[Deschler-Brown Precedents, Volume 17]
[Ch. 36. Ceremonies and Awards]
[§13. —Moments of Silence]
[From the U.S. Government Printing Office, www.gpo.gov]
[Page 202-206]
CHAPTER 36
Ceremonies and Awards
Sec. 13. --Moments of Silence
The House has observed moments of silence as a way to honor notable
individuals,(1) fallen heroes and soldiers of
wars,(2) and victims of national tragedies.(3) In
one instance, the House stood in silent prayer in observance of the
Nazi invasion of France.(4)
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1. See Sec. Sec. 13.1, 13.3, infra.
2. See Sec. Sec. 13.2, 13.4, infra.
3. See Sec. Sec. 13.5-13.7, infra.
4. See Sec. 13.8, infra. -------------------
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Coretta Scott King
Sec. 13.1 The Chair asked Members to observe a moment of silence in
memory of Coretta Scott King, wife of civil rights leader Martin
Luther King, Jr., on occasion of her death.
On Jan. 31, 2006,(1) the following proceedings took
place:
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1. 152 Cong. Rec. 402, 109th Cong. 2d Sess.
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MOMENT OF SILENCE IN MEMORY OF MRS. CORETTA SCOTT KING
The SPEAKER.(2) In memoriam to the death this
morning of Mrs. Coretta Scott King, I ask all Members to stand and
observe a moment of silence.
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2. J. Dennis Hastert (IL).
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Moment of Silence to Mark Iraq War Losses
Sec. 13.2 Instance of moment of silence to commemorate the
[[Page 203]]
loss of 2,500 American soldiers in the Iraq War.
On June 15, 2006,(1) in the midst of general debate on
House Resolution 861, the following proceedings took place:
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1. 152 Cong. Rec. 11412, 109th Cong. 2d. Sess.
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Mr. [John P.] MURTHA [of Pennsylvania]. Mr. Speaker, I yield to
the gentleman from Missouri.
Mr. [Ike] SKELTON [of Missouri]. I thank the gentleman for
yielding.
Mr. Speaker, the media just reported the sad news that we have
just reached a sad milestone: 2,500 Americans have lost their lives
in the Iraq war. Mr. Speaker, I respectfully ask at the outset of
this very important debate that the House observe a moment of
silence for all those who have given the ultimate sacrifice on
behalf of our country.
The SPEAKER pro tempore.(2) Is there objection to
the request of the gentleman from Missouri?
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2. Michael K. Simpson (ID).
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There was no objection.
Rosa Parks
Sec. 13.3 A Member asked the Chair to lead the House in a moment of
silence in memory of the passing of Rosa Parks.
On Oct. 25, 2005,(1) the Chair asked Members to rise for
a moment of silence:
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1. 151 Cong. Rec. 23629, 109th Cong. 2d Sess.
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ANNOUNCING THE PASSING OF ROSA LOUISE PARKS
(Mr. CONYERS asked and was given permission to address the
House for 1 minute.)
Mr. [John] CONYERS [Jr., of Michigan]. Mr. Speaker, I am sorry
to announce the passing of Rosa Louise Parks yesterday evening, and
I would like to announce that we have already prepared a Special
Order immediately following the business tomorrow, and we invite
all of the Members on both sides of the aisle to
attend. -------------------
MOMENT OF SILENCE IN MEMORY OF ROSA LOUISE PARKS
Mr. CONYERS. Mr. Speaker, may I ask for the Speaker to call for
a moment of silence in memory of Rosa Louise Parks.
The SPEAKER.(2) Would Members please rise and join
me in a moment of silence in memory of Mrs. Rosa Louise Parks.
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2. J. Dennis Hastert (IL).
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Memorial Day
Sec. 13.4 The Chair asked Members to observe a moment of silence in
honor of Memorial Day and fallen heroes.
On May 20, 2004,(1) the Speaker made the following
request:
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1. 150 Cong. Rec. 10639, 108th Cong. 2d. Sess. For additional
information on federal holidays, see Sec. 3, supra.
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The SPEAKER pro tempore.(2) The Chair would ask the
House to observe
[[Page 204]]
a moment of silence in honor of Memorial Day and our fallen heroes.
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2. Michael K. Simpson (ID).
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The House also on that day,(3) by unanimous consent
permitted all Members to insert remarks and extraneous material in the
Congressional Record on fallen heroes (the topic of a later special-
order speech).
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3. 150 Cong. Rec. 10639, 108th Cong. 2d. Sess.
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Mr. [James T.] WALSH [of New York]. Mr. Speaker, I ask
unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days in
which to revise and extend their remarks and insert extraneous
material on a special order speech on the topic of fallen heroes
and that all such remarks be printed in the Congressional Record of
May 20, 2004.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of
the gentleman from New York?
Mr. [Charles B.] RANGEL [of New York]. Mr. Speaker, reserving
the right to object and I will not object, I just want to take this
opportunity to thank my friend and colleague from New York for
affording this House the opportunity to express ourselves on this
Memorial Day in honor of these fallen heroes. I appreciate working
with him and I thank him very much for this opportunity.
Mr. Speaker, I withdraw my reservation of objection.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of
the gentleman from New York?
There was no objection.(4)
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4. In recent practice, the House has observed monthly moments of
silence for fallen heroes.
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Victims of Mining Accident
Sec. 13.5 A Member took the floor for one minute by unanimous consent
to initiate a moment of silence for the fates of nine miners
trapped in a well for over 48 hours.
On July 26, 2002,(1) the following proceedings took
place:
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1. 148 Cong. Rec. 14945, 107th Cong. 2d Sess.
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moment of silence for miners trapped in somerset, pennsylvania
Mr. [Christopher] SHAYS [of Connecticut]. Mr. Chairman, in
consultation with the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Murtha) and
the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Gekas), I ask for a moment of
silence for the 9 miners in Somerset, Pennsylvania, trapped 240
feet underground. They have been trapped there for over 48 hours
under very extreme conditions.
Mr. Chairman, this is in the district of the gentleman from
Pennsylvania (Mr. Murtha), and he and others in this Chamber
request the prayers of the Members of this Chamber for those
miners, for their families, and for the heroic work of our rescue
workers.
I ask for a moment of silence.
The CHAIRMAN pro tempore.(2) Would all Members
please stand.
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2. John Linder (GA).
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Victims of Anthrax Attacks on Postal Service
Sec. 13.6 A Member took the floor for one minute by unanimous
[[Page 205]]
consent to initiate a moment of silence in memory of the loss of
Postal Service employees' lives to anthrax exposure resulting from
``terrorist'' mailings.
On Oct. 23, 2001,(1) the following proceedings took
place:
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1. 147 Cong. Rec. 20398, 107th Cong. 1st Sess.
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MOMENT OF SILENCE TO HONOR POSTAL SERVICE EMPLOYEES
(Mr. WAMP asked and was given permission to address the House
for 1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
Mr. [Zach] WAMP [of Tennessee]. Mr. Speaker, I think it would
be appropriate tonight with this many Members present and with our
new Members present and on the job, if we as a body, in a unified
way, stood together for a moment of silence in memory of the Postal
Service employees that have lost their lives; and in honor of all
of the families and all of those U.S. Postal Service employees
around the country that work for us day in and day out, that we
would bow our heads as the United States Congress in their honor
and in their memory and pray for our country at this time in our
country's history. Please stand.
Victims of Oklahoma City Bombing
Sec. 13.7 After the prayer and before the approval of the Journal, the
Speaker requested the House to join in a silent prayer for 168
seconds in honor and memory of the 168 Americans who died when a
bomb exploded in a Federal building in Oklahoma City.
On Apr. 19, 1996,(1) the following proceedings took
place:
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1. 104 Cong. Rec. 8224, 104th Cong. 2d Sess.
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MOMENT OF SILENCE IN TRIBUTE TO OKLAHOMA CITY BOMBING VICTIMS
The SPEAKER.(2) The Chair asks the House to join in
a silent prayer for 168 seconds in honor and memory of the 168
Americans who died 1 year ago in Oklahoma City.
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2. Newt Gingrich (GA).
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Nazi Occupied France
Sec. 13.8 The House stood for one minute in silent prayer in observance
of the invasion of Nazi-occupied France by our troops during World
War II.
On June 6, 1944,(1) Mr. John W. McCormack, of
Massachusetts, asked in a one-minute speech that the Members of the
House stand in prayer.
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1. 90 Cong. Rec. 5387, 78th Cong. 2d Sess.
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Mr. McCORMACK. Mr. Speaker, at this dramatic, historic, and
eventful moment, I ask that the Members of the House stand in
silent prayer.
[[Page 206]]
The Members of the House rose and stood for 1 minute in silent
prayer.
european invasion
Mr. [Joseph W.] MARTIN [Jr.], of Massachusetts. Mr. Speaker, I
ask unanimous consent to address the House for 1 minute.
The SPEAKER.(2) Without objection, it is so ordered.
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2. Sam Rayburn (TX).
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There was no objection.
Mr. MARTIN of Massachusetts. Mr. Speaker, this is an anxious
day for the people of America. It is a day of anxiety for liberty-
loving people all over the world.
The fighting men and women of America and the Allied armies
have landed on the historic shores of northern France. They have
commenced the long trail which we have every reason to believe will
not end until they enter victoriously the Hitler capital of Berlin.