Title: 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.
Policy area: Health

Summary:
This resolution expresses support for a National Day of Mourning and other actions to honor the lives lost due to COVID-19 (i.e., coronavirus disease 2019) once the pandemic has ended.

[Congressional Bills 116th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 975 Introduced in House (IH)]

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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;
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 that will lift Americans from this 
        crisis: Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved, That--
            (1) it is the sense of the House of Representatives that--
                    (A) when such time occurs that the COVID-19 
                pandemic has been declared ended by the Centers for 
                Disease Control and Prevention, the House of 
                Representatives recommends a national day of mourning 
                to honor the lives lost due to COVID-19;
                    (B) until such a time when the COVID-19 pandemic 
                has been declared ended by the Centers for Disease 
                Control and Prevention, each time the United States 
                House floor opens, a moment of silence shall commence; 
                and
                    (C) when such time occurs that the COVID-19 
                pandemic has been declared ended by the Centers for 
                Disease Control and Prevention, a national memorial to 
                those who lost their lives due to COVID-19 should be 
                established at a location to be determined;
            (2) the House of Representatives commends the courageous 
        and patriotic health care, essential service, and all frontline 
        workers serving the Nation in the midst of this global 
        pandemic; and
            (3) the House of Representatives offers its deepest sincere 
        condolences to the victims and their families, with a 
        determination to never let them be forgotten.
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