[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 84 (Monday, June 10, 1996)]
[House]
[Pages H6044-H6045]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 AUTHORIZING RUNNING OF 1996 SUMMER TORCH RELAY THROUGH CAPITOL GROUNDS

  Mr. GILCHREST. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to 
the concurrent resolution (H. Con. Res. 172) authorizing the 1996 
Summer Olympic Torch Relay to be run through the Capitol Grounds, and 
for other purposes.
  The Clerk read as follows:

                            H. Con. Res. 172

       Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate 
     concurring).

     SECTION 1. AUTHORIZATION OF RUNNING OF 1996 SUMMER OLYMPIC 
                   TORCH RELAY THROUGH CAPITOL GROUNDS.

       On June 20, 1996, or on such other date as the Speaker of 
     the House of Representatives and the President pro tempore of 
     the Senate may jointly designate, the 1996 Summer Olympic 
     Torch Relay may be run through the Capitol Grounds, and the 
     Olympic Torch may be displayed on the Capitol Grounds 
     overnight, as part of the ceremony of the Centennial Olympic 
     Games to be held in Atlanta, Georgia.

     SEC. 2. CONDITIONS.

       (a) In General.--The event authorized by section 1 shall be 
     free of admission charge to the public and arranged not to 
     interfere with the needs of Congress, under conditions to be 
     prescribed by the Architect of the Capitol and the Capitol 
     Police Board. The sponsor of the event shall assume full 
     responsibility for all expenses and liabilities incident to 
     all activities associated with the event.
       (b) Prohibition on Display of Advertisements.--The 
     Architect of the Capitol and the Capitol Police Board shall 
     take such actions as may be necessary to prohibit the display 
     of advertisements for commercial products or services during 
     the event. Such actions shall include measures to ensure that 
     advertisements are not displayed on any vehicle accompanying 
     runners in the Torch Relay.

     SEC. 3. STRUCTURES AND EQUIPMENT.

       For the purposes of this resolution, the sponsor of the 
     event authorized by section 1 may erect upon the Capitol 
     Grounds, subject to the approval of the Architect of the 
     Capitol, such structures and equipment as are necessary for 
     the event.

     SEC. 4. ADDITIONAL ARRANGEMENTS.

       The Architect of the Capitol and the Capitol Police Board 
     are authorized to make any additional arrangement that may be 
     required to carry out the event authorized by section 1.

     SEC. 5. LIMITATIONS ON REPRESENTATIONS.

       A commercial sponsor of the 1996 Summer Olympic Torch Relay 
     may not represent, either directly or indirectly, that this 
     resolution or any activity carried out under this resolution 
     in any way constitutes approval or endorsement by the Federal 
     Government of the commercial sponsor or any product or 
     service offered by the commercial sponsor.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from 
Maryland [Mr. Gilchrest] and the gentleman from Pennsylvania [Mr. 
Mascara] will each be recognized for 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Maryland [Mr. Gilchrest].
  Mr. GILCHREST. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may 
consume.
  Mr. Speaker, House Concurrent Resolution 172 authorizes the use of 
the Capitol Grounds for the running of the Olympic torch in conjunction 
with the 1996 Summer Olympics in Atlanta, GA. This torch relay is 
expected to take place on June 20, and while the resolution allows the 
torch to be kept on the Grounds overnight, the torch will not be kept 
there. The torch will continue its journey onward to Atlanta. There are 
safeguards contained in the resolution to prohibit any advertising in 
connection with the torch relay, and the event will be open to the 
public and be free of charge. The sponsors of the event will be 
responsible for any costs and liabilities for this event. I thank the 
Speaker of the House, the Honorable Newt Gingrich, for sponsoring this 
resolution, and I am sure I speak for all of my colleagues in wishing 
the city of Atlanta a most successful olympic event.
  I support this resolution and I urge my colleagues to support the 
measure.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. MASCARA. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, on June 20, 1996 the torch which will be used to 
officially open the 1996 summer Olympics will pass through the Nation's 
Capital on its way to Atlanta for the opening ceremonies. A resolution 
is needed to authorize use of the Capitol Grounds due to a prohibition 
against open flames on the grounds. It is with special pride and an 
honor that the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee can join the 
rest of the country in welcoming all visitors to the Olympics and show 
our support for all the athletes who will compete.
  The Olympic torch will be carried by runners who have been nominated 
and chosen from their communities for their outstanding volunteer 
activities and community service. Approximately every \1/2\ kilometer 
the torch will be passed to a new runner.
  The torch itself features 22 reeds gathered in the center. The reeds 
represent the 22 times that modern Olympics have been held. The names 
of the host cities, including Atlanta, are etched on a goldplated band 
near the base; another band near the crown features the logo for the 
1996 Olympic games. A center handle of Georgia hardwood makes the torch 
easy to carry.
  The Olympic flame first became a tradition for the modern Olympics 
when an Olympic flame was lit and remained burning at the entrance to 
the Olympic stadium throughout the 1928 Amsterdam games. The lighting 
of the flame captured the public's imagination and has remained a 
traditional ceremony for the opening ceremony for the games.
  The public is invited and encouraged to attend this event, which is 
historic for the Capitol Grounds and for the District.
  Mr. Speaker, I urge support for House Concurrent Resolution 172, and 
I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. GILCHREST. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may 
consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I want to thank the gentleman from Pennsylvania [Mr. 
Mascara] for supporting this legislation. I think it is a worthy 
undertaking, and I look forward to the event in the next couple of 
weeks.
  I also want to thank the gentleman from Minnesota [Mr. Oberstar], for 
his effort in this endeavor.
  Mr. MASCARA. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the 
gentleman from Minnesota [Mr. Oberstar], the ranking member of the full 
committee.

[[Page H6045]]

  Mr. OBERSTAR. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding time to 
me.
  Mr. Speaker, during the afternoon of June 20, the Olympic torch, 
which will signal the start of the Summer Olypmic Games, will pass 
through the Capitol Grounds. It will have been in relay across the 
United States for 84 days, starting April 27 of this year in Los 
Angeles. Including the games, the flame will have been in play 
throughout the United States for over 100 days. It will travel through 
42 States. It will visit 29 State capitols. It will come within a 2-
hour distance of 90 percent of the population of the United States.
  The flame will visit 11 pairs of cities: Rochester, MN, and 
Rochester, NY; Albany, GA, and Albany, NY, for example. It travels 150 
miles a day, 10 miles an hour, 15 hours a day. There are numerous 
community celebrations and festivities all across the route, as is 
befitting an event of this magnitude and significance.
  The United Way is the provider of community support and volunteer 
services for the 1996 Olympic torch relay. It is really impressive that 
there will be over 10,000 runners carrying the torch. It will move by 
numerous conveyances: bicycle, 19-car train, horseback, canoe, 
steamboat, on the Great Lakes by one of our lakers, aircraft, sailboat. 
All will be used to carry the flame at one time or another into 
Atlanta.
  Given that impressive array of transportation modes, it is only 
fitting that the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure should 
be the one to manage this legislation. This is an extraordinarily 
historic event, one of great significance that captures the imagination 
of young people, now and for generations to come. It is a great honor 
for this committee to be a part of making this event happen and come 
here, not only to Washington, but to the Capitol Grounds.
  I understand that the flame will pass across the Capitol Grounds 
between 3:30 and 4:15 p.m. on June 20. I hope all of our colleagues can 
be there to see it. I hope the public will come and join us, and I 
invite everyone to participate in this truly wonderful celebration.
  I want to thank the gentleman from Maryland for the role he has 
played in bringing this about. He has dedicated himself to all of the 
legislation that comes before the Subcommittee on Public Buildings and 
Economic Development of the Committee on Transportation and 
Infrastructure with great scholarly approach, and it is very welcome. I 
appreciate the leadership of the gentleman from Pennsylvania [Mr. 
Mascara] and the gentleman from Ohio [Mr. Traficant] on this subject.
  Mr. TRAFICANT. Mr. Speaker, on June 20, 1996, the torch which will be 
used to officially open the 1996 Summer Olympics will pass through the 
Nation's Capital on its way to Atlanta for the opening ceremonies. A 
resolution is needed to authorize use of the Capitol Grounds due to a 
prohibition against open flames on the Grounds. It is with special 
pride and an honor that the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee 
can join the rest of the country in welcoming all visitors to the 
Olympics and show our support for all the athletes who will compete.
  The Olympic torch will be carried by runners who have been nominated 
and chosen from their communities for their outstanding volunteer 
activities and community service. Approximately every one-half 
kilometer the torch will be passed to a new runner. In my own district 
13 runners participated on Monday, June 10, 1996, by carrying the torch 
along the shores of Lake Erie. They included Theresa Bishop, Madonna 
Chism, Colleen Dippolito, Thomas Grantonic, Yong Lee, Steven Meads, 
Kyle Obradovich, Anthony Parish, Rev. Charles Ready, Gilbert Rieger, 
Melissa Snyder, Greg Yurco, and John Zimomra. We are exceedingly proud 
of these young people.
  I urge support for this resolution and thank Mr. Gilchrest  for his 
prompt attention to this request.
  Mr. MASCARA. Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for time, and I 
yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. GILCHREST. Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for time, and 
I yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentleman from Maryland [Mr. Gilchrest] that the House suspend the 
rules and agree to the concurrent resolution, House Concurrent 
Resolution 172.
  The question was taken; and (two-thirds having voted in favor 
thereof) the rules were suspended and the concurrent resolution was 
agreed to.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

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