[Congressional Record Volume 148, Number 102 (Wednesday, July 24, 2002)]
[Senate]
[Pages S7302-S7303]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




CONFERRING HONORARY CITIZENSHIP OF THE UNITED STATES ON THE MARQUIS DE 
                               LAFAYETTE

  Mr. WARNER. Mr. President, with the consent of the leadership on both 
sides, I ask that the Chair lay before the Senate a message from the 
House on the joint resolution, S.J. Res. 13, conferring honorary 
citizenship of the United States on Paul Yves Roch Gilbert du Motier, 
also known as the Marquis de Lafayette.
  The Presiding Officer laid before the Senate the following message 
from the House of Representatives:

                              S.J. Res. 13

       Resolved, That the joint resolution from the Senate (S.J. 
     Res. 13) entitled ``Joint resolution conferring honorary 
     citizenship of the United States on Paul Yves Roch Gilbert du 
     Motier, also known as the Marquis de Lafayette'', do pass 
     with the following amendments:
       Strike out all after the resolving clause and insert:
       That Marie Joseph Paul Yves Roche Gilbert du Motier, the 
     Marquis de Lafayette, is proclaimed posthumously to be an 
     honorary citizen of the United States of America.
       Strike out the preamble and insert:
       Whereas the United States has conferred honorary 
     citizenship on four other occasions in more than 200 years of 
     its independence, and honorary citizenship is and should 
     remain an extraordinary honor not lightly conferred nor 
     frequently granted;
       Whereas Marie Joseph Paul Yves Roche Gilbert du Motier, the 
     Marquis de Lafayette or General Lafayette, voluntarily put 
     forth his own money and risked his life for the freedom of 
     Americans;
       Whereas the Marquis de Lafayette, by an Act of Congress, 
     was voted to the rank of Major General;
       Whereas, during the Revolutionary War, General Lafayette 
     was wounded at the Battle of Brandywine, demonstrating 
     bravery that forever endeared him to the American soldiers;
       Whereas the Marquis de Lafayette secured the help of France 
     to aid the United States' colonists against Great Britain;
       Whereas the Marquis de Lafayette was conferred the honor of 
     honorary citizenship by the Commonwealth of Virginia and the 
     State of Maryland;
       Whereas the Marquis de Lafayette was the first foreign 
     dignitary to address Congress, an honor which was accorded to 
     him upon his return to the United States in 1824;
       Whereas, upon his death, both the House of Representatives 
     and the Senate draped their chambers in black as a 
     demonstration of respect and gratitude for his contribution 
     to the independence of the United States;
       Whereas an American flag has flown over his grave in France 
     since his death and has not been removed, even while France 
     was occupied by Nazi Germany during World War II; and
       Whereas the Marquis de Lafayette gave aid to the United 
     States in her time of need and is forever a symbol of 
     freedom: Now, therefore, be it
       Amend the title so as to read ``Joint Resolution conferring 
     honorary citizenship of the United States posthumously on 
     Marie Joseph Paul Yves Roche Gilbert du Motier, the Marquis 
     de Lafayette.''.

  Mr. WARNER. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate 
concur in the House amendment to the joint resolution, that the Senate 
concur in the amendment to the preamble, that the Senate concur in the 
House amendment to the title, and that the motion to reconsider be laid 
upon the table en bloc.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  Mr. WARNER. Mr. President, this is a matter on which I and a number 
of others have worked for some time. I thank my distinguished colleague 
from Virginia, Congressman Virgil Goode, whom I asked to introduce this 
measure in the House. He did so with great skill. It was passed by the 
House. It had previously been adopted by the Senate, but now the House 
bill has been adopted by the Senate. Hopefully it will be forthcoming 
to the President for signature.
  I rise in support of this resolution which has been an idea I have 
had for many years.
  It bestows honorary citizenship on the Marquis de Lafayette. I think 
it is an honor long overdue. This great Frenchman fought with 
Washington, as I shall enumerate, in a battle for our independence. He 
was very influential in having the French Government intervene, as they 
did decisively, at

[[Page S7303]]

Yorktown to enable that long, drawn-out conflict to be brought to an 
end. He later came back to Virginia and traveled throughout my State 
and other parts of this great Nation and is remembered with great 
fondness.
  In his greatest time of need when the Austrians imprisoned him for 
his supposed involvement in the fall of the French monarchy, the United 
States did not acknowledge Lafayette as a U.S. citizen despite his 
cries for help all across our land.
  This young man risked so much to help build the America we know 
today, and we are now correcting this long-delayed injustice to 
Lafayette and celebrating him not only as a patriot of freedom and 
liberty but as a U.S. citizen.
  At the young age of 19, Lafayette disobeyed the wishes of King Louis 
XVI of France, risking his own personal wealth and status to aid in our 
quest for freedom from Great Britain. He proved his dedication to our 
liberty when he was wounded in the battle of Brandywine, forever 
endearing himself to the American soldiers.
  Throughout the American Revolution, Lafayette acted as a liaison 
between France and the American colonies. He urged influential 
policymakers to have France make the decisive military, naval, and 
financial commitment to save the American colonists. His tireless 
efforts, both as a liaison and as a general, aided America in her 
ultimate victory.
  During the war, Lafayette proved himself over and over as a soldier 
and a good friend to George Washington. George Washington was impressed 
with Lafayette's military tactics which lured British General 
Cornwallis and his army to Yorktown, VA. The American Army, led by 
General Washington, along with French forces led by General Rochambeau, 
came south and trapped Cornwallis and his troops at Yorktown. As a 
result, the British were forced to surrender. The famous French fleet 
appeared on the horizon and they prevented any resupply to the British 
forces from their ships offshore. It was a decisive part of that 
battle. Here we are today enjoying freedom 200-plus years later because 
of Lafayette and the French contribution.
  Lafayette's services to America extended beyond the battlefield. He 
worked diligently as an adviser, helping to win concessions from 
Britain during the treaty negotiations. At Versailles, when negotiating 
with the French Government, our representatives, Franklin and 
Jefferson, found him invaluable. Moreover, his impartial friendship was 
extended to the first seven U.S. Presidents.
  One of Lafayette's major contributions was bridging these cultural 
gaps between America and France. His early influence on America still 
holds true today as we try to bridge the cultural gaps to many 
countries across the globe to help cultivate freedom. With this in 
mind, now more than ever, it is important to remember who our friends 
are in the world as we try to create a coalition against terror.
  The Marquis de Lafayette is celebrated by many as a symbol of freedom 
and liberty. I am happy and honored for the opportunity to offer this 
resolution for citizenship before the Senate.
  Congress has before shown its respect and gratitude for Lafayette 
when both the Senate and the House of Representatives draped their 
Chambers in black for his contribution to the independence of this 
great Nation.
  Now, I would like to say to the Marquis de Lafayette as John J. 
Pershing did in World War I when he stood before the patriot's grave 
and said: ``Lafayette, we are here.''
  Our Nation has only bestowed this honor on a few persons. I shall 
place into the Record the names of those, such as Winston Churchill and 
others. So here now, at long last, we honor this great patriot.
  First, I thank Senator Leahy, chairman of the Judiciary Committee. I 
also thank, from my staff, John Frierson; former staff member, Don 
Lefeve; and Congressman Virgil Goode from Virginia and his assistant, 
Rawley Vaughn, for their help. The French Ambassador to the United 
States has been of great help and encouragement, as has Mr. Jim 
Johnston of the Virginia Film Foundation, Wyatt Dickerson, and Dr. 
James Scalon, a history professor at Randolph-Macon University.
  It is interesting how many people have joined to make this possible. 
I now enumerate those who have received honorary citizenship by our 
Government: British Prime Minister Winston Churchill, on April 9, 1963; 
Swedish diplomat Raoul Wallenberg, October 5, 1981; William Penn and 
his wife Hannah, October 4, 1984; Mother Teresa, November 16, 1996.
  It is very interesting. I am deeply humbled to have been one of 
several to make this possible.
  Again, I say that the distinguished chairman of the Judiciary 
Committee, Mr. Leahy, was of invaluable help to make this legislation 
possible. I spoke with him earlier today. He helped me facilitate the 
adoption of this matter this evening.

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