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.

IV 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 Com- mittee 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 recur- ring 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 com- munity soul; VerDate Sep 11 2014 22:26 May 22, 2020 Jkt 099200 PO 00000 Frm 00001 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6300 E:\BILLS\HR975.IH HR975 pamtmann on DSKBC07HB2PROD with BILLS 2 •HRES 975 IH 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 hon- ors its military dead and those who have died by mass violence, through national mourning, prayer, and mo- ments 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 ac- knowledged during this domestic fight; Whereas President Donald J. Trump has declared the coun- try ‘‘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 Amer- ican 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 tran- scends ideological lines, has always conquered the dead- liest of threats; and Whereas the COVID–19 pandemic calls for this unity, as it is the actions of a collaborative and focused government VerDate Sep 11 2014 22:26 May 22, 2020 Jkt 099200 PO 00000 Frm 00002 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6300 E:\BILLS\HR975.IH HR975 pamtmann on DSKBC07HB2PROD with BILLS 3 •HRES 975 IH that will lift Americans from this crisis: Now, therefore, be it Resolved, That— 1 (1) it is the sense of the House of Representa- 2 tives that— 3 (A) when such time occurs that the 4 COVID–19 pandemic has been declared ended 5 by the Centers for Disease Control and Preven- 6 tion, the House of Representatives recommends 7 a national day of mourning to honor the lives 8 lost due to COVID–19; 9 (B) until such a time when the COVID–19 10 pandemic has been declared ended by the Cen- 11 ters for Disease Control and Prevention, each 12 time the United States House floor opens, a 13 moment of silence shall commence; and 14 (C) when such time occurs that the 15 COVID–19 pandemic has been declared ended 16 by the Centers for Disease Control and Preven- 17 tion, a national memorial to those who lost 18 their lives due to COVID–19 should be estab- 19 lished at a location to be determined; 20 (2) the House of Representatives commends the 21 courageous and patriotic health care, essential serv- 22 ice, and all frontline workers serving the Nation in 23 the midst of this global pandemic; and 24 VerDate Sep 11 2014 22:26 May 22, 2020 Jkt 099200 PO 00000 Frm 00003 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\HR975.IH HR975 pamtmann on DSKBC07HB2PROD with BILLS 4 •HRES 975 IH (3) the House of Representatives offers its 1 deepest sincere condolences to the victims and their 2 families, with a determination to never let them be 3 forgotten. 4 Æ VerDate Sep 11 2014 22:26 May 22, 2020 Jkt 099200 PO 00000 Frm 00004 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6301 E:\BILLS\HR975.IH HR975 pamtmann on DSKBC07HB2PROD with BILLS