[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 155 (2009), Part 16]
[House]
[Pages 21242-21243]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




 AUTHORIZING USE OF CAPITOL GROUNDS FOR CELEBRATION OF CITIZENSHIP DAY

  Ms. NORTON. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the 
concurrent resolution (H. Con. Res. 136) authorizing the use of the 
Capitol Grounds for a celebration of Citizenship Day.
  The Clerk read the title of the concurrent resolution.
  The text of the concurrent resolution is as follows:

                            H. Con. Res. 136

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

     SECTION 1. USE OF CAPITOL GROUNDS TO CELEBRATE CITIZENSHIP 
                   DAY.

       (a) In General.--The National Korean American Service and 
     Education Consortium (in this resolution referred to as the 
     ``sponsor'') shall be permitted to sponsor a public event (in 
     this resolution referred to as the ``event'') on the Capitol 
     Grounds to celebrate Citizenship Day.
       (b) Date of Event.--The event shall be held on September 
     17, 2009, or on such other day as the Speaker of the House of 
     Representatives and the Committee on Rules and Administration 
     of the Senate jointly designate.

     SEC. 2. TERMS AND CONDITIONS.

       (a) In General.--Under conditions to be prescribed by the 
     Architect of the Capitol and the Capitol Police Board, the 
     event shall be--
       (1) free of admission charge and open to the public; and
       (2) arranged not to interfere with the needs of Congress.
       (b) Expenses and Liabilities.--The sponsor shall assume 
     full responsibility for all expenses and liabilities incident 
     to all activities associated with the event.

     SEC. 3. EVENT PREPARATIONS.

        Subject to the approval of the Architect of the Capitol, 
     the sponsor is authorized to erect upon the Capitol Grounds 
     such stage, sound amplification devices, and other related 
     structures and equipment as may be required for the event.

     SEC. 4. ENFORCEMENT OF RESTRICTIONS.

        The Capitol Police Board shall provide for enforcement of 
     the restrictions contained in section 5104(c) of title 40, 
     United States Code, concerning sales, advertisements, 
     displays, and solicitations on the Capitol Grounds, as well 
     as other restrictions applicable to the Capitol Grounds, in 
     connection with the event.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentlewoman from 
the District of Columbia (Ms. Norton) and the gentleman from California 
(Mr. Daniel E. Lungren) each will control 20 minutes. The Chair 
recognizes the gentlewoman from the District of Columbia.


                             General Leave

  Ms. NORTON. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may 
have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their remarks 
and include extraneous material on H. Con. Res. 136.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentlewoman from the District of Columbia?
  There was no objection.
  Ms. NORTON. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, House Concurrent Resolution 136 authorizes use of the 
Capitol Grounds for a celebration of Citizenship Day. This event will 
be sponsored by the National Korean American Service and Education 
Consortium. The bill is sponsored by Congresswoman Watson and has 
bipartisan support.
  The Capitol Hill event will be part of a national program for Korean 
Americans who will gather in Washington on that day. The date for the 
event is planned for September 17, 2009. September 17 marks the 
anniversary of the ratification of the U.S. Constitution and is 
commemorated as Constitution Day and Citizenship Day. Citizenship Day 
was authorized by P.L. 108-447. As is required of all events on the 
Capitol Grounds, this event will be free and open to the public.
  I support this resolution and reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. DANIEL E. LUNGREN of California. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous 
consent that I might yield my time to the gentleman from Florida (Mr. 
Mario Diaz-Balart) to control.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from California?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. MARIO DIAZ-BALART of Florida. The chairwoman has just explained 
this legislation, and it is obviously one that I support. It authorizes 
the use of the Capitol Grounds for a celebration of Citizenship Day, 
something that many people take for granted and yet we should not take 
for granted. This is the freest, the most wonderful, the most generous 
country that God has ever allowed men and women to create on this 
planet, and nothing is more sacred than citizenship of this wonderful 
land.
  Again, it is wonderful that we are actually going to be celebrating 
that along with Constitution Day. The Constitution, again, is that 
document that has allowed all of this enterprise to take place, limited 
government, which our Founding Fathers understood was the key to 
greatness.
  So, again, she already explained what this does, allowing the use of 
the Capitol Grounds for a celebration of Citizenship Day, and I would 
urge the adoption of this resolution.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Ms. NORTON. I thank the gentleman. I ask the gentleman if he has any 
further speakers.
  Mr. MARIO DIAZ-BALART of Florida. I do not.
  Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. OBERSTAR. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of House Concurrent 
Resolution 136, to authorize the use of the Capitol Grounds for a 
public event to honor citizenship day.
  September 17th marks the anniversary of the ratification of the U.S. 
Constitution and is commemorated as Constitution Day and Citizenship 
Day. It designates a time to honor the Constitution of the United 
States and learn more about this famous piece of legislation.

[[Page 21243]]

  Constitution Day and Citizenship Day also recognizes ``all those who, 
whether by coming of age or by naturalization, have become citizens.'' 
The day is intended to encourage ``the complete instruction of citizens 
in their responsibilities and opportunities as citizens of the United 
States and of the State and locality in which they reside.''
  H. Con. Res. 136 authorizes the National Korean American Service and 
Education Consortium to sponsor a free public event on the Capitol 
Grounds to celebrate Citizenship Day on September 17, 2009.
  Activities on the Capitol Grounds conducted under H. Con. Res. 136 
will be coordinated with the Architect of the Capitol, and will be free 
and open to the public.
  I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting H. Con. Res. 136.
  Ms. NORTON. I yield back the remainder of my time and ask that the 
bill be approved by the House.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentlewoman from the District of Columbia (Ms. Norton) that the House 
suspend the rules and agree to the concurrent resolution, H. Con. Res. 
136.
  The question was taken; and (two-thirds being in the affirmative) the 
rules were suspended and the concurrent resolution was agreed to.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

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