HCONRES-17-119
Message on Senate action sent to the House.
Sponsored by David Kustoff (R-TN)
What it does
This resolution authorizes the use of Emancipation Hall in the Capitol Visitor Center on April 23, 2025, for a ceremony commemorating the Days of Remembrance of victims of the Holocaust. Physical setup for the event would follow conditions set by the Architect of the Capitol.
Who benefits
Organizers and attendees of the Holocaust remembrance ceremony, including Holocaust survivors, families of victims, and members of the public and Congress who participate. No group receives a financial or regulatory benefit.
Who is hurt
No group is meaningfully affected. The resolution only authorizes a one-day use of a Capitol facility and imposes minor logistical work on the Architect of the Capitol's office.
Supporters argue
Supporters argue that authorizing the use of a prominent, symbolic space like Emancipation Hall for this ceremony provides a fitting and dignified venue to honor the memory of Holocaust victims and continues a longstanding congressional tradition of hosting the annual Days of Remembrance observance. They contend the resolution carries no cost or controversy and simply facilitates a solemn commemorative event.
Opponents argue
Critics of commemorative and space-authorization resolutions in general argue that such measures consume floor time and administrative resources that could go toward substantive legislation, though there is no specific opposition on record to this particular ceremony. They contend that facility-use approvals of this kind could, in principle, be handled through internal administrative processes rather than a formal concurrent resolution.
Constitutional context
This resolution raises no constitutional question beyond Congress's authority under the Seat of Government Clause (Art. I, §8, cl. 17) to manage and administer Capitol buildings and grounds.
Checks and balances
Congress, through this concurrent resolution, authorizes use of its own facility; the Architect of the Capitol, a legislative branch official, implements the physical arrangements, with no shift in authority between branches.
Historical precedent
Congress has regularly passed similar concurrent resolutions authorizing use of Emancipation Hall and other Capitol spaces for the annual Days of Remembrance ceremony and other commemorative events.