[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 76 (Thursday, June 5, 1997)]
[Senate]
[Pages S5384-S5385]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                        GEORGE C. MARSHALL MONTH

  Mr. LOTT. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate 
proceed to the immediate consideration of Senate Resolution 97 
submitted earlier today by Senator Warner.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will report.
  The legislative clerk read as follows:

       A resolution (S. Res. 97) expressing the sense of the 
     Senate that the President

[[Page S5385]]

     should designate the month of June 1997, the 50th anniversary 
     of the Marshall Plan, as George C. Marshall Month, and for 
     other purposes.

  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Is there objection to the immediate 
consideration of the resolution?
  There being no objection, the Senate proceeded to consider the 
resolution.
  Mr. WARNER. Mr. President, on June 5, 1947--50 years ago today--Gen. 
George Catlett Marshall, delivered remarks at Harvard University's 
commencement exercises which would change the course of history. In 
that speech, General Marshall outlined the necessity for and goals of 
what would later be known as the Marshall plan.
  In 1947, 2 years after the end of World War II, Europe was struggling 
to recover from the devastation of the war. Millions were dead, 5,000 
cities had been destroyed, and countless industries laid in ruin. Yet, 
while recognizing the very apparent physical destruction, Marshall 
remarked during his speech that, ``this visible destruction was 
probably less serious then the dislocation of the entire fabric of 
European economy.''
  Marshall continued, ``It is logical that the United States should do 
whatever it is able to do to assist in the return of the normal 
economic health in the world, without which there can be no political 
stability and no assured peace.''
  In the following years, over $13 billion in economic relief and 
technical assistance was provided to the 16 European nations which 
chose to participate in the program. From 1948 to 1951, the 4 years of 
the Marshall plan, industrial production in Europe increased 36 
percent.
  With the return of economic stability, political stability throughout 
Western Europe soon followed. As a result, Europe--and indeed the 
entire Western World--has enjoyed an unprecedented period of peace and 
prosperity.
  For his vision and commitment, General Marshall received the Nobel 
Peace Prize in 1953.
  Several years after the enactment of the Marshall plan, Winston 
Churchill wrote, ``Succeeding generations should not be allowed to 
forget his achievements and his example.'' I am proud to say that two 
organizations in the Commonwealth of Virginia are dedicated to 
preserving and promoting in society Marshall's ideals and values of 
disciplined selfless service, hard work, integrity and compassion. They 
are the George C. Marshall Foundation and the George C. Marshall 
International Center.
  The George Marshall Foundation, located in Lexington, VA, overlooks 
the campus of Marshall's alma mater, the Virginia Military Institute. 
In addition to a memorial to a great American leader, the George 
Marshall Foundation building contains a museum, archive and library for 
research concerning his life and times. The foundation's programs 
include scholarly publications and conferences and public education on 
U.S. military and diplomatic history in the 20th century.
  The George C. Marshall International Center is located in Leesburg, 
VA, at the Dodona Manor, the home of George Marshall. The George 
Marshall International Center seeks to ensure that Marshall's vision 
and legacy are not forgotten by preserving Dodona Manor for posterity 
and fostering educational programs. ``The Marshall Plan: Against All 
Odds,'' a documentary film underwritten by the center will air on PBS 
on Saturday, June 6 at 9 pm.
  Tonight, the George Marshall International Center and George Marshall 
Foundation will host a gala dinner honoring the Soldier-Statesman and 
his influence on the 20th century.
  On April 23, 1997, I introduced Senate Joint Resolution 27 to 
designate the month of June 1997, the 50th anniversary of George 
Marshall's speech, as George C. Marshall Month. The resolution 
recognizes the efforts of the George Marshall Foundation in Lexington, 
VA, the George Marshall International Center in Leesburg, VA, and the 
Friends of Marshall in Uniontown, PA, to continue in American life the 
values for which Gen. George Catlett Marshall stood.
  Further, this resolution calls upon all Americans to rededicate 
themselves to the ideals of public service, hard work, integrity, and 
compassion which General Marshall represents to this day in American 
society.
  Senate Joint Resolution 27 was favorably reported out of the 
Judiciary Committee on June 3 and is before the full Senate today. I 
ask my colleagues to support this important resolution today as a 
fitting tribute to an extraordinary American.
  Mr. LOTT. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent the resolution be 
agreed to, the preamble be agreed to, the motion to reconsider be laid 
upon the table, and that any statements relating to the resolution 
appear at this point in the Record.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Is there objection? Without objection, it is 
so ordered.
  The resolution was agreed to.
  The preamble was agreed to.
  The resolution (S. Res. 97), with its preamble, reads as follows:

                               S. Res. 97

       Whereas 1997 marks the fiftieth year since the European 
     Recovery Program, or what came to be called the Marshall 
     Plan, was first conceived and proclaimed by General George 
     Catlett Marshall while he was serving as Secretary of State 
     of the United States.
       Whereas the Marshall Plan has been hailed by leaders of 
     World War II allied and enemy countries alike as the most 
     magnanimous act by Americans in history;
       Whereas the Marshall Plan made possible new measures of 
     trans-Atlantic cooperation through the North Atlantic Treaty 
     Organization and other institutions;
       Whereas these institutional developments have profoundly 
     enhanced the security, freedom, and prosperity of the United 
     States and the Atlantic Community generally;
       Whereas new challenges have arisen which call for 
     recommitment to and reinvigoration of these institutions and 
     for their continued viability;
       Whereas creative thought and rededication to the ideals and 
     principles undergirding the Marshall Plan are now necessary 
     in order to assure the preservation and perfection of these 
     institutions; and
       Whereas the occasion of the fiftieth anniversary of the 
     Marshall Plan provides a fitting opportunity for rededication 
     of commitments to these institutions: Now, therefore, be it.
       Resolved, That it is the sense of the Senate--
       (1) that magnanimity underlies the Marshall Plan, the 
     dedication to public service and integrity of its author, and 
     the efforts by the Marshall Foundation in Lexington, 
     Virginia, the Marshall International Center in Lessburg, 
     Virginia, and the Fiends of Marshall, Uniontown, 
     Pennsylvania, to continue in American life the values for 
     which General George Catlett Marshall stood;
       (2) that all Americans should rededicate themselves to the 
     ideals of public service, hard work, integrity, and 
     compassion which General Marshall represents to this day in 
     American society; and
       (3) that the values that inspired the initiation of the 
     Marshall Plan should continue to be cherished by the people 
     of the United States.
       Sec. 2. It is, further, the sense of the Senate that the 
     President should issue a proclamation designating the month 
     of June 1997 as ``George C. Marshall Month'' and calling upon 
     the people of the United States to observe George C. Marshall 
     Month with appropriate programs, ceremonies, and activities.

  Mr. WARNER. Mr. President, may I just express my appreciation to the 
distinguished leadership and to the Members of the Senate.

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