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. MEY-
ERS of Kansas, Mr. MONTGOMERY, Mr. MOORHEAD, Mr. OXLEY, Mr. PE-
TERSON 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. WASHING-
TON) 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. ROB-
ERTS, 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. DEL-
LUMS, 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 Califor-
nia, Mr. SHAW, Mr. SHAYS, Mr. ZIMMER, Mr. SPRATT, Mr. SKEEN, Mr.
BARRETT of Nebraska, Mr. DIAZ-BALART, Mr. DOOLITTLE, Mr. FA-
WELL, 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. GUNDER-
SON, Mr. KNOLLENBERG, Mr. GREENWOOD, Mr. TALENT, Mr. YOUNG of
Florida, Mr. BORSKI, Mr. HEFNER, Mr. GIBBONS, Mr. MILLER of Cali-
fornia, Mr. MURPHY, Ms. PELOSI, Mr. ROSE, Mr. COLLINS of Georgia,
Mrs. FOWLER, Mr. HUTCHINSON, Mr. MANZULLO, Mr. MILLER of Flor-
ida, 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;
•HJ 216 CPH
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 Assem-
bly of Virginia passed such bill;
Whereas the Statute of Virginia for Religious Freedom in-
spired and shaped the guarantees of religious freedom in
the first amendment;
Whereas the Supreme Court of the United States has recog-
nized 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 Rich-
mond, 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
Resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives
of the United States of America in Congress assembled,
That January 16, 1994, is designated as ‘‘Religious Free-
•HJ 216 CPH
dom Day’’, and the President is authorized and requested
to issue a proclamation calling on the people of the United
States to join together to celebrate their religious freedom
and to observe the day with appropriate ceremonies and
activities.
Æ