[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 136 (Friday, September 27, 1996)]
[House]
[Pages H11572-H11573]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                    MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR. MEMORIAL

  Mrs. MORELLA. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee 
on Resources be discharged from further consideration of the joint 
resolution (H.J. Res. 70) authorizing the Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity to 
establish a memorial to Martin Luther King, Jr. in the District of 
Columbia or its environs, and ask for its immediate consideration in 
the House.
  The Clerk read the title of the joint resolution.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentlewoman from Maryland?
  Mr. HINCHEY. Mr. Speaker, reserving the right to object, I will not 
object, and I yield to the gentlewoman from Maryland [Mrs. Morella] to 
explain the bill.
  Mrs. MORELLA. Mr. Speaker, I appreciate the opportunity to bring 
House Joint Resolution 70 to the House floor. This legislation would 
authorize the Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity to establish a memorial to Dr. 
Martin Luther King, Jr. in the District of Columbia.
  I particularly want to thank Subcommittee Chairman Jim Hansen, 
Resources Committee Chairman Don Young, and Ranking Minority Member 
George Miller for their support and their assistance in moving this 
bill through the House.
  As the sponsor of the resolution, I am enthusiastic about the 
memorial, and I am committed to seeing it built. I would like to 
recognize the other chief sponsor of this resolution, Congressman 
Julian Dixon, and the men of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, 
in particularly George Sealy and Al Bailey, for their vision to create 
a memorial to one of our truly great Americans. This memorial will 
stand as a testament to the tireless efforts of these men of 
distinction and serve as an inspiration to residents of the area and 
visitors to our Nation's Capital.

  No American has addressed the social and economic problems of our 
Nation as effectively as Dr. King. His principles of nonviolence are 
known throughout the world and have had a profound impact on our 
country. This doctrine earned him the Nobel Prize for Peace in 1964.
  Alpha Phi Alpha, which Dr. King joined in 1952, is one of the oldest 
predominantly African-American fraternities in the Nation. Alpha Phi 
Alpha has 700 chapters in 42 States, and its members include some of 
the most prominent leaders and distinguished public officials within 
the United States. The fraternity wishes to honor Dr. King's remarkable 
role with a memorial in the Nation's Capital. The memorial will provide 
a tangible recognition that will assist in passing Dr. King's message 
from generation to generation.
  The building of the memorial will be supported entirely through 
private contributions. House Joint Resolution 70 provides that no U.S. 
funds be used to pay for costs incurred for design, installation, 
construction or maintenance of the memorial. Rather, Alpha Phi Alpha 
will organize a nationwide design competition and lead private 
fundraising efforts to pay for all phases of the monument's 
establishment.
  Mr. Speaker, a King memorial is long overdue. A King memorial would 
be a place of hope where all Americans ever after can contemplate 
King's words and deeds and act upon them.
  My thanks also to Sandy Zimmet of my staff and all those who helped 
shepherd this bill to passage.
  Mr. HINCHEY. Mr. Speaker, continuing my reservation of objection, I 
yield to the gentleman from California [Mr. Dixon].
  (Mr. DIXON asked and was given permission to revise and extend his 
remarks.)
  Mr. DIXON. Mr. Speaker, I join with the distinguished gentlewoman 
from Maryland in this resolution. I particularly want to congratulate 
her for diligently pursuing what I think is a very, very important and 
historic resolution.
  As she pointed out, this will not cost the Federal Government money. 
It is a program of the oldest African American fraternity in the 
country, the Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, of which Dr. King was a 
distinguished member, and I am proud to also be a member of.
  It seems fitting that this fraternity now make the effort and a 
contribution to the Federal enclave by raising funds for a memorial to 
remind people of his nonviolent positions and the contributions he has 
made to the history of the United States.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of House Joint Resolution 70, 
which authorizes the Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity to establish a memorial 
to Martin Luther King, Jr. on Federal land in the District of Columbia.
  No figure in American history has embodied more genuinely the spirit 
of unity and cooperation which is so desperately needed to address the 
social and economic problems faced by our Nation. Dr. King challenged 
us to envision a country, indeed a world, in which justice and peace 
prevail among all people.
  Under the measure, Alpha Phi Alpha would be authorized to establish 
this memorial as a tangible recognition of Dr. King's remarkable role 
in the history of this country. The fraternity will be solely 
responsible for the financing of the King Memorial, with no Federal 
funds involved in its construction.
  The monument would demonstrate our renewed commitment to ensuring 
equal justice for all Americans and improving the social and economic 
conditions which have spawned hopelessness among millions of 
disenfranchised citizens.
  It is time we have a memorial that will encourage visitors to our 
Nation's Capital to reflect upon Dr. King's contributions and I urge 
passage of this bill.
  Mr. HINCHEY. Mr. Speaker, continuing my reservation of objection, I 
just want to express my appreciation on behalf of all those who will 
have the benefit of seeing this memorial once it is in place. I express 
my appreciation to the gentlewoman from Maryland for her initiation of 
this very worthy piece of legislation.
  Mr. Speaker, I withdraw my reservation of objection.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is thee objection to the request of the 
gentlewoman from Maryland?
  There was no objection.
  The Clerk read the joint resolution, as follows:

                              H.J. Res. 70

       Resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
     United States of America in Congress assembled,
       (a) In General.--The Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity is 
     authorized to establish a memorial on Federal land in the 
     District of Columbia or its environs to honor Martin Luther 
     King, Jr.
       (b) Compliance With Standards for Commemorative Works.--The 
     establishment of the memorial shall be in accordance with the 
     Act entitled ``An Act to provide standards for placement of 
     commemorative works on certain Federal lands in the District 
     of Columbia and its environs, and for other purposes'' 
     approved November 14, 1986 (40 U.S.C. 1001, et seq.).

     SEC. 2. PAYMENT OF EXENSES.

       The Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity shall be solely responsible 
     for acceptance of contributions for, and payment of the 
     expenses of, the establishment of the memorial. No Federal 
     funds may be used to pay any expense of the establishment of 
     the memorial.

     SEC. 3. DEPOSIT OF EXCESS FUNDS.

       If, upon payment of all expenses of the estabishment of the 
     memorial (including the maintenance and preservation amount 
     provided for in section 8(b) of the Act referred to

[[Page H11573]]

     in section 1(b)), or upon expiration of the authority for the 
     memorial under section 10(b) of that Act, there remains a 
     balance of funds received for the establishment of the 
     memorial, the Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity shall transmit the 
     amount of the balance to the Secretary of the Treasury for 
     deposit in the account provided for in section 8(b)(1) of 
     that Act.

  The joint resolution was ordered to be engrossed and read a third 
time, was read the third time, and passed, and a motion to reconsider 
was laid on the table.

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