[Congressional Bills 108th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Con. Res. 201 Introduced in House (IH)]






108th CONGRESS
  1st Session
H. CON. RES. 201

     Congratulating the Russian Federation and the citizens of St. 
    Petersburg on the 300th anniversary of the founding of the city.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                              May 22, 2003

    Mr. Weldon of Pennsylvania (for himself and Mr. Wilson of South 
  Carolina) submitted the following concurrent resolution; which was 
          referred to the Committee on International Relations

_______________________________________________________________________

                         CONCURRENT RESOLUTION


 
     Congratulating the Russian Federation and the citizens of St. 
    Petersburg on the 300th anniversary of the founding of the city.

Whereas on May 27, 1703, Peter the Great founded St. Petersburg;
Whereas May 27, 2003, is the 300th anniversary of the founding of St. 
        Petersburg;
Whereas during the course of the Northern War with Sweden in 1700, Russian 
        forces gradually moved from the Lake Ladoga region down the Neva River 
        to the Swedish fort of Nienchanz;
Whereas the Russians successfully gained control over the Neva river and on May 
        27, 1703, the St. Petersburg fortress was founded, officially founding 
        the city of St. Petersburg;
Whereas in 1712 the Russian capital was moved from Moscow to St. Petersburg;
Whereas in 1762 Catherine the Great assumed power after a coup d'etat and 
        transformed St. Petersburg into one of the cultural capitals of Europe;
Whereas under the patronage of Catherine the Great, the arts, science, trade, 
        and educational institutions flourished, and the Hermitage Museum was 
        created, the largest art gallery in Russia and among the largest and 
        most respected art museums in the world;
Whereas in 1914, during World War I, St. Petersburg was renamed to Petrograd, 
        and the city suffered through famine, frigid temperatures, and social 
        unrest only to emerge with a newfound patriotism and citywide pride;
Whereas in November 1917, Vladimir Lenin headed the Bolshevik revolution, 
        captured political power, and established a 73-year Communist regime, 
        later depriving the city of its status as the capital of Russia;
Whereas after the death of Vladimir Lenin in 1924 the name of the city was 
        changed to Leningrad representing the change to a Communist regime;
Whereas after emerging from years of bloody revolutions and a dramatic 
        population decrease, the once majestic city began a slow economic and 
        cultural recovery only to suffer under Joseph Stalin's regime;
Whereas on September 8, 1941, with the German army fully encircling Leningrad, 
        the 900-day Siege of Leningrad began and 2,887,000 heroic citizens of 
        the city suffered through a winter with no heating, no water supply, 
        almost no electricity, and very little food;
Whereas the 900-day siege ended after the death of more than 600,000 Russian 
        citizens; and
Whereas after decades of Communist rule, in the midst of the turmoil of 
        perestroika, the city was once again renamed St. Petersburg and began a 
        period of rebuilding, revitalization, and regrowth: Now, therefore, be 
        it
    Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate concurring), 
That Congress--
            (1) congratulates St. Petersburg on the 300th anniversary 
        of the city's founding;
            (2) recognizes the cultural and historical importance of 
        the city of St. Petersburg and expresses its gratitude toward 
        the city and its people;
            (3) expresses the deepest sympathy for the hardships that 
        the people of St. Petersburg have endured throughout its 300 
        years, and especially during the period of Communist 
        dictatorship; and
            (4) joins the citizens of St. Petersburg in commemorating 
        this important moment in history.
                                 <all>