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[Congressional Bills 110th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Con. Res. 386 Referred in Senate (RFS)]

  2d Session
H. CON. RES. 386

_______________________________________________________________________

                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

           September 25 (legislative day, September 17), 2008

                                Received

            October 2 (legislative day, September 17), 2008

               Referred to the Committee on the Judiciary

_______________________________________________________________________

                         CONCURRENT RESOLUTION

 
Recognizing and celebrating the 232nd anniversary of the signing of the 
                      Declaration of Independence.

Whereas the text of the Declaration of Independence was adopted by the Second 
        Continental Congress on July 4, 1776, and the engrossed copy of the 
        Declaration of Independence was signed by most of the delegates in the 
        Second Continental Congress on August 2, 1776;
Whereas August 2, 2008, marks the 232d anniversary of the signing of the 
        engrossed copy of the Declaration of Independence;
Whereas the signing of the Declaration of Independence marked the formal 
        dissolution of the ties of the thirteen American colonies with Great 
        Britain, the beginning of their statehood and national identity, and the 
        dawning of a new era of freedom in America and the world;
Whereas these Founding Fathers, relying on the direction from and protection of 
        Divine Providence, pledged to each other their lives, their fortunes, 
        and their Sacred honor in defense of this action;
Whereas the Declaration of Independence paved the way for the birth of the 
        Republic;
Whereas the Declaration of Independence has become part of the national culture, 
        and its principles are part of the consciousness of all Americans;
Whereas the fundamental genius of the United States is embodied in the 
        Declaration's recognition that ``all men are created equal, that they 
        are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights, that among 
        these are Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness'';
Whereas the principle that the rights of man are bestowed by the Creator and are 
        unalienable was derived from Scripture, which antedates the existence 
        from any government;
Whereas the Declaration of Independence affirms that governments are instituted 
        to protect those rights; and
Whereas the Declaration acknowledged these self-evident Truths, which 
        constituted one of the most revolutionary philosophical developments in 
        history and began an unparalleled national experiment: Now, therefore, 
        be it
    Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate concurring), 
That the Congress recognizes and celebrates the 232d anniversary of the 
signing of the Declaration of Independence.

            Passed the House of Representatives September 24 
      (legislative day September 23), 2008.

            Attest:

                                            LORRAINE C. MILLER,

                                                                 Clerk.
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