[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 158 (2012), Part 10]
[House]
[Page 14217]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                    CONSTITUTION AND CITIZENSHIP DAY

  (Mr. CUMMINGS asked and was given permission to address the House for 
1 minute.)
  Mr. CUMMINGS. Mr. Speaker, this fall we will walk to voting booths in 
every community across this Nation to elect our leaders. Our right to 
vote is one of many rights guaranteed by our Constitution. Yet every 
election cycle, millions of young Americans fail to exercise this 
right, often because they do not realize the importance of doing so.
  On September 17, we will celebrate the 225th anniversary of the 
signing of our Nation's Constitution. To mark that momentous 
anniversary, this week I introduced the Constitution and Citizenship 
Day Act of 2012, H.R. 6390.
  This bill would support expanded education about our Constitution by 
enabling high school students to organize special events to mark 
Constitution and Citizenship Day.
  Our young people should be given every opportunity to learn what our 
democracy means and to partake in it. The Congress is the living 
embodiment of our Constitution's provisions. I invite all Members on 
both sides of the aisle to join me in cosponsoring this legislation to 
ensure that future generations understand their rights, duties, and 
responsibilities.

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