IA

103D CONGRESS

1ST SESSION H. J. RES. 216

Designating January 16, 1994, as ‘‘Religious Freedom Day’’.

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

JUNE 16, 1993

Mr. BLILEY (for himself, Mr. BATEMAN, Mr. BOUCHER, Ms. BYRNE, Mr.

GOODLATTE, Mr. MORAN, Mr. PAYNE of Virginia, Mr. PICKETT, Mr.

SCOTT, Mr. SISISKY, Mr. WOLF, Mr. BALLENGER, Mr. COBLE, Mrs.

COLLINS of Illinois, Mr. DARDEN, Mr. EMERSON, Mr. FALEOMAVAEGA,

Mr. FISH, Mr. FROST, Mr. GALLEGLY, Mr. GEKAS, Mr. GILLMOR, Mr.

GINGRICH, Mr. GONZALEZ, Mr. HAMILTON, Mr. HANSEN, Mr. HUGHES,

Mr. HUNTER, Mr. HYDE, Mr. INHOFE, Mr. JEFFERSON, Mr. KASICH,

Mr. KREIDLER, Mr. LLOYD, Mr. MCCLOSKEY, Mr. MCDADE, Mrs. MEYERS of Kansas, Mr. MONTGOMERY, Mr. MOORHEAD, Mr. OXLEY, Mr. PETERSON of Florida, Mr. PORTER, Mr. QUILLEN, Mr. ROGERS, Mr. ROTH,

Mr. SARPALIUS, Mr. SLATTERY, Mr. SMITH of New Jersey, Mr. SMITH

of Texas, Mr. SUNDQUIST, Mr. TOWNS, Mr. WALSH, and Mr. WASHINGTON) introduced the following joint resolution; which was referred to the

Committee on Post Office and Civil Service

NOVEMBER 18, 1993

Additional sponsors: Mr. LIPINSKI, Mr. MARTINEZ, Ms. MCKINNEY, Mr.

DICKEY, Mrs. VUCANOVICH, Mr. SOLOMON, Mr. BUYER, Mr. ENGEL, Mr.

BILIRAKIS, Mr. CLEMENT, Mr. MARKEY, Mr. LIVINGSTON, Mr. ROBERTS, Ms. SLAUGHTER, Mr. TRAFICANT, Mr. TAUZIN, Mr. GORDON, Mr.

HASTERT, Mr. EVANS, Mr. WILSON, Mr. PACKARD, Mr. FAZIO, Mrs.

BENTLEY, Mr. SCHAEFER, Mr. PARKER, Mr. KOPETSKI, Mr. HILLIARD,

Mr. TAYLOR of North Carolina, Mr. ROYCE, Mr. DUNCAN, Mr. EWING,

Mr. HERGER, Mr. HOUGHTON, Mr. LANTOS, Mr. BUNNING, Mr. PRICE

of North Carolina, Mr. BARTLETT of Maryland, Mr. MCCOLLUM, Mr.

FIELDS of Texas, Mr. NEAL of Massachusetts, Mr. RAVENEL, Mr.

SPENCE, Mr. TANNER, Mr. YOUNG of Alaska, Mr. GILMAN, Mr.

HOCHBRUECKNER, Mr. RAMSTAD, Mr. NATCHER, Mr. STUMP, Mr.

ZELIFF, Mr. CHAPMAN, Mr. KILDEE, Mr. BEREUTER, Mr. FRANKS of

Connecticut, Mrs. MORELLA, Mr. HUTTO, Mr. PAYNE of New Jersey, Mr.
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APPLEGATE, Mr. CONYERS, Mr. LAROCCO, Mr. ACKERMAN, Mr. DELLUMS, Mr. MACHTLEY, Mr. POSHARD, Mr. BARLOW, Mr. GENE GREEN

of Texas, Ms. NORTON, Mr. MANTON, Mr. BACCHUS of Florida, Mr.

BARCA of Wisconsin, Mr. PETE GEREN of Texas, Mr. MCCANDLESS, Mr.

HOYER, Mr. MICHEL, Mr. BAKER of Louisiana, Mr. BAKER of California,

Mr. BOEHLERT, Mr. CRANE, Mr. DORNAN, Mr. DREIER, Mr. GALLO, Mr.

HEFLEY, Mr. HOBSON, Mrs. JOHNSON of Connecticut, Mr. RIDGE, Mr.

SAXTON, Mr. UPTON, Mr. PALLONE, Mr. CLINGER, Mr. MCCRERY, Mr.

ROHRABACHER, Mr. BARTON of Texas, Mr. BURTON of Indiana, Mr.

CALLAHAN, Mr. DELAY, Mr. GRANDY, Mr. HORN, Mr. LEWIS of California, Mr. SHAW, Mr. SHAYS, Mr. ZIMMER, Mr. SPRATT, Mr. SKEEN, Mr.

BARRETT of Nebraska, Mr. DIAZ-BALART, Mr. DOOLITTLE, Mr. FAWELL, Mr. GOODLING, Mr. KING, Mr. KLUG, Mr. LEVY, Mr. MCHUGH,

Mr. MCKEON, Ms. MOLINARI, Mr. MYERS of Indiana, Mr. PAXON, Mr.

SMITH of Oregon, Mr. WELDON, Mr. YATES, Mr. MINETA, Ms. PRYCE

of Ohio, Mr. BONIOR, Mr. CALVERT, Mr. GILCHREST, Mr. LIGHTFOOT,

Mr. REGULA, Mr. THOMAS of Wyoming, Mr. SAM JOHNSON of Texas,

Mr. MCNULTY, Mr. DICKS, Mr. BLUTE, Mr. CASTLE, Mr. OWENS, Mr.

OBERSTAR, Mr. KINGSTON, Mr. LEWIS of Florida, Mr. HOKE, Mr.

BROWN of Ohio, Mr. CRAPO, Mr. SCHIFF, Mr. EVERETT, Mr. DEFAZIO,

Mr. LANCASTER, Mr. SKELTON, Mr. KIM, Mr. BONILLA, Mr. GUNDERSON, Mr. KNOLLENBERG, Mr. GREENWOOD, Mr. TALENT, Mr. YOUNG of

Florida, Mr. BORSKI, Mr. HEFNER, Mr. GIBBONS, Mr. MILLER of California, Mr. MURPHY, Ms. PELOSI, Mr. ROSE, Mr. COLLINS of Georgia,

Mrs. FOWLER, Mr. HUTCHINSON, Mr. MANZULLO, Mr. MILLER of Florida, Mr. PETRI, Mr. QUINN, Mr. FRANK of Massachusetts, and Mr.

STEARNS

NOVEMBER 18, 1993

Committee on Post Office and Civil Service discharged; considered and passed

JOINT RESOLUTION

Designating January 16, 1994, as ‘‘Religious Freedom Day’’.

Whereas December 15, 1991, is the 200th anniversary of the

completion of the ratification of the Bill of Rights;

Whereas the first amendment to the Constitution of the

United States guarantees religious liberty to the people

of the United States;
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Whereas millions of people from all parts of the world have

come to the United States fleeing religious persecution

and seeking freedom to worship;

Whereas in 1777 Thomas Jefferson wrote the bill entitled ‘‘A

Bill for Establishing Religious Freedom in Virginia’’ to

guarantee freedom of conscience and separation of

church and state;

Whereas in 1786, through the devotion of Virginians such as

George Mason and James Madison, the General Assembly of Virginia passed such bill;

Whereas the Statute of Virginia for Religious Freedom inspired and shaped the guarantees of religious freedom in

the first amendment;

Whereas the Supreme Court of the United States has recognized repeatedly that the Statute of Virginia for Religious

Freedom was an important influence in the development

of the Bill of Rights;

Whereas scholars across the United States have proclaimed

the vital importance of such statute and leaders in fields

such as law and religion have devoted time, energy, and

resources to celebrating its contribution to international

freedom; and

Whereas America’s First Freedom Center, located in Richmond, Virginia, plans a permanent monument to the

Statute of Virginia for Religious Freedom, accompanied

by educational programs and commemorative activities

for visitors from around the world: Now, therefore, be it

1 Resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives

2 of the United States of America in Congress assembled,

3 That January 16, 1994, is designated as ‘‘Religious Free-
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1 dom Day’’, and the President is authorized and requested

2 to issue a proclamation calling on the people of the United

3 States to join together to celebrate their religious freedom

4 and to observe the day with appropriate ceremonies and

5 activities.

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