[Congressional Bills 111th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 170 Introduced in House (IH)]

111th CONGRESS
  1st Session
H. RES. 170

 Recognizing the sesquicentennial of the admission of Oregon into the 
   Union and the contributions of Oregon residents to the economic, 
         social, and cultural development of the United States.


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                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                           February 13, 2009

 Mr. DeFazio (for himself, Mr. Walden, Mr. Blumenauer, Mr. Wu, and Mr. 
Schrader) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the 
              Committee on Oversight and Government Reform

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
 Recognizing the sesquicentennial of the admission of Oregon into the 
   Union and the contributions of Oregon residents to the economic, 
         social, and cultural development of the United States.

Whereas Oregon residents will celebrate February 14, 2009, as the 150th 
        anniversary of Oregon's admission into the Union;
Whereas Oregon was the 33d State to be admitted to the Union and is known as 
        ``The Beaver State'' because of the association of beavers with the 
        early history of the State and because of this animal's admirable 
        qualities of intelligence, industry, and ingenuity;
Whereas Oregon was the final destination of the Lewis and Clark Expedition and 
        of the Oregon Trail, the longest of the overland routes used in the 
        westward expansion of the United States;
Whereas Oregon is blessed with unparalleled natural beauty and provides endless 
        recreational opportunities with 2,373,614 acres of wilderness, 362 miles 
        of coastline, 30 mountain peaks over 9,000 feet, including Mt. Hood, the 
        most climbed glaciated peak in North America, Hells Canyon, the deepest 
        river gorge in North America, Crater Lake National Park, which contains 
        the deepest and clearest lake in the United States, the Oregon Dunes 
        National Recreation Area, which is the largest expanse of coastal sand 
        dunes in North America, over 26 million acres of expansive high deserts, 
        hundreds of waterfalls, the Oregon Caves National Monument, Newberry 
        National Volcanic Monument, over 50 rivers listed as ``Wild and 
        Scenic'', and the Columbia River Gorge, the only national scenic area in 
        the United States;
Whereas Oregon has a long and rich Native American history and is home to 9 
        federally recognized Native American Tribes;
Whereas Oregon's rich volcanic soils, warm days, and cool nights provide ideal 
        growing conditions to allow innovative farmers, ranchers, and nursery 
        producers to grow and raise one of the most diverse agriculture bounties 
        in the world, including nursery and greenhouse plants, cattle, dairy, 
        wheat, Christmas trees, cover seed crops, peppermint, cherries, apples, 
        blackberries, boysenberries, loganberries, black raspberries, hazelnuts, 
        potatoes, onions, and green peas, among others, and have made Oregon a 
        pioneer in the adoption of organic standards;
Whereas Oregon's official State fruit, the pear, is known internationally for 
        its unsurpassed quality, delicious taste, and health benefits;
Whereas Oregon's bountiful natural resources have allowed its forests to provide 
        lumber for millions of homes and its waters to produce a diverse fishing 
        industry;
Whereas Oregon's vast public and private lands have provided and continue to 
        provide grass for raising grass-fed cattle, fiber from the harvest of 
        timber, clean water for our towns and cities, minerals for medical and 
        construction materials, and open space for many types of recreation;
Whereas Oregon has over 300 wineries in 15 regions making wines from 72 grape 
        varieties, a dairy industry that produces award winning cheeses, and is 
        the craft brew capital of the world;
Whereas Oregon has been a pioneer in sustainable practices, being the first 
        State to add bottle deposits to increase recycling, the first State to 
        make all its beaches public, and the first State to pass landmark land 
        use planning legislation, requiring every city and county to develop a 
        comprehensive plan for land use;
Whereas Oregon is home to over 50 colleges and universities, which have made 
        significant contributions to the economic health and the intellectual 
        life of the State and the Nation;
Whereas Oregon's proud sports tradition includes numerous national collegiate 
        champions in a wide range of sports, as well as many renowned individual 
        sports legends, including Steve Prefontaine, Danny Ainge, Bill Bowerman, 
        Tiffeny Millbrett, Jacoby Ellsbury, and Dan Fouts;
Whereas creative Oregonians have launched great business and technological 
        innovations, from the world's first triggered oscilloscope to the 
        computer mouse to the waffle sole; and
Whereas Oregon's interwoven cultural and ethnic heritage animates the spirit of 
        the people of Oregon and enriches Oregon's communities, and the quality 
        of life of its residents is both a tribute to, and representative of, 
        the Nation's diversity: Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved, That the House of Representatives recognizes--
            (1) the sesquicentennial of the admission of Oregon into 
        the Union; and
            (2) the residents of Oregon for their important 
        contributions to the economic, social, and cultural development 
        of the United States.
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