IV 

109TH CONGRESS 

2D SESSION H. RES. 669 

Directing the Sergeant at Arms of the House of Representatives to report 

to the House on the circumstances surrounding the removal of two 

individuals from the gallery of the House prior to the beginning of 

the State of the Union address on January 31, 2006, based on the 

allegation that the individuals were engaging in protest solely because 

the individuals wore shirts with printing on the front. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

FEBRUARY 1, 2006 

Mr. STARK submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the 

Committee on House Administration 

RESOLUTION 

Directing the Sergeant at Arms of the House of Representatives to report to the House on the circumstances surrounding the removal of two individuals from the gallery 

of the House prior to the beginning of the State of 

the Union address on January 31, 2006, based on the 

allegation that the individuals were engaging in protest 

solely because the individuals wore shirts with printing 

on the front. 

Whereas at President Bush’s fifth State of the Union address 

on January 31, 2006, two individuals were removed from 

the Gallery of the House of Representatives for allegedly 

engaging in ‘‘protesting’’, in spite of the fact that neither 

of these individuals made any kind of verbal protest or 
2 

•HRES 669 IH 

did anything else to disrupt the proceedings of the 

House; 

Whereas the first individual removed was Cindy Sheehan, 

who was wearing a shirt with printing on the front stating: ‘‘2245 Dead. How many more?’’; 

Whereas the second individual removed was Beverly Young, 

the wife of a Member of the House of Representatives, 

who was wearing a shirt with printing on the front stating: ‘‘Support the Troops Defending our Freedom.’’; 

Whereas nothing in the Rules of House of Representatives or 

any of the rules governing the Gallery prohibits the wearing of shirts with messages printed on the front or places 

any other kind of restriction on the apparel worn by individuals in the Gallery, other than a prohibition against 

the wearing of hats; 

Whereas in spite of this both Cindy Sheehan and Beverly 

Young were removed from the Gallery, and Cindy 

Sheehan was arrested and charged with unlawful conduct; and 

Whereas the use of such tactics by the Sergeant at Arms and 

the United States Capitol Police is completely contrary to 

the traditions and values of our Nation and has no place 

in the operations of the House of Representatives, which 

is rightfully known and revered as the ‘‘people’s House’’: 

Now, therefore, be it 

1 Resolved, 
3 

•HRES 669 IH 

1 SECTION 1. REPORT ON CIRCUMSTANCES SURROUNDING 

2 REMOVAL OF INDIVIDUALS FROM HOUSE 

3 GALLERY AT STATE OF THE UNION ADDRESS. 

4 Not later than 30 days after the date of the adoption 

5 of this resolution, the Sergeant at Arms of the House of 

6 Representatives shall submit a report to the House on the 

7 circumstances surrounding the removal of Cindy Sheehan 

8 and Beverly Young from the Gallery of the House prior 

9 to the beginning of the President’s State of the Union ad10 dress on January 31, 2006, and shall include in the re11 port— 

12 (1) an explanation of the laws or rules that 

13 these individuals violated which required them to be 

14 removed and required one of them to be arrested; 

15 and 

16 (2) recommendations on actions the Sergeant at 

17 Arms may take to ensure that individuals in the 

18 Gallery who do nothing to disrupt the proceedings of 

19 the House are not removed from the Gallery. 

Æ