[House Report 111-247]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
111th Congress Report
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
1st Session 111-247
======================================================================
AUTHORIZING THE USE OF THE CAPITOL GROUNDS FOR A CELEBRATION OF
CITIZENSHIP DAY
_______
September 8, 2009.--Referred to the House Calendar and ordered to be
printed
_______
Mr. Oberstar, from the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure,
submitted the following
R E P O R T
[To accompany H. Con. Res. 136]
[Including cost estimate of the Congressional Budget Office]
The Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, to whom
was referred the concurrent resolution (H. Con. Res. 136)
authorizing the use of the Capitol Grounds for a celebration of
Citizenship Day, having considered the same, report favorably
thereon without amendment and recommend that the concurrent
resolution be agreed to.
PURPOSE OF THE LEGISLATION
The purpose of House Concurrent Resolution 136 is to
authorize the use of the Capitol Grounds for a celebration of
Citizenship Day.
BACKGROUND AND NEED FOR LEGISLATION
September 17th marks the anniversary of the ratification of
the U.S. Constitution and is commemorated as Constitution Day
and Citizenship Day. Constitution Day and Citizenship Day was
authorized by the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2005 (P.L.
108-447). It designates a time to honor the Constitution of
America and learn more about this famous piece of legislation.
September 17, 2009 marks the 222nd anniversary of the signing
of the document created at the Constitutional Convention in
Philadelphia.
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.
SUMMARY OF THE LEGISLATION
Section 1. Use of Capitol Grounds to Celebrate Citizenship Day
Section 1 states that the National Korean American Service
and Education Consortium shall be permitted to sponsor a public
event on the Capitol Grounds to celebrate Citizenship Day on
September 17, 2009, or such other date as the Speaker of the
House of Representatives and the Senate Committee on Rules and
Administration may jointly designate.
Sec. 2. Terms and conditions
Section 2 states that, under conditions prescribed by the
Architect of the Capitol and the Capitol Police Board, the
event shall be free of charge and arranged not to interfere
with the needs of Congress. This section also states that the
sponsor will be responsible for all expenses and liabilities
for activities associated with the event.
Sec. 3. Event preparations
Section 3 states that subject to the approval of the
Architect of the Capitol, the sponsor of the event is
authorized to erect upon the Capitol Grounds physical
structures and equipment for the event.
Sec. 4. Enforcement of restrictions
Section 4 requires the Capitol Police Board to enforce all
applicable restrictions on the use of the Capitol Grounds,
including those relating to sales, advertisements, displays,
and solicitations.
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY AND COMMITTEE CONSIDERATION
On May 21, 2009, Representative Diane E. Watson introduced
H. Con. Res. 136. This bill has not been introduced in a
previous Congress. On July 30, 2009, the Committee on
Transportation and Infrastructure met in open session, and
ordered the resolution reported favorably to the House by voice
vote with a quorum present.
RECORD VOTES
Clause 3(b) of rule XIII of the House of Representatives
requires each committee report to include the total number of
votes cast for and against on each record vote on a motion to
report and on any amendment offered to the measure or matter,
and the names of those members voting for and against. There
were no recorded votes taken in connection with consideration
of H. Con. Res. 136 or ordering the resolution reported. A
motion to order H. Con. Res. 136 reported favorably to the
House was agreed to by voice vote with a quorum present.
COMMITTEE OVERSIGHT FINDINGS
With respect to the requirements of clause 3(c)(1) of rule
XIII of the Rules of the House of Representatives, the
Committee's oversight findings and recommendations are
reflected in this report.
COST OF LEGISLATION
Clause 3(c)(2) of rule XIII of the Rules of the House of
Representatives does not apply where a cost estimate and
comparison prepared by the Director of the Congressional Budget
Office under section 402 of the Congressional Budget Act of
1974 has been timely submitted prior to the filing of the
report and is included in the report. Such a cost estimate is
included in this report.
COMPLIANCE WITH HOUSE RULE XIII
1. With respect to the requirement of clause 3(c)(2) of
rule XIII of the Rules of the House of Representatives, and
section 308(a) of the Congressional Budget Act of 1974, the
Committee references the report of the Congressional Budget
Office included in the report.
2. With respect to the requirement of clause 3(c)(4) of
rule XIII of the Rules of the House of Representatives, the
performance goals and objectives of this legislation are to
authorize the use of the Capitol Grounds for a celebration of
Citizenship Day.
3. With respect to the requirement of clause 3(c)(3) of
rule XIII of the Rules of the House of Representatives and
section 402 of the Congressional Budget Act of 1974, the
Committee has received the enclosed cost estimate for H. Con.
Res. 136 from the Director of the Congressional Budget Office:
U.S. Congress,
Congressional Budget Office,
Washington, DC, August 3, 2009.
Hon. James L. Oberstar,
Chairman, Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure,
House of Representatives, Washington, DC.
Dear Mr. Chairman: The Congressional Budget Office has
prepared the enclosed cost estimate for H. Con. Res. 136, a
concurrent resolution authorizing the use of the Capitol
grounds for a celebration of Citizenship Day.
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, Director.
Enclosure.
H. Con. Res. 136--A concurrent resolution authorizing the use of the
Capitol grounds for a celebration of Citizenship Day
H. Con. Res. 136 would authorize the National Korean
American Service and Education Consortium to use the Capitol
grounds on September 17, 2009, or on such a date as the Speaker
of the House of Representatives and the Senate Committee on
Rules and Administration may jointly designate. Because the
legislation would require the sponsors to assume responsibility
for all expenses and liabilities associated with the event, CBO
estimates that passage of H. Con. Res. 136 would result in no
significant cost to the federal government.
The CBO staff contact for this estimate is Matthew
Pickford. This estimate was approved by Theresa Gullo, Deputy
Assistant Director for Budget Analysis.
COMPLIANCE WITH HOUSE RULE XXI
Pursuant to clause 9 of rule XXI of the Rules of the House
of Representatives, H. Con. Res. 136 does not contain any
congressional earmarks, limited tax benefits, or limited tariff
benefits as defined in clause 9(d), 9(e), or 9(f) of rule XXI
of the Rules of the House of Representatives.
CONSTITUTIONAL AUTHORITY STATEMENT
Pursuant to clause 3(d)(1) of rule XIII of the Rules of the
House of Representatives, committee reports on a bill or joint
resolution of a public character shall include a statement
citing the specific powers granted to the Congress in the
Constitution to enact the measure. The Committee on
Transportation and Infrastructure finds that Congress has the
authority to enact this measure pursuant to its powers granted
under article I, section 8 of the Constitution.
FEDERAL MANDATES STATEMENT
The Committee adopts as its own the estimate of Federal
mandates prepared by the Director of the Congressional Budget
Office pursuant to section 423 of the Unfunded Mandates Reform
Act (P.L. 104-4).
PREEMPTION CLARIFICATION
Section 423 of the Congressional Budget Act of 1974
requires the report of any Committee on a bill or joint
resolution to include a statement on the extent to which the
bill or joint resolution is intended to preempt state, local,
or tribal law. The Committee states that H. Con. Res. 136 does
not preempt any state, local, or tribal law.
ADVISORY COMMITTEE STATEMENT
No advisory committees within the meaning of section 5(b)
of the Federal Advisory Committee Act are created by this
legislation.
APPLICABILITY TO THE LEGISLATIVE BRANCH
The Committee finds that the legislation does not relate to
the terms and conditions of employment or access to public
services or accommodations within the meaning of section
102(b)(3) of the Congressional Accountability Act (P.L. 104-1).
CHANGES IN EXISTING LAW MADE BY THE BILL, AS REPORTED
H. Con. Res. 136 makes no changes in existing law.