BILL ANALYSIS Ó
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|SENATE RULES COMMITTEE | ACR 11|
|Office of Senate Floor Analyses | |
|(916) 651-1520 Fax: (916) | |
|327-4478 | |
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THIRD READING
Bill No: ACR 11
Author: Lackey (R), et al.
Amended: 2/13/15 in Assembly
Vote: 21
ASSEMBLY FLOOR: Read and adopted, 2/13/15
SUBJECT: Abraham Lincoln's birthday
SOURCE: Author
DIGEST: This resolution declares that President Abraham Lincoln
be honored on February 12, 2015, the anniversary of his
birthday.
ANALYSIS: This resolution makes the following legislative
findings:
1. President Abraham Lincoln was born on February 12, 1809, in
Kentucky, and spent the first seven years of his life there.
As the 16th President of the United States, and one of our
nation's most respected and admired Americans, he rose from
humble beginnings to become President of the United States
and courageously led his country during its darkest time, the
Civil War.
2. President Lincoln brought a profound honesty and integrity
to the Office of the President, and will always be remembered
as "Honest Abe." Most of all, he will forever be associated
with saving the Union and with the abolition of slavery.
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Page 2
3. Shortly after assuming the office of President of the United
States in 1861, the Civil War began. As the war continued,
President Lincoln expanded the objectives of the war beyond
saving and restoring the Union, but also to freeing the
slaves and abolishing the institution of slavery. On
September 22, 1862, President Lincoln took the first major
step toward the total abolition of slavery in the United
States by issuing the Emancipation Proclamation, which took
effect on January 1, 1863.
4. President Lincoln enunciated the nation's loftiest ideals
during its darkest moment following the bloodiest battle of
the Civil War. In his Gettysburg Address, regarded as one of
the finest speeches in the English language, he reaffirmed
the nation's foremost founding principles, declaring the
United States to be a nation "conceived in Liberty, and
dedicated to the proposition that all men are created equal,"
while assuring a nation still consumed by war "that this
nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom - and
that government of the people, by the people, for the people,
shall not perish from the earth."
5. President Lincoln ultimately reunified the nation and
brought about a successful conclusion to our nation's
bloodiest war, as the Civil War ended on April 9, 1865.
6. President Lincoln's accomplishments and legacy as the "Great
Emancipator" and "Preserver of Our Union" are perhaps
unsurpassed in the history of our nation, and it is
particularly appropriate to recognize President Lincoln.
This resolution declares that President Abraham Lincoln be
honored on
February 12, 2015, the anniversary of his birthday, not only in
recognition of his numerous accomplishments and contributions to
our nation, but also as the virtual symbol of the American
dream, whereby an ordinary person from the most humble
ACR 11
Page 3
beginnings can reach the pinnacle of American society to be
elected President, and to serve his country with honor and
courage.
Prior Legislation
Similar bills were ACR 88 (Linder, Resolution Chapter 11,
Statutes of 2014) which declared that President Lincoln be
honored on February 12, 2014, and
ACR 8 (Chavez, Resolution Chapter 7, Statutes of 2013) which
declared that President Lincoln be honored on February 12, 2013.
FISCAL EFFECT: Appropriation: No Fiscal
Com.:NoLocal: No
Prepared by:Melissa Ward / SFA / (916) 651-1520
2/25/15 15:39:20
SUPPORT/OPPOSITION: NONE RECEIVED
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