IV 

111TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION H. RES. 169 

Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives that Robert Burns 

was a true friend of the United States, that his work inspired the 

citizens of this Nation, as well as his native Scotland, and that the 

annual celebration of his birth is a tradition that transcends national 

boundaries, and as a result, should be observed in communities around 

the world. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

FEBRUARY 13, 2009 

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

Committee on Foreign Affairs 

RESOLUTION 

Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives that 

Robert Burns was a true friend of the United States, 

that his work inspired the citizens of this Nation, as 

well as his native Scotland, and that the annual celebration of his birth is a tradition that transcends national 

boundaries, and as a result, should be observed in communities around the world. 

Whereas 2009 marks the 250th anniversary of the birth of 

the Scottish poet, and friend to the United States, Robert 

Burns; 

Whereas Robert Burns appreciated the ideals and values of 

the American Revolution through poems such as ‘‘Ode 


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•HRES 169 IH 

for General Washington’s Birthday’’, ‘‘Ballad on the 

American War’’, and later, a song inspired by our Nation’s Founding Fathers, ‘‘Scots Wha Hae’’; 

Whereas it is reported that Robert Burns believed that the 

United States victory in the War for Independence would 

set off a wave of republican victories throughout 18thcentury Europe; 

Whereas Burns’s work has provided enduring appeal and 

timeless inspiration to Scotland, the United States, and 

the world; 

Whereas the Friends of Scotland Caucus commends the more 

than 200 United States-based Scottish heritage organizations that host Robert Burns Suppers each year; 

Whereas at these suppers, the poems, letters, and lyrics of 

Robert Burns are memorized, performed, and enjoyed by 

enthusiasts from all backgrounds and all generations; 

Whereas it is documented that President Abraham Lincoln 

attended and performed at a Burns Supper before he 

took office, giving the ‘‘Immortal Memory’’ presentation 

to honor Robert Burns; 

Whereas this year’s 250th anniversary is being marked in 

Scotland by a year-long celebration of Burns’s work and 

Scotland’s other great contributions to the world called 

Homecoming Scotland 2009, in which native Scots, ancestral Scots, and fans of Scotland all over the world are 

invited to participate; and 

Whereas the American Folklife Center at the Library of Congress is also celebrating this anniversary with a free public symposium on Burns’s life and work entitled ‘‘Robert 

Burns at 250: Poetry, Politics and Performance’’ from 


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•HRES 169 IH 

February 24 through February 25, 2009, in Washington, 

DC: Now, therefore, be it 

1 Resolved, That it is the sense of the House of Rep2 resentatives that Robert Burns was a true friend of the 

3 United States, that his work inspired the citizens of this 

4 Nation, as well as his native Scotland, and that the annual 

5 celebration of his birth is a tradition that transcends na6 tional boundaries, and as a result, should be observed in 

7 communities around the world. 

Æ 


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