[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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