What exactly happened in the Senate with the Charlie Kirk Day resolution

[Wiz Imp]

31. Not exactly correct.

There were actually 2 separate resolutions (not bills) pass by the Senate relating to Charlie Kirk. The first passed early last week denounced political violence and stated a couple (mostly) non-conroversial things about Kirk = that he was a devoted father, that he founded Turning Point USA and that he engaged in open debates with students on college campuses. It resolved to condemn the assassination and express condolences and sympathies to his family.

https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/senate-resolution/391/text

RESOLUTION
Condemning the assassination of Charlie Kirk and honoring his life and legacy.

Whereas Charlie Kirk was horrifically assassinated on September 10, 2025, at Utah Valley University while speaking to a large group of college students;

Whereas Charlie Kirk was a devoted husband, father, and Christian;

Whereas, in 2012, Charlie Kirk founded Turning Point USA, a conservative campus advocacy group that quickly became one of the fastest growing college campus chapter organizations in the country; and

Whereas Charlie Kirk frequently engaged college students of all political backgrounds in open debates and discussion, encouraging civil discourse on college campuses and among college students: Now, therefore, be it

Resolved, That the Senate—

(1) condemns the assassination of Charlie Kirk in the strongest possible terms;

(2) extends its deepest condolences and sympathies to Charlie Kirk’s family, including his wife, Erika, and their two young children; and

(3) honors Charlie Kirk’s commitment to the constitutional principles of civil discussion and debate between all people of the United States, regardless of political affiliation.

This also passed the Senate by unanimous consent though I'm not sure exactly when or who was in the Senate at the time. Democrats really shouldn't have had a major issue with this one.

Then on Thursday at 1:15, Rick Scott introduced the resolution to declare October 14, 2025 "A Day of remembrance for Charlie Kirk". This was the one that caused controversy in part because the media conflated it with the resolution the House voted on on Friday. Rick Scott's resolution is here:
https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/senate-resolution/403/text#:~:text=S.-,Res.,of%20Remembrance%20for%20Charlie%20Kirk%22.

RESOLUTION
Expressing support for the designation of October 14, 2025, as the “National Day of Remembrance for Charlie Kirk”.

Whereas Charlie Kirk was a champion of free speech, civil dialogue, and faith;

Whereas Mr. Kirk consistently promoted the values of individual liberty, open debate, the importance of civic engagement, and the defense of constitutional principles;

Whereas Charlie Kirk was recognized as one of the leading voices among young leaders in the United States, creating opportunities for civic education, fostering youth leadership, and promoting principles of liberty and democracy across the United States;

Whereas Charlie Kirk was the founder and executive director of Turning Point USA, a nonprofit organization of thousands of chapters across the United States dedicated to educating students about the principles of freedom, free markets, and limited government;

Whereas Charlie Kirk authored multiple national best-selling books, that engage readers in critical conversations about civics, culture, and the future of the United States;

Whereas, through Mr. Kirk's writing, public speaking, and media presence, Charlie Kirk reached millions of United States citizens, inspiring the next generation to become active participants in civic life;

Whereas Mr. Kirk's life’s work has contributed to strengthening public discourse, defending constitutional principles, and fostering active citizenship; and

Whereas Mr. Kirk's life work, especially his efforts to bring these American ideals to life on college campuses in the United States, cost him his life by means of an assassin's bullet on September 10, 2025: Now, therefore, be it

Resolved, That the Senate—

(1) supports the designation of October 14, 2025, as the “National Day of Remembrance for Charlie Kirk”;

(2) recognizes Charlie Kirk for his contributions to civic education and public service; and

(3) encourages educational institutions, civic organizations, and citizens across the United States to observe this day with appropriate programs, activities, prayers, and ceremonies that promote civic engagement and the principles of faith, liberty, and democracy that Charlie Kirk championed.

The House resolution did not include the day of remembrance but did include objectionable praise for Kirk. That is why 118 Democrats voted against this:
https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/house-resolution/719/text

In the House of Representatives, U. S.,
September 19, 2025.

Whereas Charles “Charlie” James Kirk, born October 14, 1993, was a courageous American patriot, whose life was tragically and unjustly cut short in an act of political violence on September 10, 2025, at Utah Valley University;

Whereas Charlie Kirk was a devoted Christian, who boldly lived out his faith with conviction, courage, and compassion;

Whereas Charlie Kirk was a dedicated husband to his beloved wife, Erika Kirk, and a loving father to their daughter and son, exemplifying the virtues of faith, fidelity, and fatherhood;

Whereas Charlie Kirk was a fierce defender of the American founding and its timeless principles of life, liberty, limited government, and individual responsibility;

Whereas Charlie Kirk, at 18 years old, founded Turning Point USA in 2012, a student movement with the mission to “identify, educate, train, and organize students to promote the principles of fiscal responsibility, free markets, and limited government”;

Whereas Charlie Kirk became one of the most prominent voices in America, engaging in respectful, civil discourse across college campuses, media platforms, and national forums, always seeking to elevate truth, foster understanding, and strengthen the Republic;

Whereas Charlie Kirk personified the values of the First Amendment, exercising his God-given right to speak freely, challenge prevailing narratives, and did so with honor, courage, and respect for his fellow Americans;

Whereas Charlie Kirk’s commitment to civil discussion and debate stood as a model for young Americans across the political spectrum, and he worked tirelessly to promote unity without compromising on conviction;

Whereas the assassination of Charlie Kirk was not only a heinous act of violence, but a sobering reminder of the growing threat posed by political extremism and hatred in our society;

Whereas such acts of politically motivated violence are antithetical to the principles of a free republic, in which differences of opinion are to be debated—not silenced—with civility, reason, and mutual respect;

Whereas the rise in targeted violence against individuals for their political beliefs undermines the very fabric of our constitutional democracy and chills the free exchange of ideas essential to a healthy civic society;

Whereas leaders at every level—government, education, media, and beyond—must stand united in unequivocal condemnation of political violence, regardless of their ideology;

Whereas the tragic loss of Charlie Kirk must not be allowed to deepen the divides in our Nation, but instead serve as a turning point to recommit ourselves to better angels, and to the timeless American principles of liberty governed by truth and the virtues of peaceful dialogue; and

Whereas Charlie Kirk would not have us respond to his death with despair, but rather with renewed purpose—to speak truth with courage, to stand firm in faith, to seek unity while standing firm in principle, and to serve as living reminders of the values he championed: faith, family, and freedom: Now, therefore, be it

Resolved, That the House of Representatives—

(1) condemns in the strongest possible terms the assassination of Charles “Charlie” James Kirk, and all forms of political violence;

(2) commends and honors the dedicated law enforcement and emergency personnel for their tireless efforts in finding the suspect responsible for the assassination of Charlie Kirk and urges the administration of swift justice to the suspect;

(3) extends its deepest condolences and sympathies to Charlie Kirk’s family, including his wife, Erika, and their two young children, and prays for comfort, peace, and healing in this time of unspeakable loss;

(4) honors the life, leadership, and legacy of Charlie Kirk, whose steadfast dedication to the Constitution, civil discourse, and Biblical truth inspired a generation to cherish and defend the blessings of liberty; and

(5) calls upon all Americans—regardless of race, party affiliation, or creed—to reject political violence, recommit to respectful debate, uphold American values, and respect one another as fellow Americans.