[Congressional Record Volume 146, Number 55 (Monday, May 8, 2000)]
[House]
[Pages H2620-H2621]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 RECOGNIZING THE HERMANN MONUMENT AND HERMANN HEIGHTS PARK IN NEW ULM, 
 MINNESOTA, AS A NATIONAL SYMBOL OF THE CONTRIBUTIONS OF AMERICANS OF 
                            GERMAN HERITAGE

  Mr. SIMPSON. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to 
the concurrent resolution (H. Con. Res. 89) recognizing the Hermann 
Monument and Hermann Heights Park in New Ulm, Minnesota, as a national 
symbol of the contributions of Americans of German heritage.
  The Clerk read as follows:

                            H. Con. Res. 89

       Whereas there are currently more than 57,900,000 
     individuals of German heritage residing in the United States, 
     who comprise nearly 25 percent of the population of the 
     United States and are therefore the largest ethnic group in 
     the United States;
       Whereas those of German heritage are not merely descendants 
     of one political entity, but of all German speaking areas;
       Whereas numerous Americans of German heritage have made 
     countless contributions to American culture, arts, and 
     industry, the American military, and American government;
       Whereas there is no recognized tangible, national symbol 
     dedicated to German Americans and their positive 
     contributions to the United States;
       Whereas the story of Hermann the Cheruscan parallels that 
     of the American Founding Fathers, because he was a freedom 
     fighter who united ancient German tribes in order to shed the 
     yoke of Roman tyranny and preserve freedom for the territory 
     of present-day Germany;
       Whereas the Hermann Monument located in Hermann Heights 
     Park in New Ulm, Minnesota, was dedicated in 1897 in honor of 
     the spirit of freedom and later dedicated to all German 
     immigrants who settled in New Ulm and elsewhere in the United 
     States; and
       Whereas the Hermann Monument has been recognized as a site 
     of special historical significance by the United States 
     Government, by placement on the National Register of Historic 
     Places: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate 
     concurring), That the Hermann Monument and Hermann Heights 
     Park in New Ulm, Minnesota, are recognized by the Congress to 
     be a national symbol for the contributions of Americans of 
     German heritage.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from 
Idaho (Mr. Simpson) and the gentleman from California (Mr. George 
Miller) each will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Idaho (Mr. Simpson).


                             General Leave

  Mr. SIMPSON. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members 
may have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their 
remarks on House Concurrent Resolution 89.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from Idaho?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. SIMPSON. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, House Concurrent Resolution 89 introduced by the 
gentleman from Minnesota (Mr. Minge) assures that Congress recognizes 
the Hermann Monument and Hermann Heighs Park in New Ulm, Minnesota, as 
a national symbol of German heritage.
  Although there are currently almost 60 million individuals of German 
heritage residing in the United States, there is no recognized, 
tangible national symbol dedicated to German Americans and their 
positive contributions to American culture, arts, industry, military, 
and government.

                              {time}  1415

  The Hermann Monument was erected in 1897 in honor of the spirit of 
freedom

[[Page H2621]]

and later dedicated to all German immigrants and has been placed on the 
National Register of Historical Places. House Concurrent Resolution 89 
would recognize the achievements and contributions of Americans of 
German heritage at the Hermann Monument. I ask my colleagues to support 
H. Con. Res. 89.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. GEORGE MILLER of California. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such 
time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, this concurrent resolution sponsored by the gentleman 
from Minnesota (Mr. Minge) would recognize the monument in New Ulm, 
Minnesota as a ``national symbol for the contributions of Americans of 
German heritage.'' As the legislation points out, Americans of German 
heritage represent with one-quarter of the U.S. population, and yet 
there is no national symbol recognizing the contributions that have 
been made to this Nation.
  The recognition provided by this measure is appropriate and I would 
like to commend the gentleman from Minnesota (Mr. Minge) for his very 
diligent work on this legislation.
  Mr. Speaker, it should be noted that this concurrent resolution does 
not alter the status of the monument in any way, nor does it create any 
new Federal obligation.
  Mr. Speaker, I urge all of my colleagues to support it. I would again 
say that the effort on behalf of this legislation by the gentleman from 
Minnesota has really been outstanding, as many of us who serve on the 
committee know. He has, I think, talked to all of us individually, and 
to so many other Members on the floor, to bring this to the attention 
of the full House of Representatives. I also want to thank the 
gentleman from Minnesota (Mr. Vento), his colleague, for his work in 
lobbying on behalf of this legislation to give due recognition to the 
contributions of Americans of German heritage. Mr. Speaker, I urge its 
strong support.
  Mr. MINGE. Mr. Speaker, I rise to urge my colleagues to support House 
Concurrent Resolution 89, which commemorates the many valuable 
contributions of German Americans to our society and culture through 
recognition of the Hermann Monument and Hermann Heights Park in New 
Ulm, Minnesota.
  House Concurrent Resolution 89 designates a national symbol for the 
contributions of Americans of German heritage. German-Americans make up 
the largest ethnic group in the United States, yet we have no tangible 
symbols recognizing their contributions to our society. My resolution 
establishes the Hermann Monument and Hermann Heights Park in New Ulm, 
Minnesota as such a national symbol.
  The story behind the historical figure Hermann is one of intrigue, 
valor and treachery that surpass any Hollywood script. Hermann was born 
into the nobility of the Germanic group called the Cherusker. He was 
sent to Rome for his formal education and military training. Hermann, 
then known as Arminius, was soon noticed as a natural leader and became 
a general in the Roman army. So highly regarded was he that Arminius 
was to help lead a campaign to conquer the Germanic peoples.
  Despite his years in the Roman army, Arminius still cherished the 
independence of the Germanic peoples. Roman occupation of modern day 
Germany would surely have crushed the independent tribes. Arminius 
returned to his Germanic heritage and persuaded the tribes to unite in 
order to fend off the Roman invasion. They were successful and the 
German people retained their freedom. The autonomy of these various 
regions formed the foundation of the current federal system of 
government in Germany. In Germany, he is still remembered as ``the 
acknowledged liberator of the German race from Roman tyranny . . .'' He 
symbolizes the independence of the German people.
  That sense of freedom and independence stayed with the Germans for 
centuries. Millions of Germans came to America for opportunity, to 
escape economic or political oppression in their homeland and to lead a 
life with the freedoms guaranteed in our Constitution. As the 
immigrants settled throughout the country, they looked for a symbol of 
their heritage.
  In 1885, at the Sons of Hermann Convention in Philadelphia, it was 
decided that a monument should be erected to honor Germans who came and 
helped build America. Hermann seemed the perfect symbol. Hermann was 
recast as a German-American symbol, representing the bravery, hard 
work, and unity they strived for in the New World. These immigrants 
found themselves in a new land, yet they remained true to their 
heritage. They felt pride that they had reached America, and in having 
established opportunity for the future.
  The Hermann Monument stands at a crest of a hill overlooking the city 
of New Ulm and the Minnesota River Valley. To the residents of the 
heavily German-American New Ulm, the monument symbolizes the pride they 
take in their German heritage. To German-Americans scattered across the 
country, the Hermann Monument represents unity of the German people. 
The monument was built in Salem, Ohio and erected in New Ulm in 1897. 
This is truly a national symbol.
  I would like to thank Representative James Hansen, Chairman of the 
House Subcommittee on National Parks and Public Lands, for his 
assistance in moving this legislation. I would also like to thank 
Representatives George Miller, Don Young, and Carlos Romero-Barcelo of 
the Resources Committee, for their support on this initiative.
  Mr. Speaker, I ask that all my colleagues support House Concurrent 
Resolution 89 and show their support for the contributions of German-
Americans.
  Mr. GEORGE MILLER of California. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the 
balance of my time.
  Mr. SIMPSON. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentleman from Idaho (Mr. Simpson) that the House suspend the rules and 
agree to the concurrent resolution, H. Con. Res. 89.
  The question was taken.
  Mr. GEORGE MILLER of California. Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the 
yeas and nays.
  The yeas and nays were ordered.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to clause 8 of rule XX and the 
Chair's prior announcement, further proceedings on this motion will be 
postponed.

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