1997 US Code
Title 36 - PATRIOTIC SOCIETIES AND OBSERVANCES
CHAPTER 9 - NATIONAL OBSERVANCES
Sec. 169j - Martin Luther King, Jr., Federal legal holiday

The Congress finds that—

(1) January 20, 1986, marks the first observance of the Federal legal holiday, established by Public Law 98–144, honoring the birthday of Martin Luther King, Jr.;

(2) such holiday should serve as a time for Americans to reflect on the principles of racial equality and nonviolent social change espoused by Martin Luther King, Jr.; and

(3) it is appropriate for the Federal Government to coordinate efforts with Americans of diverse backgrounds and with private organizations in the observance of the Federal legal holiday honoring Martin Luther King, Jr.

(Pub. L. 98–399, §1, Aug. 27, 1984, 98 Stat. 1473; Pub. L. 101–30, §2(b)(1), May 17, 1989, 103 Stat. 60.)

Public Law 98–144, referred to in par. (1), is Pub. L. 98–144, Nov. 2, 1983, 97 Stat. 917, which amended section 6103 of Title 5, Government Organization and Employees, and enacted provisions set out as a note under section 6103 of Title 5. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see Tables.

1989—Par. (3). Pub. L. 101–30 struck out “first” before “observance”.

Pub. L. 103–304, §1, Aug. 23, 1994, 108 Stat. 1565, provided that: “This Act [enacting sections 169j–9 and 169j–10 of this title, amending sections 169j–2, 169j–3, and 169j–5 to 169j–8 of this title and sections 4953, 5024, 12591, 12602, 12615, 12619, 12622, 12651d, 12653, and 12655n of Title 42, The Public Health and Welfare, and enacting provisions set out as notes under section 169j–5 of this title and section 4953 of Title 42] may be cited as the ‘King Holiday and Service Act of 1994’.”

Section 1 of Pub. L. 101–30 provided that: “This Act [amending this section and sections 169j–2 to 169j–8 of this title and enacting provisions set out as notes under sections 169j–3 and 169j–8 of this title] may be cited as the ‘Martin Luther King, Jr., Federal Holiday Commission Extension Act’.”