WASHINGTON - The House this session has spent time honoring Geronimo, celebrating the Hollywood Walk of Fame's 50th anniversary, declaring country music a distinctly American art form and congratulating the Saratoga Race Course on its 142nd season.
But the days of lawmakers spending hours on such niceties are on the way out.
A leader of the House's new Republican majority intends to end the practice of lawmakers voting on such resolutions -- or at least dramatically scale it back.
Today's Republicans, imbued with a sense that Washington's priorities have become muddled, contend that most commemorations are a waste of floor time needed for more pressing matters.
"I do not suspect that Jefferson or Madison ever envisioned Congress honoring the 2,560th anniversary of the birth of Confucius or supporting the designation of National Pi Day," said Eric Cantor, R-Va., the next House majority leader. "I believe people want our time, energy and efforts focused on their priorities."
Defenders of the practice say the resolutions are a time-honored tradition that gives deserved recognition to individuals and groups while providing moments of bipartisan cheer in an otherwise divisive Capitol.
"Look, they're really important to people in our localities," said Rep. Bob Filner, D-Calif., who offered several resolutions this session, including one recognizing Filipino American History Month. "It doesn't cost us a lot of money. It's important for local pride."
Congress has been down this road before. When Newt Gingrich became House speaker in 1995 after a Republican landslide, he sought to ban resolutions designating special days, weeks and months -- like National Asparagus Month, Wine Appreciation Week and National Fragrance Week.