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104TH CONGRESS

2D SESSION H. CON. RES. 161

Authorizing the use of the Capitol Grounds for the Washington for Jesus

1996 prayer rally.

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

APRIL 15, 1996

Mr. STOCKMAN submitted the following concurrent resolution; which was

referred to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure

CONCURRENT RESOLUTION

Authorizing the use of the Capitol Grounds for the

Washington for Jesus 1996 prayer rally.

Whereas One Nation Under God, Inc. the (‘‘Sponsor’’) has

sponsored two previous prayer rallies entitled Washington

for Jesus in the city of Washington and plans a third

such event over a two-day period on April 29 and 30,

1996;

Whereas public assembly for giving thanks and praying for

the United States is a tradition in this Nation dating

from before the Nation’s founding and commemorated

each year by a national Thanksgiving holiday;

Whereas the Capitol Grounds are public property and should

be made available and accessible to all groups on an

equal basis with one another;
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Whereas the Washington for Jesus prayer rally provides for

the peaceable assembly and public expression of peoples

of all faiths to pray and give thanks for the United

States;

Whereas the Sponsor first submitted an application to the

Capitol Police Board on April 18, 1994 for the use of the

Capitol Grounds for the event to be conducted over April

29 and 30, 1996;

Whereas the Capitol Police Board just recently advised the

Sponsor that congressional authorization is required for

any event on Capitol Grounds lasting more than two

days, inclusive of setup, takedown, and cleanup; and

Whereas the Sponsor requests one extra day before the event

to accommodate setup, takedown, and prepare for a thorough cleanup: Now, therefore, be it

1 Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate

2 concurring),

3 SECTION. 1. AUTHORIZATION.

4 (a) IN GENERAL.—One Nation Under God, Inc.,

5 shall be permitted to sponsor a public event over a two6 day period on April 29 and 30, 1996, plus one day before

7 such event to fully accommodate and prepare for setup,

8 takedown, and cleanup (referred to as the ‘‘event’’).

9 (b) TERMS AND CONDITIONS.—The event shall be

10 free of any admission charge to the public and arranged

11 so as not to interfere with the needs of Congress, subject

12 to conditions to be prescribed by the Architect of the Cap13 itol and the Capitol Police Board. The Sponsor shall as-
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1 sume full responsibility for all expenses incident to all ac2 tivities associated with the event and may collect an offer3 ing from those attending to pay for such expenses and

4 activities.

5 (c) STRUCTURES AND EQUIPMENT.—For the pur6 poses of this resolution, the Sponsor is authorized to erect

7 upon the Capitol Grounds such stage, sound amplification

8 devices, and related structures and equipment as may be

9 required to conduct the event, subject to approval of the

10 Architect of the Capitol.

11 (d) ADDITIONAL ARRANGEMENTS.—The Architect of

12 the Capitol and the Capitol Police Board are authorized

13 to make any such additional arrangements as may be nec14 essary to carry out the event consistent with good order,

15 public health, safety, and protection of the Capitol and

16 its Grounds.

17 SEC. 2. SPONSORSHIP OR ENDORSEMENT.

18 Nothing contained in this resolution shall be consid19 ered or construed as an endorsement of Sponsor’s event

20 or related activities or expressions, religious or otherwise.

21 The Sponsor shall not represent either directly or indi22 rectly that this resolution or any activity carried out under

23 this resolution in any way constitutes approval or endorse24 ment by the United States Government, or any of its agen-
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1 cies, of any activity or expression, religious or otherwise,

2 of the Sponsor or its event.

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