Martin Luther King, Jr. Day Speech Resources: Fact Sheet
Martin Luther King, Jr. Day Speech
Resources: Fact Sheet
Updated January 13, 2023
Congressional Research Service
https://crsreports.congress.gov
R44339
Martin Luther King, Jr. Day Speech Resources: Fact Sheet
Introduction
Martin Luther King, Jr. Day is a federal holiday observed annually on the third Monday in
January. It celebrates the life and legacy of Martin Luther King, Jr. in honor of his birthday and
achievements. The day is also referred to as the Martin Luther King, Jr. Federal Holiday; MLK
Day; Martin Luther King Day; the King Holiday; and the King Day of Service. In 2022, this
holiday is celebrated on January 17.
This guide assists congressional offices with work related to Martin Luther King, Jr. Day. It
contains links to legislation, CRS reports, sample speeches and remarks from the Congressional
Record, and presidential proclamations and remarks. It also contains links to additional
government resources and selected educational, cultural, and advocacy organizations.
History
On November 2, 1983, President Ronald Reagan signed legislation making the birthday of Dr.
Martin Luther King, Jr., a legal public holiday to be observed on the third Monday of every
January (P.L. 98-144). When President Bill Clinton signed the King Holiday and Service Act on
August 23, 1994 (P.L. 103-304), the holiday was designated as a day of community service,
interracial cooperation, and youth anti-violence initiatives.
President Ronald Reagan delivered the remarks “Message on the Observance of Martin Luther
King, Jr. Day” on January 14, 1986, and issued Proclamation 5431 on January 18, 1986, as part of
the first recognition of Martin Luther King, Jr. Day as a federal holiday.
Legislation
P.L. 98-144—Authorized Dr. King’s birthday to be a legal public holiday, on the third Monday in
January (97 Stat. 917; November 2, 1983).
P.L. 103-304—Authorized appropriations and amended existing statutes to support the planning
and performance of national service opportunities in conjunction with the legal holiday honoring
the birthday of Martin Luther King, Jr. (108 Stat. 1565; August 23, 1994).
Related CRS Reports
CRS Report R41990, Federal Holidays: Evolution and Current Practices, by Jacob R. Straus
CRS Report R43743, Monuments and Memorials Authorized and Completed Under the
Commemorative Works Act in the District of Columbia, by Jacob R. Straus
Sample Speeches and Recognitions
Elected officials often deliver speeches, make floor statements, issue press releases, or enter
Extensions of Remarks into the Congressional Record to recognize federal holidays and
observances. The following are some recent examples:
Representative Sheila Jackson Lee, “Honoring Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr,” remarks in the House
of Representatives, Congressional Record, vol. 168, no.8 (January 12, 2022), p. H75.
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Martin Luther King, Jr. Day Speech Resources: Fact Sheet
Senator Tim Scott, “Senator Scott Statement Celebrating Martin Luther King, Jr. Day,” (January
18, 2021). Retrieved from the official website of Senator Scott.
Representative Stacey Plaskett, “Congresswoman Stacey E. Plaskett Releases Statement in Honor
of Martin Luther King Jr. Day,” (January 17, 2021). Retrieved from the official website of
Representative Plaskett.
Senator Ben Cardin, “Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day,” remarks in the Senate,
Congressional Record, vol. 166, no. 10 (January 16, 2020), S271-S272.
Representative Brenda Lawrence, “Honoring Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.,” remarks in the House
of Representatives, Congressional Record, vol. 166, no. 10 (January 16, 2020), p. H304.
Representative Jim Costa, “Commemorating Martin Luther King Jr. Day,” remarks in the House
of Representatives, Congressional Record, vol. 166, no. 9 (January 15, 2020), p. H245.
Representative Antonio Delgado, “Honoring Martin Luther King Jr. Day,” remarks in the House
of Representatives, Congressional Record, vol. 166, no. 9 (January 15, 2020), p. H252.
Representative Glenn Thompson, “Commemorating Martin Luther King Jr. Day,” remarks in the
House of Representatives, Congressional Record, vol. 165, no. 7 (January 14, 2019), p. H535.
Presidential Proclamations and Remarks
One of the many uses of a presidential proclamation is to ceremoniously honor a group or call
attention to certain issues or events. Some recent Martin Luther King, Jr. Day proclamations
include
Presidential Proclamations, Compilation of Presidential Documents—Joseph R. Biden (2022)
Presidential Proclamations, Compilation of Presidential Documents—Donald J. Trump (2018-
2021)
Presidential Proclamations, Compilation of Presidential Documents—Barack H. Obama (2010-
2017)
Presidential Proclamations, Compilation of Presidential Documents—George W. Bush (2002-
2009)
Presidential Proclamations, Compilation of Presidential Documents—William J. Clinton (1994-
2001)
Presidential Proclamations, Compilation of Presidential Documents—George H. W. Bush (1993)
Presidential proclamations and remarks from 1993 to the present are available through the
govinfo service on the Government Publishing Office website. Earlier remarks (including
selected audio and video clips) are available through The American Presidency Project,
established by the University of California, Santa Barbara.
Government Resources
Architect of the Capitol’s Bust of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., in the Rotunda
The Corporation for National and Community Service (AmeriCorps), Martin Luther King, Jr.
Day of Service
The National Archives of New York City, Martin Luther King, Jr.
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Martin Luther King, Jr. Day Speech Resources: Fact Sheet
U.S. Department of the Interior, National Park Service, Birthday of Martin Luther King, Jr.
A Man to Remember: Commemorating Martin Luther King, Jr. (Teaching with the Library of
Congress, January 10, 2017), Dr. King Remembered (Folklife Today, January 16, 2017), and
Music for MLK Day (In the Muse, January 18, 2020)—Library of Congress blog posts that
provide information about the Library of Congress’s collections and teaching resources on the
civil rights era and Dr. King, and links to related Library of Congress blog posts and online
exhibits.
Prints and Photographs Online Catalog—Prints and photos of or related to Dr. King in the
collection of the Prints and Photographs Division, Library of Congress.
Educational, Cultural, and Advocacy Organizations
The King Center—The Martin Luther King, Jr. Center for Nonviolent Social Change (“The King
Center”) was established in 1968 by Mrs. Coretta Scott King in Atlanta, GA. The website
provides access to the digital archive that houses the works and papers of Dr. King.
Morehouse College Martin Luther King Jr. Collection—Provides information about Morehouse
College’s collection of the personal books and papers of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. The Office of
the Morehouse College King Collection establishes programming and community outreach
initiatives that highlight the teachings and philosophy of Dr. King.
Spotlight: Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.—A collection of archival materials from the Smithsonian
Museums that document Dr. King’s life and work.
Martin Luther King, Jr. Research and Education Institute (Stanford University)—A collection of
facts, resources, primary documents, multimedia, and recommended readings.
Martin Luther King, Jr.—Biographical information and selected readings from the official
website of the Nobel Prize.
Author Information
Devon Galena
Reference and Digital Services Librarian
Acknowledgments
The fact sheet was previously updated by Valerie Cervantes, Senior Knowledge Services Librarian.
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Martin Luther King, Jr. Day Speech Resources: Fact Sheet
Disclaimer
This document was prepared by the Congressional Research Service (CRS). CRS serves as nonpartisan
shared staff to congressional committees and Members of Congress. It operates solely at the behest of and
under the direction of Congress. Information in a CRS Report should not be relied upon for purposes other
than public understanding of information that has been provided by CRS to Members of Congress in
connection with CRS’s institutional role. CRS Reports, as a work of the United States Government, are not
subject to copyright protection in the United States. Any CRS Report may be reproduced and distributed in
its entirety without permission from CRS. However, as a CRS Report may include copyrighted images or
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copy or otherwise use copyrighted material.
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