HCONRES 13119th CongressIn Committee

Providing that George Washington's "Farewell Address" shall be read at the beginning of each Congress.

Introduced: Feb 14, 2025

Standard Summary

Comprehensive overview in 1-2 paragraphs

This bill is a concurrent resolution that would require George Washington’s Farewell Address to be read aloud at the start of each Congress. Specifically, on the first day of the first regular session, the Farewell Address would be read in both chambers: in the Senate by a Senator designated by the majority leader, and in the House by a Representative designated by the Speaker. The measure frames the reading as an exercise of each chamber’s rulemaking power and would be treated as part of the formal rules of each chamber, overriding other rules only to the extent of any inconsistency. It also preserves each chamber’s constitutional right to change its rules at any time.

Key Points

1On the first day of the first regular session of every Congress, George Washington’s Farewell Address must be read aloud in both chambers.
2In the Senate, a Senator designated by the majority leader would conduct the reading; in the House, a Representative designated by the Speaker would conduct the reading.
3The resolution is presented as an exercise of the rulemaking power of each chamber and would be considered part of each chamber’s rules, superseding conflicting rules only to the extent of inconsistency.
4The bill expressly recognizes the constitutional right of each House to modify its rules at any time, in the same manner as other rules.
5The measure signals a ceremonial or symbolic purpose, rather than creating new substantive obligations or policy mandates with fiscal or regulatory impact.

Impact Areas

Primary group/area affected: Members and staff of the Senate and House, including the designated readers and the administrative process for scheduling the reading on the first day of each Congress.Secondary group/area affected: the general public and civic education audience, who would be exposed to Washington’s Farewell Address at the start of each Congress; could influence public perception of congressional traditions.Additional impacts: No explicit fiscal provisions; primarily ceremonial with potential minor administrative scheduling implications; could become a symbolic tradition that may be revisited or modified by future Congresses.

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