00             CS FOR HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION NO. 9(STA)                                                              
01 Honoring the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence and                                    
02 celebrating the 250th birthday of the United States of America.                                                         
03 BE IT RESOLVED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF ALASKA:                                                               
04       WHEREAS the Declaration of Independence was signed in Philadelphia,                                             
05 Pennsylvania, on July 4, 1776, a date that signifies the founding of the United States of                               
06 America; and                                                                                                            
07 WHEREAS the 56 patriots who signed the Declaration of Independence are John                                           
08 Adams, Samuel Adams, Josiah Bartlett, Carter Braxton, Charles Carroll of Carrollton, Samuel                             
09 Chase, Abraham Clark, George Clymer, William Ellery, William Floyd, Benjamin Franklin,                                  
10 Elbridge Gerry, Button Gwinnett, Lyman Hall, John Hancock, Benjamin Harrison, John Hart,                                
11 Joseph Hewes, Thomas Heyward, Jr., William Hooper, Stephen Hopkins, Francis Hopkinson,                                  
12 Samuel Huntington, Thomas Jefferson, Francis Lightfoot Lee, Richard Henry Lee, Francis                                  
13 Lewis, Philip Livingston, Thomas Lynch, Jr., Thomas McKean, Arthur Middleton, Lewis                                     
14 Morris, Robert Morris, John Morton, Thomas Nelson, Jr., William Paca, Robert Treat Paine,                               
15 John Penn, George Read, Ceasar Rodney, George Ross, Dr. Benjamin Rush, Edward                                           
16 Rutledge, Roger Sherman, James Smith, Richard Stockton, Thomas Stone, George Taylor,                                    

01 Matthew Thornton, George Walton, William Whipple, William Williams, James Wilson, John                                  
02 Witherspoon, Oliver Wolcott, and George Wythe; and                                                                      
03 WHEREAS the Declaration of Independence outlines the founding principles of the                                       
04 United States of America by declaring "We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men                            
05 are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that                         
06 among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness"; and                                                        
07 WHEREAS the Declaration of Independence proclaimed timeless principles of                                             
08 profound significance to the history of the United States, including that all people are created                        
09 equal and endowed with certain inalienable rights, including life, liberty, and the pursuit of                          
10 happiness, and that a government derives its just powers from the consent of the governed;                              
11 and                                                                                                                     
12 WHEREAS the United States was founded on the principle of federalism, which                                           
13 emphasizes a decentralized system of government in which powers are divided between                                     
14 national and state governments, and fosters liberty, accountability, and responsiveness to local                        
15 communities; and                                                                                                        
16 WHEREAS the founding of the United States initiated a journey toward forming "a                                       
17 more perfect Union," marked by historic achievements, struggles, and progress in realizing                              
18 the nation's founding principles for all citizens; and                                                                  
19 WHEREAS signing the Declaration of Independence was a critical part of the                                            
20 Revolutionary War, which ended when the Treaty of Paris was signed on September 3, 1783,                                
21 and granted the United States of America independence from Great Britain; and                                           
22 WHEREAS the state has played a significant role in the history of the United States                                   
23 by contributing to the nation's development, culture, economy, and defense through the efforts                          
24 and sacrifices of the state's citizens; and                                                                             
25 WHEREAS the semiquincentennial of the United States offers a unique opportunity                                       
26 for the people of the state to reflect on a shared history, honor the diverse contributions of the                      
27 nation's citizens, and continually strive to create a more perfect union for future generations;                        
28 and                                                                                                                     
29 WHEREAS commemorative activities across the state will provide educational                                            
30 opportunities, foster civic engagement, encourage community participation, and strengthen                               
31 appreciation for the history, federalist principles, and foundational ideals on which both the                          

01 nation and this state were built; and                                                                                   
02 WHEREAS over the past 250 years there have been many efforts to expand the rights                                     
03 of all citizens to uphold that self-evident truth, including ending slavery, expanding voting                           
04 rights to women and citizens of all races, expanding civil rights for all citizens, pursuing equal                      
05 rights by ratifying the Equal Rights Amendment, continuing efforts to respect and                                       
06 acknowledge the Indigenous communities who, for thousands of years, have stewarded the                                  
07 land that comprises the United States, and much more; and                                                               
08       WHEREAS July 4, 2026, will be the 250th anniversary of the signing of the                                       
09 Declaration of Independence;                                                                                            
10 BE IT RESOLVED that the Alaska State Legislature honors the 250th anniversary of                                      
11 the Declaration of Independence and the 250th anniversary of the founding of the United                                 
12 States of America; and be it                                                                                            
13       FURTHER RESOLVED that the Alaska State Legislature encourages all citizens,                                     
14 communities, educational institutions, civic organizations, and businesses in the state                                 
15 to participate in commemorative events and activities that reflect on the nation's history,                             
16 celebrate the nation's achievements, and reaffirm a commitment to the ideals of liberty,                                
17 equality, federalism, and self-governance; and be it                                                                    
18 FURTHER RESOLVED that the Alaska State Legislature encourages educational                                             
19 institutions across the state to enhance civics education to ensure that future generations                             
20 understand the importance of active civic participation and the principles of federalism and                            
21 self-governance that protect liberty and promote a responsive government.