[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 154 (2008), Part 16]
[House]
[Pages 22760-22761]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                NATIONAL ESTATE PLANNING AWARENESS WEEK

  Mr. CLAY. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on 
Oversight and Government Reform be discharged from further 
consideration of the resolution (H. Res. 1499) designating the third 
week of October as ``National Estate Planning Awareness Week,'' and ask 
for its immediate consideration in the House.
  The Clerk read the title of the resolution.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from Missouri?
  There was no objection.
  The text of the resolution is as follows:

                              H. Res. 1499

       Whereas it is estimated that over 120,000,000 Americans do 
     not have up-to-date estate plans to protect themselves or 
     their families in the event of sickness, accidents, or 
     untimely death;
       Whereas a 2004 Roper poll commissioned by the American 
     Institute for Certified Public

[[Page 22761]]

     Accountants found that two-thirds of Americans over age 65 
     believe they lack the knowledge necessary to adequately plan 
     for retirement, and nearly one half of all Americans are 
     unfamiliar with basic retirement tools, such as a 401(k) 
     plan;
       Whereas careful estate planning can greatly assist 
     Americans in preserving assets built over a lifetime for the 
     benefit of family, heirs, or charities;
       Whereas estate planning involves many considerations, 
     including safekeeping of important documents, documentation 
     of assets, operation of law in the various States, 
     preparation of legal instruments, insurance, availability of 
     trust arrangements, charitable giving, inter vivos care of 
     the benefactor, and other important factors;
       Whereas estate planning encourages timely decisions about 
     the method of holding title to certain assets, the 
     designation of beneficiaries, and the possible transfer of 
     assets during the life of the benefactor;
       Whereas many Americans are unaware that lack of estate 
     planning and ``financial illiteracy'' may cause their assets 
     to be disposed of to unintended parties by default through 
     the complex process of probate;
       Whereas alternatives to disposition of assets after death, 
     such as planned gift-giving, may accomplish a benefactor's 
     goal of providing for his or her family and favorite 
     charities;
       Whereas careful planning can prevent family members or 
     other beneficiaries from being subjected to complex legal and 
     administrative processes requiring significant expenditure of 
     time, and greatly reduce confusion or even animosity among 
     family members or other heirs upon the death of a loved one;
       Whereas important considerations as to donation of organs 
     and use of life support functions may be made through the 
     estate planning process;
       Whereas the implementation of an estate plan starts with 
     sound education and planning, and then may require the proper 
     drafting and execution of appropriate legal documents, 
     including wills, trusts, and durable powers of attorney for 
     health care;
       Whereas the third week of October should be designated as 
     ``National Estate Planning Awareness Week''; and
       Whereas the National Association of Estate Planners and 
     Councils, representing over 28,000 estate planning 
     professionals, together with the Universal Press Syndicate, 
     the largest independent newspaper syndicate in the world, are 
     prepared to provide such educational information to the 
     public in a focused manner during National Estate Planning 
     Awareness Week: Now, therefore be it
       Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
       (1) encourages the distribution of estate planning 
     information by professionals to all Americans; and
       (2) supports the designation of a ``National Estate 
     Planning Awareness Week''.

  The resolution was agreed to.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

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