Congressional Record, Volume 151 Issue 129 (Thursday, October 6, 2005)

[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 129 (Thursday, October 6, 2005)]
[House]
[Pages H8653-H8654]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

AUTHORIZING USE OF CAPITOL GROUNDS FOR EVENT TO COMMEMORATE 10TH
ANNIVERSARY OF MILLION MAN MARCH

Mr. MICA. Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the
concurrent resolution (H. Con. Res. 161) authorizing the use of the
Capitol Grounds for an event to commemorate the 10th Anniversary of the
Million Man March.
The Clerk read as follows:

H. Con. Res. 161

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

SECTION 1. USE OF CAPITOL GROUNDS FOR EVENT TO COMMEMORATE
10TH ANNIVERSARY OF MILLION MAN MARCH.

(a) In General.--Million Man March, Inc. (in this
resolution referred to as the ``sponsor'') shall be permitted
to sponsor a public event on the Capitol Grounds to
commemorate the 10th Anniversary of the Million Man March (in
this resolution referred to as the ``event'').
(b) Date of Event.--The event shall be held on October 15,
2005, or on such other date as the Speaker of the House of
Representatives and the Committee on Rules and Administration
of the Senate jointly designate.

SEC. 2. TERMS AND CONDITIONS.

(a) In General.--Under conditions to be prescribed by the
Architect of the Capitol and the Capitol Police Board, the
event shall be--
(1) free of admission charge and open to the public; and
(2) arranged not to interfere with the needs of Congress.
(b) Expenses and Liabilities.--The sponsor shall assume
full responsibility for all expenses and liabilities incident
to all activities associated with the event.

SEC. 3. EVENT PREPARATIONS.

Subject to the approval of the Architect of the Capitol,
the sponsor is authorized to erect upon the Capitol Grounds
such stage, sound amplification devices, and other related
structures and equipment, as may be required for the event.

SEC. 4. ADDITIONAL ARRANGEMENTS.

The Architect of the Capitol and the Capitol Police Board
are authorized to make any such additional arrangements that
may be required to carry out the event.

SEC. 5. ENFORCEMENT OF RESTRICTIONS.

The Capitol Police Board shall provide for enforcement of
the restrictions in section 5104(c) of title 40, United
States Code, concerning sales, advertisements, displays, and
solicitations on the Capitol Grounds, as well as other
restrictions applicable to the Capitol Grounds, in connection
with the event.

The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from
Florida (Mr. Mica) and the gentleman from Oregon (Mr. DeFazio) each
will control 20 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Mica).

General Leave

Mr. MICA. Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may
have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their remarks
and include extraneous material on House Concurrent Resolution 161.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the
gentleman from Florida?
There was no objection.
Mr. MICA. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
This concurrent resolution takes care of a little bit of a
housekeeping chore for our committee and also for the House. House
Concurrent Resolution 161 is sponsored by the gentleman from Illinois
(Mr. Davis) and it authorizes the use of the Capitol grounds for the
10th anniversary commemoration event of the Million Man March. It is
required under our rules that we pass such a resolution for use of the
Capitol grounds.
The Million Man March, Inc., is the sponsor wishing to commemorate
the march of 10 years ago and to highlight the Millions More Movement.
The current movement is intended to reenergize the efforts and
missions of the Million Man March, which was first held in 1995. This
event is scheduled for 9 a.m. on Saturday, October 15, 2005; and it
will include leaders of the African American community. It is free of
charge and also open to the public.
I also find it important to note that the sponsor assumes full
responsibility for all expenses and liability incident to all
activities associated with the event, and House Concurrent Resolution
161 does not authorize any expenditures.
Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. DeFAZIO. Madam Speaker, I yield myself as much time as I may
consume.

[[Page H8654]]

H. Con. Res. 161 authorizes the use of the Capitol grounds for the
Millions More March scheduled for October 15, 2005. It will be on the
10th anniversary of the original Million Man March held here in
Washington on the Mall in October of 1995. This event was one of the
largest ever to be held on the Mall.
Similar to the original march, the themes and programs of this event
will focus on unity, spiritual values, education and economic
development. It is going to be extraordinarily timely this year in the
wake of Hurricane Katrina and some of the conditions we saw in New
Orleans.
It will be very relevant to this march, and hopefully the
administration and others will be paying attention to the issues and
themes raised at this event. The organizers will work with the office
of the Architect of the Capitol, the Capitol Police; and the event will
be free and open to the public.
I support the resolution and urge its passage.
Madam Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman
from Illinois (Mr. Davis).
Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Madam Speaker, I thank the gentleman for
yielding.
I would take this moment to express appreciation to Speaker Hastert,
Chairman Young, Ranking Member Oberstar, and Mr. Mica and Mr. DeFazio
for bringing this legislation to the floor and for having an
opportunity for it to be heard and to be passed.
I rise in support of it. As a matter of fact, it commemorates the
10th-year anniversary of the Million Man March which took place some 10
years ago when more than a million, primarily African American, men
came to Washington D.C. for a big national town hall meeting. That is
what I really think of this as being, a national town hall meeting
where people from all across the country will gather on the Mall and
have a day of discussions talking about problems, needs, hopes, and
aspirations. It is an opportunity for those who will gather to be heard
to experience fellowship and camaraderie and also to project for the
Nation to see and feel an understanding of their perception of need.
I want to thank all of those who helped to make this event possible.
I appreciate the sensitivity and concern displayed.
Mr. DeFAZIO. Madam Speaker, I have no further requests for time, and
I yield back the balance of my time.
Mr. MICA. Madam Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time.
Again, I want to commend the gentleman from Illinois for bringing
this legislative initiative before the House. On behalf of Chairman
Young of the full T&I committee and subcommittee chair Mr. Shuster, the
gentleman from Pennsylvania, who chairs the Economic Development and
Public Buildings and Emergency Management Subcommittee, I am pleased to
present this legislation, and ask at this time for the House's
consideration and adoption of the resolution.
Mr. OBERSTAR. Madam Speaker, H. Con. Res. 161 authorizes use of the
Capitol Grounds for an event to commemorate the 10th anniversary of the
Million Man March which took place on October 16, 1995. The first
Million Man March was one of the largest events to be held on the mall.
The 1995 event themes were unity, atonement, and brotherhood.
The anniversary event will rededicate participants to the goals and
ideals of the original event. A few of the themes of this year's event
include unity, spiritual values, education, and economic development.
Like all events that use the Capitol Grounds, this event is free and
open to the public. The event sponsors will work with the Architect of
the Capitol to resolve all issues of event preparation. This far
reaching national program will include a march on October 15th and
religious services on Sunday, October 16.
I support the resolution and urge its passage.
Mr. MICA. Madam Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. 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. 161.
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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