[Congressional Bills 108th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. Res. 167 Reported in Senate (RS)]
Calendar No. 230
108th CONGRESS
1st Session
S. RES. 167
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.
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IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
June 12, 2003
Mr. Campbell (for himself, Mr. Kohl, Mr. Allard, Mr. Santorum, Mr.
Bunning, Mr. DeWine, Mr. Feingold, Ms. Snowe, Ms. Stabenow, Mr.
Baucus, Mr. Cornyn, Mrs. Hutchison, Mr. Durbin, and Mr. Reid)
submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the
Committee on the JudiciaryYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY
July 24 (legislative day, July 21), 2003
Reported by Mr. Hatch, without amendment
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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 whereas 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 Senate--
(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.
Calendar No. 230
108th CONGRESS
1st Session
S. RES. 167
_______________________________________________________________________
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.
_______________________________________________________________________
July 24 (legislative day, July 21), 2003
Reported without amendment