[Congressional Record Volume 148, Number 51 (Tuesday, April 30, 2002)]
[House]
[Pages H1698-H1699]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




RECOGNIZING THE HISTORICAL SIGNIFICANCE OF THE AQUIA SANDSTONE QUARRIES 
 OF STAFFORD COUNTY, VIRGINIA TO CONSTRUCTION OF CAPITAL OF THE UNITED 
                                 STATES

  Mr. HANSEN. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the 
resolution (H. Res. 261) recognizing the historical significance of the 
Aquia sandstone quarries of Government Island in Stafford County, 
Virginia, for their contributions to the construction of the Capital of 
the United States.
  The Clerk read as follows:

                              H. Res. 261

       Whereas the First Congress passed the Residence Act 
     authorizing the establishment of a Federal Capital as the 
     seat of Government of the new Republic;
       Whereas President George Washington, acting under the 
     authority of the Residence Act, selected the present site of 
     the District of Columbia as the new Federal Capital and seat 
     of government;
       Whereas President Washington, aided by then Secretary of 
     State Thomas Jefferson, took personal charge of the plans for 
     the development of the new seat of government;
       Whereas President Washington decided that the public 
     buildings of the new capital city should be faced in stone so 
     that these buildings would equal or exceed in beauty the 
     buildings of the established capitals of Europe and promote 
     permanence and majesty on the Potomac;
       Whereas President Washington, a boyhood resident of 
     Stafford County, Virginia, recommended that the freestone 
     quarries on Aquia Creek in Stafford County be purchased by 
     the Commissioners of Public Buildings as stone quarries for 
     the public buildings of the District of Columbia, a 
     recommendation acted on by Pierre L'Enfant, the planner of 
     the new capital city;
       Whereas the new quarries, later named Government Island, 
     became the major source of building stone for the Capitol, 
     the White House, and numerous other public buildings in the 
     District of Columbia;
       Whereas there exists substantial evidence of 18th and 19th 
     century stone cutting and quarrying techniques on Government 
     Island, and this physical evidence sheds light on a valuable 
     and informative chapter in the development of the United 
     States Capital; and
       Whereas the Board of Supervisors and residents of Stafford 
     County, Virginia, have undertaken action to preserve 
     Government Island for posterity and to make it available for 
     the education and enlightenment of the public: Now, 
     therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
       (1) recognizes the national historical significance of the 
     Aquia sandstone quarries of Government Island in Stafford 
     County, Virginia, for their substantial contribution to the 
     construction of the new Capital of the United States under 
     the direction of President George Washington; and
       (2) commends the Board of Supervisors and residents of 
     Stafford County, Virginia, for their efforts to preserve 
     Government Island and to make it available for visitation by 
     the public.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from 
Utah (Mr. Hansen) and the gentlewoman from the Virgin Islands (Mrs. 
Christensen) 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, H.R. 261, introduced by the gentlewoman from Virginia 
(Mrs. Jo Ann Davis), would recognize the historical significance of the 
Aquia sandstone quarries of Government Island in Stafford County, 
Virginia, for their contribution for the construction of our Nation's 
Capital city.
  The stone, selected by our first President, George Washington, was 
used to build the Capitol, the White House, and numerous other Federal 
buildings in the District of Columbia.
  This stone was wisely selected by our first President in an effort to 
ensure that this Nation's Capital would be

[[Page H1699]]

every bit as elegant and stately as the capital cities of Europe.
  The resolution also recognized the great efforts of the residents of 
Stafford County to protect Government Island and to safeguard the 
history surrounding this important contribution to our Nation's 
Capital.
  I commend my colleague, the gentlewoman from Virginia (Mrs. Jo Ann 
Davis), for her excellent efforts in introducing this legislation. I 
urge my colleagues to support its passage.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mrs. CHRISTENSEN. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I might 
consume.
  Mr. Speaker, this House Resolution recognizes, as you have heard, the 
historical significance of the Aquia sandstone quarries of Government 
Island in Stafford County, Virginia, for their contributions to the 
construction of the Capital of the United States and commend the 
Stafford County commissioners and local residents for their efforts to 
preserve the quarries.
  The stone from these particular quarries dates back to the late 17th 
century and was chosen by then President George Washington for use at 
Mt. Vernon as well as the construction of the U.S. Capitol, the White 
House, the original Treasury building, the Patent office, and the 
earliest locks and bridges of the C&O Canal.
  Over time, the quarries were exhausted and the site has since been 
through a number of private hands and has entered in and out of public 
ownership.
  We support this resolution commending the local community for their 
latest efforts to preserve this interesting area.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. HANSEN. Mr. Speaker, I yield as much time as she may consume to 
the gentlewoman from Virginia (Mrs. Jo Ann Davis), the author of this 
legislation.
  (Mrs. JO ANN DAVIS asked and was given permission to revise and 
extend her remarks.)
  Mrs. JO ANN DAVIS of Virginia. Mr. Speaker, I thank the chairman for 
yielding me time.
  Mr. Speaker, I am very proud of the many historically significant 
contributions the Commonwealth of Virginia has offered this great 
Nation. Virginia has given America eight of its distinguished men to 
the Office of Presidency, three of whom were born in the first district 
that I represent, and countless other elected officials, military 
heroes and active citizens to the cause of freedom and democracy.
  Today, I rise to pay a specific tribute to the Aquia quarries of 
Government Island in Stafford, Virginia, for their contributions to the 
construction of our Nation's Capitol building and the White House, 
among many other prominent structures.
  As our forefathers struggled to create a nation through a Declaration 
of Independence and an enduring revolution, they sought to express 
permanency in their new-found freedom. Led by Virginia native George 
Washington, America began to plan a city that would dignify the 
grandeur of the new United States of America. They chose the land 
situated geographically centered in the new Nation up the Potomac River 
and to the top of what was known as Jenkin's Hill, a place Pierre 
Charles L'Enfant, the city's planner called ``a pedestal waiting for a 
monument.''

                              {time}  1445

  I could not agree more. Our Capitol has survived over 200 years, 
through the War of 1812, the Civil War, and more recently, the building 
was a suspected target of the recent horrific terrorist attack on our 
country. This building has grown and matured into the great symbol of 
America. The freedoms that we hold so dear and recent events have only 
hardened my deep fondness for our Capitol and what it represents.
  Although little known, the north section of the north wing of the 
Capitol and the White House were constructed of Aquia sandstone 
quarried from Government Island and along the Aquia Creek in Stafford 
County, Virginia; another proud Virginia contribution.
  Stafford County's board of supervisors, County Administrator C.M. 
Williams, county historian Jane Conner, and the county's citizens 
should be commended for making the preservation of this island a 
priority. Their good work will ensure that this area is preserved for 
future generations to explore and enjoy.
  I ask my colleagues to join me today in support of this resolution to 
honor the enduring construction of this building, the cornerstone of 
our democracy, and all that it represents.
  I would like to thank the entire Virginia delegation for cosponsoring 
this House resolution commemorating the United States Capitol and the 
White House, highlighting their humble Virginia beginnings. 
Additionally, I would like to thank the Committee on Resources 
chairman, the gentleman from Utah (Mr. Hansen) and the gentleman from 
West Virginia (Mr. Rahall), the ranking member, and the Subcommittee on 
National Parks, Recreation and Public Lands for moving this important 
Virginia initiative.
  I again encourage my colleagues' support.
  Mrs. CHRISTENSEN. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  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. Culberson). The question is on the 
motion offered by the gentleman from Utah (Mr. Hansen) that the House 
suspend the rules and agree to the resolution, H. Res. 261.
  The question was taken; and (two-thirds having voted in favor 
thereof) the rules were suspended and the resolution was agreed to.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

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