S.Res. 696Senate115th Congress (2017-2019)Passed Congress

A resolution permitting the collection of clothing, toys, food, and housewares during the holiday season for charitable purposes in Senate buildings.

AI-Generated Summary

Updated April 16, 2026 at 12:14 AM UTC

This resolution lets Senators, Senate officers, and Senate employees gather non‑cash donations such as clothing, toys, food, and housewares inside Senate buildings during the holiday season. The items can be given to charities that help people in need or military families, and the donors may coordinate with nonprofit groups to deliver the donations. The permission lasts only until the end of the 115th Congress’s second session.

Key Provisions

Senators, officers, and employees may collect non‑monetary gifts (clothing, toys, food, housewares) from each other within Senate buildings for charitable use during the holiday season.
The donations must support people in need or members of the Armed Forces and their families and must not conflict with Senate rules or federal law.
Senators, officers, and employees may partner with nonprofit organizations to handle the delivery of the collected items.
The authority granted by this resolution ends at the close of the second session of the 115th Congress.

Legislative Activity

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1 earlier action

SenateFloor Latest Action

Submitted in the Senate, considered, and agreed to without amendment by Unanimous Consent. (consideration: CR S7062-7063; text: CR S7058)

November 15, 2018

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SenateIntro Referral

Introduced in Senate

November 15, 2018

SenateFloor

Submitted in the Senate, considered, and agreed to without amendment by Unanimous Consent. (consideration: CR S7062-7063; text: CR S7058)

November 15, 2018

Floor Debate

1 member

What members said about S.Res. 696 on the floor

1 Republican

Sen. Mitch McConnellR-KY · Nov 15, 2018

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate now proceed to the en bloc consideration of the following Senate resolutions, which were submitted earlier today: S. Res. 692 through S. Res.…

Bill Text

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Agreed to SenateIssued November 15, 2018

III

115th CONGRESS

2d Session

S. RES. 696

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

November 15, 2018

Mr. Isakson (for himself and Mr. Tester) submitted the following resolution; which was considered and agreed to

RESOLUTION

Permitting the collection of clothing, toys, food, and housewares during the holiday season for charitable purposes in Senate buildings.

Now, therefore, be it

Collection of clothing, toys, food, and housewares during the holiday season for charitable purposes in Senate buildings

(a)

In general

Notwithstanding any other provision of the rules or regulations of the Senate—

(1)

a Senator, officer of the Senate, or employee of the Senate may collect from another Senator, officer of the Senate, or employee of the Senate within a Senate building or other office secured for a Senator nonmonetary donations of clothing, toys, food, and housewares for charitable purposes related to serving persons in need or members of the Armed Forces and the families of those members during the holiday season, if the charitable purposes do not otherwise violate any rule or regulation of the Senate or of Federal law; and

(2)

a Senator, officer of the Senate, or employee of the Senate may work with a nonprofit organization with respect to the delivery of donations described under paragraph (1).

(b)

Expiration

The authority provided by this resolution shall expire at the end of the second session of the 115th Congress.