[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 150 (2004), Part 14]
[Senate]
[Page 19335]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                        GREATER CIVIC AWARENESS

  Mr. McCONNELL. Madam President, I ask unanimous consent that the 
Senate proceed to the immediate consideration of S. Res. 434 submitted 
earlier today by Senators Levin, Cochran, Leahy, Allen, and others.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will report the resolution by title.
  The legislative clerk read as follows:

       A resolution (S. Res. 434) recognizing and supporting all 
     efforts to promote greater civic awareness among the people 
     of the United States.

  There being no objection, the Senate proceeded to consider the 
resolution.
  Mr. McCONNELL. Madam President, I ask unanimous consent that the 
resolution and preamble be agreed to en bloc, the motion to reconsider 
be laid upon the table, and any statements relating thereto be printed 
in the Record without intervening action or debate.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  The resolution (S. Res. 434) was agreed to.
  The preamble was agreed to.
  The resolution, with its preamble, reads as follows:

                              S. Res. 434

       Whereas the Constitution of the United States establishes a 
     representative form of government in which the people of the 
     United States elect Members of the House of Representatives 
     and Senators of the Senate, and each of the States appoint 
     electors who, based on the popular vote of the State, select 
     the President and the Vice-President;
       Whereas the 15th, 19th, 24th, and 26th amendments to the 
     Constitution establish that the right of citizens of the 
     United States to vote shall not be denied or abridged on 
     account of race, color, or previous condition of servitude; 
     on account of sex; by reason of failure to pay any poll tax 
     or other tax; and on account of age for those 18 years of age 
     and older;
       Whereas the right of citizens of the United States to vote 
     is fundamental to our representative form of government;
       Whereas many eligible citizens do not exercise the right to 
     vote;
       Whereas numerous civic awareness organizations and advocacy 
     groups at the Federal, State, and local level actively 
     promote voter registration and voter participation; and
       Whereas many communities and schools have instituted civic 
     awareness programs: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the Senate--
       (1) recognizes and supports all efforts to promote greater 
     civic awareness among the people of the United States, 
     including civic awareness programs such as candidate forums 
     and voter registration drives; and
       (2) encourages local communities and elected officials at 
     all levels of government to promote greater awareness among 
     the electorate of civic responsibility and the importance of 
     participating in these elections.

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