An unusual post for WaterWired but appropriate for the USA's impending celebration of Martin Luther King Day on 16 June 2023.
Leave it to the Congressional Research Service.
Devon Galena updated (13 January 2023) this CRS report: 'Martin Luther King, Jr. Day Speech Resources - Fact Sheet'.
Download CRS_Report_MLKJr_Speech_Resources_Fact_Sheet_13Jan2023
Introduction
Martin Luther King, Jr. Day is a federal holiday observed annually on the third Monday in January. It celebrates the life and legacy of Martin Luther King, Jr. in honor of his birthday and achievements. The day is also referred to as the Martin Luther King, Jr. Federal Holiday; MLK Day; Martin Luther King Day; the King Holiday; and the King Day of Service. In 2022, this holiday is celebrated on January 17.
This guide assists congressional offices with work related to Martin Luther King, Jr. Day. It contains links to legislation, CRS reports, sample speeches and remarks from the Congressional Record, and presidential proclamations and remarks. It also contains links to additional government resources and selected educational, cultural, and advocacy organizations.
History
On November 2, 1983, President Ronald Reagan signed legislation making the birthday of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., a legal public holiday to be observed on the third Monday of every January (P.L. 98-144). When President Bill Clinton signed the King Holiday and Service Act on August 23, 1994 (P.L. 103-304), the holiday was designated as a day of community service, interracial cooperation, and youth anti-violence initiatives.President Ronald Reagan delivered the remarks “Message on the Observance of Martin Luther King, Jr. Day” on January 14, 1986, and issued Proclamation 5431 on January 18, 1986, as part of the first recognition of Martin Luther King, Jr. Day as a federal holiday.
Legislation
P.L. 98-144—Authorized Dr. King’s birthday to be a legal public holiday, on the third Monday in January (97 Stat. 917; November 2, 1983).P.L. 103-304—Authorized appropriations and amended existing statutes to support the planning and performance of national service opportunities in conjunction with the legal holiday honoring the birthday of Martin Luther King, Jr. (108 Stat. 1565; August 23, 1994).
Related CRS Reports
CRS Report R41990, Federal Holidays: Evolution and Current Practices, by Jacob R. Straus; CRS Report R43743, Monuments and Memorials Authorized and Completed Under the Commemorative Works Act in the District of Columbia, by Jacob R. Straus.
More to come!
"Let us realize the arc of the moral universe is long but it bends toward justice." - Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
Comments