Bill Text: PA HR13 | 2009-2010 | Regular Session | Introduced

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Bill Title: Recognizing January 29, 2009, as "Thomas Paine Day" in Pennsylvania.

Spectrum: Bipartisan Bill

Status: (Passed) 2009-01-27 - Adopted [HR13 Detail]

Download: Pennsylvania-2009-HR13-Introduced.html

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PRINTER'S NO. 11
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
HOUSE RESOLUTION
No. 13 Session of2009
INTRODUCED BY DeWEESE, McCALL, BARRAR, BEAR, BEYER, BISHOP, BRENNAN, CALTAGIRONE, CAUSER, CLYMER, CONKLIN, D. COSTA, CREIGHTON, DeLUCA, DiGIROLAMO, DONATUCCI, ELLIS, FABRIZIO, FAIRCHILD, FRANKEL, FREEMAN, GABLER, GEORGE, GIBBONS, GODSHALL, GRELL, GRUCELA, HARHART, HARPER, HELM, HENNESSEY, HUTCHINSON, KILLION, KIRKLAND, KORTZ, KOTIK, KULA, MAHONEY, MAJOR, MANDERINO, MANN, MARSHALL, McGEEHAN, McILVAINE SMITH, MENSCH, METZGAR, MILLARD, MILLER, MOUL, MUSTIO, M. O'BRIEN, O'NEILL, PARKER, PAYNE, PICKETT, PYLE, QUINN, READSHAW, ROCK, ROEBUCK, ROHRER, ROSS, SAINATO, SANTARSIERO, SANTONI, SAYLOR, SIPTROTH, STABACK, STEVENSON, SWANGER, VULAKOVICH, WHITE, YOUNGBLOOD, YUDICHAK, HESS AND PASHINSKI, JANUARY 26, 2009
INTRODUCED AS NONCONTROVERSIAL RESOLUTION UNDER RULE 35, JANUARY 26, 2009
A RESOLUTION
Recognizing January 29, 2009, as "Thomas Paine Day" in
Pennsylvania.
WHEREAS, Thomas Paine was a leader of the American
Revolution, one of the Founding Fathers, a peer of George
Washington, James Madison, Benjamin Franklin and Thomas
Jefferson, and he was also one of the most brilliant political
philosophers of his time; and
WHEREAS, Thomas Paine advocated for and advanced the cause
for the American Colonies' independence from Great Britain in
1776 with his famous essay "Common Sense" and influenced the
wording of the Declaration of Independence; and
WHEREAS, Thomas Paine supported the American Revolution
through personal service, his fortune and his inspirational
Crisis Papers, which General George Washington ordered to be
read aloud to his soldiers, which began with the immortal words
"these are the times that try men's souls"; and
WHEREAS, Thomas Paine was among the first to promote
universal and equal education for boys and girls, the abolition
of slavery, the rights of workers, a basic minimum income,
equality for women and religious freedom; and
WHEREAS, Thomas Paine emigrated from Great Britain to
Philadelphia at the invitation of Benjamin Franklin in November
1774 and left a lasting effect on this Commonwealth; and
WHEREAS, Thomas Paine also contributed to the Pennsylvania
Constitution of 1776, which, at the time, was considered radical
and controversial in that it proclaimed in detail the rights of
citizens, drastically reduced the executive branch and expanded
the voting franchise to all taxpaying free men; and
WHEREAS, Thomas Paine was also an intellectual leader in the
French Revolution with his famous essays "The Rights of Man" in
1791 and "The Age of Reason" in 1794; and
WHEREAS, His life and work continue to inspire those who seek
liberty and democracy all over the world; therefore be it
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives recognize January
29, 2009, as "Thomas Paine Day" in Pennsylvania, in honor of
Thomas Paine's indelible contributions to our liberty and
republican form of government; and be it further
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives urge all citizens
and elementary and secondary schools to commemorate the life and
service of Thomas Paine and to observe that day with appropriate
honors and ceremonies.
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