A joint resoulution designating the Civil War Center at Louisiana State University as the United States Civil War Center, making the center the flagship institution for planning the sesquicentennial commemoration of the Civil War, and for other purpoes.

Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 397.

Congressional Research Service

Official summary

Version 01 · Reported to Senate with amendment(s) · May 9, 1996

Designates the Civil War Center located on Raphael Semmes Drive at Louisiana State University in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, as the United States Civil War Center. Makes the Center and the Civil War Institute of Gettysburg College located at 233 North Washington Street in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, the flagship institutions for planning the sesquicentennial commemoration of the Civil War.

Read the summary on Congress.gov

PlainBill analysis is coming later. This page presents official source data. We have not yet published a PlainBill explanation for this bill.

People & committees

Who introduced it

Sen. Breaux, John B. [D-LA] · D–LA

Committees

Energy and Natural Resources Committee

3 cosponsorship records, including any withdrawals

Legislative record

Actions

A procedural vote is different from passage. Passage in one chamber does not establish enactment. Explore the glossary.

May 9, 1996
Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 397.
May 9, 1996
Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. Reported to Senate by Senator Murkowski with an amendment in the nature of a substitute and an amended preamble. With written report No. 104-263.
May 9, 1996
Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. Reported to Senate by Senator Murkowski with an amendment in the nature of a substitute and an amended preamble. With written report No. 104-263.
May 1, 1996
Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. Ordered to be reported with an amendment in the nature of a substitute favorably.
Mar 21, 1996
Subcommittee on Parks, Preservation and Recreation. Hearings held.
Mar 20, 1996
Committee on Energy and Natural Resources requested executive comment from Department of the Interior, and Office of Management and Budget.
Mar 5, 1996
Committee on Energy and Natural Resources requested executive comment from Department of the Interior, and Office of Management and Budget.
Nov 3, 1995
Referred to Subcommittee on Parks, Preservation and Recreation.
Nov 2, 1995
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
Nov 2, 1995
Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S16629)
Nov 2, 1995
Introduced in Senate

Primary sources

Bill text & related measures

Text links open the official source. We currently store references to these documents.

Reported to Senate · May 9, 1996 Formatted Text PDF
Introduced in Senate · Nov 2, 1995 Formatted Text PDF

Related bills identified by Congress.gov

No related bills are listed in this snapshot. This does not establish whether the proposal has appeared in earlier Congresses.

Source last updated: Sep 8, 2026. Consult Congress.gov for the current record.

AI Conversation Starters

Explore the bill from different angles

Choose a perspective, copy a prompt, and paste it into your preferred AI. Each prompt includes the bill version and available official source links, and asks for counterarguments as well as supporting evidence.

Neutral evidence review

Objective

Analyze S.J.Res.42 as objectively as possible. Explain its main provisions, who would be affected, possible benefits and harms, implementation, exceptions, and uncertainties. Present the strongest arguments for and against it, and identify evidence needed to assess its public impact.

View full prompt & sources

Discuss S.J.Res.42, 104th Congress: A joint resoulution designating the Civil War Center at Louisiana State University as the United States Civil War Center, making the center the flagship institution for planning the sesquicentennial commemoration of the Civil War, and for other purpoes.

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/104th-congress/senate-joint-resolution/42

Text version to examine: Reported to Senate · 1996-05-09.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/104/bills/sjres42/BILLS-104sjres42rs.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2026-09-08T18:09:59Z. Verify current status and distinguish any later version from the version above.

Read the official text before answering. If you cannot access it, say so and ask me to provide it; do not assume a link means you have read the document. Distinguish proposals from enacted law, cite sources, and separate facts, interpretation, and uncertain predictions. Include counterarguments even when using a particular perspective.

Analyze S.J.Res.42 as objectively as possible. Explain its main provisions, who would be affected, possible benefits and harms, implementation, exceptions, and uncertainties. Present the strongest arguments for and against it, and identify evidence needed to assess its public impact.

Fairness and public impact

Progressive lens

Examine S.J.Res.42 through a progressive lens, focusing on fairness, access, economic inequality, and effects on vulnerable communities. Explain potential benefits, costs, and unintended consequences. Consider the strongest counterarguments and distinguish stated goals from demonstrated outcomes.

View full prompt & sources

Discuss S.J.Res.42, 104th Congress: A joint resoulution designating the Civil War Center at Louisiana State University as the United States Civil War Center, making the center the flagship institution for planning the sesquicentennial commemoration of the Civil War, and for other purpoes.

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/104th-congress/senate-joint-resolution/42

Text version to examine: Reported to Senate · 1996-05-09.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/104/bills/sjres42/BILLS-104sjres42rs.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2026-09-08T18:09:59Z. Verify current status and distinguish any later version from the version above.

Read the official text before answering. If you cannot access it, say so and ask me to provide it; do not assume a link means you have read the document. Distinguish proposals from enacted law, cite sources, and separate facts, interpretation, and uncertain predictions. Include counterarguments even when using a particular perspective.

Examine S.J.Res.42 through a progressive lens, focusing on fairness, access, economic inequality, and effects on vulnerable communities. Explain potential benefits, costs, and unintended consequences. Consider the strongest counterarguments and distinguish stated goals from demonstrated outcomes.

Institutions and government scope

Conservative lens

Examine S.J.Res.42 through a conservative lens, focusing on fiscal responsibility, institutional stability, federalism, and the scope of government. Explain potential benefits, costs, and unintended consequences. Consider the strongest counterarguments and any provisions that challenge this perspective.

View full prompt & sources

Discuss S.J.Res.42, 104th Congress: A joint resoulution designating the Civil War Center at Louisiana State University as the United States Civil War Center, making the center the flagship institution for planning the sesquicentennial commemoration of the Civil War, and for other purpoes.

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/104th-congress/senate-joint-resolution/42

Text version to examine: Reported to Senate · 1996-05-09.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/104/bills/sjres42/BILLS-104sjres42rs.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2026-09-08T18:09:59Z. Verify current status and distinguish any later version from the version above.

Read the official text before answering. If you cannot access it, say so and ask me to provide it; do not assume a link means you have read the document. Distinguish proposals from enacted law, cite sources, and separate facts, interpretation, and uncertain predictions. Include counterarguments even when using a particular perspective.

Examine S.J.Res.42 through a conservative lens, focusing on fiscal responsibility, institutional stability, federalism, and the scope of government. Explain potential benefits, costs, and unintended consequences. Consider the strongest counterarguments and any provisions that challenge this perspective.

Individual rights and government power

Liberty lens

Examine S.J.Res.42 through a civil-liberties and limited-government lens. Consider individual rights, privacy, voluntary choice, accountability, and government power. Explain tradeoffs, possible safeguards, and the strongest counterarguments without assuming the proposal is beneficial or harmful.

View full prompt & sources

Discuss S.J.Res.42, 104th Congress: A joint resoulution designating the Civil War Center at Louisiana State University as the United States Civil War Center, making the center the flagship institution for planning the sesquicentennial commemoration of the Civil War, and for other purpoes.

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/104th-congress/senate-joint-resolution/42

Text version to examine: Reported to Senate · 1996-05-09.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/104/bills/sjres42/BILLS-104sjres42rs.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2026-09-08T18:09:59Z. Verify current status and distinguish any later version from the version above.

Read the official text before answering. If you cannot access it, say so and ask me to provide it; do not assume a link means you have read the document. Distinguish proposals from enacted law, cite sources, and separate facts, interpretation, and uncertain predictions. Include counterarguments even when using a particular perspective.

Examine S.J.Res.42 through a civil-liberties and limited-government lens. Consider individual rights, privacy, voluntary choice, accountability, and government power. Explain tradeoffs, possible safeguards, and the strongest counterarguments without assuming the proposal is beneficial or harmful.