HCONRES 48119th CongressIn Committee

Authorizing the use of the rotunda of the Capitol for the lying in honor of the remains of the late Charles James Kirk, a lifelong advocate for freedom of speech, civil political discourse, and the political engagement of youth.

Introduced: Sep 15, 2025

Civil Rights & Justice

Standard Summary

Comprehensive overview in 1-2 paragraphs

This concurrent resolution would authorize the Capitol Rotunda to lie in honor the remains of Charles James Kirk, described as a lifelong advocate for freedom of speech, civil political discourse, and youth political engagement. The date and duration of the lying in honor would be determined by the Speaker of the House and the President pro tempore of the Senate. The Architect of the Capitol, under their direction, would take all necessary steps to carry out this authorization. The measure is ceremonial and does not itself create new policy or funding.

Key Points

1The resolution authorizes lying in honor in the Capitol Rotunda for Charles James Kirk, a private individual described as a champion of free speech and youth political engagement.
2The date and length of the lying in honor are to be decided by the Speaker of the House and the President pro tempore of the Senate.
3The Architect of the Capitol, working under the direction of the Speaker and the President pro tempore, must take all necessary steps to implement the ceremony.
4This is a concurrent resolution, meaning it would require passage by both the House and the Senate.
5No funding provision is included in the text; implementation would rely on existing capabilities of the Architect of the Capitol and related offices.

Impact Areas

Primary group/area affected: Supporters and associates of Charles James Kirk, as well as advocates for free speech and youth political engagement who might view the honor as recognition of their causes.Secondary group/area affected: Public observers and visitors to the Capitol, as the Rotunda ceremony could attract attention and media coverage.Additional impacts: Logistical and security considerations for the Capitol (Rotunda access, ceremony planning, security arrangements, and related maintenance) would fall to the Architect of the Capitol and Capitol Police, though no explicit funding is authorized in the resolution. The measure could set a precedent for future ceremonial honors of private individuals.

Generated by gpt-5-nano on Oct 8, 2025