[Congressional Record Volume 156, Number 39 (Wednesday, March 17, 2010)]
[House]
[Pages H1544-H1545]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




              STATE ADMISSION DAY RECOGNITION ACT OF 2009

  Mr. BRADY of Pennsylvania. Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules 
and pass the bill (H.R. 3542) to direct the Architect of the Capitol to 
fly the flag of a State over the Capitol each year on the anniversary 
of the date of the State's admission to the Union, as amended.
  The Clerk read the title of the bill.
  The text of the bill is as follows:

                               H.R. 3542

       Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of 
     the United States of America in Congress assembled,

     SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

       This Act may be cited as the ``State Admission Day 
     Recognition Act of 2009''.

     SEC. 2. FLYING STATE FLAG OVER CAPITOL ON ANNIVERSARY OF 
                   STATE'S ADMISSION TO UNION.

       (a) In General.--To honor the anniversary of each State's 
     admission to the Union, the Architect of the Capitol shall 
     fly the flag of the State over the Capitol each year on the 
     anniversary of the date of the State's admission to the 
     Union.
       (b) Effective Date.--The Architect of the Capitol shall fly 
     the first flag of a State over the Capitol under this section 
     on the first December 7 which occurs after the date of the 
     enactment of this Act, in honor of the anniversary of the 
     admission of Delaware, the first State admitted to the Union.

     SEC. 3. REGULATIONS.

       The Committee on House Administration of the House of 
     Representatives and the Committee on Rules and Administration 
     of the Senate may promulgate jointly such regulations as may 
     be appropriate to carry out this Act, including regulations 
     permitting the Architect of the Capitol to honor the District 
     of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, American Samoa, 
     Guam, the United States Virgin Islands, and the Northern 
     Mariana Islands by flying the flag of each such jurisdiction 
     over the Capitol each year on an appropriate date for that 
     jurisdiction.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from 
Pennsylvania (Mr. Brady) and the gentleman from Mississippi (Mr. 
Harper) each will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Pennsylvania.


                             General Leave

  Mr. BRADY of Pennsylvania. Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent 
that

[[Page H1545]]

all Members have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks 
in the Record on H.R. 3542.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from Pennsylvania?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. BRADY of Pennsylvania. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as 
I may consume.
  This bill, introduced by my colleague and ranking member Mr. Lungren 
of California, would commemorate each State's admission to the Union. 
The bill directs the Architect of the Capitol to fly each State's flag 
annually on the anniversary date of the State's admission to the Union 
over the Capitol, beginning with the first State admitted, the State of 
Delaware.
  During markup, the committee by voice vote adopted a perfecting 
amendment that I offered so that the committee may issue a regulation 
to provide recognition of the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of 
Puerto Rico, American Samoa, Guam, the United States Virgin Islands, 
and the Northern Mariana Islands by flying the flag of each of these 
jurisdictions over the Capitol annually on the appropriate date. This 
amended bill passed through committee by unanimous vote voice and was 
reported favorably.
  I urge its passage.
  I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. HARPER. Madam Speaker, I yield myself as much time as I may 
consume.
  Today I rise in support of this bill, commemorating each of the 
unique States in our Union. This bill directs the Architect of the 
Capitol to fly the flag of a State over the Capitol each year on the 
anniversary of that State's admission into the Union. Madam Speaker, 
the United States of America truly lives up to the motto found on our 
Great Seal, ``e pluribus unum''--out of many, one.
  We are a people of many backgrounds, of many ethnicities, and of many 
characteristics. We are spread out over 50 unique, diverse, and special 
entities we call States. States allow us to organize ourselves and also 
give us identities that relate to our geographic and cultural 
tendencies. Communal bonds are formed over time through just such 
means. We now have 50 States in this wonderful Union. The first, 
Delaware, was admitted as a State on December 7, 1787. The last, 
Hawaii, was admitted August 21, 1959. There were 16 States admitted in 
the 18th century, 29 States in the 19th century, and five were admitted 
in the 20th century.
  Each flag tells a unique story of its State's history, culture, and 
inhabitants, which is why my colleague, Representative Lungren, the 
author of this legislation who was unfortunately unable to be here this 
afternoon, thought we should honor our States in this special way, 
enumerated in this legislation. I urge my colleagues to support this 
bill.
  I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. HARPER. Madam Speaker, I have no further requests for time, and I 
yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. BRADY of Pennsylvania. I thank the gentleman from Mississippi. I 
thank him for his participation on the committee, and I thank the 
ranking member, Mr. Lungren, for his participation in the committee on 
this bill. I urge a ``yes'' vote on this bill.
  I yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Brady) that the House suspend the 
rules and pass the bill, H.R. 3542, 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. BRADY of Pennsylvania. Madam 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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