[Congressional Bills 108th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 296 Introduced in House (IH)]







108th CONGRESS
  1st Session
H. RES. 296

    Recognizing the 100th anniversary of the founding of the Harley-
   Davidson Motor Company, which has been a significant part of the 
 social, economic, and cultural heritage of the United States and many 
    other nations and a leading force for product and manufacturing 
                innovation throughout the 20th century.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                             June 24, 2003

Mr. Kleczka (for himself, Mr. Obey, Mr. Sensenbrenner, Ms. Baldwin, Mr. 
  Petri, Mr. Kind, Mr. Ryan of Wisconsin, Mr. Green of Wisconsin, Mr. 
Platts, Mr. Graves, Mr. Dingell, Mr. LaTourette, Mr. Davis of Illinois, 
Mr. Rogers of Alabama, Mr. Franks of Arizona, Mr. Gibbons, and Mr. Sam 
    Johnson of Texas) submitted the following resolution; which was 
            referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
    Recognizing the 100th anniversary of the founding of the Harley-
   Davidson Motor Company, which has been a significant part of the 
 social, economic, and cultural heritage of the United States and many 
    other nations and a leading force for product and manufacturing 
                innovation throughout the 20th century.

Whereas in 1903, boyhood friends, hobby designers, and tinkerers William S. 
        Harley, then 21 years old, and Arthur Davidson, then 20 years old, 
        completed the design and manufacture of their first motorcycle, with 
        help from Arthur Davidson's brothers, Walter Davidson and William A. 
        Davidson;
Whereas, also in 1903, Harley and the Davidson brothers completed 2 additional 
        motorcycles in a makeshift ``factory'' shed in the Davidson family's 
        backyard at the corner of 38th Street and Highland Boulevard in 
        Milwaukee, Wisconsin;
Whereas the design features and construction quality of the early Harley-
        Davidson motorcycles proved significantly more innovative and durable 
        than most other motorcycles of the era, giving Harley-Davidson a 
        distinct competitive advantage;
Whereas in 1905, Walter Davidson won the first of many motorcycle competition 
        events, giving rise to a strong tradition of victory in motorcycle 
        racing that continues today;
Whereas in 1906, Harley-Davidson Motor Company constructed its first building, 
        financed by the Davidsons' uncle James McClay, on the site of the 
        Company's current world headquarters one block north of the Davidson 
        home site, and manufactured 50 motorcycles that year;
Whereas in 1907, Harley-Davidson Motor Company was incorporated and its 18 
        employees purchased shares;
Whereas in 1908, the first motorcycle for police duty was delivered to the 
        Detroit Police Department, beginning Harley-Davidson's long and close 
        relationship with law enforcement agencies;
Whereas in 1909, to enhance power and performance, Harley-Davidson added a 
        second cylinder to its motorcycle, giving birth to its hallmark 45-
        degree V-Twin configuration and the legendary Harley-Davidson sound;
Whereas during the years 1907 through 1913, manufacturing space at least doubled 
        every year, reaching nearly 300,000 square feet by 1914;
Whereas Arthur Davidson, during Harley-Davidson's formative years, set up a 
        worldwide dealer network that would serve as the focal point of the 
        company's ``close to the customer'' philosophy;
Whereas Harley-Davidson early in its history began marketing motorcycles as a 
        sport and leisure pursuit, thus laying the groundwork for long-term 
        prosperity;
Whereas in 1916, Harley-Davidson launched ``The Enthusiast'' magazine, which 
        today is the longest running continuously published motorcycle magazine 
        in the world;
Whereas also in 1916, Harley-Davidson motorcycles saw their first military duty 
        in skirmishes in border disputes along the United States border with 
        Mexico;
Whereas in World War I, Harley-Davidson supplied 17,000 motorcycles for dispatch 
        and scouting use by the Allied armed forces, and the first Allied 
        soldier to enter Germany after the signing of the Armistice was riding a 
        Harley-Davidson motorcycle;
Whereas by 1920, Harley-Davidson was the world's largest motorcycle 
        manufacturer, both in terms of floor space and production, with 
        continual engineering and design innovation;
Whereas during the Great Depression of the 1930s, the company survived when all 
        but 1 other domestic motorcycle manufacturer failed, on the strength of 
        its product quality, the loyalty of its employees, dealers, and 
        customers, steady police and commercial business, and a growing 
        international presence;
Whereas in 1936, Harley-Davidson demonstrated foresight, resolve, and faith in 
        the future by introducing the company's first overhead valve engine, the 
        ``Knucklehead'' as it would come to be known, on its Model EL 
        motorcycle, thus establishing the widely recognized classic Harley 
        Davidson look and the company's reputation for styling;
Whereas Harley-Davidson workers in 1937 elected to be represented by the United 
        Auto Workers of America, thus launching a proud tradition of working 
        with Harley-Davidson to further build the company through advocacy and 
        the development of effective programs and policies;
Whereas William H. Davidson, son of the late founder William A. Davidson, became 
        president of Harley-Davidson in 1942 and would lead the company until 
        1971;
Whereas Harley-Davidson built more than 90,000 motorcycles for United States and 
        Allied armed forces use during World War II, earning 4 Army-Navy ``E'' 
        Awards for excellence in wartime production;
Whereas Harley-Davidson, during the 1950s and 1960s, recharged its sales and 
        popularity with new models, including the Sportster and the Electra 
        Glide, new engines, and other technological advances;
Whereas the Company developed the concept of the ``factory custom'' motorcycle 
        with the 1971 introduction of the Super Glide and the 1977 Low Rider, 
        under the design leadership of William ``Willie G'' Davidson, vice 
        president of Styling and grandson of company founder William A. 
        Davidson;
Whereas since 1980, as a national corporate sponsor of the Muscular Dystrophy 
        Association, Harley-Davidson has raised more than $40,000,000 through 
        company, dealer, customer, and supplier contributions, to fund research 
        and health services;
Whereas in 1981, a group of 13 Harley-Davidson executives, led by chairman and 
        CEO Vaughn Beals purchased Harley-Davidson from its then corporate 
        parent AMF Incorporated;
Whereas by 1986, Harley-Davidson, against incredible odds, restored the 
        company's reputation for quality and innovation and returned the company 
        to vitality, thus ensuring a highly successful initial public stock 
        offering;
Whereas throughout the 1980s and 1990s, Harley-Davidson became a national role 
        model for positive labor-management relations, product innovation, 
        manufacturing quality and efficiency, and phenomenal growth;
Whereas President Ronald Reagan, President William J. Clinton, and President 
        George W. Bush all have visited Harley-Davidson manufacturing facilities 
        and extolled the example set by Harley Davidson through its practices;
Whereas the Harley Owners Group, with more than 800,000 members and 1,200 
        chapters worldwide, is celebrating its 20th anniversary year in 2003 as 
        a driving force in the company's heralded ``close to the customer'' 
        operating philosophy; and
Whereas Harley-Davidson Motor Company is today the world's leading seller of 
        large displacement (651 cc plus) motorcycles, with annual revenues in 
        excess of $4,000,000,000, annual motorcycle shipments in excess of 
        290,000 units, strong international sales, and 17 consecutive years of 
        annual revenue and earnings growth since becoming a publicly held 
        company: Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
            (1) recognizes the achievements of Harley-Davidson Motor 
        Company, widely regarded as a tremendous American business 
        success story and one of the top performing companies in 
        America, as its employees, retirees, suppliers, dealers, 
        customers, motorcycle enthusiasts, and friends worldwide 
        commemorate and celebrate its 100th anniversary milestone;
            (2) recognizes the great impact that Harley-Davidson has 
        had on the business, social, and cultural landscape and lives 
        of Americans and citizens of all nations, as a quintessential 
        icon of Americana; and
            (3) congratulates the Harley-Davidson Motor Company for 
        this achievement and trusts that Harley-Davidson will have an 
        even greater impact in the 21st century and beyond as a leading 
        force for innovative business practices and products that will 
        continue to provide enjoyment, transportation, and delight for 
        generations to come.
                                 <all>