[House Report 111-152]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]


111th Congress                                                   Report
                        HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
 1st Session                                                    111-152

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    DIRECTING THE ARCHITECT OF THE CAPITOL TO ENGRAVE THE PLEDGE OF 
ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG AND THE NATIONAL MOTTO OF ``IN GOD WE TRUST'' IN 
                       THE CAPITOL VISITOR CENTER

                                _______
                                

 June 12, 2009.--Committed to the Committee of the Whole House on the 
              State of the Union and ordered to be printed

                                _______
                                

Mr. Brady of Pennsylvania, from the Committee on House Administration, 
                        submitted the following

                              R E P O R T

                    [To accompany H. Con. Res. 131]

      [Including cost estimate of the Congressional Budget Office]

  The Committee on House Administration, to whom was referred 
the concurrent resolution (H. Con. Res. 131) directing the 
Architect of the Capitol to engrave the Pledge of Allegiance to 
the Flag and the National Motto of ``In God We Trust'' in the 
Capitol Visitor Center, having considered the same, reports 
favorably thereon without amendment and recommends that the 
concurrent resolution be agreed to.

                       SUMMARY OF THE LEGISLATION

    Introduced by Representative Daniel Lungren of California, 
the Ranking Minority Member of the Committee on House 
Administration, the concurrent resolution (H. Con. Res. 131) 
requires the Architect of the Capitol to engrave the Pledge of 
Allegiance to the flag and the national motto (``In God We 
Trust'') in the Capitol Visitor Center (CVC). Under the 
resolution, the details of the engravings, including the 
locations, would be approved by the House Administration 
Committee and the Senate Rules and Administration Committee.
    The consideration and favorable reporting of the resolution 
fulfills a commitment made by the Committee during the 110th 
Congress to recommend adding an engraved inscription of the 
motto, which is set forth in 36 U.S.C. 302, and the Pledge, 
which is set forth in 4 U.S.C. Sec. 4, in the CVC. The addition 
of these engravings to the CVC requires this legislation.

                        COMMITTEE CONSIDERATION

    On June 10, 2009, the Committee considered H. Con. Res. 
131, ordering it reported favorably to the House by voice vote 
without amendment. No recorded votes were taken during the 
Committee's consideration of the resolution.

                    DESCRIPTION OF H. CON. RES. 131

    The resolution consists of one section. Subsection (a) of 
Section 1 directs the Architect of the Capitol to engrave the 
Pledge of Allegiance to the flag and the national motto in the 
Capitol Visitor Center pursuant to an engraving plan.
    Subsection (b) of Section 1 requires the Architect to 
complete the engraving of the Pledge and the motto pursuant to 
an engraving plan approved by the Committee on House 
Administration and the Senate Committee on Rules and 
Administration.

             MATTERS REQUIRED UNDER THE RULES OF THE HOUSE

Committee votes

    Clause 3(b) of House Rule XIII requires the results of each 
recorded vote on an amendment or motion to report, together 
with the names of those voting for and against, to be printed 
in the committee report. No recorded votes were taken during 
the Committee's consideration of H. Con. Res. 131.

Oversight findings

    Clause 3(c)(1) of rule XIII requires each committee report 
to contain oversight findings and recommendations required 
pursuant to clause 2(b)(1) of House Rule X. The Committee has 
general oversight responsibility for the House wing of the 
Capitol and the Capitol Visitor Center.
    In the exercise of oversight of these historic structures, 
the Committee finds that the absence of the Pledge of 
Allegiance and the national motto omits these important 
features cherished by many Americans. The Committee therefore 
recommends the adoption of H. Con. Res. 131.

Statement of new budget authority & related items

    Clause 3(c)(2) of House Rule XIII and Section 308(a)(1) of 
the Congressional Budget Act of 1974 (CBA) require most bills 
and resolutions providing new budget authority, new spending 
authority, new credit authority or an increase or decrease in 
revenues or tax expenditures to include such information. H. 
Con. Res. 131 provides no budget, spending or credit authority 
or any change in revenues or tax expenditures.

Congressional Budget Office estimate

    Clause 3(c)(3) of House Rule XIII requires the report of a 
committee on a measure which has been approved by the Committee 
to include a cost estimate prepared by the Director of the 
Congressional Budget Office pursuant to section 402 of the CBA, 
if timely submitted. The Director submitted the following 
estimate:
                                                     June 11, 2009.
Hon. Robert A. Brady,
Chairman, Committee on House Administration, House of Representatives, 
        Washington, DC.
    Dear Mr. Chairman: The Congressional Budget Office has 
prepared the enclosed cost estimate for H. Con. Res. 131, 
directing the Architect of the Capitol to engrave the Pledge of 
Allegiance to the Flag and the National Motto of ``In God We 
Trust'' in the Capitol Visitor Center.
    If you wish further details on this estimate, we will be 
pleased to provide them. The CBO staff contact is Matthew 
Pickford.
            Sincerely,
                                              Douglas W. Elmendorf.
    Enclosure.

H. Con. Res. 131--Directing the Architect of the Capitol to engrave the 
        Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag and the National Motto of ``In 
        God We Trust'' in the Capitol Visitor Center

    H. Con. Res. 131 would direct the Architect of the Capitol 
(AOC) to engrave ``In God We Trust'' and the Pledge of 
Allegiance in prominent locations in the Capitol Visitor 
Center. Based on information from the AOC and the Committee on 
House Administration regarding engraving costs, CBO estimates 
that implementing the legislation would cost less than 
$100,000, subject to the availability of appropriated funds. 
The legislation would have no effect on direct spending or 
revenues.
    The CBO staff contact for this estimate is Matthew 
Pickford. The estimate was approved by Theresa Gullo, Deputy 
Assistant Director for Budget Analysis.

Statement of general performance goals and objectives

    Clause 3(c)(4) of House Rule XIII requires committee 
reports to include a statement of general performance goals and 
objectives for which the measure authorizes funding. House 
Concurrent Resolution 131 authorizes no appropriations. The 
Committee believes that adoption of the concurrent resolution 
and placement of the contemplated engravings in the CVC would 
advance the Congress' goal of promoting knowledge and 
appreciation for these important features of American history 
and political culture.

Federal mandates

    Section 423 of the CBA requires committee reports on bills 
or resolutions to include specific information about federal 
mandates. The concurrent resolution imposes no federal 
mandates.

                                  
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