[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 147 (Thursday, October 15, 1998)]
[House]
[Pages H10970-H10971]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




    REMEMBERING THE CONTRIBUTIONS OF GEORGE WASHINGTON TO THE NATION

  Mr. GILMAN. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee 
on Government Reform and Oversight be discharged from further 
consideration of the Senate concurrent resolution (S. Con. Res. 83) 
remembering the life of George Washington and his contributions to the 
Nation, and I ask for its immediate consideration in the House.
  The Clerk read the title of the Senate concurrent resolution.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from New York?
  There was no objection.
  The Clerk read the Senate concurrent resolution, as follows:

                            S. Con. Res. 83

       Whereas December 14, 1999, will be the 200th anniversary of 
     the death of George Washington, the father of our Nation and 
     the protector of our liberties;
       Whereas the standards established by George Washington's 
     steadfast character and devotion to duty continue to inspire 
     all men and women in the service of their country and in the 
     conduct of their private lives;
       Whereas the Mount Vernon Ladies' Association of the Union, 
     which maintains the Mount Vernon estate and directs research 
     and education programs relating to George Washington's 
     contribution to our national life, has requested all 
     Americans to participate in the observance of this 
     anniversary;
       Whereas bells should be caused to toll at places of worship 
     and institutions of learning for the duration of 1 minute 
     commencing at 12 o'clock noon, central standard time, 
     throughout the Nation, on the 200th anniversary of the death 
     of George Washington;
       Whereas the flag of the United States should be lowered to 
     half staff on the 200th anniversary of the death of George 
     Washington; and
       Whereas the example set by George Washington is of the 
     utmost importance to the future of the Nation, and it is the 
     responsibility of private and government institutions to 
     prepare for the observation of the 200th anniversary of the 
     death of George Washington: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved by the Senate (the House of Representatives 
     concurring), That Congress--
       (1) calls upon the Nation to remember the life of George 
     Washington and his contributions to the Nation; and
       (2) requests and authorizes the President of the United 
     States--
       (A) to issue a proclamation calling upon the people of the 
     United States--
       (i) to commemorate the death of George Washington with 
     appropriate ceremonies and activities; and
       (ii) to cause and encourage patriotic and civic 
     associations, veterans and labor organizations, schools, 
     universities, and communities of study and worship, together 
     with citizens everywhere, to develop programs and research 
     projects that concentrate upon the life and character of 
     George Washington as it relates to the future of the Nation 
     and to the development and welfare of the lives of free 
     people everywhere; and
       (B) to notify the governments of all Nations with which the 
     United States enjoys relations that our Nation continues to 
     cherish the memory of George Washington with affection and 
     gratitude by furnishing a copy of this resolution to those 
     governments.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The gentleman from New York (Mr. Gilman) is 
recognized for 1 hour.
  Mr. GILMAN. Mr. Speaker, I yield half of my time to the gentleman 
from Maryland (Mr. Cummings).
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Without objection, the gentleman from New 
York (Mr. Gilman) and the gentleman from Maryland (Mr. Cummings) will 
each control 30 minutes.
  There was no objection.
  Mr. GILMAN. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the 
gentleman from Virginia (Mr. Bliley).
  (Mr. BLILEY asked and was given permission to revise and extend his 
remarks.)
  Mr. BLILEY. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding me this 
time. I rise in strong support of this legislation remembering our 
first President and founding father George Washington.
  This legislation will commemorate the 200th anniversary of George 
Washington's death on December 14, 1999.
  George Washington was a peerless military leader in the Revolutionary 
War, able Chairman of the Constitutional Convention and brilliant first 
President.
  George Washington is truly the father of this great country. Because 
of George Washington's actions in life, we are free and we are 
Americans.
  ``Our cause is noble,'' Washington said, ``It is the cause of 
mankind!''
  Pursuit of liberty and justice under God is still the most inspiring, 
the most successful, most revolutionary idea the world has ever known.
  Mr. Speaker, as Americans, let us rededicate ourselves to the ideals 
by which George Washington lived his life.
  I believe another great Virginian, Thomas Jefferson, may have said it 
best when describing George Washington: His integrity was the most pure 
and his justice the most inflexible we have ever known.
  He is in every sense of the word a wise and great person.
  As the bicentennial of Washington's death approaches, I ask the House 
to join me in celebrating the life of our founding father George 
Washington.
  Let us dedicate this year long commemoration to learning more about 
his fascinating life and career.
  Mr. CUMMINGS. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, the resolution before us is to honor George Washington. 
Next year will be the 200th year of his death. Many of the Nation's 
children will not and do not know that he is the first President of the 
United States.
  In a document promoting the celebration of Washington's bicentennial, 
it states that, quote, 200 years after Washington's death, the 
importance of his leadership has not dwindled. But our knowledge of and 
respect for Washington has declined to an incredibly low level. In just 
four decades, Washington's coverage in history textbooks has been 
reduced so dramatically that some teachers complain that he has been 
relegated to ``footnote status.'' Educators admit that the teaching of 
history is woefully inadequate and that only 2 out of 10 students 
graduating from high school can be described as proficient in history. 
Today we have reached an agreement on a budget bill

[[Page H10971]]

that includes over $1 billion for 100,000 new teachers to reduce class 
size in the early grades. Statistics have shown that smaller class 
sizes contribute greatly toward a student's learning as a result of 
which their knowledge of math and science will be greatly enhanced and 
so will their knowledge of our Nation's great history and its leaders.
  With that, Mr. Speaker, I urge all Members to support this very, very 
important resolution honoring President George Washington.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. GILMAN. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  (Mr. GILMAN asked and was given permission to revise and extend his 
remarks.)
  Mr. GILMAN. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from Maryland for his 
supporting remarks.
  Mr. Speaker, S. Con. Res. 83 remembers the life of George Washington 
and his contributions to our Nation. This concurrent resolution is 
similar to H. Con. Res. 209 which I introduced along with Speaker 
Gingrich earlier this year.
  I want to thank the Speaker and the gentleman from Indiana (Mr. 
Burton) who is the distinguished chairman of our Committee on 
Government Reform and Oversight for his assistance in moving this 
important resolution. In addition. I would like to thank the Senator 
from Virginia (Mr. Warner) for his assistance in the Senate and the 
gentleman from Maryland (Mr. Cummings) for his support.
  As my colleagues may know, December 14, 1999, will be the 200th 
anniversary of the death of George Washington, the father of our Nation 
and the protector of our liberties. Throughout his life Washington 
projected selfless bravery and astute decision-making, all of which 
helped to formulate our great Nation into what it is today.
  No American in the history of our Nation has been more revered and 
respected than George Washington. His home, Mount Vernon, is our 
country's oldest and most famous historic preservation property. Each 
year over 1 million visitors come to see, to learn and to be inspired 
by the near hallowed estate owned by this extraordinary man.
  Finally, I want to thank the Mount Vernon Ladies Association for all 
of their tireless efforts, day in and day out, to preserve both the 
heritage of George Washington and his home in Mount Vernon.
  The passage of this resolution will allow the Mount Vernon Ladies 
Association to engage individuals from all walks of life to mark the 
occasion of the 200th anniversary of George Washington's death in 1999.
  Accordingly, I ask our colleagues to join the Speaker, the Mount 
Vernon Ladies Association and myself in supporting this concurrent 
resolution which will celebrate this outstanding public servant and 
human being.
  S. Con. Res. 83 will remember the life of George Washington and his 
contributions to our Nation. This concurrent resolution is similar to 
H. Con. Res. 209, which I introduced, along with Speaker Gingrich 
earlier this year.
  I want to thank the Speaker, my colleague, the gentlemen from 
Indiana, the distinguished chairman of the Government Reform Committee, 
Mr. Burton, for his assistance in moving this important resolution. In 
addition, I would like to thank the Senator from Virginia, Mr. Warner 
for his assistance in the Senate.
  As my colleagues may know, December 14, 1999, will be the 200th 
anniversary of the death of George Washington, the father of our 
Nation, and the protector of our liberties. Throughout his life, George 
Washington projected selfless bravery and astute decisionmaking all of 
which helped to formulate our great Nation into what it is today.
  No American in the history of our Nation has been more revered and 
respected than George Washington. His home, Mount Vernon, is our 
country's oldest and most famous historic preservation property. Each 
year, over one million visitor come to see, to learn, and to be 
inspired by the near hallowed estate owned by this extraordinary man.
  Finally, I want to thank the Mount Vernon Ladies Association for all 
of their tireless efforts, day in and day out, to preserve both the 
heritage of George Washington and his home in Mount Vernon.
  The passage of this resolution will allow the Mount Vernon Ladies 
Association to engage individuals from all walks of life, to mark the 
occasion of the 200th anniversary of George Washington's death in 1999.
  Accordingly, I ask my colleagues to join the Speaker, and the Mount 
Vernon Ladies Association and myself in supporting this concurrent 
resolution which will celebrate this outstanding public servant and 
human being.


                             General Leave

  Mr. GILMAN. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may 
have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks in support 
of this resolution.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from New York?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. DAVIS of Virginia. Mr. Speaker, as a Virginian and the former 
chairman of Fairfax County, where Mount Vernon is located, I am very 
pleased to be able to speak in support of S. Con. Res. 83, Remembering 
the life of George Washington and his contributions to the Nation. I am 
proud to rise in support of this resolution honoring the Father of our 
country as we near the historic bicentennial of his death.
  The death of George Washington on December 14, 1799 was met with a 
period of national mourning that was unprecedented, even by modern 
standards. Many Americans believed that the very existence and security 
of our country would be jeopardized without his leadership and 
presence. However, in this day and age, many do not know how to respond 
to the question--who is George Washington?
  The answer to this question may seem apparent, but many of our fellow 
Americans no longer seem to know the answer. While he may continue to 
be the most recognized national figure thanks to his image appearing on 
the dollar bill and due to his name being used by many towns, cities, 
counties and even a State, evidence suggests that too few Americans 
truly understand what he stood for or that our country owes its very 
existence to his leadership, dedication, hard work, and personal 
sacrifice.
  Washington's service to the Nation goes far beyond his remarkable 
leadership during the Revolutionary War and his precedent-setting terms 
as our first president. Washington was also considered the ``first 
farmer'' of America, a conservationist, and environmentalist ahead of 
his time. He helped to found the Nation's capital, he supported 
education with both political influence and personal donations, and he 
sent a very important message to the world when he freed his slaves in 
his will. Washington was not just a great man--he was a good man, who 
always strived to do what was best for his Nation.
  As we approach the new millennium, it is imperative that we as 
Americans not lose sight of the monumental contributions made by George 
Washington to our Nation. In a eulogy delivered several days after his 
death, Henry ``Light-Horse Harry'' Lee said that George Washington was 
``A citizen, first in war, first in peace and first in the hearts of 
his countrymen.''
  Mr. CUMMINGS. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. GILMAN. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the Senate concurrent 
resolution.
  The Senate concurrent resolution was concurred.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

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