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HR 376

COMMENDATIONS: Commends Pastor Joe R. Gant, Jr., for more than six decades of preaching the Gospel

2025 Regular Session Introduced by Joy Walters

H.R. 376 is a ceremonial resolution recognizing Reverend Dr. Prince Emanuel Yelder, HOPE AACR, and USPS employees for public service, with no legal or budget effect.

Taken by the Clerk of the House and presented to the Secretary of State in accordance with the Rules of the House.
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Bill Summary · HR 376

Summary — H.R. 376 (House Resolution)

Status: Introduced January 14, 2025; adopted by the House and presented to the Secretary of State (Clerk took the enrolled resolution to the Secretary of State on June 13, 2025).
Classification: House resolution (commemorative/recognition).
Note: The publicly available document appears to contain multiple, non‑uniform commemorative texts merged into one filing. See “Discrepancies” below.

Purpose and intent

H.R. 376 is a non‑binding, commemorative House resolution intended to recognize and commend individuals and organizations for public service and contributions to their fields. The materials filed under H.R. 376 include separate recognition texts rather than statutory or regulatory changes. The resolution does not appropriate funds or create enforceable legal obligations.

Key provisions (as contained in the filed material)

The introduced version contains three distinct recognition texts:

  1. Commendation for Reverend Dr. Prince Emanuel Yelder

    • Recognizes Dr. Yelder on his 45th anniversary in the gospel music industry.
    • Summarizes his career: began playing at age 13, collaborations with prominent gospel artists, appearances on national television (e.g., BET's Bobby Jones Gospel), recordings and productions (including Malaco label release), cross‑genre work combining classical and gospel music, international performances (Ireland, Korea, Japan, Switzerland — Victoria Hall, Geneva), ministerial licensure/ordination, and ongoing roles with several choirs and music ministries.
    • Expresses the House’s congratulations and appreciation for his contributions to gospel music and ministry.

  2. Recognition of HOPE AACR (Animal‑Assisted Crisis Response)

    • Recognizes HOPE AACR, a 501(c)(3) established in 2001, for providing animal‑assisted support during crises and disasters.
    • Notes the organization’s training standards (Incident Command System, First Aid/CPR for humans and canines, emotional first aid, trauma recognition) and partnerships with agencies (FEMA, American Red Cross, Volunteer Organizations Active in Disaster, local law enforcement and military units).
    • Cites deployments in response to named hurricanes and 2024 volunteer statistics (approximately 150 volunteer hours and ~1,200 meaningful interactions in the Southeast region).
    • Directs the Clerk of the House to make an appropriate copy of the resolution available for HOPE AACR.

  3. Commendation of United States Postal Service (USPS) employees

    • Commends USPS employees for their service to communities and historical contributions (references to Benjamin Franklin, innovations such as early telegraph and airmail service, and notable postal employees).
    • Affirms respect for postal workers’ role delivering mail, parcels, prescriptions, election mail, etc.
    • Calls for a suitable copy of the resolution to be presented to USPS leadership.

Who is affected

  • Reverend Dr. Prince Emanuel Yelder (honoree); the resolution publicly recognizes his career and service.
  • HOPE AACR and its volunteer handlers and crisis‑response canines (honorees); the resolution formally commends their disaster response work and authorizes the Clerk to provide them a copy.
  • Employees of the United States Postal Service (honorees); the resolution expresses commendation and requests presentation of a copy to USPS leadership.
  • No private rights, regulatory duties, or budgetary impacts are created.

Procedural timeline and actions

  • Introduced: 2025‑01‑14 (referred initially to House Committee on Natural Resources per the record).
  • Calendar and consideration: Placed on various calendars (Local & Consent, Congratulatory & Memorial), read and adopted in the House on several dates in Feb–Mar 2025.
  • Reported enrolled: 2025‑03‑14.
  • Read by title, rules suspended, adopted; enrolled and signed by the Speaker: 2025‑06‑12.
  • Enrolled copy presented to Secretary of State by House Clerk: 2025‑06‑13.

Discrepancies and recommended action

  • The bill header provided to you lists the title as “Commends Pastor Joe R. Gant, Jr., for more than six decades of preaching the Gospel,” but the text included in the official filing does not contain that commendation. Instead, it contains the three distinct recognition texts summarized above.
  • The filed material also contains references to different jurisdictions and templates (e.g., text indicating the “One Hundred Fourth General Assembly of the State of Illinois” and language referencing the Alabama House), suggesting portions of multiple resolutions were combined in the filing.
  • Sponsors listed in the record include many representatives from different states, and a companion S.90 is noted — further evidence of mixed or cross‑filed material.

Because the document appears to be a compilation of multiple commemorative resolutions or a misfiled package, verify the final enrolled text with the official legislative clerk’s office or the House legislative document repository to confirm which commemorations are included in the final enrolled resolution and the correct honoree(s).

Bottom line

H.R. 376, as filed and adopted, is a ceremonial House resolution that confers formal commendations and gratitude to specific individuals and organizations (notably Reverend Dr. Prince Emanuel Yelder, HOPE AACR, and USPS employees). It is symbolic, carries no legal or budgetary effect, and the publicly available version contains inconsistent and possibly merged texts — verification of the final enrolled document is advised.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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