[Congressional Record Volume 154, Number 151 (Tuesday, September 23, 2008)]
[House]
[Page H8718]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




CELEBRATING THE 232ND ANNIVERSARY OF THE SIGNING OF THE DECLARATION OF 
                              INDEPENDENCE

  Ms. SUTTON. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee 
on Oversight and Government Reform be discharged from further 
consideration of the concurrent resolution (H. Con. Res. 386) to 
recognize and celebrate the ``232nd Anniversary of the signing of the 
Declaration of Independence,'' and ask for its immediate consideration 
in the House.
  The Clerk read the title of the concurrent resolution.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentlewoman from Ohio?
  There was no objection.
  The text of the concurrent resolution is as follows:

                            H. Con. Res. 386

       Whereas the text of the Declaration of Independence was 
     adopted by the Second Continental Congress on July 4, 1776, 
     and the engrossed copy of the Declaration of Independence was 
     signed by most of the delegates in the Second Continental 
     Congress on August 2, 1776;
       Whereas August 2, 2008, marks the 232d anniversary of the 
     signing of the engrossed copy of the Declaration of 
     Independence;
       Whereas the signing of the Declaration of Independence 
     marked the formal dissolution of the ties of the thirteen 
     American colonies with Great Britain, the beginning of their 
     statehood and national identity, and the dawning of a new era 
     of freedom in America and the world;
       Whereas these Founding Fathers, relying on the direction 
     from and protection of Divine Providence, pledged to each 
     other their lives, their fortunes, and their Sacred honor in 
     defense of this action;
       Whereas the Declaration of Independence paved the way for 
     the birth of the Republic;
       Whereas the Declaration of Independence has become part of 
     the national culture, and its principles are part of the 
     consciousness of all Americans;
       Whereas the fundamental genius of the United States is 
     embodied in the Declaration's recognition that ``all men are 
     created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with 
     certain unalienable rights, that among these are Life, 
     Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness'';
       Whereas the principle that the rights of man are bestowed 
     by the Creator and are unalienable was derived from 
     Scripture, which antedates the existence from any government;
       Whereas the Declaration of Independence affirms that 
     governments are instituted to protect those rights; and
       Whereas the Declaration acknowledged these self-evident 
     Truths, which constituted one of the most revolutionary 
     philosophical developments in history and began an 
     unparalleled national experiment: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate 
     concurring), That the Congress recognizes and celebrates the 
     232d anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of 
     Independence.

  The concurrent resolution was agreed to.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

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