IV 

111TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION H. RES. 43 

Recognizing the efforts of those who serve their communities on Martin 

Luther King Day and promoting the holiday as a day of national service. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

JANUARY 9, 2009 

Mr. PLATTS (for himself, Ms. MATSUI, and Mr. PRICE of North Carolina) 

submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee 

on Education and Labor 

RESOLUTION 

Recognizing the efforts of those who serve their communities 

on Martin Luther King Day and promoting the holiday 

as a day of national service. 

Whereas the King Holiday and Service Act, a law designating 

Martin Luther King Day as a national day of volunteer 

service, was signed into law in 1994; 

Whereas millions of Americans have been inspired by the life 

and work of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. to serve their 

neighbors and communities every third Monday of January; 

Whereas serving one’s community for the betterment of every 

individual speaks to the high character, transformative 

world view, and everyday practice of Dr. Martin Luther 

King, Jr.; 


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•HRES 43 IH 

Whereas the efforts of national service volunteers have been 

a steadfast foundation of our Nation’s infrastructure, 

supporting not only individuals and families in need, but 

acting in response to national catastrophes and natural 

disasters; 

Whereas citizens have the opportunity to participate in thousands of already scheduled events all across the country, 

as well as create and implement a community service 

project where they identify the need; 

Whereas the Corporation for National and Community Service, is working with the Martin Luther King, Jr. Center 

for Nonviolent Social Change, and thousands of other 

nonprofit, community, national service, and education organizations across the country to encourage Americans to 

serve on this holiday and throughout the year; and 

Whereas leaders at the Federal, State and local level are 

planning to use the Martin Luther King Day and Inauguration Day to rally our Nation to commit to serve and 

to make an ongoing commitment to service: Now, therefore, be it 

1 Resolved, That the House of Representatives— 

2 (1) encourages all Americans to pay tribute to 

3 the life and works of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. 

4 through participation in community service projects 

5 on Martin Luther King Day; 

6 (2) recognizes the inherent value of community 

7 service and volunteerism in the creation of civil soci8 ety and as a means of non-violent community 


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•HRES 43 IH 

1 progress consistent with the works of Dr. Martin 

2 Luther King, Jr.; 

3 (3) recognizes the benefits of the collaborative 

4 work by the many organizations that promote, facili5 tate, and carry out needed service projects nation6 wide; 

7 (4) encourages its members and colleagues to 

8 urge their constituents, both in congressional dis9 tricts and those visiting the District of Columbia on 

10 Inauguration Day, to participate in community serv11 ice projects; and 

12 (5) acknowledges that by serving one’s country, 

13 one’s community and one’s neighbor our Nation 

14 makes progress in civility, equality, and unity con15 sistent with the values and life’s work of Dr. Martin 

16 Luther King, Jr. 

Æ 


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