[Congressional Record Volume 146, Number 125 (Tuesday, October 10, 2000)]
[House]
[Pages H9620-H9621]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
PLACEMENT AT LINCOLN MEMORIAL OF PLAQUE COMMEMORATING SPEECH OF MARTIN
LUTHER KING, JR., KNOWN AS ``I HAVE A DREAM'' SPEECH
Mr. HANSEN. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and concur in
the Senate amendment to the bill (H.R. 2879) to provide for the
placement at the Lincoln Memorial of a plaque commemorating the speech
of Martin Luther King, Jr., known as the ``I Have a Dream'' speech.
The Clerk read as follows:
Senate amendment:
Strike out all after the enacting clause and insert:
SECTION 1. PLACEMENT OF PLAQUE AT LINCOLN MEMORIAL.
(a) Placement of Plaque.--
(1) In general.--The Secretary of the Interior shall
install in the area of the Lincoln Memorial in the District
of Columbia a suitable plaque to commemorate the speech of
Martin Luther King, Jr., known as the ``I Have A Dream''
speech.
(2) Relation to commemorative works act.--The Commemorative
Works Act (40 U.S.C. 1001 et seq.) shall apply to the design
and placement of the plaque within the area of the Lincoln
Memorial.
(b) Acceptance of Contributions.--
(1) In general.--The Secretary of the Interior is
authorized to accept and expand contributions toward the cost
of preparing and installing the plaque, without further
appropriation. Federal funds may be used to design, procure,
or install the plaque.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from
Utah (Mr. Hansen) and the gentleman from American Samoa (Mr.
Faleomavaega) each will control 20 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Utah (Mr. Hansen).
Mr. HANSEN. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of H.R. 2879, introduced by the
gentlewoman from Kentucky (Mrs. Northup). H.R. 2879 would provide for
the placement at the Lincoln Memorial of a plaque commemorating the
speech of Martin Luther King, Jr., known as the ``I Have a Dream''
speech. The plaque would be placed in an appropriate location in the
vicinity of the Lincoln Memorial where Dr. King delivered his famous
civil rights speech on August 28, 1963. This bill also directs the
Secretary of the Interior to accept contributions to help offset any
costs associated with the preparation and placement of the plaque.
Mr. Speaker, this is an important bill. It has bipartisan support. I
urge all of my colleagues to support H.R. 2879, as amended.
Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. FALEOMAVAEGA. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may
consume.
(Mr. FALEOMAVAEGA asked and was given permission to revise and extend
his remarks.)
Mr. FALEOMAVAEGA. Mr. Speaker, H.R. 2879 as passed by the House
directs the Secretary of the Interior to insert on the steps of the
Lincoln Memorial a plaque commemorating the speech of Dr. Martin Luther
King, Jr., known as the ``I Have a Dream'' speech.
The bill originally passed the House by a voice vote on November 9 of
last year. The Senate passed the bill last week and has returned the
measure to the House with an amendment.
The Senate amendment makes a number of clarifying and technical
changes to the bill. We support these changes. In fact, we believe
these changes strengthen the bill by providing greater flexibility on
the placement of a plaque and by making sure that this action is
carried out in conformance with the Commemorative Works Act.
Mr. Speaker, I want to note that our colleague, the gentleman from
Georgia (Mr. Lewis) was present and was one of the speakers that day in
the summer of 1963 on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial and was with
Dr. King when rendering the ``I Have a Dream'' speech that occurred at
the Lincoln Memorial, which certainly had a profound impact not only on
the civil rights movement but I would say that this Member particularly
was very touched by the speech that Dr. King gave on that day. I ask my
colleagues to support this measure.
Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
Mr. HANSEN. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as she may consume to the
gentlewoman from Kentucky (Mrs. Northup), who has worked so diligently
on this legislation, and I commend her for the good work she has done.
Mrs. NORTHUP. Mr. Speaker, this bill originated because one of my
constituents, Thomas Williams, came to Washington, D.C. with his wife
to see Washington, as so many Americans do. He wrote to me when he got
home and talked about the moving moments he had as he went around
Washington walking in the footsteps and being reminded of what a
democracy this was and some of our important leaders.
He wrote to me about what he thought was missing, and I would like to
share with you some of those words: I looked for the spot on which
Martin Luther King stood when he spoke. I looked for a marker to remind
me and others that for a single moment on a hot August day a descendant
of a slave held the most prominent space in our Nation and delivered
words that will always stay with that space. I could not find a marker
or the words on those steps. And he goes on to say that markers such as
this are reminders that an ordinary space we sometimes occupy can
become forever changed by the deeds of a person that has stood there.
Looking even further, he said, into the future I saw a day when I
could bring my yet unborn children to that spot where Martin Luther
King spoke and I could show them that marker and read them the words of
his dream.
{time} 2310
``I could tell them that this is still a nation where a simple
Kentucky farmer could rise to the heights of president, and that a son
of a slave could inspire future generations with the power of his words
and his compassion.''
Mr. Speaker, this plaque gives us these memories. All of us see
schoolchildren that come to Washington each year. I reminded them that
they are not only visiting the past, walking in the footsteps of our
history, but that
[[Page H9621]]
they are being filled with inspiration for their futures and for their
responsibilities as leaders to make this democracy even better, to not
be afraid to tackle the challenges, and to be part of the goodness of
this country.
These children look for the markers, look for the memories, that give
them this inspiration, give them example, and give them a belief that
they, too, can make a difference.
So it is important that as they walk on the steps of the Lincoln
Monument, that they not forget that very important day and that very
important leader that Dr. Martin Luther King was to this country.
I think it is also important to thank my constituent, Tom Williams,
who wanted the events of 1963 to come alive to all who toured the
Lincoln Monument. Today we honor his contribution as an interested
citizen, a citizen that believed that he could make a suggestion, and
that that suggestion might have a powerful result.
Finally, the movement of this legislation also honors another man,
Senator Paul Coverdell from Georgia, who sponsored this legislation on
the Senate side. Senator Coverdell's death was a great loss to all of
us this year, and we will miss him, but like the man we are honoring
here today, Senator Coverdell will also be fondly remembered in our
hearts.
Mr. HANSEN. Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for time, and I
yield back the balance of my time.
The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Ryan of Wisconsin). The question is on
the motion offered by the gentleman from Utah (Mr. Hansen) that the
House suspend the rules and concur in the Senate amendment to the bill,
H.R. 2879.
The question was taken; and (two-thirds having voted in favor
thereof) the rules were suspended and the Senate amendment was
concurred in.
A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.
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