[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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