[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 189 (Tuesday, December 11, 2007)]
[House]
[Pages H15233-H15234]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




    RECOGNIZING THE IMPORTANCE OF CHRISTMAS AND THE CHRISTIAN FAITH

  Mr. MEEKS of New York. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and 
agree to the resolution (H. Res. 847) recognizing the importance of 
Christmas and the Christian faith, as amended.
  The Clerk read the title of the resolution.
  The text of the resolution is as follows:

                              H. Res. 847

       Whereas Christmas, a holiday of great significance to 
     Americans and many other cultures and nationalities, is 
     celebrated annually by Christians throughout the United 
     States and the world;
       Whereas there are approximately 225,000,000 Christians in 
     the United States, making Christianity the religion of over 
     three-fourths of the American population;
       Whereas there are approximately 2,000,000,000 Christians 
     throughout the world, making Christianity the largest 
     religion in the world and the religion of about one-third of 
     the world population;
       Whereas Christians and Christianity have contributed 
     greatly to the development of western civilization;
       Whereas the United States, being founded as a 
     constitutional republic in the traditions of western 
     civilization, finds much in its history that points observers 
     back to its Judeo-Christian roots;
       Whereas on December 25 of each calendar year, American 
     Christians observe Christmas, the holiday celebrating the 
     birth of their savior, Jesus Christ;
       Whereas for Christians, Christmas is celebrated as a 
     recognition of God's redemption, mercy, and Grace; and
       Whereas many Christians and non-Christians throughout the 
     United States and the rest of the world, celebrate Christmas 
     as a time to serve others: Now, therefore be it
       Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
       (1) recognizes the Christian faith as one of the great 
     religions of the world;
       (2) expresses continued support for Christians in the 
     United States and worldwide;
       (3) acknowledges the international religious and historical 
     importance of Christmas and the Christian faith;
       (4) acknowledges and supports the role played by Christians 
     and Christianity in the founding of the United States and in 
     the formation of the western civilization;
       (5) rejects bigotry and persecution directed against 
     Christians, both in the United States and worldwide; and
       (6) expresses its deepest respect to American Christians 
     and Christians throughout the world.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from New 
York (Mr. Meeks) and the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Poe) each will 
control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from New York.


                             General Leave

  Mr. MEEKS of New York. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that 
Members may have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks 
and include extraneous material on the resolution under consideration.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from New York?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. MEEKS of New York. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of this 
resolution and yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Let me first thank our colleague from Iowa, Steve King, for 
introducing this important and timely resolution.
  Mr. Speaker, along with people of other faiths, our Christian friends 
and neighbors around the world mark this time of year as a special 
festive season. As Kwanzaa approaches and Hanukkah draws to a close, it 
is notably the Christmas season. We are in the midst of Advent, and 
this discussion today is bracketed by two holidays observed by many 
Catholics who make up the majority of Christiandom: the Feast of the 
Immaculate Conception, and Our Lady of Guadalupe. There are 
approximately 2 billion Christians, making Christianity the largest 
religion of the world and the faith of about one-third of the global 
population.
  On December 25, Christians will celebrate Jesus the Christ, whom they 
have embraced as their savior. For believers, this holiday is a 
recognition of God's redemption, mercy, and grace. For Christians and 
non-Christians alike, Christmas is also a time to serve others. The 
celebration of Christmas requires devotion to faith, community, and 
family, truly universal values we all can share.
  It is both fitting and important for the United States House of 
Representatives to mark this event. This legislation expresses the deep 
respect we feel for Christians in the United States and throughout the 
world. The House must reject bigotry and persecution directed against 
Christians, both in the United States and worldwide. We must affirm the 
values of religious freedom in this country and abroad. I strongly 
support this legislation, and I encourage my colleagues to do the same.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. POE. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I am pleased, as original cosponsor, to rise in support 
of this

[[Page H15234]]

timely resolution recognizing the significance of Christmas and the 
contribution of the Christian faith to the United States and to other 
nations throughout the world. While Christmas does not have the same 
religious meaning for all citizens, it nevertheless invokes the values 
of friendship and goodwill that are common to all nations.
  December 25, or Christmas, as we say, commemorates a birth that 
influenced the world in an unmatched way. Christ's life, his teachings, 
his example, his sacrifice, and his death brought to life one of the 
great religions of the world, one which underpins the foundations of 
democracy in our own United States of America and even other countries 
throughout the world.
  Even in complex times such as those in which we live at this time, 
the simple central message of Christianity endures: ``love thy neighbor 
as thyself.''
  For many, Christmas invokes the images of Santa Claus and exchanging 
of gifts. This comes from the patron St. Nicholas, who helped poor 
children hundreds of years ago by giving them presents. But 
Christianity is more. It is the birth of the Christian religion and 
commemorates the birth of its founder, Jesus, on Christmas day.
  At its core are the fundamental important ideals of ``Peace on Earth, 
Goodwill toward men.'' The poor, the suffering, those left alone or far 
from their families, and those departed who were dear to us whom we 
remember from time to time are all recognized in this great religion of 
Christianity, and, through it, all have been offered hope.
  At this time of year in this season of Christmas, I ask my colleagues 
to join in supporting House Resolution 847 introduced by our colleague, 
Mr. King of Iowa, recognizing the importance of Christmas and the 
Christian faith.
  I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. MEEKS of New York. I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. POE. Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from Georgia (Mr. 
Gingrey) such time as he may consume.
  Mr. GINGREY. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding, and I 
rise today in support of House Resolution 847, which recognizes the 
importance of Christmas and the Christian faith.
  While there may be some who bristle at the idea of the House of 
Representatives considering this resolution or any similar resolution, 
I would note that though the first amendment states that the Congress 
shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, the first 
amendment also states that the Congress shall make no law prohibiting 
the free exercise thereof.
  Mr. Speaker, our Founders had the foresight to realize that a state-
run church of America would do more harm to the perseverance of faith 
and the hearts of our citizenry, and it would certainly lead to 
irreconcilable division. However, at the same time, the Founders and 
writers of the Constitution also recognized that the success of this 
great American experiment, this historic social contract, was 
contingent upon a moral and a religious people and the recognition that 
we had inalienable rights, because those rights are given to us by our 
Creator. If these rights are given to us by a Creator, then no human 
being can take them away. And this is the foundation of our system of 
justice, the foundation of our American society.
  And so today we take just a few minutes to consider this resolution 
which respects the faith and the beliefs of a vast majority of this 
country and a plurality of the world, stating that, and I quote:
  ``Whereas Christians identify themselves as those who believe in the 
salvation from sin offered to them through the sacrifice of their 
savior, Jesus Christ, the son of God, and who, out of gratitude for the 
gift of salvation, commit themselves to living their lives in 
accordance with the teachings of the Holy Bible.''
  So I hope that no Member of this Congress, no individual anywhere 
takes offense to this debate and this resolution, because none is 
intended. This resolution simply offers recognition to a faith and the 
values of that faith which has sustained hundreds of millions of people 
throughout the world, not just the United States. And after more than 
two millennia, we once again approach the commemoration of a birth that 
many recognize as holy but all recognize as historic.
  Mr. Speaker, I want to point out that just this past weekend I took 
my granddaughters, 9-year-old, almost 10 they would want me to say, 
identical twin granddaughters with my wife, and we were in 
Representative Meeks' great City of New York and we had an opportunity 
to take our grandchildren to the Radio City Music Hall to see that 
annual Christmas performance. That 1\1/2\ hour performance, Mr. 
Speaker, was absolutely wonderful and a great tribute to the city, a 
great tribute to Representative Meeks and all of our colleagues from 
New York.
  In that performance, Mr. Speaker, they had a nativity scene, the most 
beautiful nativity scene that I have had the opportunity to witness. 
And it meant so much to my granddaughters for me to explain about our 
Christian faith and heritage. So if it is good enough for New York City 
and Radio City Music Hall, it is good enough for this Congress. And, by 
golly, I want to encourage all my speakers to support the resolution of 
Representative King from Iowa. He was detained because of inclement 
weather; otherwise, he would be on this floor. But I commend and thank 
my colleague from New York, Representative Meeks, and also my colleague 
from Texas, Representative Poe, for allowing me time.
  Mr. MEEKS of New York. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. POE. Mr. Speaker, the author of this resolution, Mr. King from 
Iowa, is already having a white Christmas. He is stuck in Iowa because 
of the snow. He could not be here.
  I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. MEEKS of New York. Mr. Speaker, this just shows how great our 
Nation is as we celebrate holidays, as we indicated Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, 
we look at other religions, Islam and Ramadan. It shows the diversity 
and it shows the tolerance that we have for all. And as we enter this 
great holiday season, this is the example I think that we show around 
the world, that we celebrate each other's religion in great joy here, 
recognizing with respect whom they worship.
  Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentleman from New York (Mr. Meeks) that the House suspend the rules 
and agree to the resolution, H. Res. 847, as amended.
  The question was taken.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. In the opinion of the Chair, two-thirds 
being in the affirmative, the ayes have it.
  Mr. POE. 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.

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