GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF NORTH CAROLINA
SESSION 2015
S 1
SENATE BILL 529
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Short Title: Billy Graham/National Statuary Hall. |
(Public) |
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Sponsors: |
Senators Soucek, Ford (Primary Sponsors); Barefoot, Brock, Daniel, Hise, Krawiec, Newton, Pate, Randleman, Sanderson, and Tarte. |
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Referred to: |
Rules and Operations of the Senate. |
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March 30, 2015
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT requesting the joint committee on the library of congress to approve the replacement of the statue of Charles brantley aycock in national statuary hall with a statue of the reverend William Franklin "Billy" Graham, Jr.
Whereas, in 1864, Congress established National Statuary Hall in the Old Hall of the House of Representatives in the United States Capitol, and authorized each state to contribute to the Hall two statues that represent important historical figures of each state; and
Whereas, North Carolina currently has statues on display in the National Statuary Hall Collection of former governors Zebulon Vance and Charles Brantley Aycock given by the State in 1916 and 1932, respectively; and
Whereas, in 2000, Congress enacted legislation authorizing states the ability to request that the Joint Committee on the Library of Congress approve the replacement of a statue the state had provided for display in Statuary Hall; and
Whereas, William Franklin "Billy" Graham, Jr., was born on November 7, 1918, to William Franklin Graham and Morrow Coffey Graham, and was reared on a dairy farm in Charlotte, North Carolina; and
Whereas, Billy Graham attended the Florida Bible Institute from 1937 to 1940, graduating in 1940, and was ordained to the ministry in 1939; and
Whereas, Billy Graham served as pastor of The Village Church in Western Springs, Illinois, from 1943 to 1945; as a member of Youth for Christ International, where he ministered to young people and military personnel from 1945 to 1950; and as President of Northwestern Schools, a liberal arts college, Bible school, and theological seminary, from 1947 to 1952; and
Whereas, after World War II, Reverend Graham preached throughout the United States and Europe and attained international prominence as an evangelist through a series of crusades that began in 1949; and
Whereas, since 1950, Reverend Graham has conducted his ministry through the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association (BGEA), reaching multitudes of people by means of a weekly radio program, "Hour of Decision"; a newspaper column, "My Answer"; televised crusades; articles published in "Decision" magazine; and evangelistic films produced and distributed by World Wide Pictures and now reaching millions through the BGEA Web site and the Billy Graham Library in Charlotte; and
Whereas, over the years, Reverend Graham has preached to live audiences of nearly 215 million people in more than 185 countries and territories, and has preached to an estimated 2.2 billion people through television and technology; and
Whereas, Reverend Graham has been a renowned humanitarian and philanthropist, providing financial assistance to victims of disasters, as well as collecting and distributing clothing to those in need all around the world over the years; and
Whereas, Reverend Graham has counseled 12 presidents and has participated in nine presidential inaugurations; and
Whereas, Reverend Graham has also counseled world leaders and has participated in many historic occasions, and has been called upon as the "nation's pastor" during times of national crisis. He spoke at the National Cathedral service in Washington, D.C., three days after the 9/11 attack in 2001, as the nation and world watched and listened. Five presidents, including George W. Bush, Bill Clinton, George H.W. Bush, Jimmy Carter, and Gerald Ford, and their wives were in the audience; and
Whereas, in 2012, Reverend Graham was listed on the "The Ten Most Admired Men in the World List" for the 56th time. He was first selected in 1955. According to the latest list, Reverend Graham was tied as Number 3 with Mitt Romney, George W. Bush, and Pope Benedict XVI behind President Barack Obama and Nelson Mandela; and
Whereas, admired and beloved by both Christians and non‑Christians, Reverend Graham continues to inspire the world with his good works; and
Whereas, there have been many great North Carolinians, but few have impacted the world more than Billy Graham; and
Whereas, it is appropriate to honor Reverend Graham's life and works by placing his likeness in the National Statuary Hall Collection for display in the United States Capitol; Now, therefore,
The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:
SECTION 1. The General Assembly requests that the Joint Committee on the Library of Congress approve the replacement of the statue of Charles Brantley Aycock in the National Statuary Hall Collection currently on display in the United States Capitol with a statue of the Reverend William Franklin "Billy" Graham, Jr.
SECTION 2. The General Assembly requests that the Honorable Pat McCrory, Governor of the State of North Carolina, extend to the Joint Committee on the Library of Congress his approval of the General Assembly's request to replace the statue of Charles Brantley Aycock in the National Statuary Hall Collection currently on display in the United States Capitol with a statue of the Reverend Franklin "Billy" Graham, Jr.
SECTION 3.(a) There is created the Statuary Hall Selection Committee (the "Committee").
SECTION 3.(b) Membership. – The Committee shall be composed of seven members, as follows:
(1) Four members appointed by the President Pro Tempore of the Senate, one of whom shall be a representative of the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association, or the Association's designee.
(2) Three members appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives.
SECTION 3.(c) Terms; Chairs; Vacancies; Quorum. – Members shall serve terms of four years. The Committee shall have two cochairs, one designated by the President Pro Tempore of the Senate and one designated by the Speaker of the House of Representatives, from among their appointees. The Committee shall meet upon the call of the cochairs. Vacancies shall be filled by the appointing authority. A quorum of the Committee shall be a majority of the members.
SECTION 3.(d) Duties. – The Committee shall do the following:
(1) Select a sculptor to create a statue of the Reverend Franklin "Billy" Graham, Jr., to be placed in the National Statuary Hall Collection and review and approve the plans for the statue.
(2) Identify a method of obtaining the necessary funds needed to pay for all of the following:
a. The sculptor for designing and carving or casting the statue.
b. The design and fabrication of the pedestal.
c. The transportation of the statue and pedestal to the United States Capitol.
d. The removal and transportation of the replaced statue.
e. The temporary placement of the new statue in the Rotunda of the Capitol for the unveiling ceremony.
f. The unveiling ceremony.
g. Any other expenses that the Committee determines are necessary to incur.
SECTION 3.(e) Compensation; Administration. – Members of the Committee shall receive subsistence and travel allowances at the rates set forth in G.S. 120‑3.1, 138‑5, or 138‑6, as appropriate. The Committee may contract for consultants or hire employees in accordance with G.S. 120‑32.02. The Legislative Services Commission, through the Legislative Services Officer, shall assign professional staff to assist the Committee in its work. Upon the direction of the Legislative Services Commission, the Directors of Legislative Assistants of the Senate and of the House of Representatives shall assign clerical staff to the Committee. The expenses for clerical employees shall be borne by the Committee.
SECTION 3.(f) Reports; Termination. – The Committee shall make an interim report to the 2016 Regular Session of the 2015 General Assembly, and an annual report thereafter until the Committee has completed the duties set out in subsection (d) of this section, at which time the Committee shall terminate.
SECTION 4. The Secretary of State shall transmit a certified copy of this act to the members of the Joint Committee on the Library of Congress and North Carolina's congressional delegation.
SECTION 5. This act is effective when it becomes law.