[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 58 (Monday, May 11, 1998)]
[Senate]
[Page S4627]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 140TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE ADMISSION OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA INTO THE 
                        UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

  Mr. GRAMS. Mr. President, I rise today to recognize and to help 
celebrate the 140th anniversary of Minnesota's admission into the 
United States of America. Let me begin, Mr. President, by quoting James 
Hill, founder of the Great Northern Railroad and one of Minnesota's 
true pioneers. It is said that Mr. Hill proclaimed his reasons for 
living and working in Minnesota by saying, ``You can't interest me in 
any proposition in any place where it doesn't snow.''
  Well, Minnesota has never had a shortage of snow, which--depending on 
who you ask and just how many months the winter has lingered--is 
considered either a blessing or a curse. But even Mr. Hill recognized 
that snow is just one of Minnesota's many riches. Ever since word began 
to spread last century about a northern land of promise and prosperity, 
a land with abundant natural resources and indescribable beauty, people 
have traveled to Minnesota to live, work, and prosper. And during its 
140 years of statehood, Minnesota has produced some of the country's 
best and brightest, making it a world leader in agriculture, 
technology, medicine, and business.
  Along the way, Minnesotans have endured cold winters, hot summers, 
floods, tornadoes, and any other natural disaster Mother Nature has 
thrown their way.
  At no time has the resolve of our people been more tested than with 
the natural disasters that have plagued our state during the last year. 
Last spring, the people of northwestern Minnesota were hit with the 
worst flooding in our state's history. Earlier this spring, the 
residents of south-central Minnesota lived through one of the largest 
tornadoes ever to hit our state. Yet, in both cases, Minnesotans worked 
together to rebuild and recover, and Minnesota is stronger for their 
efforts. Strangers have labeled that willingness to step forward and 
help one another as ``Minnesota Nice.'' We think that is just the way 
things ought to be.
  Throughout our history, Minnesotans have understood the importance of 
family, hard work, and personal responsibility. It is not just talk--
they live it. Growing up on a Minnesota dairy farm in a small farming 
community, I saw those strengths firsthand. I saw how these qualities 
help make Minnesota one of the world's premiere food producers.
  Farming and farm-related businesses play a critical role in our 
state; one of every four Minnesota jobs is tied in some way to 
agriculture, and 25% of our economy is dependent upon farmers and agri-
business. In 1996, Minnesota was ranked 15th in the country in 
agriculture exports to Asia.
  Minnesota's world leadership is not limited only to agriculture. Our 
state is home to some of the world's leading job providers--including 
3M, Pillsbury, Honeywell, Cargill, and a list far too long to mention 
here. Minnesota is also known for its achievements in the area of 
health care. It is a leader in the medical device industry and home to 
one of the world's premiere health care facilities, the Mayo Clinic in 
Rochester.
  The commitment of Minnesotans to hard work and to producing some of 
the best products in the world has made Minnesota an active participant 
not only in the nation's economy, but in the world economy as well.
  Minnesotans have long understood the importance of America's role 
within the international community. Our residents have had the insight 
to understand that we do not live in a vacuum . . . that our economic 
prosperity depends on our ability to trade freely with the rest of the 
world. This point was highlighted during a meeting I had last month 
with farmers in Crookston, Minnesota. Although they asked questions 
about issues here at home, many of their questions were about IMF, free 
trade, and the Asian financial crisis. Our farmers and other business 
people know that what happens in Asia or Europe today can affect 
business in America and Minnesota tomorrow.
  One Minnesotan who has helped to shape our leadership role on 
international issues is former Governor Harold Stassen. Governor 
Stassen helped to write the charter for the United Nations and at age 
91 continues to be an outspoken proponent of free and open relations 
with the rest of the world.
  This coming weekend, Minnesota's international tradition will 
continue when Secretary General of the United Nations Kofi Annan comes 
to Minnesota to tour the Center for Victims of Torture. Many may be 
surprised to hear that the Secretary General attended college in 
Minnesota, at Macalester College in Saint Paul.
  For the last few minutes, I have been speaking here on the floor, 
with great pride, about my home state. To some, I am sure it sounds a 
bit like bragging. But on this day, 140 years after Minnesota became 
the 32nd State admitted to the Union, I want to express the honor I 
feel in representing the people of Minnesota in the U.S. Senate--for 
Minnesota is one of the premier states in the greatest country on 
Earth.
  I want to end today with the sentence used by Minnesota author and 
radio personality Garrison Keillor to describe the fictitious town of 
Lake Woebegone, Minnesota . . . . because I think it can be applied to 
all of Minnesota. I am proud to hail from a state ``where all the women 
are strong, the men are good looking, and the children are above 
average.''

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