Congressional Record, Volume 149 Issue 83 (Monday, June 9, 2003)

[Congressional Record Volume 149, Number 83 (Monday, June 9, 2003)]
[House]
[Pages H5049-H5050]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

[Congressional Record: June 9, 2003 (House)]
[Page H5049-H5050]
From the Congressional Record Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:cr09jn03-50]

WALT DISNEY POST OFFICE BUILDING

Mr. TURNER of Ohio. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass
the bill (H.R. 1610) to redesignate the facility of the United States
Postal Service located at 120 East Ritchie Avenue in Marceline,
Missouri, as the ``Walt Disney Post Office Building''.
The Clerk read as follows:

H.R. 1610

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of
the United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. WALT DISNEY POST OFFICE BUILDING.

(a) Redesignation.--The facility of the United States
Postal Service located at 120 East Ritchie Avenue in
Marceline, Missouri, and known as the Marceline Main Office,
shall be known and designated as the ``Walt Disney Post
Office Building''.
(b) References.--Any reference in a law, map, regulation,
document, paper, or other record of the United States to the
facility referred to in subsection (a) shall be deemed to be
a reference to the Walt Disney Post Office Building.

The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from
Ohio (Mr. Turner) and the gentleman from California (Mr. Waxman) each
will control 20 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Turner).

General Leave

Mr. TURNER of Ohio. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all
Members may have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend
their remarks on H.R. 1610.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the
gentleman from Ohio?
There was no objection.
Mr. TURNER of Ohio. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may
consume.
Mr. Speaker, H.R. 1610, introduced by my distinguished colleague, the
gentleman from Missouri (Mr. Graves), redesignates the facility of the
United States Postal Service located at East Ritchie Avenue in
Marceline, Missouri, as the Walt Disney Post Office Building. The
entire delegation from the State of Missouri has cosponsored this
legislation.
Mr. Speaker, this legislation honors the great pioneer of animation
and entertainment, Walt Disney. From Mickey Mouse to Donald Duck, from
Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs to ``Finding Nemo,'' and from Disney
World to Disneyland, and, yes, even Euro Disney, what other name is
more synonymous with family entertainment than Disney?
Born in Chicago, Illinois, on December 5, 1901, Walter Elias Disney
transformed the initially struggling motion picture industry into the
producer of the preeminent modern American art form. The list of
Disney's classic animated films reads like an all-time favorites list
of kids everywhere: ``Cinderella,'' ``Pinocchio,'' ``Bambi,'' ``Alice
in Wonderland,'' ``Beauty and the Beast,'' ``Dumbo,'' ``101
Dalmations,'' ``The Jungle Book,'' ``Aladdin,'' and ``The Lion King.''
The corporation founded by Walt Disney also has succeeded in
appealing to a new generation of animated movie lovers with recent hits
such as ``Toy Story,'' ``Pocahontas,'' ``The Hunchback of Notre Dame,''
``Mulan,'' ``Monsters Inc.,'' ``The Emperor's New Groove.'' And,
finally, one cannot forget such timeless live-action films like
``20,000 Leagues Under the Sea,'' ``Swiss Family Robinson,'' ``Treasure
Island,'' ``Honey, I Shrunk the Kids,'' and ``The Santa Claus,'' to
name a few.
Despite the American people's familiarity with him and his countless
works, it may not be widely known that Walt Disney was a production
pioneer as well. He invented the multiplane camera, which was a
breakthrough in the movie production field. It created the illusion of
depth that greatly improved the picture quality of his animated films.
The three-dimensional effects offered by the multiplane camera were
first seen in ``Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs,'' which premiered
December 23, 1937, as the first full-length cartoon in history.
Mr. Speaker, Walt Disney died in 1966 following a battle with lung
cancer; but clearly his legacy has been firmly established for years in
the minds of young people throughout the world, and those slightly more
grown up who remain young at heart. I regret that debate is limited to
only 20 minutes on our side for consideration of this bill, because in
that period of time one can only give the briefest overview to all of
the achievements and impact of Walt Disney's outstanding life.
I urge all Members to vote in favor of H.R. 1610. I thank my
colleague, the gentleman from Missouri, for introducing this important
measure that honors a man whose creative genius continues to entertain
children and adults throughout the world.
Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. WAXMAN. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
As a member of the House Committee on Government Reform, I am pleased
to join my colleague, the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Turner), in the
consideration of a measure which names a postal facility after Walt
Disney. H.R. 1610, which was introduced by Representative Sam Graves on
April 3, 2003, has met the committee policy and has been cosponsored by
the entire Missouri congressional delegation.
Walt Disney was born on December 5, 1901. Shortly after his birth,
his family moved to the peaceful town of Marceline, Missouri, where
they lived in a small house on farmland owned by an uncle. It was
during his boyhood years in Marceline that little Walt began to draw
pictures. He continued to pursue his interests in art while attending
McKinley High School in Chicago, Illinois. There he studied art, often
selling his drawings to make extra money, and photography.
At the age of 16, Walt tried to enlist in the military.
Unfortunately, he was too young, so he joined the Red Cross and spent
time driving an ambulance. It was not until after the war that Walt
began to use his artistic talent as an advertising cartoonist.
As a young man, Walt created his first animated cartoon and moved to
Hollywood to create another first, an animated live-action film. From
there, things continued to spiral up. Walt created three cartoons
featuring a character he dreamed up, Mickey, as in Mickey Mouse. Walt
Disney continued to make animated films, going on to create ``Snow
White and the Seven Dwarfs,'' ``Pinocchio,'' ``Fantasia,'' ``Dumbo,''
and ``Bambi.'' Walt Disney went on to create theme parks and is a
pioneer in animated film production. A long-time smoker, Walt Disney
died of lung cancer on December 15, 1966.
Mr. Speaker, I commend my colleagues for seeking to memorialize Walt
Disney by naming a postal facility in his hometown of Marceline,
Missouri. By all accounts, Walt cherished the time he spent in the
little house on the farm.
I want to say as a representative of Southern California, which is a
place that we feel is very much part of Walt Disney's life, we have
Disneyland, we have Disney Studios, we are soon going to have Disney
Hall. We feel that it is only fair that we allow a post office to be
named after him in the town in which he was raised.
I urge my colleagues to pass this legislation. I think it is another
of many tributes that this country can hope to pay, but never
completely repay, Walt Disney for the enormous contribution he has made
to America and to the world.
Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. TURNER of Ohio. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may
consume.
Mr. Speaker, I only want to add that I have my daughters with me,
Jessica, 11, and Carolyn, who is 8. Jessica, who is 11, says that her
favorite Walt Disney movie is ``Pocahontas''; Carolyn

[[Page H5050]]

says that hers is ``Mulan.'' So certainly, looking at their favorites,
it is in further support of this bill.
Mr. Speaker, I again want to thank the gentleman from Missouri for
introducing this important legislation. I know he regrets that he was
unable to be here today for the consideration of H.R. 1610. I urge all
Members to support the adoption of this measure.
Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. WAXMAN. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, I am pleased that the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Turner)
has his children here with us today, especially in this tribute to Walt
Disney, whose life and career meant so much to all children all over
the world. It is a fitting tribute that we pay to him to name a postal
facility after him in the town in which he was raised. I urge passage
of the legislation.
Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
Mr. TURNER of Ohio. 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 Ohio (Mr. Turner) that the House suspend the rules and
pass the bill, H.R. 1610.
The question was taken.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. In the opinion of the Chair, two-thirds of
those present have voted in the affirmative.
Mr. TURNER of Ohio. 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.

____________________