[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 172 (Thursday, November 2, 1995)]
[Senate]
[Pages S16629-S16630]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

      By Mr. BREAUX (for himself and Mr. Johnston):
  S.J. Res. 42. A joint resolution designating the Civil War Center at 
Louisiana State University as the U.S. Civil War Center, making the 
center the flagship institution for planning the sesquicentennial 
commemoration of the Civil War, and for other purposes; to the 
Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.


                 u.s. civil war center joint resolution

 Mr. BREAUX. Mr. President, today I am introducing a joint 
resolution on behalf of myself and Senator Johnston to designate the 
U.S. Civil War Center as the flagship institution charged with planning 
and facilitating the sesquicentennial of the American Civil War in 
2011.
  While the date may still seem far off, it is important to remember 
that this will be a particularly important anniversary as it will be 
the last opportunity for most of us to commemorate the Civil War. The 
Civil War Center at Louisiana State University in Baton Rouge, LA, 
offers the most appropriate setting for the organization of this 
remembrance. There is no other center in the United States that 
currently studies the war from the perspective of every conceivable 
discipline, profession, and occupation. The center will be able to 
coordinate with the numerous Civil War commemorative organizations 
throughout the Nation. Funding for the activities throughout the 
sesquicentennial will come from private donations and grants.
  Since the end of the commemoration of the centennial of the war in 
1965, the United States has come a long way toward healing some of the 
lingering wounds of the war. Recent events have emphasized that many of 
them still must be addressed, as racism, violence, and regional 
economics remain problems in our united Nation. If we are to continue 
to learn from our differences, the commemoration of the 
sesquicentennial offers the opportunity to reflect on where we once 
were and where we will next go.
  I urge my colleagues to join me in the designation of the U.S. Civil 
War Center as the flagship institution for the sesquicentennial.
  Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the text of the joint 
resolution and the letter of support from the center's advisory board 
be printed in the Record.
  There being no objection, the material was ordered to be printed in 
the Record, as follows:

                              S.J. Res. 42

       Whereas the sesquicentennial of the beginning of the Civil 
     War will occur in the year 2011;
       Whereas the sesquicentennial will be the last significant 
     opportunity for most Americans alive in the year 2011 to 
     recall and commemorate the Civil War;
       Whereas the Civil War Center at Louisiana State University 
     in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, 

[[Page S 16630]]

     has as principal missions to create a comprehensive database 
     that contains all Civil War materials and to facilitate the 
     study of the war from the perspectives of all ethnic cultures 
     and all professions, academic disciplines, and occupations;
       Whereas the 2 principal missions of Civil War Center are 
     consistent with the commemoration of the sesquicentennial; 
     and
       Whereas advance planning to facilitate the 4-year 
     commemoration of the sesquicentennial is required: Now, 
     therefore, be it
       Resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
     United States of America in Congress assembled,

     SECTION 1. DESIGNATION OF UNITED STATES CIVIL WAR CENTER.

       The Civil War Center, located on Raphael Semmes Drive at 
     Louisiana State University in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, shall 
     be known and designated as the ``United States Civil War 
     Center''.

     SEC. 2. REFERENCES.

       Any references in a law, map, regulation, document, paper, 
     or other record of the United States to the center referred 
     to in section 1 shall be deemed to be a reference to the 
     ``United States Civil War Center''.

     SEC. 3. FLAGSHIP INSTITUTION.

       The center referred to in section 1 shall be the flagship 
     institution for planning the sesquicentennial commemoration 
     of the Civil War.
                                                                    ____



                  u.s. civil war center advisory board

       Dear Senator: As members of the United States Civil War 
     Center's Advisory Board, we strongly encourage your 
     cosponsorship of Senator John Breaux's resolution to 
     designate the United States Civil War Center as the flagship 
     institution charged with planning and facilitating the 
     Sesquicentennial of the American Civil War in the years 2011-
     2015.
       The Civil War Center at Louisiana State University in Baton 
     Rouge, Louisiana, offers the most appropriate facility to 
     ensure that the commemoration embraces all of the 
     possibilities for an experience that will affect all 
     Americans profoundly and that will have longlasting effects.
       Knowing that we all have much to learn from the five years 
     our nation was at war with itself, we urge you to join 
     Senator Breaux in cosponsoring this resolution.
       Ed Bearss, Historian; Ken Burns, Florentine Films; William 
     C. Davis, Historian; Rita Dove, U.S. Poet Laureate and 
     Consultant to the Library of Congress; William Ferris, 
     Director, Center for the Study of South Culture.
       Shelby Foote, Novelist, Historian; Grady McWhitney, 
     Historian; T. Michael Parrish, Historian; R.E. Turner, 
     Chairman of the Board, Turner Broadcasting; Tom Wicker, 
     Novelist, Journalist.

                          ____________________