[Congressional Record Volume 149, Number 174 (Tuesday, November 25, 2003)]
[Senate]
[Pages S16053-S16054]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




   SENATE COMMISSION ON ART TO SELECT SCENE COMMEMORATING THE GREAT 
                               COMPROMISE

  Mr. McCONNELL. I ask unanimous consent that the Rules Committee be 
discharged from further action on S. Res. 177, and the Senate now 
proceed to its consideration.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will report the resolution by title.
  The assistant legislative clerk read as follows:

       A resolution ( S. Res. 177) to direct the Senate Commission 
     on Art to select an appropriate scene commemorating the Great 
     Compromise of our forefathers establishing a bicameral 
     Congress with equal State representation in the United State 
     Senate, to be placed in the lunette space in the Senate 
     reception room immediately above the entrance into the Senate 
     chamber lobby, and to authorize the Committee on Rules and 
     Administration to obtain technical advice and assistance in 
     carrying out its duties.

  There being no objection, the Senate proceeded to consider the 
resolution.
  Mr. McCONNELL. I ask unanimous consent the amendment at the desk be 
agreed to; the resolution, as amended, be agreed to; the amendment to 
the preamble be agreed to; the preamble,

[[Page S16054]]

as amended, be agreed to; the amendment to the title be agreed to, the 
motion to reconsider be laid upon the table en bloc and statements be 
printed in the Record
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  The amendment (No. 2221) was agreed to, as follows:

 (Purpose: To permit the painting to be placed in the Senate wing at a 
   location determined by the Committee on Rules and Administration)

       On page 3, strike lines 2 through 4 and insert the 
     following: ``forefathers, to be placed in a location in the 
     Senate wing to be determined by the chairman and ranking 
     member of the Committee on Rules and Administration.''.
  The amendment (No. 2222) was agreed to, as follows:
       Amend the preamble to read as follows:
       Whereas on July 16, 1787, the framers of the United States 
     Constitution, meeting at Independence Hall, reached a 
     supremely important agreement, providing for a dual system of 
     congressional representation, such that in the House of 
     Representatives, each State would be assigned a number of 
     seats in proportion to its population, and in the Senate, all 
     States would have an equal number of seats, an agreement 
     which became known as the ``Great Compromise'' or the 
     ``Connecticut Compromise''; and
       Whereas an appropriate scene commemorating the Great 
     Compromise of our forefathers establishing a bicameral 
     Congress with equal State representation in the United States 
     Senate should be placed in the Senate wing of the Capitol: 
     Now, therefore, be it

  The amendment (No. 2223) was agreed to, as follows:
       Amend the title so as to read: ``To direct the Senate 
     Commission on Art to select an appropriate scene 
     commemorating the Great Compromise of our forefathers 
     establishing a bicameral Congress with equal representation 
     in the United States Senate, to be placed in the Senate wing 
     of the Capitol, and to authorize the Committees on Rules and 
     Administration to obtain technical advice and assistance in 
     carrying out its duties.''.
  The resolution (S. Res. 177), as amended, was agreed to.
  The preamble, as amended, was agreed to.
  The title amendment, as amended, was agreed to.
  The resolution, with its preamble, reads as follows:

                              S. Res. 177

       Whereas on July 16, 1787, the framers of the United States 
     Constitution, meeting at Independence Hall, reached a 
     supremely important agreement, providing for a dual system of 
     congressional representation, such that in the House of 
     Representatives, each State would be assigned a number of 
     seats in proportion to its population, and in the Senate, all 
     States would have an equal number of seats, an agreement 
     which became known as the ``Great Compromise'' or the 
     ``Connecticut Compromise''; and
       Whereas an appropriate scene commemorating the Great 
     Compromise of our forefathers establishing a bicameral 
     Congress with equal State representation in the United States 
     Senate should be placed in the Senate wing of the Capitol: 
     Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved,

     SECTION 1. COMMEMORATION OF THE GREAT COMPROMISE.

       (a) In General.--The Senate Commission on Art, established 
     under section 901 of the Arizona-Idaho Conservation Act of 
     1988 (40 U.S.C. 188b) (in this section referred to as the 
     ``Commission'') shall select an appropriate scene 
     commemorating the Great Compromise of our forefathers, to be 
     placed in a location in the Senate wing to be determined by 
     the chairman and ranking member of the Committee on Rules and 
     Administration.
       (b) Consultation Authorized.--The Commission is authorized 
     to seek the advice of and recommendations from historians and 
     other sources in carrying out this section, and to reimburse 
     such sources for travel expenses, in accordance with Senate 
     Travel Regulations.
       (c) Timing.--The Commission shall make its selection 
     pursuant to this section, and shall commission an artist to 
     begin work, not later than the close of the 2d session of the 
     108th Congress.
       (d) Delegation Authority.--For purposes of making the 
     selection required by this section, a member of the 
     Commission may designate another Senator to act in place of 
     that member.
       (e) Funding.--The expenses of the Commission in carrying 
     out this section shall be made available from appropriations 
     under the subheading ``miscellaneous items'' under the 
     heading ``Contingent Expenses of the Senate'', on vouchers 
     signed by the Secretary of the Senate and approved by the 
     Committee on Rules and Administration.

     SEC. 2. TECHNICAL ADVICE AND ASSISTANCE.

       (a) In General.--The Chairman of the Committee on Rules and 
     Administration may seek technical advice and assistance to 
     the Committee in carrying out its duties from individuals 
     from the public and private sectors, who shall serve without 
     compensation, at the pleasure of the Chairman.
       (b) Non-Governmental Status.--Individuals providing advice 
     and assistance described in subsection (a) shall not be 
     deemed to be--
       (1) Members, officers, or employees of the Senate; or
       (2) providing services to the Senate, for purposes of the 
     Senate Code of Official Conduct.
       (c) Expenses.--Upon submission to the Committee on Rules 
     and Administration of a routine voucher for actual 
     transportation expenses incurred in the performance of 
     providing advice and assistance to the Committee, individuals 
     described in subsection (a) may be reimbursed in accordance 
     with Senate Travel Regulations.

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