Overview
Title
To amend title 5, United States Code, to establish St. Patrick’s Day as a Federal holiday.
ELI5 AI
H. R. 2119 wants to make St. Patrick's Day a special day when many people don't have to go to work, just like Christmas or the Fourth of July. This idea might cost more money, and it's not clear why this day should be so special.
Summary AI
H. R. 2119 proposes to amend title 5 of the United States Code to designate St. Patrick's Day as an official Federal holiday. The bill suggests adding St. Patrick’s Day to the list of recognized Federal holidays in Section 6103(a) of the United States Code. This change would place St. Patrick’s Day alongside other established Federal holidays.
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AnalysisAI
Summary of the Bill
The proposed legislation, titled the “St. Patrick’s Day Act,” seeks to amend existing United States law, specifically Section 6103(a) of title 5 of the United States Code, to officially recognize St. Patrick’s Day as a federal holiday. If enacted, St. Patrick's Day would be listed after Washington’s Birthday in the current list of federal holidays. The legislative journey for this bill began with its introduction by Mr. Fitzpatrick in the House of Representatives, and it has been referred to the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform.
Significant Issues
One of the primary issues associated with this proposed bill is the potential increase in federal spending. This increase could arise from providing federal employees with paid leave and the necessity to pay overtime or additional expenses related to the observance of this new holiday. Without a clear justification or rationale provided within the bill, it's not only unclear why St. Patrick’s Day is being proposed as a federal holiday, but it also raises concerns of favoritism towards cultural groups traditionally associated with this celebration. Moreover, the bill lacks an analysis of the potential economic or operational impacts that the introduction of this new holiday might have on businesses, government operations, or employees. Lastly, there is no discussion about how the observance of this holiday might vary significantly across different regions or demographics within the United States.
Broad Public Impact
For the general public, the change would mean that St. Patrick’s Day becomes a recognized federal holiday, which typically signifies a day off for federal employees and possibly changes in the operations of schools and businesses. While some members of the public might appreciate the additional time for cultural or familial celebrations, others might question the necessity of creating a new federal holiday without substantial justification.
Impact on Stakeholders
The potential impacts on stakeholders are varied. Federal employees might benefit from an additional day off, enjoying paid leave without using personal vacation time. However, this could lead to increased costs for federal agencies and, by extension, taxpayers, due to the need to pay for this holiday leave. For private businesses, especially those that don't normally observe St. Patrick’s Day as a holiday, the impact might be in adjusting operations or reconciling any increased demands for time off.
Furthermore, by not addressing regional or cultural differences in the observance of St. Patrick’s Day, the bill could negatively impact those regions where the day is not traditionally celebrated, leading to discontent or perceived cultural imposition. Conversely, stakeholders who celebrate St. Patrick's Day as a significant cultural event may view this legislative proposal as an important acknowledgment of their cultural heritage.
In summary, while the proposed amendment to make St. Patrick’s Day a federal holiday might be welcomed by some communities, it raises critical questions regarding its financial impact, necessity, and the broader societal implications of adding another federal holiday to the existing calendar.
Issues
The designation of St. Patrick's Day as a federal holiday, as outlined in Section 2, could lead to increased federal spending due to paid leave, overtime, or other related expenses without clear justification, which might be significant to taxpayers.
The text lacks a clear rationale or justification for why St. Patrick's Day should be included as a federal holiday (Section 2), potentially leading to perceptions of favoritism towards cultural groups associated with the holiday.
Section 2 lacks details on potential economic or operational impacts of adding St. Patrick's Day as a federal holiday, which may affect businesses, government operations, or employees, and this omission could be important in assessing the full effects of the bill.
There is no discussion in Section 2 about how the amendment might affect various regions or demographics differently regarding the observance of St. Patrick's Day across the United States, which could pose legal or cultural challenges.
Sections
Sections are presented as they are annotated in the original legislative text. Any missing headers, numbers, or non-consecutive order is due to the original text.
1. Short title Read Opens in new tab
Summary AI
This section gives the short title of the Act, which is “St. Patrick’s Day Act.”
2. St. Patrick’s Day Read Opens in new tab
Summary AI
The bill proposes to amend Section 6103(a) of title 5 of the United States Code to officially recognize St. Patrick’s Day as a federal holiday, placing it after Washington’s Birthday in the list of holidays.