[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 55 (Thursday, May 1, 1997)]
[Senate]
[Page S3930]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[[Page S3930]]
AUTHORIZING A PERMANENT ADDITION TO THE FRANKLIN DELANO ROOSEVELT
MEMORIAL IN WASHINGTON, DC
Mr. BENNETT. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate
now proceed to the consideration of Senate Joint Resolution 29,
submitted earlier today by Senator Inouye.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will report.
The bill clerk read as follows:
A joint resolution (S.J. Res. 29) to direct the Secretary
of the Interior to design and construct a permanent addition
to the Franklin Delano Roosevelt Memorial in Washington,
D.C., and for other purposes.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. Is there objection to the immediate
consideration of the joint resolution?
There being no objection, the Senate proceeded to consider the joint
resolution.
Mr. INOUYE. Mr. President, at the request of President Clinton, I
rise to introduce legislation which directs the Secretary of the
Interior to plan for the design and construction of a permanent
addition to the Franklin Delano Roosevelt [FDR] Memorial.
The FDR Memorial Commission was organized in 1955 for the purpose of
considering and formulating plans for the design, construction, and
location of a permanent memorial to President Roosevelt. I have had the
distinct pleasure of serving on the Commission for 27 years along with
our former colleague, Senator Mark O. Hatfield.
The FDR Memorial will be dedicated on Friday, May 2, 1997. This
memorial represents a plan and design that has undergone extensive
review and study by the Commission of Fine Arts, the National Park
Service, the Department of the Interior, and the Congress. After 23
years, and three design competitions, one of which bestowed a $50,000
award, the final design for the memorial was approved in 1978.
Approximately 2 years ago, after all design plans were approved, all
funding appropriated by the Congress, and the construction of the
memorial was well underway, the disabled community made a demand that
the Commission add another statue of FDR in a wheelchair. In the early
days, the children of Franklin and Eleanor Roosevelt made it clear they
wanted no statue showing President Roosevelt in a wheelchair. I might
add that during the approval process no member of the disabled
community came forth to request the Commission amend the design plans
for the memorial.
However, in an effort to be sensitive to their concerns yet
historically accurate, the Commission agreed to display an exact
replica of one of President Roosevelt's wheelchairs in the entry
building of the memorial. It was determined that existing wheelchairs
are too fragile to be loaned to the memorial. Consequently, Senator
Hatfield and I instructed the National Park Service to prepare for
display an exact replica of one of President Roosevelt's wheelchairs. A
cabinetmaker is building the chair and other wooden parts, a wheelmaker
is producing 18-inch rims and tires and a metalsmith is assembling the
completed chair.
In addition, in the memorial's entry building there will be a display
of mounted photographs of President Roosevelt, including one of the two
known photographs of him in a wheelchair. The photograph to be
displayed will be 12 inches tall and 9 inches wide. Also included in
the memorial is a time line of the major events of FDR's life, carved
in granite, which states: ``1921 stricken with poliomyelitis--he never
again walked unaided.''
The Commission tried its best to ensure that the initial wishes of
the Roosevelt family were carried out, along with the design plans
approved by the Commission of Fine Arts. The Commission has also tried
to be sensitive to the concerns of those citizens having to spend their
lives in a wheelchair. It is true that the depiction of President
Roosevelt in a wheelchair will inspire the tragically afflicted. It may
very well be a more honest way to depict President Roosevelt.
Accordingly, at President Clinton's request, I am pleased to
introduce this legislation which directs the Secretary of the Interior
to plan for the design and construction of a permanent addition to the
FDR Memorial, and I thank my colleagues for their support and in the
Senate acting expeditiously.
Mr. HARKIN. Mr. President, I am very pleased to join with my good
friend and colleague Senator Inouye in introducing legislation
submitted by the Clinton administration to require the addition of a
statue portraying FDR and his disability. This is an important measure
that I hope will be quickly approved.
I have always said that it took a disabled President to lead a
disabled nation. President Clinton has taken the right step in
improving the FDR Memorial by allowing Americans to view a more
complete picture of one of our Nation's greatest Presidents.
I look forward to the long-awaited dedication of the FDR Memorial
this Friday. I have long thought this very important new memorial
should include a statue depicting FDR in a wheelchair. Contrary to
popular belief, President Roosevelt did at times purposely display his
disability to inspire wounded veterans, persons with polio, and other
groups of Americans. A statue portraying his disability will stand as a
reminder to current and future generations of Americans that disability
is a natural part of the human experience that in no way diminishes the
ability of a person to fully participate in all aspects of American
life.
As the author of the Americans With Disabilities Act, I was proud to
be joined by leaders of the disability community, former Presidents
Bush, Carter, and Ford, a number of Roosevelt's descendants, and many
other Americans in calling for a permanent depiction of FDR with his
disability at the memorial. Our challenge now is to take the necessary
steps to make this additional statue part of the FDR Memorial as soon
as possible.
Mr. BENNETT. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the joint
resolution be considered read a third time and passed, the preamble be
agreed to, the motion to reconsider be laid upon the table, and that
any statements relating to the joint resolution appear at the
appropriate place in the Record.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
The joint resolution (S.J. Res. 29) was deemed read the third time
and passed.
The preamble was agreed to.
The joint resolution, with its preamble, is as follows:
S.J. Res. 29
Whereas President Franklin Delano Roosevelt, after
contracting poliomyelitis, required the use of a wheelchair
for mobility and lived with this condition while leading the
United States through some of its most difficult times; and
Whereas President Roosevelt's courage, leadership, and
success should serve as an example and inspiration for all
Americans: Now, therefore, be it
Resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. ADDITION TO FRANKLIN DELANO ROOSEVELT MEMORIAL.
(a) Plan.--The Secretary of the Interior (referred to in
this Act as the ``Secretary'') shall plan for the design and
construction of an addition of a permanent statue, bas-
relief, or other similar structure to the Franklin Delano
Roosevelt Memorial in Washington, D.C. (referred to in this
Act as the ``Memorial''), to provide recognition of the fact
that President Roosevelt's leadership in the struggle by the
United States for peace, well-being, and human dignity was
provided while the President used a wheelchair.
(b) Commission of Fine Arts.--The Secretary shall obtain
the approval of the Commission of Fine Arts for the design
plan created under subsection (a).
(c) Report.--As soon as practicable, the Secretary shall
report to Congress and the President on findings and
recommendations for the addition to the Memorial.
(d) Construction.--Beginning on the date that is 120 days
after submission of the report to Congress under subsection
(c), using only private contributions, the Secretary shall
construct the addition according to the plan created under
subsection (a).
SEC. 2. POWERS OF THE SECRETARY.
To carry out this Act, the Secretary may--
(1) hold hearings and organize contests; and
(2) request the assistance and advice of members of the
disability community, the Commission of Fine Arts, and the
National Capital Planning Commission, and the Commissions
shall render the assistance and advice requested.
SEC. 3. COMMEMORATIVE WORKS ACT.
Compliance by the Secretary with this joint resolution
shall satisfy all requirements for establishing a
commemorative work under the Commemorative Works Act (40
U.S.C. 1001 et seq.)
SEC. 4. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.
There are authorized to be appropriated to carry out this
joint resolution such sums as may be necessary.
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