IA 
111TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION 
H. J. RES. 22 
Requiring the President to issue each year a proclamation recognizing the 
anniversary of the birth of President Abraham Lincoln, and for other 
purposes. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
FEBRUARY 12, 2009 
Mr. SCHOCK (for himself, Mr. SHIMKUS, Mr. AKIN, Ms. BEAN, Mr. DAVIS of 
Illinois, Mr. GUTHRIE, Mr. JACKSON
of Illinois, Mr. KIRK, Mr. 
LAMBORN, Mr. LIPINSKI, Mr. LUETKEMEYER, Mr. MANZULLO, Mr. 
RUSH, and Ms. SCHAKOWSKY) introduced the following joint resolution; 
which was referred to the Committee on Oversight and Government Re-
form 
JOINT RESOLUTION 
Requiring the President to issue each year a proclamation 
recognizing the anniversary of the birth of President 
Abraham Lincoln, and for other purposes. 
Whereas Abraham Lincoln, the 16th President of the United 
States, was born of humble roots on February 12, 1809, 
in Larue County, Kentucky; 
Whereas Abraham Lincoln rose to political prominence as an 
attorney with a reputation for fairness and honesty; 
Whereas Abraham Lincoln served with an Illinois militia 
company during the Black Hawk War and was elected by 
his fellow soldiers as their Captain; 
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Whereas in 1834, Abraham Lincoln was elected to the Illinois 
Legislature and was successfully reelected to serve San-
gamon County until 1840; 
Whereas in 1846, Abraham Lincoln was elected to serve in 
the United States House of Representatives to represent 
Cass, Logan, Marshall, Mason, Menard, Morgan, Put-
nam, Sangamon, Scott, Tazewell, and Woodford counties 
in central Illinois; 
Whereas Abraham Lincoln introduced legislation to ban slav-
ery in Washington, DC as a member of the United States 
House of Representatives serving central Illinois; 
Whereas in 1854, Abraham Lincoln reentered political life as 
a reaction to the passage of the Kansas-Nebraska Act, 
which allowed slavery in the newly created territories of 
Kansas and Nebraska, which he opposed; 
Whereas in June of 1858, Abraham Lincoln gave his famous 
‘‘House Divided’’ speech at the Illinois Republican State 
Convention in Springfield, Illinois; 
Whereas in 1858, Abraham Lincoln expounded on his views 
of natural rights during the series of Lincoln-Douglas de-
bates, declaring in Charleston, Illinois, that natural 
rights were ‘‘. . . enumerated in the Declaration of Inde-
pendence, the right to life, liberty and the pursuit of hap-
piness’’ and the ability to clearly express these views dur-
ing those debates brought Lincoln national attention; 
Whereas Abraham Lincoln was nominated as the Republican 
Presidential candidate due to his leadership, patriotism, 
and courage, which served him as he ran his Presidential 
campaign from Springfield, Illinois; 
Whereas, on November 6, 1860, Abraham Lincoln was elect-
ed to office as the 16th President of the United States; 
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Whereas, on January 1, 1863, Abraham Lincoln, as a leader 
who united America during the Civil War, wrote the 
Emancipation Proclamation, freeing all slaves in South-
ern States that seceded from the Union; 
Whereas, on November 19, 1863, Abraham Lincoln famously 
delivered the Gettysburg Address, advocating the prin-
ciples of human equality and the birth of new freedom; 
Whereas, on November 8, 1864, Abraham Lincoln was re-
elected President by 55 percent of the popular vote and 
proceeded to give his second inaugural address espousing 
‘‘malice toward none . . . [and] charity for all’’; 
Whereas, on April 15, 1865, Abraham Lincoln gave the ulti-
mate sacrifice for his country, dying 6 weeks into his sec-
ond term; 
Whereas Abraham Lincoln was laid to rest in central Illinois 
after 37 years of living there; 
Whereas February 12, 2009, will be the Bicentennial anniver-
sary of the birth of Abraham Lincoln, and concurrently 
will be the start of annual celebrations of Abraham Lin-
coln’s birth; and 
Whereas all Americans could benefit from studying the life of 
Abraham Lincoln as a model of achieving the American 
Dream through honesty, integrity, leadership, and a life-
time of education: Now, therefore, be it 
Resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives
of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
That the President is required to issue each year (begin-
ning in 2009) a proclamation— 
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(1) recognizing the anniversary of the birth of 
President Abraham Lincoln; 
(2) calling upon the people of the United States 
to observe such anniversary with appropriate cere-
monies and activities; and 
(3) encouraging State and local government 
educational agencies to devote sufficient time to 
study and appreciate the significance and impor-
tance of Abraham Lincoln in the development of 
American history, and the spread of freedom world-
wide. 
Æ 
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