[House Report 108-196]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]



108th Congress                                                   Report
                        HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
 1st Session                                                    108-196

======================================================================



 
DECLARING EMPORIA, KANSAS, TO BE THE FOUNDING CITY OF THE VETERANS DAY 
    HOLIDAY AND RECOGNIZING THE CONTRIBUTIONS OF ALVIN J. KING AND 
 REPRESENTATIVE ED REES TO THE ENACTMENT INTO LAW OF THE OBSERVANCE OF 
                              VETERANS DAY

                                _______
                                

   July 10, 2003.--Referred to the House Calendar and ordered to be 
                                printed.

                                _______
                                

   Mr. Smith of New Jersey, from the Committee on Veterans' Affairs, 
                        submitted the following

                              R E P O R T

                    [To accompany H. Con. Res. 159]

    The Committee on Veterans' Affairs, to whom was referred 
the concurrent resolution (H. Con. Res. 159) declaring Emporia, 
Kansas, to be the founding city of the Veterans Day holiday and 
recognizing the contributions of Alvin J. King and 
Representative Ed Rees to the enactment into law of the 
observance of Veterans Day, having considered the same, reports 
favorably thereon without amendment and recommends that the 
concurrent resolution be agreed to.

                       Purpose of the Resolution

    The purpose of House Concurrent Resolution 159 is to 
declare Emporia, Kansas, to be the founding city of the 
Veterans Day holiday and bestow formal recognition on the 
contributions made by Alvin J. King (1902-1960) and Honorable 
Edward H. Rees (1886-1969) to the enactment into law of the 
observance of Veterans Day.

                 Background and Need for the Resolution

    This resolution would encourage Americans to demonstrate 
their support for veterans on Veterans Day by proclaiming that 
day as a special day of national remembrance. In addition, the 
resolution would declare Alvin J. King of Emporia to be the 
founder of Veterans Day, and the city of Emporia to be the 
founding city of Veterans Day. This Resolution would also 
acknowledge the contribution of Honorable Edward H. Rees of 
Emporia, Kansas, (who served the Fourth District of Kansas for 
24 years in the U.S. House of Representatives) in establishing 
Veterans Day as a national holiday.
    Alvin J. King's abiding respect for veterans is attributed 
to the loss of his nephew, John Cooper, who was killed in 
action in Belgium during World War II. John Cooper was a member 
of Rifle Company B, 137th Infantry Regiment of the U.S. Army. 
Mr. King remained devoted to the war effort at home by serving 
as the Veterans Security Chairman for the American War Dads.
    In 1953, Mr. King proposed that Armistice Day be changed to 
Veterans Day to recognize and honor veterans from all wars and 
conflicts since, at that time, Armistice Day existed to honor 
only veterans of World War I. The community of Emporia, Kansas, 
under the direction of Alvin J. King celebrated its first All 
Veterans Day on November 11, 1953.
    After that first celebration, Honorable Edward H. Rees 
introduced H.R. 7786, a bill to change Armistice Day to 
Veterans Day and to establish its celebration on November 11 of 
each year. The House and Senate passed H.R. 7786, and with 
President Dwight D. Eisenhower's signature, the bill became 
Public Law 380 on June 1, 1954.
    Before the nation's first celebration of Veterans Day on 
November 11, 1954, President Eisenhower issued the following 
proclamation on October 8, 1954: ``On that day let us solemnly 
remember the sacrifices of all those who fought so valiantly, 
on the seas, in the air, and on foreign shores, to preserve our 
heritage of freedom, and let us reconsecrate ourselves to the 
task of promoting an enduring peace so that their efforts shall 
not have been in vain.'' Thus with the enactment of H.R. 7786, 
Mr. King's dream to honor veterans of all conflicts was 
fulfilled.
    The Committee believes this resolution would serve to 
appropriately recognize the origin of Veterans Day.

                            Committee Action

    On May 1, 2003, Honorable Jerry Moran of Kansas introduced 
H. Con. Res. 159, declaring Emporia, Kansas, to be the founding 
city of the Veterans Day holiday. The bill was referred to the 
Committee on Veterans' Affairs.
    On June 26, 2003, the Committee on Veterans' Affairs held a 
markup on the concurrent resolution. The Committee ordered H. 
Con. Res. 159 reported favorably to the House by unanimous 
voice vote.

                 Statement of Constitutional Authority

    Article I, section 8 and Article IV, section 3 of the 
United States Constitution grant Congress the authority to 
enact this bill.

                    Compliance with House Rule XIII

    1. Cost of Legislation. Clause 3(d)(2) of rule XIII of the 
Rules of the House of Representatives requires an estimate and 
a comparison by the Committee of the costs which would be 
incurred in carrying out this bill. H. Con. Res. 159 would 
merely acknowledge Emporia, Kansas, as the founding city of the 
Veterans Day holiday and no cost would be involved.
    2. Congressional Budget Act. As required by clause 3(c)(2) 
of rule XIII of the Rules of the U.S. House of Representatives 
and section 308(a) of the Congressional Budget Act of 1974, 
this bill does not contain any new budget authority, spending 
authority, credit authority, or an increase or decrease in 
revenues or tax expenditures.
    3. General Performance Goals and Objectives. This bill does 
not authorize funding and therefore, clause 3(c)(4) of rule 
XIII of the Rules of the U.S. House of Representatives does not 
apply.
    4. Congressional Budget Office Cost Estimate. The Committee 
has determined that H. Con Res. 159 entails no cost to the 
federal government and therefore, no cost estimate was 
requested from the Congressional Budget Office.

                    Compliance with Public Law 104-4

    This bill contains no unfunded mandates.

                Preemption of State, Local or Tribal Law

    This bill is not intended to preempt any State, local or 
tribal law.

                        Changes in Existing Law

    If enacted, this bill would make no changes in existing 
law.

                                
