[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 85 (Thursday, June 25, 1998)]
[Senate]
[Page S7228]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                    MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR. MEMORIAL

  Mr. BURNS. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate 
proceed to the immediate consideration of Calendar No. 421, H.J. Res. 
113, a joint resolution approving the location of the Martin Luther 
King, Jr. Memorial in the Nation's Capital, that the joint resolution 
be considered read three times, passed, and the motion to reconsider be 
laid upon the table, and that the preamble be agreed to with the above 
occurring without any intervening action or debate.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  The joint resolution (H.J. Res. 113) was passed.
  The preamble was agreed to.
  Mr. WARNER. Mr. President, I rise to applaud the passage of this 
important legislation authorizing the placement of a Martin Luther 
King, Jr. Memorial in Area I of the Capital.
  I would like to take this opportunity to recognize Senator Sarbanes 
and Congresswoman Morella for the leadership they have both shown over 
the years we have worked together on legislation authorizing the 
establishment of a Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial.
  In 1996, Congress passed and the President signed legislation, also 
sponsored by Senator Sarbanes and myself, authorizing the Alpha Phi 
Alpha Fraternity, the oldest predominantly African-American fraternity 
in the United States, to establish without cost to the federal 
government a memorial to Martin Luther King, Jr., in the District of 
Columbia.
  The Alpha Phi Alpha fraternity wishes to honor Dr. King with a 
memorial in the nation's Capital as tangible recognition of his 
remarkable role in the history of our nation. Dr. King's message of 
nonviolence and freedom for all should be passed from generation to 
generation. A memorial in his name will be effective in helping us 
reach this important goal.
  This legislation establishes the memorial in Area I, which consists 
of the Mall and environs. As you know, the Department of Interior, 
after consulting with the National Capital Memorial Commission, 
transmitted its formal recommendation that the memorial be located in 
Area I in a letter to the President of the Senate dated January 29, 
1998.
  Requirements contained in the Commemorative Works Act stipulate that 
the Department of Interior's recommendation regarding location of a 
memorial in Area I shall be disapproved if not enacted into law within 
150 days of its transmittal to Congress. Therefore it was critical that 
the Senate consider and pass this legislation prior to that deadline.