S.Res. 904Senate118th Congress (2023-2025)Passed Congress

A resolution recognizing the 75th anniversary of the Antiquarian Booksellers' Association of America.

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Submitted in the Senate, considered, and agreed to without amendment and with a preamble by Unanimous Consent. (consideration: CR S6697; text: CR S6689-6690)

November 21, 2024

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Introduced in Senate

November 21, 2024

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Submitted in the Senate, considered, and agreed to without amendment and with a preamble by Unanimous Consent. (consideration: CR S6697; text: CR S6689-6690)

November 21, 2024

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What members said about S.Res. 904 on the floor

1 Democrat

Sen. Charles E. SchumerD-NY · Nov 20, 2024

Madam President, I ask unanimous consent the Senate proceed to the en bloc consideration of the following resolutions: S. Res. 903, S. Res. 904, S. Res. 905, S. Res. 906, S. Res. 907. Madam…

Madam President, I ask unanimous consent the Senate proceed to the en bloc consideration of the following resolutions: S. Res. 903, S. Res. 904, S. Res. 905, S. Res. 906, S. Res. 907.

Madam President, this resolution concerns a lawsuit filed in Federal court in the District of Columbia against the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions, Chairman Sanders, Ranking Member Cassidy, and 18 other members of the committee. That suit was brought by an individual, Dr. Ralph de la Torre, who had been subpoenaed to testify at a hearing before the Committee but chose to disregard his legal duty and failed to appear at the committee's hearing. After Dr. de la Torre failed to appear, the Committee reported to the Senate, and the Senate agreed to, a resolution directing the President of the Senate to certify the fact of his default to the U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia for consideration of prosecution for contempt of Congress.

Dr. de la Torre then filed suit to try to prevent any sanction from being imposed on him for his default of a duly authorized Senate committee subpoena, claiming that the subpoena served no valid legislative purpose and that requiring him to appear at the hearing violated his Fifth Amendment rights, despite the fact that the committee made clear that he could assert a Fifth Amendment privilege in response to questions at the hearing, if applicable.

Dr. de la Torre's suit against the committee and its members seeking to prevent any consequences for his default on the subpoena threatens to interfere with the independence of the Senate in conducting its legislative and oversight duties and improperly seeks to use a civil suit to forestall a criminal matter. This resolution would authorize the Senate legal counsel to represent the committee and the members named as defendants in this suit in order to seek its dismissal.

I ask unanimous consent that the resolutions be agreed to, the preambles be agreed to, and that the motions to reconsider be considered made and laid upon the table, all en bloc.

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Agreed to SenateIssued November 21, 2024

III

118th CONGRESS

2d Session

S. RES. 904

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

November 21 (legislative day, November 20), 2024

Mrs. Gillibrand (for herself, Mr. Schumer, and Mr. Wyden) submitted the following resolution; which was considered and agreed to

RESOLUTION

Recognizing the 75th anniversary of the Antiquarian Booksellers’ Association of America.

Whereas the Antiquarian Booksellers’ Association of America (referred to in this preamble as the ABAA), founded in 1949 in New York City, is the oldest association of professional antiquarian booksellers in the United States;

Whereas, in all parts of the country, the ABAA’s member businesses advocate the highest standards in the book trade, maintaining trust and integrity with the public by upholding a strict code of ethics while striving to create harmony between sellers, librarians, scholars and collectors;

Whereas the ABAA promotes interest in rare and antiquarian books and book collecting by supporting educational programs and research, including the Elisabeth Woodburn Educational Fund, which provides scholarships to rare book schools and offers ongoing financial support to the Bibliographical Society of America and the National Collegiate Book Collecting Contest;

Whereas the ABAA fosters collegial relations between members of the trade, runs a mentorship program for new booksellers, and administers the Antiquarian Booksellers’ Benevolent Fund to support member and non-member businesses alike in times of unexpected hardship;

Whereas the ABAA is a member of the International League of Antiquarian Booksellers and, therefore, is part of a global network that promotes and connects booksellers worldwide;

Whereas the ABAA has consistently worked for booksellers and the book community at large in a rapidly changing world;

Whereas the ABAA has adapted to new arenas of collecting, including handmade ephemera, games, photographs, historic documents, letters, and electronic media;

Whereas the ABAA promotes the progression of the skill and general knowledge that is particular to the trade;

Whereas the ABAA has arranged special events in combination with its annual fairs to commemorate its 75th anniversary;

Whereas the ABAA is committed, through internships, prizes, and educational programming, to cultivating a vibrant and welcoming community of booksellers and book buyers; and

Whereas the ABAA continues to innovate and adapt, searching for new ways to expand and serve the evolving community of collectors: Now, therefore, be it

That the Senate—

(1)

recognizes and celebrates the 75th anniversary of the establishment of the Antiquarian Booksellers’ Association of America; and

(2)

respectfully requests that the Secretary of the Senate transmit enrolled copies of this resolution to the president and executive director of the Antiquarian Booksellers' Association of America.