IV 

116TH CONGRESS 

2D SESSION H. RES. 975 

Expressing support for a national day of mourning, a recurring moment 

of silence in the House of Representatives, and a national memorial 

for American civilians killed by COVID–19. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

MAY 22, 2020 

Ms. HAALAND (for herself, Mr. WILSON of South Carolina, and Ms. BLUNT

ROCHESTER) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to 

the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committee on Rules, for a period to be subsequently determined by the 

Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within 

the jurisdiction of the committee concerned 

RESOLUTION 

Expressing support for a national day of mourning, a recurring moment of silence in the House of Representatives, 

and a national memorial for American civilians killed 

by COVID–19. 

Whereas the writer and history professor Dr. Micki McElya, 

in her May 15, 2020, perspective piece in the Washington 

Post, highlighted the stark absence of national mourning 

for American lives lost to COVID–19, and the rightful 

ownership of these lives to the American fabric and community soul; 


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•HRES 975 IH 

Whereas the national death toll from the scourge of COVID– 

19 throughout the United States rapidly approaches 

100,000 less than 5 months since its arrival; 

Whereas the United States dutifully and unquestioningly honors its military dead and those who have died by mass 

violence, through national mourning, prayer, and moments of silence; 

Whereas the United States understands the importance of 

collective and unified mourning of its dead in times of 

war, and the institution of grief must continue and be acknowledged during this domestic fight; 

Whereas President Donald J. Trump has declared the country ‘‘at war’’, and that all Americans are ‘‘warriors’’ in 

the face of this common and invisible enemy; 

Whereas the United States is defined by its unified national 

front and has always offered ubiquitous mourning in 

times of national grief and loss, and this pillar of American society must not be lost on the fallen who have 

touched many thousands of lives across our country; 

Whereas the virus has disproportionately impacted specific 

groups of people, namely, immigrants, people of color, 

Native Americans, African Americans, Asian American 

Pacific Islanders, Hispanics, the disabled, the elderly, the 

chronically ill, and the poor and underpaid; 

Whereas when Americans have historically come together to 

address, mourn, and love, this unified spirit, which transcends ideological lines, has always conquered the deadliest of threats; and 

Whereas the COVID–19 pandemic calls for this unity, as it 

is the actions of a collaborative and focused government 


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•HRES 975 IH 

that will lift Americans from this crisis: Now, therefore, 

be it 

1 Resolved, That— 

2 (1) it is the sense of the House of Representa3 tives that— 

4 (A) when such time occurs that the 

5 COVID–19 pandemic has been declared ended 

6 by the Centers for Disease Control and Preven7 tion, the House of Representatives recommends 

8 a national day of mourning to honor the lives 

9 lost due to COVID–19; 

10 (B) until such a time when the COVID–19 

11 pandemic has been declared ended by the Cen12 ters for Disease Control and Prevention, each 

13 time the United States House floor opens, a 

14 moment of silence shall commence; and 

15 (C) when such time occurs that the 

16 COVID–19 pandemic has been declared ended 

17 by the Centers for Disease Control and Preven18 tion, a national memorial to those who lost 

19 their lives due to COVID–19 should be estab20 lished at a location to be determined; 

21 (2) the House of Representatives commends the 

22 courageous and patriotic health care, essential serv23 ice, and all frontline workers serving the Nation in 

24 the midst of this global pandemic; and 


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•HRES 975 IH 

1 (3) the House of Representatives offers its 

2 deepest sincere condolences to the victims and their 

3 families, with a determination to never let them be 

4 forgotten. 

Æ 


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