IV 

109TH CONGRESS 

2D SESSION H. RES. 683 

Honoring Benjamin Franklin on the 300th anniversary of his birth. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

FEBRUARY 15, 2006 

Mr. FOSSELLA (for himself and Mr. FORD) submitted the following resolution; 

which was referred to the Committee on Government Reform 

RESOLUTION 

Honoring Benjamin Franklin on the 300th anniversary of 

his birth. 

Whereas, as a founding father of the United States, Benjamin Franklin is recognized as one of America’s greatest 

scientists, inventors, statesmen, printers, philosophers, 

musicians, and economists; 

Whereas Benjamin Franklin was born in Boston, Massachusetts, on January 17, 1706, and moved at the age of 17 

to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, which served as his hometown for nearly 67 years until his death on April 17, 

1790; 

Whereas, upon arriving in Philadelphia, Benjamin Franklin 

established a thriving printing business, which would become the most successful in the Colonies; 
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•HRES 683 IH 

Whereas, as a printer, his projects and publications included 

much of the currency of the time as well as pamphlets, 

newspapers, and ‘‘Poor Richard’s Almanack’’; 

Whereas Benjamin Franklin served as an opinion leader in 

the Colonies, shaping much of the public discussion of 

the era, and he created, through his writings, a series of 

timeless aphorisms; 

Whereas, in addition to his contributions to modern society 

through his literary work, Benjamin Franklin conducted 

significant scientific explorations that have had a profound impact on the evolution of new technologies; 

Whereas even though Benjamin Franklin had little formal 

education, his curious nature and industrious spirit 

helped him discover the Gulf Stream, accurately describe 

the electrical nature of lighting, explain whirlwinds, and 

invent the electrostatic machine, the Franklin stove, bifocals, the lightning rod, and the concept of daylight saving 

time; 

Whereas Benjamin Franklin sought to improve the lives of 

the citizenry by establishing America’s first circulating library so that people could borrow books even though they 

might not have been able to afford to buy them; 

Whereas, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Benjamin Franklin 

created a postal system and, to help ensure public safety, 

created the Union Fire Company; 

Whereas Benjamin Franklin founded America’s first fire insurance company and established America’s first liberal 

arts institution, opening in 1751 as the Academy of 

Philadelphia, which would later become the University of 

Pennsylvania; 
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•HRES 683 IH 

Whereas Benjamin Franklin served the Colonies as agent to 

England’s Parliament and as Ambassador to France; 

Whereas, in France, Benjamin Franklin secured the foreign 

support that would turn the tide of the Revolutionary 

War and free the Colonies from the British yoke; 

Whereas Benjamin Franklin stands alone as the only person 

to have signed four of the most important documents in 

the history of the United States, including the Declaration of Independence (in 1776); the Treaty of Alliance, 

Amity, and Commerce with France (in 1778); the Treaty 

of Peace between England, France, and the United 

States (in 1782); and the Constitution (in 1787); 

Whereas Benjamin Franklin is also credited with authoring 

parts of the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution; and 

Whereas in recognition of the 300th anniversary of the birth 

of Benjamin Franklin and his contributions to American 

life, the national celebration of his great life has been recognized by Congress through enactment of the Benjamin 

Franklin Tercentenary Commission Act (Public Law 

107–202), the Benjamin Franklin Commemorative Coin 

Act (Public Law 108–464), and the Benjamin Franklin 

National Memorial Commemorative Act of 2005 (Public 

Law 109–153), with the intention of inspiring the celebration of the remarkable life of Benjamin Franklin and 

gaining a deeper appreciation of his legacy to the United 

States for generations to come: Now, therefore, be it 

1 Resolved, That the House of Representatives honors 

2 Benjamin Franklin on the 300th anniversary of his birth. 

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