[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 146 (2000), Part 2]
[House]
[Pages 2720-2721]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]



  ESTABLISHING A JOINT CONGRESSIONAL COMMITTEE ON INAUGURAL CEREMONIES

  Mr. THOMAS. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and concur in 
the Senate Concurrent Resolution (S. Con. Res. 89) to establish a Joint 
Congressional Committee on Inaugural Ceremonies for the inauguration of 
the President-elect and the Vice President-elect of the United States 
on January 20, 2001.
  The Clerk read as follows:

                            S. Con. Res. 89

       Resolved by the Senate (the House of Representatives 
     concurring),

     SECTION 1. ESTABLISHMENT OF JOINT COMMITTEE.

       There is established a Joint Congressional Committee on 
     Inaugural Ceremonies (in this resolution referred to as the 
     ``joint committee'') consisting of 3 Senators and 3 
     Representatives, to be appointed by the President of the 
     Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives, 
     respectively. The joint committee is authorized to make the 
     necessary arrangements for the inauguration of the President-
     elect and Vice President-elect of the United States on 
     January 20, 2001.

     SEC. 2. SUPPORT OF THE JOINT COMMITTEE.

       The joint committee--
       (1) is authorized to utilize appropriate equipment and the 
     services of appropriate personnel of departments and agencies 
     of the Federal Government, under arrangements between the 
     joint committee and the heads of those departments and 
     agencies, in connection with the inaugural proceedings and 
     ceremonies; and
       (2) may accept gifts and donations of goods and services to 
     carry out its responsibilities.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from 
California (Mr. Thomas) and the gentleman from Maryland (Mr. Hoyer) 
each will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from California (Mr. Thomas).
  Mr. THOMAS. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, everyone, I think, is becoming aware that this is a 
presidential election year, but it is not just a political event. It 
is, in fact, an important governmental institutional event. It is, in 
the long history of governments, the longest peaceful transition 
between those who hold the executive position in this government.
  Senate Concurrent Resolution 89 is the traditional start of this 
institutional process. The chairman of the Senate Committee on Rules 
and the ranking member have cleared through the Senate and presented to 
the House this concurrent resolution, which will establish the Joint 
Congressional Committee on the inaugural ceremonies surrounding the 
selection of the President of the United States on the first Tuesday 
after the first Monday in November of the year 2000 for that ceremony 
on January 20, 2001.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. HOYER. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of this resolution. This routine 
concurrent resolution will create, as the chairman has said, the 
customary joint committee of this Congress to prepare for the 
inauguration of the 43rd President and the 46th Vice President of the 
United States on January 20, 2001.

[[Page 2721]]

  The joint committee will consist of three Senators and three 
Representatives who will plan the ceremony transferring the highest 
office in the land to the person chosen as our next chief executive.
  That simple but elegant, dignified ceremony is the grandest in our 
national life, and symbolizes our commitment to peaceful, democratic 
self-governance. The chairman correctly pointed out that ours is the 
longest-standing democracy in history. That transfer of power is a 
magnificent testimony to the people of the United States and our 
commitment to democracy.
  I urge all Members to support the resolution.
  Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. THOMAS. 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 California (Mr. Thomas) that the House suspend the rules 
and concur in the Senate Concurrent Resolution, Senate Concurrent 
Resolution 89.
  The question was taken; and (two-thirds having voted in favor 
thereof) the rules were suspended and the Senate concurrent resolution 
was concurred in.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

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