Robert Brady

Mr. BRADY of Pennsylvania

Mr. BRADY of Pennsylvania. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the concurrent resolution (H. Con. Res. 86) authorizing the use of Emancipation Hall in the Capitol Visitor Center for the unveiling of a bust of Sojourner Truth.

Mr. BRADY of Pennsylvania. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and to include extraneous material on the concurrent resolution now under consideration.

Mr. BRADY of Pennsylvania. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, this bill authorizes the use of Emancipation Hall in the Capitol Visitor Center for the unveiling of a bust of Sojourner Truth. Born Isabella Baumfree in 1791 in upstate New York, Sojourner Truth is one of the lasting icons of the dark ages of slavery and an important symbol of the resiliency of the human spirit. A slave for more than 20 years, Baumfree escaped to freedom in 1826, a year before the New York State Emancipation Act was passed. In 1843, Baumfree changed her name to Sojourner Truth, citing a religious awakening. For more than 40 years, Truth traveled the country preaching religious tolerance, pacifism and gender equality. Sojourner Truth's lasting legacy is now being recognized in the form of a bust commissioned by Congress. Her image will grace Emancipation Hall, serving as a reminder of our capacity to change and our willingness to endure. I urge passage of this resolution to honor her history. I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. BRADY of Pennsylvania. Mr. Speaker, I would now like to yield 5 minutes to the gentlewoman from Texas (Ms. Jackson-Lee), the author of the resolution. (Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas asked and was given permission to revise and extend her remarks.)

Mr. BRADY of Pennsylvania. Mr. Speaker, I yield an additional 30 seconds to the gentlewoman.

Mr. BRADY of Pennsylvania. I thank the gentlewoman for her remarks. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. BRADY of Pennsylvania

Mr. BRADY of Pennsylvania. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the Senate joint resolution (S.J. Res. 8) providing for the appointment of David M. Rubenstein as a citizen regent of the Board of Regents of the Smithsonian Institution.

Mr. BRADY of Pennsylvania

Mr. BRADY of Pennsylvania. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the concurrent resolution (H. Con. Res. 101) providing for the acceptance of a statue of Ronald Wilson Reagan from the people of California for placement in the United States Capitol.

Mr. BRADY of Pennsylvania. I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. BRADY of Pennsylvania

Mr. BRADY of Pennsylvania. I would also like to thank Walter Jones for this make-sense resolution. I am in favor of this resolution and urge an ``aye'' vote. I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. BRADY of Pennsylvania

Mr. BRADY of Pennsylvania. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks on House Resolution 279.

Mr. BRADY of Pennsylvania

Mr. BRADY of Pennsylvania. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the concurrent resolution (H. Con. Res. 54) permitting the use of the Rotunda of the Capitol for a ceremony as part of the commemoration of the days of remembrance of victims of the Holocaust.

Mr. BRADY of Pennsylvania. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks in the Record and to include extraneous matter.

Mr. BRADY of Pennsylvania. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, this concurrent resolution provides for the use of the Capitol Rotunda on April 23, 2009, as part of the commemoration to honor the memory of the victims of the Holocaust. I support the resolution and thank the gentleman from California (Mr. Waxman) for sponsoring it. Mr. Speaker, the Holocaust is one of the most shameful and horrifying events of human history. It is imperative that we honor the memory of those who died so senselessly and provide them their due recognition. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. BRADY of Pennsylvania. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. BRADY of Pennsylvania

Mr. BRADY of Pennsylvania. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 151) to establish the Daniel Webster Congressional Clerkship Program.

Mr. BRADY of Pennsylvania. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to support H.R. 151, which would establish the Daniel Webster Congressional Clerkship Program. This program would bring the most talented law school graduates across the country to Washington, D.C., and offer them an opportunity to be employed as congressional clerks in the House of Representatives or the Senate. This program is modeled after the judicial clerkships offered in the Federal courts. H.R. 151 would offer no fewer than six 1-year clerkships in each Chamber. The clerks would be apportioned equally between majority and minority offices within each Chamber. H.R. 151 would give recent law grads invaluable insight into the functions and operations of the Federal legislature, and I urge my colleagues to support this program. Mr. Speaker, at this time, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. BRADY of Pennsylvania. Mr. Speaker, I ask that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks in the Record on this bill and include extraneous materials.

Mr. BRADY of Pennsylvania. Mr. Speaker, I also urge all Members to support this bill, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. BRADY of Pennsylvania. Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.

Mr. BRADY of Pennsylvania

Mr. BRADY of Pennsylvania. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 1299) to make technical corrections to the laws affecting certain administrative authorities of the United States Capitol Police, and for other purposes.

Mr. BRADY of Pennsylvania. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself as much time as I may consume. I am pleased to present the Capitol Police Administrative Technical Corrections Act of 2009. As its title suggests, H.R. 1299 is not intended to make substantive policy changes for the Capitol Police. It corrects drafting errors, modernizes outdated terms, and repeals redundant and inconsistent provisions already on the books. My favorite correction is the long overdue repeal of the 1868 law requiring Capitol Police officers to buy their own uniforms. Congress decided years ago to provide the uniforms but has never repealed the 1868 law. Chief Phillip Morse requested most of these corrections; the committee found others. The bill has the support of Chief Morse and our House Sergeant-at-Arms Wilson Livingood. The House passed a similar bill last fall, which failed to pass the Senate before final adjournment. It was a pleasure to work with the gentleman from California (Mr. Daniel E. Lungren) and his staff on this measure, and I urge an ``aye'' vote. I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. BRADY of Pennsylvania. Mr. Speaker, I urge an ``aye'' vote, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. BRADY of Pennsylvania. Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.

Mr. BRADY of Pennsylvania

Mr. BRADY of Pennsylvania. Mr. Speaker, I call up House Resolution 303 and ask unanimous consent for its immediate consideration in the House.