[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 145 (1999), Part 19]
[Senate]
[Page 27617]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]



          HISTORY OF THE HOUSE AWARENESS AND PRESERVATION ACT

  Mrs. HUTCHISON. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent the Rules 
Committee be discharged from further consideration of H.R. 2303, and 
the Senate then proceed to its immediate consideration.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered. The clerk 
will report the bill by title.
  The legislative clerk read as follows:

       A bill (H.R. 2303) to direct the Librarian of Congress to 
     prepare the history of the House of Representatives and for 
     other purposes.

  There being no objection, the Senate proceeded to consider the bill.
  Mr. DODD. Mr. President, I rise in support of H.R. 2303, the History 
of the House Awareness and Preservation Act, and wish to take a moment 
of the Senate to congratulate the author of this legislation, the 
Honorable John B. Larson of the First Congressional District of 
Connecticut.
  John has proven himself to be a skilled legislator and an articulate 
and creative advocate for the people of his district, the State of 
Connecticut, and indeed the entire Nation. For twelve years John served 
with distinction in the Connecticut State Senate, serving as President 
Pro Tempore for eight years. It is altogether fitting that this 
initiative is John's first legislative accomplishment. As a former high 
school teacher, John is in a unique position to understand the 
significance and importance of recording the deliberations and history 
of the House for the benefit of future generations.
  As a newly elected member of the House of Representatives, John 
arrived in Washington at a time when it appeared that partisanship and 
acrimony would be the order of the day. True to his reverence for our 
system of government, and his respect and admiration for the 
institution he now serves in, John initiated this idea in response to 
calls for a return to civility in the House of Representatives. It is a 
testament to his skill and effectiveness that this legislation garnered 
313 cosponsors, including both the Speaker of the House, Mr. Hastert, 
and the House Minority Leader, Mr. Gephardt, and was adopted by the 
House in just a little over four months from its introduction on June 
22 of this year. The United States Senate is deeply indebted to our 
distinguished colleague, Senator Robert C. Byrd, for his considerable 
efforts to preserve the history of the Senate through his four-volume 
history. The House of Representatives, and students of government 
across this Nation, will be indebted to John Larson for his efforts as 
well.
  I am privileged to count John as a friend and an advisor and I 
commend him on the enactment of this, his first, legislative 
initiative. It is an honor for me, as the Ranking Member of the 
Committee on Rules and Administration, to play a small role in 
assisting his efforts to preserve the rich history of the House of 
Representatives for future generations. I urge the adoption of this 
legislation.
  Mrs. HUTCHISON. I ask unanimous consent the bill be read three times, 
passed, the motion to reconsider be laid on the table, and any 
statements relating thereto be printed in the Record.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  The bill (H.R. 2303) was read the third time and passed.




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