Congressional Record, Volume 146 Issue 83 (Tuesday, June 27, 2000)

[Congressional Record Volume 146, Number 83 (Tuesday, June 27, 2000)]
[House]
[Pages H5175-H5177]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

PLACEMENT OF STATUE OF CHIEF WASHAKIE IN NATIONAL STATUARY HALL

Mr. THOMAS. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the
concurrent resolution (H. Con. Res. 333) providing for the acceptance
of a statue of Chief Washakie, presented by the people of Wyoming, for
placement in National Statuary Hall, and for other purposes, as
amended.
The Clerk read as follows:

H. Con. Res. 333

Whereas Chief Washakie was a recognized leader of the
Eastern Shoshone Tribe;
Whereas Chief Washakie contributed to the settlement of the
west by allowing the Oregon and Mormon Trails to pass through
Shoshone lands;
Whereas Chief Washakie, with his foresight and wisdom,
chose the path of peace for his people;
Whereas Chief Washakie was a great leader who chose his
alliances with other tribes and the United States Government
thoughtfully; and
Whereas in recognition of this alliance and long service to
the United States Government, Chief Washakie was the only
chief to be awarded a full military funeral: Now, therefore,
be it
Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate
concurring),

SECTION 1. ACCEPTANCE OF STATUE OF CHIEF WASHAKIE FROM THE
PEOPLE OF WYOMING FOR PLACEMENT IN NATIONAL
STATUARY HALL.

(a) In General.--The statue of Chief Washakie, furnished by
the people of Wyoming for placement in National Statuary Hall
in accordance with section 1814 of the Revised Statutes of
the United States (40 U.S.C. 187), is accepted in the name of
the United States, and the thanks of the Congress are
tendered to the people of Wyoming for providing this
commemoration of one of Wyoming's most eminent personages.
(b) Presentation Ceremony.--The State of Wyoming is
authorized to use the rotunda of the Capitol on September 7,
2000, at 11 o'clock ante meridian, for a presentation
ceremony for the statue. The Architect of the Capitol and the
Capitol Police Board shall take such action as may be
necessary with respect to physical preparations and security
for the ceremony.
(c) Display in Rotunda.--The statue shall be displayed in
the rotunda of the Capitol for a period of not more than 6
months, after which period the statue shall be moved to its
permanent location in National Statuary Hall.

SEC. 2. TRANSMITTAL TO GOVERNOR OF WYOMING.

The Clerk of the House of Representatives shall transmit a
copy of this concurrent resolution to the Governor of
Wyoming.

The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from
California (Mr. Thomas) and the gentleman from Maryland (Mr. Hoyer)
each will control 20 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentleman from California (Mr. Thomas).
Mr. THOMAS. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
As visitors move around the Capitol, one of the most striking
examples of State representation is, in fact, the ability of each State
to send two statues to the Capitol. It is fascinating to look at the
regional and especially the historical differences of who States

[[Page H5176]]

recognize as appropriate figures to memorialize by statue in the
Capitol.
We have before us today a resolution which completes the State of
Wyoming's decision to send two statues. I think it is emblematic, the
particular statue that Wyoming has chosen.
Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as she may consume to the gentlewoman
from Wyoming (Mrs. Cubin) to really give the details of the reason for
the selection of this particular statue.
Mrs. CUBIN. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from California (Mr.
Thomas) for yielding me this time, and I also wish to thank him in his
capacity as the chairman of the Committee on House Administration for
moving this important piece of legislation forward in such a timely
manner, as well as the ranking member, the gentleman from Maryland (Mr.
Hoyer). It is very important to the people of Wyoming.
I am proud to bring before the House today this resolution to provide
for the placement of a statue of Chief Washakie in Statuary Hall
presented by the people of the State of Wyoming.
In 1840, Chief Washakie became the principal chief of the eastern
Shoshone tribe, a role he would fill until his death over 60 years
later. Chief Washakie was well-known as a distinguished leader and a
stately warrior who bravely defended the Shoshone and their allies. He
was a skilled linguist. He spoke English, French and Shoshone.
Adhering to the philosophy of making the best of what cannot be
changed, Chief Washakie maintained friendly relations with the United
States Government, with the settlers, and other American immigrants. He
always placed the peace and welfare of his people above all other
concerns. Chief Washakie worked tirelessly to seek the best for his
people, requesting schools, churches, and hospitals on Shoshone land.
He peacefully surrendered the Green River Valley to provide for the
right-of-way for the Union Pacific railroad, thus helping complete the
first transcontinental railroad and the settlement of the west.

{time} 1030

As the last Chief of the Shoshone tribe, Chief Washakie successfully
preserved the Wind River Mountain Range for his tribe's homeland. The
Wind River Mountains are truly some of the most magnificent mountains
in the world. Anyone who has not seen them needs to take a trip and
look at the vast beauty.
In the role of chief, Chief Washakie greatly contributed to the
settlement of the West by allowing the Oregon and the Mormon trails to
pass through Shoshone lands. When wagon trains carrying these pioneers
passed through the Shoshone territory in the 1850s, Chief Washakie and
his people aided overland travelers in fording the streams and
recovering stray animals.
I think that it is interesting to note that over 9,000 emigrants
signed a thank-you document to Chief Washakie and his people for safe
passage through their territory.
In the 1870s, Chief Washakie served as a military leader of over 150
Shoshone men who were serving with United States Cavalry General Crook
in the campaign to return the Sioux and the Cheyenne bands to their
assigned reservations.
This campaign ended with Custer's ill-fated attack at the Little Big
Horn in 1876. This was an attack which Chief Washakie seriously advised
Colonel Custer against doing.
My own maternal great, great grandfather migrated to Wyoming around
1846. He was a mountain man and a trapper. He traded fur pelts with the
Indians, and surely the Shoshones were among those with whom he traded.
When Chief Washakie died in 1900, some say over the age of 100, Chief
Washakie received a full military funeral and burial honoring his
career in the U.S. Army. He is the only chief who has ever been awarded
such a distinction.
The Wind River Indian Reservation in central Wyoming is the home of
many Shoshone and Arapaho Indians today. Their culture and their art
work are still being passed to young generations. For this legacy, we
should all be grateful.
On behalf of the people of Wyoming, I am proud to put forth this
legislation providing a commemoration of one of the States' most
celebrated names, Chief Washakie.
Mr. HOYER. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to join the gentleman from California (Mr.
Thomas) and the gentlewoman from Wyoming (Mrs. Cubin), who represents
Wyoming so well, in rising in support of this resolution. The
gentlewoman from Wyoming (Mrs. Cubin) referred to it as an important
resolution, and that it is. It may not be controversial, but it is
important.
Mr. Speaker, as ranking minority member of the House Administration
Committee and the Joint Committee on the Library, I am pleased to
support this concurrent resolution to enhance the National Statuary
Hall collection by accepting this statue of Chief Washakie submitted by
the State of Wyoming.
Each of the 50 States, Mr. Speaker, as my colleagues know, is
permitted to submit two statues for our collection, which then become
the property of the United States. This is Wyoming's second statue and
brings the total number of such statues in the Capitol to 97 since the
law creating the collection was enacted in 1864.
Mr. Speaker, Congress has usually adopted concurrent resolutions such
as the one before us today upon the arrival of a new statue for the
collection from a State. H. Con. Res. 333 provides that the statue of
Chief Washakie will be displayed for not to exceed 6 months in the
Capitol rotunda. It will then be moved to a permanent site within the
Capitol, as directed by the Joint Committee on the Library, since there
is not sufficient enough space in Statuary Hall to accommodate all of
the existing collection.
The concurrent resolution would also authorize use of the Capitol
rotunda on Thursday, September 7, at 11 o'clock a.m., for a ceremony
where Wyoming will formally present the bronze statue of Chief Washakie
by the noted sculptor Dave McGary.
The concurrent resolution would provide for the printing of an
appropriate number of copies of the transcript of the proceedings,
under the direction of the Joint Committee on the Library, for use by
both Chambers of Congress and by the senators and the representative
from Wyoming.
Chief Washakie, as it has been noted, lived from 1798 to 1900. He was
a leader of the Shoshone tribe who united his people into a significant
political and military force. Both warrior and peacemaker, he
recognized that survival of Indian tribes in the western United States
depended upon accommodation with migrating settlers and the United
States Government.
In 1868, he signed the Fort Bridger Treaty, establishing reservation
boundaries of more than three million acres around the Warm Valley area
of Wyoming.
Chief Washakie spoke English and French as well as a number of other
Indian languages, including, of course, Shoshone. He was a skilled
negotiator who gained substantial benefits for his people at a time
when many other tribes engaged in futile warfare with the army and
incoming settlers.
Chief Washakie knew that peace was better than war for his people
and, as a result, did very well by them and was honored until his death
by them and is honored today by them and by their State, Wyoming.
When Chief Washakie died on February 23, 1900, he was accorded a full
military funeral. I am told that he is the only known Indian chief to
receive such an honor.
Mr. Speaker, Wyoming has exercised its prerogative to honor Chief
Washakie for his significant role in the early history of the State.
We in this Congress, I know, are pleased to support this concurrent
resolution and congratulate its sponsor on her leadership and for
helping to facilitate the presentation of the statue to the people of
the United States.
Mr. THOMAS. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. HOYER. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to my friend, the gentleman
from Ohio (Mr. Traficant).
Mr. TRAFICANT. Mr. Speaker, I thank my very good friend for yielding
me the time.
Mr. Speaker, I just want to rise to compliment the gentlewoman from
Wyoming (Mrs. Cubin) for the fine job she has done. The Native American
Indians and that whole story in this country is a tragic scar on our
history,

[[Page H5177]]

and I believe her efforts are indicative of the feelings and the spirit
of the people of Wyoming and are well appreciated here and are
absolutely necessary.
It is good to see that we honor those who at times were dishonored in
a Nation that now respects the greatness of the action they had taken.
So I want to compliment my good friend, who is one of the Democratic
Party's finer leaders, that is the gentleman from Maryland (Mr. Hoyer);
and I want to compliment the gentleman from California (Mr. Thomas) for
giving the opportunity for the gentlewoman from Wyoming (Mrs. Cubin) to
bring her legislation to the floor. I am honored to support it.
Mr. HOYER. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, in closing, a distinguished son of Wyoming, Mike
Sullivan, now an ambassador, is quoted on this very impressive brochure
related to the Chief Washakie sculpture project. I think he says it
well:
``Washakie is a model for leaders across the generations.''
How appropriate it is to have a statue representing the State of
Wyoming, representing Native Americans, and representing the kind of
country that does and should honor a leader across the generations.
Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
Mr. THOMAS. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, I want to thank the gentleman from Maryland (Mr. Hoyer)
for his comments.
He was indeed an impressive historical figure. The purpose in
allowing States to send statues is to illustrate the diversity of the
historical figures that by adding up the statues of the States give us
an even better understanding of the history of the United States.
It is not by accident that the other statue from the State of Wyoming
is a statue of Esther Hobart Morris, who was a suffragette, who was the
first woman governor anywhere in the United States, and who pushed the
legislation that made Wyoming the first State in the Union to afford
the full voting privileges to women.
So this impressive statue, and my understanding is that Chief
Washakie is going to be more than 12-feet tall in full Indian headdress
with a spear, it will be a focal point on the tours given to the
Capitol visitors and they will be able to visit a portion of our
history, all Americans' history, presented to us by the State of
Wyoming.
Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. LaHood). The question is on the motion
offered by the gentleman from California (Mr. Thomas) that the House
suspend the rules and agree to the concurrent resolution, H. Con. Res.
333, as amended.
The question was taken; and (two-thirds having voted in favor
thereof) the rules were suspended and the concurrent resolution, as
amended, was agreed to.
A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

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