[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 154 (2008), Part 2]
[House]
[Pages 2804-2805]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




    AUTHORIZING USE OF ROTUNDA BY JOINT CONGRESSIONAL COMMITTEE ON 
                          INAUGURAL CEREMONIES

  Mrs. DAVIS of California. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules 
and concur in the Senate concurrent resolution (S. Con. Res. 68) 
authorizing the use of the rotunda of the Capitol by the Joint 
Congressional Committee on Inaugural Ceremonies.
  The Clerk read the title of the Senate concurrent resolution.
  The text of the Senate concurrent resolution is as follows:

                            S. Con. Res. 68

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

     SECTION 1. USE OF THE ROTUNDA OF THE CAPITOL BY THE JOINT 
                   CONGRESSIONAL COMMITTEE ON INAUGURAL 
                   CEREMONIES.

       The rotunda of the United States Capitol is authorized to 
     be used on January 20, 2009, by the Joint Congressional 
     Committee on Inaugural Ceremonies in connection with the 
     proceedings and ceremonies conducted for the inauguration of 
     the President-elect and the Vice President-elect of the 
     United States.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentlewoman from 
California (Mrs. Davis) and the gentleman from Michigan (Mr. Ehlers) 
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 may have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their 
remarks in the Record on this concurrent resolution.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentlewoman from California?
  There was no objection.
  Mrs. DAVIS of California. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I 
may consume.
  Senate Concurrent Resolution 68 authorizes advanced planning for the 
use of the Capitol rotunda on January 20, 2009, for the proceedings and 
ceremonies conducted for the inauguration of the President and Vice 
President of the United States. Congress traditionally passes this 
measure in the year

[[Page 2805]]

prior to the event in order to begin security planning and rehearsal 
for the inaugural, since the rotunda is routinely used for ceremonial 
purposes during the inauguration and could host the event, itself, 
depending on the weather at that time.
  Senate Concurrent Resolution 68 does not formally authorize use of 
the rotunda for the inaugural events, themselves, since it will expire 
on January 3, 2009, like all concurrent resolutions which are not made 
part of permanent law, and must be renewed in the 111th Congress. 
However, action today will initiate the period of pre-event planning 
necessary to bring one of our democracy's most memorable and historic 
ceremonies to fruition smoothly and safely.
  I urge passage of the Senate concurrent resolution.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. EHLERS. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  I rise in support of S. Con. Res. 68, which will authorize use of the 
rotunda for the Joint Congressional Committee on Inaugural Ceremonies. 
Since the swearing in of Thomas Jefferson in March 1801, each inaugural 
address delivered by the President has been made in our Nation's 
Capitol. As we prepare for the next President of the United States to 
arrive in Washington to take the oath of office, the Joint 
Congressional Committee on Inaugural Ceremonies is charged with 
ensuring the success of inaugural activities, including securing those 
facilities necessary to honor this important occasion.
  As a symbol of democracy throughout the world, the United States 
Capitol is a fitting place to acknowledge the peaceful transition of 
power that will take place on January 20, 2009, and I urge my 
colleagues to join me in supporting the authorization of use of the 
rotunda by the committee and by the future President and Vice President 
of the United States.
  Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mrs. DAVIS of California. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I 
may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, as my colleague has aptly stated, the eyes of the world 
are on us as we focus on our election in this year of 2008. We know 
that this planning and preparation for the inaugural ceremonies will 
move smoothly and very well for all of the world to view.
  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 concur in the Senate concurrent resolution, S. Con. Res. 68.
  The question was taken; and (two-thirds being in the affirmative) 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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