H. Rept. 111-152 - DIRECTING THE ARCHITECT OF THE CAPITOL TO ENGRAVE THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG AND THE NATIONAL MOTTO OF ``IN GOD WE TRUST'' IN THE CAPITOL VISITOR CENTER111th Congress (2009-2010)
PDF(PDF provides a complete and accurate display of this text.)Tip?
111th Congress Report
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
1st Session 111-152
======================================================================
DIRECTING THE ARCHITECT OF THE CAPITOL TO ENGRAVE THE PLEDGE OF
ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG AND THE NATIONAL MOTTO OF ``IN GOD WE TRUST'' IN
THE CAPITOL VISITOR CENTER
_______
June 12, 2009.--Committed to the Committee of the Whole House on the
State of the Union and ordered to be printed
_______
Mr. Brady of Pennsylvania, from the Committee on House Administration,
submitted the following
R E P O R T
[To accompany H. Con. Res. 131]
[Including cost estimate of the Congressional Budget Office]
The Committee on House Administration, to whom was referred
the concurrent resolution (H. Con. Res. 131) directing the
Architect of the Capitol to engrave the Pledge of Allegiance to
the Flag and the National Motto of ``In God We Trust'' in the
Capitol Visitor Center, having considered the same, reports
favorably thereon without amendment and recommends that the
concurrent resolution be agreed to.
SUMMARY OF THE LEGISLATION
Introduced by Representative Daniel Lungren of California,
the Ranking Minority Member of the Committee on House
Administration, the concurrent resolution (H. Con. Res. 131)
requires the Architect of the Capitol to engrave the Pledge of
Allegiance to the flag and the national motto (``In God We
Trust'') in the Capitol Visitor Center (CVC). Under the
resolution, the details of the engravings, including the
locations, would be approved by the House Administration
Committee and the Senate Rules and Administration Committee.
The consideration and favorable reporting of the resolution
fulfills a commitment made by the Committee during the 110th
Congress to recommend adding an engraved inscription of the
motto, which is set forth in 36 U.S.C. 302, and the Pledge,
which is set forth in 4 U.S.C. Sec. 4, in the CVC. The addition
of these engravings to the CVC requires this legislation.
COMMITTEE CONSIDERATION
On June 10, 2009, the Committee considered H. Con. Res.
131, ordering it reported favorably to the House by voice vote
without amendment. No recorded votes were taken during the
Committee's consideration of the resolution.
DESCRIPTION OF H. CON. RES. 131
The resolution consists of one section. Subsection (a) of
Section 1 directs the Architect of the Capitol to engrave the
Pledge of Allegiance to the flag and the national motto in the
Capitol Visitor Center pursuant to an engraving plan.
Subsection (b) of Section 1 requires the Architect to
complete the engraving of the Pledge and the motto pursuant to
an engraving plan approved by the Committee on House
Administration and the Senate Committee on Rules and
Administration.
MATTERS REQUIRED UNDER THE RULES OF THE HOUSE
Committee votes
Clause 3(b) of House Rule XIII requires the results of each
recorded vote on an amendment or motion to report, together
with the names of those voting for and against, to be printed
in the committee report. No recorded votes were taken during
the Committee's consideration of H. Con. Res. 131.
Oversight findings
Clause 3(c)(1) of rule XIII requires each committee report
to contain oversight findings and recommendations required
pursuant to clause 2(b)(1) of House Rule X. The Committee has
general oversight responsibility for the House wing of the
Capitol and the Capitol Visitor Center.
In the exercise of oversight of these historic structures,
the Committee finds that the absence of the Pledge of
Allegiance and the national motto omits these important
features cherished by many Americans. The Committee therefore
recommends the adoption of H. Con. Res. 131.
Statement of new budget authority & related items
Clause 3(c)(2) of House Rule XIII and Section 308(a)(1) of
the Congressional Budget Act of 1974 (CBA) require most bills
and resolutions providing new budget authority, new spending
authority, new credit authority or an increase or decrease in
revenues or tax expenditures to include such information. H.
Con. Res. 131 provides no budget, spending or credit authority
or any change in revenues or tax expenditures.
Congressional Budget Office estimate
Clause 3(c)(3) of House Rule XIII requires the report of a
committee on a measure which has been approved by the Committee
to include a cost estimate prepared by the Director of the
Congressional Budget Office pursuant to section 402 of the CBA,
if timely submitted. The Director submitted the following
estimate:
June 11, 2009.
Hon. Robert A. Brady,
Chairman, Committee on House Administration, House of Representatives,
Washington, DC.
Dear Mr. Chairman: The Congressional Budget Office has
prepared the enclosed cost estimate for H. Con. Res. 131,
directing the Architect of the Capitol to engrave the Pledge of
Allegiance to the Flag and the National Motto of ``In God We
Trust'' in the Capitol Visitor Center.
If you wish further details on this estimate, we will be
pleased to provide them. The CBO staff contact is Matthew
Pickford.
Sincerely,
Douglas W. Elmendorf.
Enclosure.
H. Con. Res. 131--Directing the Architect of the Capitol to engrave the
Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag and the National Motto of ``In
God We Trust'' in the Capitol Visitor Center
H. Con. Res. 131 would direct the Architect of the Capitol
(AOC) to engrave ``In God We Trust'' and the Pledge of
Allegiance in prominent locations in the Capitol Visitor
Center. Based on information from the AOC and the Committee on
House Administration regarding engraving costs, CBO estimates
that implementing the legislation would cost less than
$100,000, subject to the availability of appropriated funds.
The legislation would have no effect on direct spending or
revenues.
The CBO staff contact for this estimate is Matthew
Pickford. The estimate was approved by Theresa Gullo, Deputy
Assistant Director for Budget Analysis.
Statement of general performance goals and objectives
Clause 3(c)(4) of House Rule XIII requires committee
reports to include a statement of general performance goals and
objectives for which the measure authorizes funding. House
Concurrent Resolution 131 authorizes no appropriations. The
Committee believes that adoption of the concurrent resolution
and placement of the contemplated engravings in the CVC would
advance the Congress' goal of promoting knowledge and
appreciation for these important features of American history
and political culture.
Federal mandates
Section 423 of the CBA requires committee reports on bills
or resolutions to include specific information about federal
mandates. The concurrent resolution imposes no federal
mandates.