[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 19 (Thursday, February 13, 1997)]
[Senate]
[Pages S1408-S1409]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


             BICENTENNIAL OF THE LEWIS AND CLARK EXPEDITION

 Mr. DORGAN. Mr. President, today I am submitting a Senate 
resolution to focus national attention to the Bicentennial of the Lewis 
and Clark Expedition which will be celebrated during the years 2003-
2005. I am pleased that Senators Bond, Burns, Conrad, Cochran, Craig, 
Daschle, Gorton, Jeffords, Kerrey, Moseley-Braun, Murray, Gordon Smith, 
and Reid have joined me as cosponsors of this resolution.
  The Lewis and Clark Expedition is one of the most remarkable events 
in our history. In the words of historian Paul Cutright, ``the Lewis 
and Clark Expedition stands, incomparably, as the transcendent 
achievement of its kind in this hemisphere, if not the entire world.'' 
Known as the Corps of Discovery, the expedition traversed a vast 
expanse of largely unknown territory that was just added to the United 
States through the Louisiana Purchase.

[[Page S1409]]

  The expedition was conceived by Thomas Jefferson at his home in 
Monticello, VA. His primary motivation was to find a water route to the 
Pacific Ocean for commercial reasons. But President Jefferson was 
interested in far more than trade routes. He was equally interested in 
expanding the Nation's knowledge of the flora, fauna, geology, 
geography, and the native peoples who inhabited this vast expanse of 
unexplored territory that was recently added to the United States. He 
specifically instructed Lewis and Clark to carefully record what they 
found. The historic Lewis and Clark Journals were the result of that 
Presidential directive. The journals, maps, drawings, and specimens 
which Lewis and Clark produced vastly enhanced the Nation's scientific 
knowledge and created a lasting cultural legacy for the Nation.
  During their 28-month journey, the expedition crossed 11 future 
States. All along the route--from St. Louis, MO, to Mandan, ND, to Fort 
Clatsop, OR--preparations are already underway to celebrate this epic 
exploration. The National Lewis and Clark Bicentennial Council was 
formed to stimulate and coordinate bicentennial activities across the 
Nation. Its mission is ``to commemorate that journey, rekindle its 
spirit of discovery, and acclaim the contributions and goodwill of the 
native peoples.'' In cooperation with, Federal, State, tribal, and 
local governments as well as other interested groups, the council will 
undertake educational programs, re-enactments of historical events, 
essay competitions, symposia, athletic events, and other commemorative 
activities in observances of the bicentennial of this historic journey.
  I hope this resolution will help to focus public attention on this 
great American adventure and its remarkable achievements.

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