[Congressional Record Volume 140, Number 27 (Friday, March 11, 1994)]
[Senate]
[Page S]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[Congressional Record: March 11, 1994]
From the Congressional Record Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

 
    RECOGNIZING OUTSTANDING SERVICE OF THE ARCHITECT OF THE CAPITOL

  Mr. MITCHELL. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate 
proceed to the consideration of Senate Resolution 188, a resolution 
submitted earlier today by Senators Moynihan and Warner to recognize 
the outstanding service of the Architect of the Capitol for the 
restoration of the Statue of Freedom; that the resolution and preamble 
be agreed to; that the motion to reconsider be laid on the table; and 
that any statements thereon appear in the Record at the appropriate 
place as though read.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  So the resolution (S. Res. 188) was agreed to.
  The preamble was agreed to.
  The resolution, with its preamble, is as follows:

                              S. Res. 188

       Whereas the Statue of Freedom Triumphant in Peace and War 
     has stood atop the tholos of the United States Capitol Dome 
     since December 2, 1863;
       Whereas the Statue of Freedom has served since its 
     installation as an object of great national pride and 
     inspiration;
       Whereas the Statue, modeled by the American sculptor Thomas 
     Crawford in Rome, and cast by Clark Mills in Northeast 
     Washington, D.C., using bronze made of zinc, Lake Superior 
     copper, and tin purchased in New York, was found after 
     inspection in 1988 to be suffering from rust and corrosion 
     and to be in need of repair;
       Whereas the plan developed by the Architect of the Capitol 
     for carrying out the necessary repairs required great skill 
     and expertise in historical restoration techniques as well as 
     extraordinary feats of engineering for the removal and 
     replacement of the Statue; and
       Whereas Members of Congress, residents of Washington, D.C., 
     and visitors watched with awe and appreciation as the 
     Architect's plan unfolded, accomplishing the removal, 
     restoration, and replacement of the Statue atop the Dome in 
     time for the 200 anniversary of the laying of the cornerstone 
     of the Capitol: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the Architect of the Capitol, the Honorable 
     George M. White, is recognized and commended for outstanding 
     service to the Capitol and to the Nation for successfully 
     restoring the original grandeur of the Statue of Freedom.
       Sec. 2. The Secretary shall transmit a copy of this 
     resolution to the Architect of the Capitol, the Honorable 
     George M. White.

  Mr. MOYNIHAN. Mr. President, I rise to submit a resolution 
recognizing and commending the Architect of the Capitol, the Honorable 
George M. White, for the restoration of the Statue of Freedom 
Triumphant in Peace and War in time for the 200th anniversary of the 
laying of the cornerstone of the Capitol. Since its installation atop 
the tholos of the U.S. Capitol dome on December 2, 1863, the Statue of 
Freedom has served as an object of great national pride and 
inspiration. Modeled by the American sculptor Thomas Crawford in Rome, 
and cast by Clark Mills in Northeast Washington, DC, using bronze made 
of zinc, Lake Superior copper, and tin purchased in New York, the 
statue was found in 1988 to be suffering from rust and corrosion and to 
be in need of repair. With considerable daring and devotion to duty, 
the Architect of the Capitol personally went to inspect the statue in 
situ, 270 feet above the ground. What he found there required him to 
act quickly to save the statue.
  The plan he developed for carrying out the necessary repairs required 
great skill and expertise in historical restoration techniques as well 
as extraordinary feats of engineering for the removal and replacement 
of the statue. Those up at dawn on May 9, 1993 watched in awe and 
admiration as the giant Skycrane helicopter removed the statue and laid 
it down before the east front. As the restoration work progressed over 
the summer, we were offered a splendid opportunity to see the statue 
close-up. But nothing could match the experience of watching the noble 
statue rise again on that lovely October day to her rightful place atop 
the dome. Nothing could be a more fitting cap to a celebration of the 
200th anniversary of laying the cornerstone of the Capitol than the 
replacement of the Statue of Freedom atop its peak.
  Mr. President, this is a resolution to recognize and comment the 
Architect of the Capitol, the Honorable George M. White, for the 
outstanding service he rendered to the Capitol and to the Nation by 
successfully restoring the grandeur of the Statue of Freedom atop the 
Capitol dome in time for that celebration, October 23, 1993.

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