[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 157 (Sunday, November 9, 1997)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E2280-E2281]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




        THE CONTINUING LEGACY OF THE LEWIS AND CLARK EXPEDITION

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                           HON. DOUG BEREUTER

                              of nebraska

                    in the house of representatives

                       Saturday, November 8, 1997

  Mr. BEREUTER. Mr. Speaker, this Member would like to commend to his 
colleagues the following editorial from the November 4, 1997, Omaha 
World-Herald. The editorial highlights the growing interest in the 
Lewis and Clark Expedition and the upcoming bicentennial celebrations 
to commemorate the bold and courageous journey. As someone who has had 
a longstanding interest in the Lewis and Clark Expedition, this Member 
is pleased to promote the bicentennial efforts through the introduction 
earlier this year of two pieces of legislation. H.R. 1560 authorizes 
the U.S. Mint to produce a commemorative coin honoring the Expedition. 
Proceeds from the sale of the coins will be used to fund the activities 
of the National Lewis and Clark Bicentennial Council and the National 
Park Service.
  This Member has also introduced House Resolution 144, a resolution to 
express support for the Bicentennial of the Lewis and Clark Expedition. 
This resolution highlights the importance of the expedition and 
expresses congressional support for the commemorative activities of the 
National Lewis and Clark Bicentennial Council as well as Federal, state 
and local entities and other interested groups.
  We must continue to recognize the ongoing legacy of the Lewis and 
Clark Expedition. The upcoming bicentennial activities will provide 
excellent opportunities to stress the importance of the journey's 
mission and discoveries.

                 [From the World-Herald, Nov. 4, 1997]

                 Learning More About a Midlands Journey

       Lewis and Clark's great journey of discovery is beginning 
     to draw attention as the bicentennial of the 1804 event draws 
     closer.

[[Page E2281]]

       A two-part documentary by Ken Burns is set to air tonight 
     and Wednesday on Public Broadcasting System stations in the 
     Midlands. Burns' effort follows a popular book by historian 
     Stephen Ambrose, whose ``Undaunted Courage'' described the 
     trip in detail. The book relied on historical records, 
     letters and memoirs, as well as journals of the expedition 
     written by Meriwether Lewis, William Clark and other members 
     of the party. More than 800,000 copies have been sold.
       The expedition was commissioned by President Thomas 
     Jefferson to explore the newly purchased Louisiana Territory. 
     Jefferson ordered Lewis to follow the Missouri River as far 
     as he could, then keep going beyond U.S. territory in an 
     attempt to find a convenient water route to the Pacific.
       There is no fast and easy route by water. But the 
     explorations of Lewis and Clark succeeded in another way. 
     They opened the continent to further settlement, identified 
     scores of new plants and animals and launched tentative but 
     cordial relationships with Indian tribes.
       Current signs of interest include a 10 percent increase of 
     visitors at Fort Clatsop near Astoria, Ore., where the 
     explorers wintered. Membership in the Lewis and Clark Trail 
     Heritage Foundation has risen. A flood of books on the 
     subject is about to hit the stores.
       Archeological digs are proceeding at Fort Clatsop, at Fort 
     Mandan, another wintering site in North Dakota, and at the 
     Great Falls of the Missouri. The first major archeological 
     survey of sites on the trail began recently.
       Lewis and Clark sites throughout the West and Midwest are 
     gearing up for tourists as the bicentennial approaches. New 
     Park Service interpretative centers in North Dakota and 
     Montana will aid visitors.
       In the Midlands, the Western Historic Trails Center in 
     Council Bluffs, which presents information on the Lewis and 
     Clark expedition and trails that went through the region, is 
     ready for visitors. A new observation deck was constructed at 
     Ponca State Park, overlooking part of the expedition's route. 
     It is one of 10 markers being constructed in Nebraska to 
     emphasize the highlights of the voyage. A Lewis and Clark 
     national Historical Trail Interpretative Center is planned at 
     Nebraska City.
       Commemorations in Sioux City will revolve around the 
     riverboat at the Sgt. Floyd Museum and Welcome Center. Floyd, 
     a well-liked leader, was the only member of the party who 
     didn't survive the trip.
       The Lewis and Clark voyage of exploration was a major event 
     in the life of the infant nation. The courage of the two 
     leaders and their men was exceptional. The intellectual 
     curiosity and scientific observational skills of Lewis were 
     astounding. The party's combination of luck, pluck and 
     ability has few equals. It's appropriate that the public is 
     taking an interest in their story.

  Though many Members of Congress seem to be having a difficult time 
making up their minds whether ``fast-track'' is in the national 
interest, the sensible Lincoln Journal Star newspaper in Lincoln, NE 
correctly acknowledges that the logic behind ``fast-track'' ``[i]s a 
simple numbers game.'' This editorial properly recognizes that 96 
percent of the world's consumers live outside of the United States, and 
we ignore them to our own detriment. Maybe a reading of the attached 
editorial will inject some fresh Midwestern air into the protectionist 
fog hanging over the District of Columbia and the Capitol. It's 
certainly worth a try.

             [From the Lincoln Journal Star, Nov. 7, 1997]

     President's Fast-Track Authority is Needed in a Global Economy

   (Unsigned editorials are the opinion of the Lincoln Journal Star)

       It's a bit surprising that a question exists on whether 
     President Clinton should be granted fast-track authority in 
     trade negotiations. Every president since Gerald Ford has had 
     the power. In fact, fast-track authority had never lapsed 
     until it expired on Sept. 30.
       But Democrats are finding it difficult to support Clinton 
     on the issue because of the vigorous opposition of organized 
     labor, which has paid for radio and television advertising, 
     organized phone calls to congressional offices and threatened 
     to withhold campaign funding.
       In Congress, trade protectionists led by Rep. Richard 
     Gephardt, D-Mo., have been joined by Republicans, who hate to 
     see Clinton win anything, to create a cliffhanger. Analysts 
     predict a close vote in the House. In the Senate, where there 
     is more support for fast-track powers, opponents have 
     succeeded in delaying action.
       The concept of fast-track authority is easily described. It 
     gives the president the authority to negotiate trade 
     agreements, which Congress then can reject but cannot amend. 
     Without such authority, any member of Congress might want to 
     change this line or that of any trade agreement sent to it 
     for approval. If that were the case, it's doubtful that any 
     country would negotiate with the United States.
       At this point in history, there is overwhelming evidence 
     that free trade benefits the United States. It's a simple 
     numbers game. The United States has 4 percent of the world's 
     consumers. The rest live in countries where the economies 
     often are expected to grow at rates that will exceed those in 
     developed countries like the United States. Many Latin 
     American countries, for example, are expected to have annual 
     growth rates of as much as 5 or 10 percent. If the United 
     States wants to maintain or increase its wealth, it needs to 
     sell to those consumers.
       International trade is already of major importance to the 
     national economy. There has been a 35 percent increase in 
     American exports since 1992. In 1996, U.S. exports of goods 
     and services reached a record $836 billion, employing 16.7 
     million workers.
       The most persuasive argument against free trade is that it 
     can mean that industries gravitate to nations that will 
     permit them to degrade the environment, or use child and 
     prison labor. Under the proposed fast-track legislation, 
     however, Clinton has the authority to negotiate agreements 
     that protect against those outcomes.
       In the end, the issue of free trade reaches basic questions 
     of economic freedom. The United States has led the world in 
     open markets, free enterprise and competition. Everywhere, 
     nations are adopting those values. Since the end of World War 
     II, global tariffs have dropped from an average of 40 percent 
     to 5 percent.
       For the United States to continue to play an important 
     leadership role in the global economy, Congress needs to 
     restore fast-track authority to the president.

     

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