamation became official
and only after Major General Gordon Granger and his soldiers
arrived in Galveston, Texas, on June 19, 1865, were African-
American slaves in that State set free;
Whereas slavery was a horrendous practice and trade in
human trafficking that continued until the passage of the
Thirteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution ending
slavery on December 18, 1865;
Whereas the Emancipation Proclamation is historically
significant and history is regarded as a means of
understanding the past and solving the challenges of the
future;
Whereas one hundred and forty years after President
Lincoln's Emancipation Proclamation, African Americans have
integrated into various levels of society; and
Whereas commemorating the 140th anniversary of the
Emancipation Proclamation highlights and reflects the
suffering and progress of the faith and strength of character
shown by slaves and their descendants as an example for all
people of the United States, regardless of background,
religion, or race: Now, therefore, be it
Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate
concurring), That Congress--
(1) recognizes the historical significance of the 140th
anniversary of the Emancipation Proclamation as an important
period in the Nation's history; and
(2) encourages its celebration in accordance with the
spirit, strength, and legacy of freedom, justice, and
equality for all people of America and to provide an
opportunity for all people of the United States to learn more
about the past and to better understand the experiences that
have shaped the Nation.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentlewoman from
Virginia (Mrs. Jo Ann Davis) and the gentleman from Illinois (Mr.
Davis) each will control 20 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentlewoman from Virginia (Mrs. Jo Ann
Davis).
General Leave
Mrs. JO ANN DAVIS of Virginia. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent
that all Members may have 5 legislative days within which to revise and
extend their remarks on the concurrent resolution now under
consideration.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the
gentlewoman from Virginia?
There was no objection.
Mrs. JO ANN DAVIS of Virginia. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time
as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, the distinguished gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Davis),
the ranking member on the Subcommittee on Civil Service, Census and
Agency Organization of the Committee on Government Reform, introduced
H. Con. Res. 36 on February 12, 2003. I am honored to be an original
cosponsor of this legislation.
Abraham Lincoln, our 16th President, issued a preliminary
proclamation on September 22, 1862, granting freedom to slaves in
territories that were in rebellion. The official Emancipation
Proclamation was issued on January 1, 1863. It was a straightforward
document, much like the President himself, and was based on his right
as the Commander in Chief during the Civil War.
Though the Emancipation Proclamation was limited in scope, acclaimed
by some, and denounced and condemned by others, ultimately it was a
landmark as expressed in the 13th amendment: ``Neither slavery nor
involuntary servitude, except as a punishment for crime whereof the
party shall have been duly convicted, shall exist within the United
States, or any place subject to their jurisdiction.''
Historians report several revisions and compromises of the
proclamation, but Lincoln's personal wish, as expressed in his letter
to Horace Greeley, editor of the New York Tribune, had always been that
all men everywhere could be free.
Much has been accomplished in our Nation since 1863 by freed men and
women and their descendents in every sphere of our national life; this,
in spite of great adversity, but with utmost determination of spirit
and soul. History has shown us that to surge to greatness, as a Nation
or as an individual, humans must be free.
We must never forget our history, we must never forget the
steadfastness of the President who was rightly called the Great
Emancipator. We must never tolerate mental or physical slavery in our
Nation or any nation.
Mr. Speaker, H. Con. Res. 36 has been cosponsored by 115 cosponsors
from both sides of the aisle. I believe this bill, introduced by our
colleague, the gentleman from Illinois, the Land of Lincoln, to be
representative of the conviction of this body and I, therefore, urge
our colleagues to support H. Con. Res. 36. Again, I thank the
distinguished gentleman from Illinois for his work on bringing this
meaningful resolution to the floor.
Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may
consume.
Mr. Speaker, as ranking member of the Subcommittee on Civil Service,
Census and Agency Organization, I want to first of all thank the
gentlewoman from Virginia (Mrs. Jo Ann Davis), the chairman of the
subcommittee, for her cosponsorship of this resolution and for helping
to quickly move it to the House floor for action.
House Concurrent Resolution 36 encourages the people of the United
States to honor and celebrate the 140th anniversary of the Emancipation
Proclamation and commends President Abraham Lincoln's efforts to end
slavery.
Though a man of humble beginnings, Abraham Lincoln rose to become the
16th President of the United States of America and became the man who
attempted to end the heinous act of slavery while preserving the Union.
On January 1, 1863, Abraham Lincoln signed the Emancipation
Proclamation. It was an historic act, because it freed many slaves and
made a statement about the cruelty of slavery. The premise of the
Emancipation Proclamation can be linked to a speech Lincoln made at
Gettysburg in which he stated, ``Four score and 7 years ago our fathers
brought forth upon this continent a new Nation, conceived in liberty
and dedicated to the proposition that all men are created equal.''
President Lincoln's proclamation did not end slavery. The 13th
amendment to the United States Constitution did that on December 18,
1865. The 14th amendment established Negroes citizens of the United
States, and the 15th amendment granted Negroes the right to vote. It
was the Emancipation Proclamation, however, that paved the way for
these amendments to the Constitution.
Our citizenship and privileges of blacks were always questioned and,
in many situations, denied until passage of the Civil Rights Act of
1964 and the Voting Rights Act of 1965. This was 39 years ago that Jim
Crow laws were subjugating and denying Negroes the right to vote in
certain southern States, the imposition of poll taxes, the segregation
of schools, housing, bus and train transportation, restrooms, and other
public accommodations. Since the struggle of the civil rights movement
in the 1950s and 1960s, many African Americans are still seeking
economic emancipation, equality in education, employment, business,
housing, health care, and access to capital. Although African Americans
as a people have made great strides in America, we still have a long
way to go to achieve and live up to the creed of America's Founding
Fathers that all men are indeed created equal.
When it comes to equality in homeownership, the rate among white
households is about 74.2 percent, compared to 47.1 percent for African
Americans. This huge gap between white and black homeowners will
continue to be the primary factor that will undermine
[[Page H1339]]
the growth of African Americans and their family structure to obtain
wealth, capital assets, and better neighborhoods.
When it comes to equality in education, the number of whites who
possess bachelor's or higher degree is about 34 million compared to 2.6
million for blacks.
For post-secondary education, whites are about 72 percent compared to
11 percent for blacks who are attending degree-granting colleges and
universities.
As for poverty, there are 32.9 million poor people in America. The
poverty rate is about 22.7 percent for blacks compared to 9.9 percent
for whites. The unemployment rate for whites is 3.3 percent compared to
6.3 percent for blacks who are continuing to seek employment.
When it comes to crime and justice, America is 5 percent of the
world's population, but 25 percent of the world's prison population is
in U.S. jails and prisons. The United States incarcerates 2,100,146
persons. Whites are about 36 percent compared to 46 percent for blacks
in prisons. As some of us know, about 70 percent of the prison
population is attributed to drug convictions. The law is not equally
applied when it comes to drug offenses involving crack and powder
cocaine. Five grams of crack cocaine brings a mandatory sentence of 5
years, compared to 5 grams of powder cocaine which has no sentencing
requirements, and the possessor of powder cocaine may get probation.
Mr. Speaker, 89 percent of the blacks are sentenced for crack cocaine
possession, compared to 75 percent for whites who possess powder
cocaine. Yet, 59 percent of the users of crack cocaine are white.
Equality is the principle and spirit of the Constitution where all
men and women are seen as God's children created in His image. And if
this was accomplished, then African Americans would have 2 million more
high school diplomas, 2 million more college degrees, nearly 2 million
more professional and managerial jobs, and nearly $200 billion more in
income. And if America practices equality in housing, then African
Americans would own 3 million more homes. If America had equality in
access to capital and wealth, then African Americans would have $1
trillion more in wealth.
Mr. Speaker, although we passed the Emancipation Proclamation and
although we have come a great distance, there are still some roads to
travel. So I encourage all of my colleagues to embrace and support this
resolution as a tool to reflect the spirit, strength, and legacy of
freedom, justice, and equality for all people of America and to provide
an opportunity for all people of the United States to learn more about
the past and know how we can build a better future.
Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mrs. JO ANN DAVIS of Virginia. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to yield 5
minutes to the gentleman from Illinois, the Land of Lincoln, (Mr.
LaHood), my distinguished colleague.
(Mr. LaHOOD asked and was given permission to revise and extend his
remarks.)
{time} 1315
Mr. LaHOOD. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentlewoman for yielding time to
me, and I thank the gentlewoman from Virginia (Mrs. Jo Ann Davis) and
the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Davis) for this important concurrent
resolution.
Mr. Speaker, it is with great enthusiasm that I rise in support of
House Concurrent Resolution 36 offered by my friend and colleague, the
gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Davis). The Emancipation Proclamation
transformed the Civil War into a war of liberation, and changed
American history forever.
140 years ago last month the United States took the first bold step
towards a new birth of freedom. Abraham Lincoln was well aware of the
epic importance of the Emancipation Proclamation. Before signing it in
his office in the White House on January 1, 1863, he looked at those
around him and remarked: ``I never in my life felt more certain that I
was doing right than I do in signing this paper.''
His hand was sore from greeting thousands of guests at the annual New
Year's reception; and he took a moment to steady his hand, unwilling to
have his signature appear wavering or hesitant. Finally, he signed the
document with his full name, as he very rarely did.
Lincoln's issuance of the Emancipation Proclamation was a remarkable
act of political courage. After the preliminary proclamation was
released on September 22, 1862, reaction in the North was harshly
critical. The Republican Party lost seats in the congressional
elections that year, and New York City later erupted into riots, partly
as a result of the outrage over the proclamation. The year after the
proclamation was issued, President Lincoln wrote: ``I am naturally
antislavery. If slavery is not wrong, nothing is wrong.''
It was this core principle, combined with enormous courage, that led
the President to draft and sign the historic document we celebrate
today. One of Lincoln's most distinguished biographers has called the
proclamation the single most revolutionary document in our history
after the Declaration of Independence.
Yet Lincoln clearly defined the Emancipation Proclamation as a war
measure justified by military necessity. He knew that the permanent
destruction of slavery would require more than a proclamation signed by
the President. Therefore, he labored mightily to ensure the passage of
the 13th amendment abolishing slavery forever. Lincoln had so
identified himself with the cause of freedom by the end of the war that
he signed the 13th amendment, though not constitutionally required to
do so.
The legacy of Lincoln as the emancipator will be among the subjects
addressed by the Abraham Lincoln Bicentennial Commission, on which I am
honored to serve as co-chair. Created by the Congress, comprised of
scholars, collectors, political leaders, and jurists, the commission is
charged with planning the annual celebration of Lincoln's 250th
birthday.
Therefore, as a representative of the same district that sent Abraham
Lincoln to Congress for one term, and as the co-chair of the Abraham
Lincoln Bicentennial Commission, I urge all of my colleagues to support
this important continuing resolution.
Again, I thank both the gentlewoman from Virginia (Mrs. Jo Ann Davis)
and the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Davis) for this important
concurrent resolution brought to the House floor today.
Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may
consume.
Mr. Speaker, I do not believe that I have any other requests for
time, but I would indicate that I am again pleased and proud to live in
the State of Illinois, the home of Lincoln, the man who signed the
Emancipation Proclamation and made a great movement towards freeing the
slaves in this country.
I also want to thank my colleague, the gentleman from Illinois (Mr.
LaHood), for his comments, and again thank the gentlewoman from
Virginia (Mrs. Jo Ann Davis), the chairman of the subcommittee, for her
co-sponsorship and swift action on moving this resolution to the floor;
and I urge all of my colleagues to support this concurrent resolution.
Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
Mrs. JO ANN DAVIS of Virginia. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to yield 5
minutes to my colleague, the gentleman from California (Mr.
Rohrabacher).
Mr. ROHRABACHER. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentlewoman for yielding
time to me.
Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of House Concurrent Resolution
36, which encourages the people of the United States to honor and
celebrate the 140th anniversary of the Emancipation Proclamation, and
commend President Abraham Lincoln's efforts to end slavery in the
United States.
140 years ago a bloody war still raged across our land, a war that
cost the lives of more Americans than all other wars in our history
combined. This summer will mark the turning point of that war as we
celebrate the 140th anniversary of the Battle of Gettysburg.
Earlier, on September 22, 1862, President Abraham Lincoln took the
first step toward establishing as the object of the Civil War the total
abolition of slavery. He and his political party, the Republican Party,
had made as their first goal the restriction of the expansion of
slavery. Now he would make the Nation's goal the abolition of slavery
itself.
[[Page H1340]]
Boldly, Lincoln declared free all those persons held as slaves within
the insurgent States as of January 1, 1863. This was a daring political
move which was strongly opposed by the Democratic Party of that day.
After the end of the Civil War and Lincoln's assassination in 1865, his
fellow Republicans in Congress and in State legislatures got passed and
ratified the 13th amendment to the Constitution, totally abolishing
slavery in the United States.
Our Civil War was turned by President Abraham Lincoln, it was turned
from just a civil war between States into a moral crusade against the
abomination of human slavery. President Lincoln knew that all war
brings suffering, and he knew that we had to make sure that the ends of
any war must justify the suffering that war entails. As a Republican, I
am proud to claim Lincoln's legacy for the Republican Party and the
principles of liberty for all Americans, regardless of race and color.
Recently, I had the opportunity to appear in the Civil War movie
``Gods and Generals.'' I portrayed an officer in the Union Army staff
of Colonel Joshua Chamberlain, and I was proud to wear that blue Union
uniform that fought for the noble cause of ending slavery and freeing
those held in human bondage.
Today our Nation stands on the brink of another war, a war that will
also bring suffering, like all wars do, but will, like our Civil War,
have noble ends. The liberation of people and destruction of evil are
indeed noble ends.
In the movie ``Gods and Generals,'' Colonel Joshua Chamberlain
understood that principle, and understood that these principles are
worth fighting for and dying for. In one scene, he turns to his brother
and observes: ``I will admit it, Tom, war is a scourge, but so is
slavery. It is the systematic coercion of one group of men over
another. It is as old as the Book of Genesis, and has existed in every
corner of the globe, but that is no excuse for us to tolerate it here
when we find it before our eyes and in our own country.''
The Civil War still has the power to stir modern-day controversy.
Nevertheless, I hope that 140 years after the issuance of the
Emancipation Proclamation that all Americans will join us in
celebrating President Lincoln's efforts to end slavery; and this
legacy, this legacy should unite all Americans as we strive to make
this a country, even though we still have faults, though we have many
things to overcome, to try our best to correct those faults that we
have; but we can be united to try to make this a country with liberty
and justice for all.
Mrs. JO ANN DAVIS of Virginia. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time
as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, I would again like to thank my distinguished colleague,
the ranking member on the Subcommittee on Civil Service and Agency
Organization, for introducing this important piece of legislation.
Mr. TIAHRT. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to voice my support for H. Con.
Res. 36, a resolution encouraging the people of this nation to honor
and celebrate the 140th anniversary of the Emancipation Proclamation
and commending President Abraham Lincoln's effort to end slavery. In
issuing the Emancipation Proclamation on September 22, 1862, President
Lincoln performed one of the most important and far-reaching acts that
our nation has ever undertaken.
Following the Union's costly victory at the Battle of Antietam,
President Lincoln concluded that the emancipation of slaves was not
only a military necessity, but more importantly, a moral imperative.
Thus, President Lincoln issued his landmark decree. He was aware of the
historical significance of this action, but with victory in the war
still very much in doubt, was unsure of its ultimate consequences. In
closing the Proclamation, Lincoln wrote, ``And upon this Act, sincerely
believed to be an act of justice, warranted by the Constitution upon
military necessity, I invoke the considerate judgment of mankind and
the gracious favor of Almighty God.''
By issuing the Emancipation Proclamation, President Lincoln made it
clear to Americans and the rest of the world that the Civil War was not
about simply preserving the Union; in fact, the Civil War was now being
fought to bring an end to the evil of slavery. Further, the
Proclamation reconciled one of the fundamental dichotomies of the early
American experience; the self-evident truths outlined in the
Declaration of Independence and the existence of the institution of
slavery.
In closing, it is fitting that we pause to remember this watershed
moment in our nation's history. We shouldn't, and I don't believe we
ever will, forget the horror of slavery. On the same note, I doubt we
will ever forget the lessons of the years that have followed the
Emancipation Proclamation and the end of the Civil War--the struggle
for equal rights, equal opportunities, and equal treatment under the
law for all women and men, regardless of religion, race, or political
beliefs.
I am grateful for this opportunity to honor President Abraham Lincoln
and the brave men who fought to ensure that the Emancipation
Proclamation applied to the whole nation. May God continue to bless
America and help us spread worldwide the knowledge that all men are
created equal and should be treated as such.
Mr. PAUL. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to support H. Con. Res. 36.
Friends of human liberty should celebrate the end of slavery in any
country. The end of American slavery is particularly worthy of
recognition since there are few more blatant violations of America's
founding principles, as expressed in the Constitution and the
Declaration of Independence, than slavery. In order to give my
colleagues, and all Americans, the opportunity to see what President
Lincoln did and did not do, I am inserting the Emancipation
Proclamation into the Record.
While all Americans should be grateful that this country finally
extinguished slavery following the Civil War, many scholars believe
that the main issue in the Civil War was the proper balance of power
between the states and the federal government. President Lincoln
himself made it clear that his primary motivation was to preserve a
strong central government. For example, in a letter to New York Tribune
editor Horace Greeley in 1862, Lincoln said: ``My paramount object in
this struggle is to save the Union, and it is not either to save or
destroy slavery. If I could save the Union without freeing any slave, I
would do it; and if I could save it by freeing some and leaving others
alone I would also do that. What I do about slavery, and the colored
race, I do because I believe it helps to save the Union.''
In conclusion, Mr. Speaker, I encourage all freedom-loving Americans
to join me in celebrating the end of slavery.
The Emancipation Proclamation
By the President of the United States of America:
A PROCLAMATION
Whereas on the 22nd day of September, A.D. 1862, a
proclamation was issued by the President of the United
States, containing, among other things, the following, to
wit:
``That on the 1st day of January, A.D. 1863, all persons
held as slaves within any State or designated part of a State
the people whereof shall then be in rebellion against the
United States shall be then, thenceforward, and forever free;
and the executive government of the United States, including
the military and naval authority thereof, will recognize and
maintain the freedom of such persons and will do no act or
acts to repress such persons, or any of them, in any efforts
they may make for their actual freedom.
``That the executive will on the 1st day of January
aforesaid, by proclamation, designate the States and parts of
States, if any, in which the people thereof, respectively,
shall then be in rebellion against the United States; and the
fact that any State or the people thereof shall on that day
be in good faith represented in the Congress of the United
States by members chosen thereto at elections wherein a
majority of the qualified voters of such States shall have
participated shall, in the absence of strong countervailing
testimony, be deemed conclusive evidence that such State and
the people thereof are not then in rebellion against the
United States.''
Now, therefore, I, Abraham Lincoln, President of the United
States, by virtue of the power in me vested as Commander-In-
Chief of the Army and Navy of the United States in time of
actual armed rebellion against the authority and government
of the United States, and as a fit and necessary war measure
for suppressing said rebellion, do, on this 1st day of
January, A.D. 1863, and in accordance with my purpose so to
do, publicly proclaimed for the full period of one hundred
days from the first day above mentioned, order and designate
as the States and parts of States wherein the people thereof,
respectively, are this day in rebellion against the United
States the following, to wit:
Arkansas, Texas, Louisiana (except the parishes of St.
Bernard, Palquemines, Jefferson, St. John, St. Charles, St.
James, Ascension, Assumption, Terrebone, Lafourche, St. Mary,
St. Martin, and Orleans, including the city of New Orleans),
Mississippi, Alabama, Florida, Georgia, South Carolina,
North Carolina, and Virginia (except the forty-eight
counties designated as West Virginia, and also the
counties of Berkeley, Accomac, Northhampton, Elizabeth
City, York, Princess Anne, and Norfolk, including the
cities of Norfolk and Portsmouth), and which excepted
parts are for the present left precisely as if this
proclamation were not issued.
And by virtue of the power and for the purpose aforesaid, I
do order and declare that all persons held as slaves within
said designated States and parts of States are, and
henceforward shall be, free; and that the Executive
Government of the United States, including
[[Page H1341]]
the military and naval authorities thereof, will recognize
and maintain the freedom of said persons.
And I hereby enjoin upon the people so declared to be free
to abstain from all violence, unless in necessary self-
defence; and I recommend to them that, in all case when
allowed, they labor faithfully for reasonable wages.
And I further declare and make known that such persons of
suitable condition will be received into the armed serivce of
the United States to garrison forts, positions, stations, and
other places, and to man vessels of all sorts in said
service.
And upon this act, sincerely believed to be an act of
justice, warranted by the Constitution upon military
necessity, I invoke the considerate judgment of mankind and
the gracious favor of Almighty God.
Mr. WELLER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the 140th Anniversary
of the Emancipation Proclamation.
On January 1, 1863, as the nation approached its third year of the
Civil War, President Abraham Lincoln issued the Emancipation
Proclamation to grant freedom to all slaves. The proclamation declared
``that all persons held as slaves . . . shall be then, thenceforward,
and forever free''.
Not only did the Proclamation liberate the slaves, but it announced
the acceptance of black men into the Union Army and Navy. By the end of
the war, almost 200,000 black soldiers and sailors had fought for the
Union and freedom.
Mr. Speaker, the Emancipation Proclamation can be considered one of
the greatest documents of human freedom. I am honored to speak on the
House floor today with my highest regards to President Lincoln's
actions and accomplishments.
I am proud to say that Abraham Lincoln was elected to the state
legislature in my home state of Illinois in 1834. He served the
wonderful people for four successive terms until he was later elected
in Congress in 1846.
Mr. Speaker, I applaud and commend Abraham Lincoln's efforts to
abolish slavery and I would like to encourage the citizens of the
United States to celebrate the 140th Anniversary of the Emancipation
Proclamation. Thank you.
Mrs. JO ANN DAVIS of Virginia. Mr. Speaker, I have no further
requests for time, and I yield back the balance of my time.
The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Terry). The question is on the motion
offered by the gentlewoman from Virginia (Mrs. Jo Ann Davis) that the
House suspend the rules and agree to the concurrent resolution, H. Con.
Res. 36.
The question was taken.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. In the opinion of the Chair, two-thirds of
those present have voted in the affirmative.
Mrs. JO ANN DAVIS of Virginia. Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas
and nays.
The yeas and nays were ordered.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to clause 8 of rule XX and the
Chair's prior announcement, further proceedings on this motion will be
postponed.
____________________