[Deschler-Brown Precedents, Volume 17, Chapters 34 - 40]
[Ch. 36. Ceremonies and Awards]
[Â§ 7. âPan American Day]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]


[Page 176-179]
 
                               CHAPTER 36
 
                         Ceremonies and Awards
 
Sec. 7. --Pan American Day

    Pan American Day is the day, annually designated in mid-April, when 
the respective legislatures of the American republics express 
solidarity and extend felicitations to one another. It was first 
observed on Apr. 24, 1890, in conjunction with the formation of the Pan 
American Union. The House discontinued these observances after 
1973.                          -------------------

Resolutions to Designate Date

Sec. 7.1 A resolution designating a day for the celebration of Pan 
    American Day in the House was submitted from the floor and 
    considered by unanimous consent and was not introduced through the 
    hopper and referred to committee.

[[Page 177]]

    On Mar. 5, 1969,(1) Mr. Dante B. Fascell, of Florida, 
was recognized to submit a resolution from the floor designating the 
date of a Pan American Day celebration.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
 1. 115 Cong. Rec. 5369, 91st Cong. 1st Sess.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

        Mr. FASCELL. Mr. Speaker, I offer a resolution (H. Res. 295) 
    and ask unanimous consent for its immediate consideration.
        The Clerk read the resolution, as follows:

                                  H. Res. 295

            Resolved, That the House of Representatives hereby 
        designates Monday, April 14, 1969, for the celebration of Pan-
        American Day, on which day, after the reading of the Journal 
        remarks appropriate to such occasion may occur.

        The SPEAKER.(2) Is there objection to the request of 
    the gentleman from Florida?
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
 2. John W. McCormack (MA).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

        There was no objection.
        The resolution was agreed to.(3)
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
 3. See 115 Cong. Rec. 8883-91, 91st Cong. 1st Sess., Apr. 14, 1969, 
        for proceedings.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

1966 Pan American Day

Sec. 7.2 A resolution providing for the celebration in the House of Pan 
    American Day was referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs.

    On Mar. 3, 1966,(1) a resolution designating a day for 
the commemoration of Pan American Day was referred to committee, as 
follows:
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
 1. 112 Cong. Rec. 4885-87, 89th Cong. 2d Sess.
            Parliamentarian's Note: Resolutions setting a date for the 
        celebration of Pan American Day were normally called up by 
        unanimous consent, without reference to a committee. The 
        resolution was normally submitted and called up by the Chair, 
        Subcommittee on Inter-American Affairs, Committee on Foreign 
        Affairs.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

             REPORTS OF COMMITTEES ON PUBLIC BILLS AND RESOLUTIONS

        Under clause 2 of rule XIII, reports of committees were 
    delivered to the Clerk for printing and reference to the proper 
    calendar, as follows: . . .

        By Mr. SELDEN:

            H. Res. 754. Resolution designating Thursday, April 7, 
        1966, for the celebration of Pan American Day; to the Committee 
        on Foreign Affairs.

    On Mar. 15, 1966,(2) the Speaker(3) 
recognized Mr. Armistead I. Selden, of Alabama, for purposes of calling 
up a resolution designating a day for commemoration of Pan American 
Day:
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
 2. 112 Cong. Rec. 5786, 89th Cong. 2d Sess.
 3. John W. McCormack (MA).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

        Mr. SELDEN. Mr. Speaker, I call up the House Resolution 754 and 
    ask unanimous consent for its immediate consideration.
        The Clerk read the resolution, as follows:

[[Page 178]]

                                  H. Res. 754

            Resolved, That the House of Representatives hereby 
        designates Thursday, April 7, 1966, for the celebration of Pan-
        American Day, on which day, after the reading of the Journal, 
        remarks appropriate to such occasion may occur.

        The SPEAKER. Is there objection to the request of the gentleman 
    from Alabama?
        There was no objection.
        The resolution was agreed to.
        A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

Sec. 7.3 A resolution was adopted by the House on Pan American Day.

    On Apr. 7, 1966,(1) Pan American Day, the following 
proceedings occurred in the House:
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
 1. 112 Cong. Rec. 7994-8001, 89th Cong. 2d Sess.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

                 ANNIVERSARY OF FOUNDING OF PAN AMERICAN UNION

        The SPEAKER.(2) Pursuant to House Resolution 754, 
    this day has been designated as Pan American Day.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
 2. John W. McCormack (MA).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

        The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Alabama [Mr. Selden].
        Mr. [Armistead I.] SELDEN [Jr., of Alabama]. Mr. Speaker, I 
    call up House Resolution 785 and ask unanimous consent for its 
    immediate consideration.
        The Clerk read the resolution, as follows:

                                  H. Res. 785

            Whereas April 14, 1966, marks the seventy-sixth anniversary 
        of the Union of American Republics now known as the 
        Organization of American States; and
            Whereas Congress has recognized that the historic, 
        economic, political, and geographic relationships among the 
        American Republics are unique and of special significance; and
            Whereas the Organization of American States serves as an 
        institution for maintaining the peace and security of the 
        Western Hemisphere, for promoting economic progress and 
        improvements in the welfare and level of living of all the 
        peoples of the region, and for strengthening principles of 
        individual liberty, free institutions, and genuine independence 
        in the hemisphere; and
            Whereas achievement of the goals expressed in the Charter 
        of the Organization of American States through inter-American 
        cooperation affords the most meaningful barrier to threats to 
        individual liberties and national independence emanating from 
        forces inimical to the principles and concepts held by the 
        American Republics; and
            Whereas the American Republics are currently engaged in 
        seeking ways to fortify the inter-American system of 
        cooperation in order to consolidate the gains of the past and 
        to create dynamic and vigorous institutions to meet present and 
        future exigencies: Now, therefore, be it
            Resolved, That in honor of the founding of the Pan American 
        Union, the House of Representatives of the United States 
        extends to the other Republics of the Western Hemisphere and to 
        the citizens of those Republics its most cordial greetings and 
        its fervent hope that the deliberations going forward during 
        this year will strengthen the inter-American system for the 
        years ahead.

        The SPEAKER. Is there objection to the request of the gentleman 
    from Alabama?

[[Page 179]]

        There was no objection.
        The SPEAKER. The gentleman from Alabama [Mr. Selden] is 
    recognized for 1 hour.
        Mr. SELDEN. Mr. Speaker, April 14 marks the 76th anniversary of 
    the establishment of the first concrete step in the formation of an 
    inter-American system of solidarity and cooperation, now known as 
    the Organization of American States.
        It has become customary for the House of Representatives to 
    commemorate the anniversary of that most enduring of international 
    organizations. I have always believed that this annual tribute 
    should be more than mere ritual. Rather, it should be a time for 
    stocktaking.(3) . . .
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
 3. Parliamentarian's Note: In this case the resolution regarding the 
        commemoration of Pan American Day was introduced in advance of 
        the designated date and referred to the Committee on Foreign 
        Affairs. When the committee met to consider the resolution, it 
        approved the preamble and text by voice vote. The committee did 
        not, however, order the resolution reported to the House; thus, 
        when Rep. Selden, chairman of the Subcommittee on Inter-
        American Affairs called up the resolution by unanimous consent, 
        he discharged the committee from further consideration. See Ch. 
        17 Sec.  37.9.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------