[Congressional Record Volume 149, Number 131 (Tuesday, September 23, 2003)]
[House]
[Pages H8412-H8413]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




        COMMEMORATING THE BICENTENNIAL OF THE LOUISIANA PURCHASE

  Mr. PEARCE. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the 
concurrent resolution (H. Con. Res. 21) commemorating the Bicentennial 
of the Louisiana Purchase.
  The Clerk read as follows:

                            H. Con. Res. 21

       Whereas in 1803, the United States purchased the Louisiana 
     Territory from France for a total of $15,000,000;
       Whereas President Thomas Jefferson designated Robert 
     Livingston and James Monroe to negotiate the treaty with 
     Napoleon Bonaparte;
       Whereas the Louisiana Purchase included 827,987 square 
     miles, nearly 600,000,000 acres, the largest single land 
     purchase in our Nation's history;
       Whereas the Louisiana Purchase territory stretched from 
     Canada to the Gulf of Mexico and from the Mississippi River 
     to the Rocky Mountains, nearly doubling the size of the 
     United States at that time;
       Whereas this purchase enabled dramatic further westward 
     expansion and helped fuel the Nation's rise as a world power;
       Whereas 15 States or parts of States were carved out of the 
     Louisiana Purchase territory, including Arkansas, Colorado, 
     Iowa, Kansas, Louisiana, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, 
     Nebraska, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oklahoma, South Dakota, 
     Texas, and Wyoming;
       Whereas the land was acquired by peaceful means, in stark 
     contrast to the usual methods of old-style empires, which 
     often conquered new territories by force;
       Whereas the acquisition secured the United States' trading 
     abilities by guaranteeing its navigation rights on the 
     Mississippi River and its ability to send goods through the 
     Port of New Orleans for shipment to the Atlantic Coast and 
     Europe; and
       Whereas generations of Americans have benefited from 
     President Jefferson's noble vision of America and his efforts 
     at expanding our new Nation onto the continent: Now, 
     therefore, be it
       Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate 
     concurring),  That the Congress celebrates the 200th 
     anniversary of the Louisiana Purchase, recognizes the 
     extraordinary work of the individuals involved in the 
     transaction, and is grateful for the tremendous part the 
     event played in fulfilling our Nation's Manifest Destiny.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from New 
Mexico (Mr. Pearce) and the gentlewoman from the Virgin Islands (Mrs. 
Christensen) each will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from New Mexico (Mr. Pearce).
  Mr. PEARCE. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, House Concurrent Resolution 21, introduced by the 
gentleman from Louisiana (Mr. Vitter), would commemorate the 
bicentennial of the Louisiana Purchase. As my colleagues know, the 
Louisiana Purchase was the largest single land acquisition in our 
Nation's history, 827,987 square miles, or nearly 600 million acres. 
Purchased from France in 1803 for $15 million, it stretched from Canada 
to the Gulf of Mexico and from the Mississippi River to the Rocky 
Mountains, nearly doubling the size of the United States at the time. 
Today, 15 States or parts of States exist within the area carved out by 
the Louisiana Purchase.
  House Concurrent Resolution 21 is a commemorative resolution that 
would pay homage to one of the most significant events of our Nation's 
history. I urge my colleagues to support House Concurrent Resolution 
21.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mrs. CHRISTENSEN. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may 
consume.
  (Mrs. CHRISTENSEN asked and was given permission to revise and extend 
her remarks.)
  Mrs. CHRISTENSEN. Mr. Speaker, it would be difficult to overstate the 
historical significance of the Louisiana Purchase. Looking back, it is 
difficult to imagine a single land purchase which doubled the size of 
this Nation, and it is equally hard to imagine what America might look 
like today had that purchase not been made.
  We support the findings and sentiments expressed in this concurrent 
resolution and support its adoption.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. PEARCE. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the 
gentleman from Louisiana (Mr. Vitter), the sponsor of this resolution.
  Mr. VITTER. Mr. Speaker, this year the United States celebrates this 
very significant anniversary, the 200th anniversary of the Louisiana 
Purchase.
  In my home State of Louisiana in particular, but really all across 
the country, celebrations are taking place throughout this year in 
honor of the role this historic event played in our Nation's history. 
When President Jefferson designated Robert Livingston and James Monroe 
to negotiate the Louisiana Purchase treaty with Napoleon Bonaparte, he 
hoped to secure for the country the Port of New Orleans and guarantee 
access to the important trade route along the Mississippi River. Of 
course, he did accomplish that; but he accomplished so much more than 
even that, doubling the size of the new country. The whole territory 
stretched from Canada to the Gulf of Mexico and included all or part of 
what are now 15 States; and, of course, it enabled further westward 
expansion by later settlers.

[[Page H8413]]

                              {time}  1430

  It is noteworthy of course that this largest land transaction in our 
country's history was accomplished without the use of force, which was 
certainly in stark contrast to similar land transactions of earlier 
countries and empires. The Louisiana Purchase has been call the 
greatest land deal in history, as was mentioned, 600 million acres for 
$15 million or about 4 cents an acre. Not only did the acquisition 
guarantee our navigation rights along the Mississippi and our ability 
to ship goods for foreign trade, but it was absolutely central to our 
rise as a world power.
  So it is fitting that we take a little time today to formally 
recognize the significance these events played in shaping our country 
and the way it benefited generations of Americans.
  The Louisiana Purchase shaped the United States's destiny. Our 
country will be forever grateful for the extraordinary work of the 
individuals involved and the noble vision exercised by President 
Jefferson. Robert Livingston who was a relative, by the way, of my 
predecessor, Bob Livingston. As he signed the treaty, he perhaps put it 
best: ``We have lived long, but this is the noblest work of our whole 
lives . . . from this day the United States take their place among the 
powers of the first rank . . . the instruments which we have just 
signed . . . prepare ages of happiness for innumerable generations of 
human creatures.''
  I would like to thank my colleagues from Louisiana, also the 
gentleman from Arkansas (Mr. Boozman) and the gentleman from Arkansas 
(Mr. Ross), the site of the initial surveying in our new territory; the 
gentleman from Virginia (Mr. Goode), home of President Jefferson; the 
gentleman from California (Mr. Pombo), Chair of the Committee on 
Resources, and all of the leadership for their work on this 
legislation.
  Mr. ROSS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to help commemorate an event in 
our Nation's history that we can all join together in celebrating.
  With the stroke of a pen in 1803, President Jefferson doubled America 
in size, making us one of the largest Nations in the world. The 
Louisiana Purchase comprised more than 600 million acres at less than 3 
cents an acre in what today is the greater part of 13 states between 
the Mississippi River and the Rocky Mountains.
  Arkansas was one of those states--the third state formed after 
Louisiana and Missouri. Two hundred years later, Arkansas continues to 
prove itself a valuable asset to our Nation. Our state has contributed 
much to our great country--our agriculture and other industries feed 
our Nation and fuel our economy; our State's natural beauty is an 
endless source of enjoyment for families and visitors. Arkansas has 
supplied our Nation with food and fiber, entertainers, and even a 
president.
  The 828,000 square mile west of the Mississippi River is some of the 
most beautiful and bountiful land in our country. If only $15 million 
could go that far today! I invite my colleagues and our Nation to join 
me in celebrating one of the single most noteworthy events in our 
Nation's history--the Louisiana Purchase. This year as we celebrate the 
bicentennial, I hope that you will visit Arkansas and any of the other 
states that were purchased for so little, and that now prove to be 
priceless.
  Mr. ALEXANDER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the storied legacy 
of the great state I represent, Louisiana. This year marks the 
bicentennial of the Louisiana Purchase, and today I am proud to 
commemorate this monumental event in our nation's history and in the 
history of the state of Louisiana and welcome the nation's 
participation in the yearlong celebration that will educate, entertain, 
and impart a lasting wonder for Louisiana. I have the esteemed 
privilege of representing Louisiana's fifth district, the `heart of 
Louisiana'.
  In 1803, Thomas Jefferson and Napoleon negotiated the United States' 
purchase of Louisiana from France. With just two strokes of the pen, 
our young nation doubled in size overnight, becoming one of the largest 
nations in the world. The Louisiana Purchase, approved by treaty in 
April of 1803, is called the most significant real estate transaction 
in the history of civilization. Encompassing over 800,000 square miles 
of land and costing about four cents per acre, the Louisiana Purchase 
eventually became all or part of 15 states: Arkansas, Missouri, Iowa, 
North Dakota, Texas, South Dakota, New Mexico, Nebraska, Wyoming, 
Kansas, Minnesota, Oklahoma, Colorado, Montana and definitely not least 
of all, Louisiana, my home state.
  As part of the bicentennial celebration friends of the Louisiana 
Purchase bicentennial have collaborated to provide museum exhibits, 
concerts, films, re-enactments, and memorabilia. One of the museum 
exhibits that is especially dear to me is the Heart of Spain at the 
Alexandria Museum of Art in my district. Louisiana's history is 
intertwined with that of Spain's, and the influences of Spanish culture 
are still realized in the state's food, architecture, and government. 
In honor of the Louisiana Purchase Bicentennial, the Alexandria Museum 
of Art is inviting America, until November 30, to experience artifacts 
from world-renown Spanish museums, monasteries, churches and private 
collections El Corazon de Espana, in Alexandria, Louisiana offers a 
unique opportunity to be nourished and inspired by art and culture that 
is indicative of the friendship between Spain and Louisiana.
  Mr. Speaker, I am thrilled to extend an invitation to my colleagues 
and to the nation to live, learn, and love Louisiana's rich history. 
When commenting to Thomas Jefferson on the Louisiana Purchase General 
Horatio Gates said, ``Let the land rejoice for you have bought 
Louisiana for a song.'' Today, I hope my colleagues will join with 
Louisiana, its citizens and friends, in singing ``Happy Birthday.''
  Mrs. CHRISTENSEN. Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for time, 
and I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. PEARCE. Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for time, and I 
yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Foley). The question is on the motion 
offered by the gentleman from New Mexico (Mr. Pearce) that the House 
suspend the rules and agree to the concurrent resolution, H. Con. Res. 
21.
  The question was taken; and (two-thirds having voted in favor 
thereof) the rules were suspended and the current resolution was agreed 
to.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

                          ____________________