[Congressional Bills 111th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. Con. Res. 41 Agreed to Senate (ATS)]

111th CONGRESS
  1st Session
S. CON. RES. 41

Providing for the acceptance of a statue of Helen Keller, presented by 
                         the people of Alabama.


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                           September 23, 2009

   Mr. Sessions (for himself and Mr. Shelby) submitted the following 
       concurrent resolution; which was considered and agreed to

_______________________________________________________________________

                         CONCURRENT RESOLUTION


 
Providing for the acceptance of a statue of Helen Keller, presented by 
                         the people of Alabama.

Whereas Helen Keller was born in Tuscumbia, Alabama on June 27, 1880, and at the 
        age of 19 months lost her sight and hearing as a result of meningitis;
Whereas Helen was liberated from the ``double dungeon of darkness and silence'' 
        by her teacher, Anne Sullivan, when she discovered language and 
        communication at the water pump when she was 7 years old;
Whereas Helen enrolled in Radcliffe College in 1900 and graduated cum laude in 
        1904 to become the first deaf and blind college graduate;
Whereas Helen's life served as a model for all people with disabilities in 
        America and worldwide;
Whereas Helen became friends with many American Presidents and was the recipient 
        of some of our Nation's most distinguished honors;
Whereas Helen became recognized as one of Alabama's and America's best known 
        figures and became ``America's Goodwill Ambassador to the World'';
Whereas Helen pioneered the concept of ``talking books'' for the blind;
Whereas LIFE Magazine hailed Helen as ``one of the 100 most important Americans 
        of the 20th Century--a national treasure''; and
Whereas Helen Keller will become the first person with disabilities enshrined in 
        the Capitol and will become an even greater inspiration for people with 
        disabilities worldwide: Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved by the Senate (the House of Representatives concurring), 
That--

SECTION 1. ACCEPTANCE OF HELEN KELLER, FROM THE PEOPLE OF ALABAMA, FOR 
              PLACEMENT IN THE CAPITOL.

    (a) In General.--The statue of Helen Keller, furnished by the 
people of Alabama for placement in the Capitol, in accordance with 
section 1814 of the Revised Statutes of the United States (2 U.S.C. 
2131), is accepted in the name of the United States, and the thanks of 
Congress are tendered to the people of Alabama for providing this 
commemoration of one of Alabama's most eminent personages.
    (b) Presentation Ceremony.--The State of Alabama is authorized to 
use the Rotunda of the Capitol on October 7, 2009, for a presentation 
ceremony for the statue. The Architect of the Capitol and the Capitol 
Police Board shall take such action as may be necessary with respect to 
physical preparations and security for the ceremony.
    (c) Display in Rotunda.--The Architect of the Capitol shall provide 
for the display of the statue accepted under this section in the 
Rotunda of the Capitol for a period of not more than 6 months, after 
which period the statue shall be displayed in the Capitol, in 
accordance with the procedures described in section 311(e) of the 
Legislative Branch Appropriations Act, 2001 (2 U.S.C. 2132(e)).

SEC. 2. TRANSMITTAL TO GOVERNOR OF ALABAMA.

    The Secretary of the Senate shall transmit an enrolled copy of this 
concurrent resolution to the Governor of Alabama.
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