[Congressional Record Volume 156, Number 132 (Tuesday, September 28, 2010)]
[House]
[Pages H7144-H7145]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




       RECOGNIZING LIBRARY OF CONGRESS AND NATIONAL BOOK FESTIVAL

  Mrs. DAVIS of California. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules 
and agree to the resolution (H. Res. 1646) recognizing the commitment 
and efforts made by the Library of Congress to promote the joy of 
reading through the sponsorship of the National Book Festival.
  The Clerk read the title of the resolution.
  The text of the resolution is as follows:

                              H. Res. 1646

       Whereas the National Book Festival is a great national 
     treasure that fosters the joy of reading;
       Whereas the first National Book Festival was held on 
     September 8, 2001, and was organized and sponsored by the 
     Library of Congress and hosted by First Lady Laura Bush;
       Whereas the first National Book Festival, held on the 
     grounds of the Library of Congress and the United States 
     Capitol, was such a success that it has become an annual 
     event;
       Whereas the National Book Festival has grown in popularity, 
     in recent years bringing over 130,000 book lovers to the 
     National Mall;
       Whereas the National Book Festival each year has featured 
     more than 70 award-winning and nationally known authors, 
     illustrators, poets and storytellers;
       Whereas the National Book Festival invites readers from 
     around the Nation to celebrate books, reading, and 
     creativity;
       Whereas the National Book Festival convenes representatives 
     from all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and the 
     territories and possessions to join the Festival's ``Pavilion 
     of the States'', where they may discuss and distribute 
     materials about their respective reading and literacy-
     promotion programs;
       Whereas the 2010 National Book Festival will be the 10th 
     National Book Festival, representing a milestone for the 
     Library of Congress and the Nation; and

[[Page H7145]]

       Whereas the 2010 National Book Festival will be held on the 
     National Mall on September 25, 2010, and will be sponsored 
     and organized by the Library of Congress and supported by 
     Honorary Co-chairs President Barack Obama and First Lady 
     Michelle Obama: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
       (1) recognizes the commitment and efforts made by the 
     Library of Congress to promote the joy of reading through the 
     sponsorship of the National Book Festival;
       (2) recognizes and emphasizes the important historic and 
     ongoing role of the Library of Congress in organizing and 
     running the National Book Festival; and
       (3) encourages all Americans to celebrate the 10th National 
     Book Festival, ``A Decade of Words and Wonder''.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentlewoman from 
California (Mrs. Davis) and the gentleman from California (Mr. Daniel 
E. Lungren) each will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentlewoman from California.


                             General Leave

  Mrs. DAVIS of California. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that 
all Members have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks 
in the Record and to include extraneous matter.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentlewoman from California?
  There was no objection.
  Mrs. DAVIS of California. I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Today, we commemorate the 10th anniversary of the National Book 
Festival. The Library of Congress' commitment to the spread of 
knowledge is well-known and so is their unbridled joy of books and 
reading.
  I am pleased to be a cosponsor of this resolution, along with all the 
members of the Committee on House Administration, and would like to 
congratulate the Library of Congress on another highly successful 
National Book Festival and laud their continued efforts to spread the 
joy and wonder of reading.
  I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. DANIEL E. LUNGREN of California. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such 
time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H. Res. 1646. I was 
privileged to be the main sponsor of this, but this is one of those 
unique bills where every single member of the committee, Democrat and 
Republican, sponsored it. That is not unusual in the sense that the 
goal of this bill is to celebrate one of the greatest gifts we can give 
to our children; that is, the gift of reading.
  The first Library of Congress National Book Festival was held on 
September 8, 2001, so this year it celebrates its 10th anniversary with 
another highly attended, all-day event and remarkable panoply of 
authors. The National Book Festival has only grown in popularity over 
this last decade, and this year's estimate is that over 150,000 
individuals attended the 2010 festival this past Saturday.
  The festival highlights and demonstrates the importance of literacy, 
creativity, and imagination in our schools, our young people, and 
throughout our society. The festival vividly brings to life the 
richness of books and fosters a lifelong love of reading.
  So we congratulate the Library of Congress for its achievements in 
hosting the festival and wish them continued success. I urge my 
colleagues to support this resolution.
  Mr. JOHNSON of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to applaud the 
actions of the House of Representatives in recognizing the commitment 
and efforts made by the Library of Congress to promote the joy of 
reading through the National Book Festival. I support the Library of 
Congress in its efforts to promote and foster the joy of reading.
  On September 25, 2010, the Library of Congress held its tenth 
National Book Festival on the National Mall. President Barack Obama and 
First Lady Michelle Obama served as the honorary chairs for this event. 
The National Book Festival invites readers from around the nation to 
celebrate books, reading, and creativity. It gives attendees from 
across the country the opportunity to visit with more than 70 award-
winning authors who will talk' about and sign their books. Over the 
past ten years, the National Book Festival has grown in popularity. 
Last year, it brought more than 130,000 book lovers, including those 
from my home state of Georgia, to the National Mall.
  As the resolution states, the National Book Festival is a national 
treasure that fosters the joy of reading. Even in this modern digital 
age, reading has a host of benefits. Reading develops our creativity, 
broadens our interests, and introduces us to new things and different 
parts of the world. I am proud that Georgia was represented at the 
National Book Festival, along with all 50 states and the District of 
Columbia, at the Pavilion of the States where representatives were able 
to discuss and distribute materials about Georgia's reading and 
literacy programs.
  Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to join me in support of this 
resolution.
  Mr. Mr. DANIEL E. LUNGREN of California. Mr. Speaker, I yield back 
the balance of my time.
  Mrs. DAVIS of California. Mr. Speaker, I'm pleased to join with my 
colleague in recognizing the successful annual book festival. It did 
set a new attendance record, and we're delighted and we look forward to 
next year.
  Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentlewoman from California (Mrs. Davis) that the House suspend the 
rules and agree to the resolution, H. Res. 1646.
  The question was taken; and (two-thirds being in the affirmative) the 
rules were suspended and the resolution was agreed to.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

                          ____________________