[Congressional Record Volume 149, Number 66 (Tuesday, May 6, 2003)]
[House]
[Pages H3648-H3650]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 AUTHORIZING PRINTING OF BROCHURES ENTITLED ``HOW OUR LAWS ARE MADE'' 
AND ``OUR AMERICAN GOVERNMENT,'' THE PUBLICATION ENTITLED ``OUR FLAG,'' 
THE DOCUMENT-SIZED ANNOTATED VERSION OF THE UNITED STATES CONSTITUTION, 
        AND THE POCKET VERSION OF THE UNITED STATES CONSTITUTION

  Mr. MICA. Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the 
concurrent resolution (H. Con. Res. 139) authorizing printing of the 
brochures entitled ``How Our Laws Are Made'' and ``Our American 
Government'', the publication entitled ``Our Flag'', the document-
sized, annotated version of the United States Constitution, and the 
pocket version of the United States Constitution.
  The Clerk read as follows:

                            H. Con. Res. 139

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

     SECTION 1. HOW OUR LAWS ARE MADE.

       (a) In General.--An edition of the brochure entitled ``How 
     Our Laws Are Made'', as revised under the direction of the 
     Parliamentarian of the House of Representatives in 
     consultation with the Parliamentarian of the Senate, shall be 
     printed as a House document under the direction of the Joint 
     Committee on Printing.
       (b) Additional Copies.--In addition to the usual number, 
     there shall be printed the lesser of--
       (1) 550,000 copies of the document, of which 440,000 copies 
     shall be for the use of the House of Representatives, 100,000 
     copies shall be for the use of the Senate, and 10,000 copies 
     shall be for the use of the Joint Committee on Printing; or
       (2) such number of copies of the document as does not 
     exceed a total production and printing cost of $220,794, with 
     distribution to be allocated in the same proportion as 
     described in paragraph (1), except that in no case shall the 
     number of copies be less than 1 per Member of Congress.

     SEC. 2. OUR AMERICAN GOVERNMENT.

       (a) In General.--The 2003 revised edition of the brochure 
     entitled ``Our American Government'' shall be printed as a 
     House document under the direction of the Joint Committee on 
     Printing.
       (b) Additional Copies.--In addition to the usual number, 
     there shall be printed the lesser of--
       (1) 550,000 copies of the document, of which 440,000 copies 
     shall be for the use of the House of Representatives, 100,000 
     copies shall be for the use of the Senate, and 10,000 copies 
     shall be for the use of the Joint Committee on Printing; or
       (2) such number of copies of the document as does not 
     exceed a total production and printing cost of $454,160, with 
     distribution to be allocated in the same proportion as 
     described in paragraph (1), except that in no case shall the 
     number of copies be less than 1 per Member of Congress.

[[Page H3649]]

     SEC. 3. OUR FLAG.

       (a) In General.--The 2003 revised edition of the 
     publication entitled ``Our Flag'' shall be printed as a House 
     document under the direction of the Joint Committee on 
     Printing.
       (b) Additional Copies.--In addition to the usual number, 
     there shall be printed the lesser of--
       (1) 550,000 copies of the document, of which 440,000 copies 
     shall be for the use of the House of Representatives, 100,000 
     copies shall be for the use of the Senate, and 10,000 copies 
     shall be for the use of the Joint Committee on Printing; or
       (2) such number of copies of the document as does not 
     exceed a total production and printing cost of $198,108, with 
     distribution to be allocated in the same proportion as 
     described in paragraph (1), except that in no case shall the 
     number of copies be less than 1 per Member of Congress.

     SEC. 4. DOCUMENT-SIZED, ANNOTATED UNITED STATES CONSTITUTION.

       (a) In General.--The 2003 edition of the document-sized, 
     annotated version of the United States Constitution shall be 
     printed as a House document under the direction of the Joint 
     Committee on Printing.
       (b) Additional Copies.--In addition to the usual number, 
     there shall be printed the lesser of--
       (1) 550,000 copies of the document, of which 440,000 copies 
     shall be for the use of the House of Representatives, 100,000 
     copies shall be for the use of the Senate, and 10,000 copies 
     shall be for the use of the Joint Committee on Printing; or
       (2) such number of copies of the document as does not 
     exceed a total production and printing cost of $432,647, with 
     distribution to be allocated in the same proportion as 
     described in paragraph (1), except that in no case shall the 
     number of copies be less than 1 per Member of Congress.

     SEC. 5. POCKET VERSION OF THE UNITED STATES CONSTITUTION.

       (a) In General.--The 21st edition of the pocket version of 
     the United States Constitution shall be printed as a House 
     document under the direction of the Joint Committee on 
     Printing.
       (b) Additional Copies.--In addition to the usual number, 
     there shall be printed the lesser of--
       (1) 550,000 copies of the document, of which 440,000 copies 
     shall be for the use of the House of Representatives, 100,000 
     copies shall be for the use of the Senate, and 10,000 copies 
     shall be for the use of the Joint Committee on Printing; or
       (2) such number of copies of the document as does not 
     exceed a total production and printing cost of $126,729, with 
     distribution to be allocated in the same proportion as 
     described in paragraph (1), except that in no case shall the 
     number of copies be less than 1 per Member of Congress.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from 
Florida (Mr. Mica) and the gentleman from Connecticut (Mr. Larson) each 
will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Mica).
  Mr. MICA. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Madam Speaker, I am pleased to rise here today in support of House 
Concurrent Resolution 139. Now, this is not a major piece of 
legislation that is going to have mind-boggling results for the Nation, 
but what it is is something very important that is in the purview of 
the Committee on House Administration, and that is legislation that 
authorizes the printing of the publication entitled ``How Our Laws Are 
Made'' and ``Our American Government'', also the publication entitled 
``Our Flag'', the document-sized annotated version of the United States 
Constitution and the pocket version of the United States Constitution. 
I think that is an important responsibility of our committee.
  It is the intention of the Committee on House Administration to make 
certain that these useful and important educational publications are 
made available to people. I want to say too that at every school group 
I try to personally deliver to each student, young American, some 
young, some older students, and many adults a copy of these treasured 
documents that contain the very foundation and basis for our government 
and for our freedoms. These publications are not only a resourceful 
means of information for Members' offices but also a great learning 
tool for constituents of all ages.
  Making these publications available to constituents not only helps 
them better understand how our government operates, but it also 
illustrates what their rights are and their responsibilities are in 
this as citizens of this great country. Our Nation's parents, schools, 
and communities do a terrific job in teaching the rich history and 
structure of our government, and I hope these publications will provide 
additional tools and resources that can continue that tradition and I 
know that they will.
  Each publication will have 550,000 copies printed, of which 430,000 
copies shall be for the use of the House of Representatives, 100,000 
copies shall be for the use of the other body, and 10,000 copies shall 
be for the use of the Joint Committee on Printing. Each Member and 
Senator shall receive 1,000 copies of these publications and they will 
be delivered to each Member of the House and the other body's offices. 
The cost of these publications will be incurred from the Congressional 
Printing and Binding Fund, and for additional copies, Members have the 
opportunity to purchase them from the Superintendent of Documents.
  It is important that every student in a democracy be absolutely 
familiar with the very basic principles and values for which our 
country stands and on which it is based. These documents provide a very 
articulate description and really an enumeration of those principles 
and even illustrates how we debate and resolve differences of opinion 
and how this body, the people's body, operates this institution that 
has survived for some two centuries of democratic representative 
government.
  So we hope to extend, again, the understanding to students of all 
ages, young people and adults. We hope to have a better understanding, 
again, of the basic foundations of the process of government, and these 
publications will help in that important responsibility.
  Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. LARSON of Connecticut. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as 
I may consume.
  Madam Speaker, I rise to associate myself with the remarks of the 
distinguished gentleman from Florida (Mr. Mica).
  I am delighted to cosponsor and support House Concurrent Resolution 
139. This resolution, as the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Mica) ably 
explained, authorizes the printing of brochures entitled ``How Our Laws 
Are Made'', ``Our American Government'', and the publication entitled 
``Our Flag'', the document-sized annotated version of the United States 
Constitution and the pocket version of the United States Constitution, 
both vitally important to so many of our constituents and used by so 
many of our colleagues here to impart information about our government 
and our Constitution to our citizens.
  Madam Speaker, these documents are more than just handy reference 
materials. Collectively they explain how our federal system of 
government works, contain the essential documents on which the 
government is based, including the Declaration of Independence, and 
answer a wide range of questions frequently asked of our constitutional 
system.
  They are, in a word, indispensable to every American and should be 
made widely available to every person who seeks answers about what it 
means to live in the United States. The resolution before us will do 
just that. I urge the House to support the concurrent resolution.
  Madam Speaker, I would be remiss if during today's proceedings 
concerning the Joint Committee on Printing that I did not mention that 
one of the institution's finest employees, Mike Harrison, who is on the 
minority staff and is minority staff director for the Joint Committee 
on Printing, is not here today. Normally, Mike would be here right by 
my side.

                              {time}  1415

  He has helped me in the past shepherd through legislation. 
Unfortunately, Mike is home recovering from an ailment and cannot be 
here today. The good news is that he is doing quite well and 
convalescing at home. I spoke with both him and his wife, Lori; and I 
know so many from here send their best wishes for his speedy recovery. 
He is as witty as ever, and we look forward to his speedy return.
  Madam Speaker, having no further speakers, I yield back the balance 
of my time.
  Mr. MICA. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  In conclusion, again, I am here to present House Concurrent 
Resolution 139, which authorizes the publication of some very important 
documents, including the Constitution of the United States, ``Our 
Flag'' and ``How Our Laws Are Made,'' tools that are important to 
constituents, to students, and a great

[[Page H3650]]

resource of this body, a somewhat mundane, but necessary, obligation of 
the Committee on House Administration.
  I am sorry that the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Ney), the chairman of 
the Committee on House Administration on which I am privileged to 
serve, is not able to be with us; but I know he supports this 
publication and also this House concurrent resolution, and I am honored 
to have the opportunity to act in his stead, to move and recommend for 
passage by the House H. Con. Res. 139. I urge passage of this measure.
  Madam Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mrs. Emerson). The question is on the motion 
offered by the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Mica) that the House suspend 
the rules and agree to the concurrent resolution, H. Con. Res. 139.
  The question was taken; and (two-thirds having voted in favor 
thereof) the rules were suspended and the concurrent resolution was 
agreed to.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

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