[Congressional Record Volume 149, Number 141 (Wednesday, October 8, 2003)]
[House]
[Pages H9312-H9315]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




         SUPPORTING ERECTION OF NATIONAL RAILROAD HALL OF FAME

  Mr. PORTER. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the 
resolution (H. Res. 342) supporting the National Railroad Hall of Fame, 
Inc., of Galesburg, Illinois, in its endeavor to erect a monument known 
as the National Railroad Hall of Fame.
  The Clerk read as follows:

                              H. Res. 342

       Whereas Galesburg, Illinois, has been linked to the history 
     of railroading since 1849 when the Peoria and Oquawka 
     Railroad was organized;
       Whereas the citizens of Galesburg supported a railroad to 
     Chicago which was chartered as the Central Military Tract 
     Railroad in 1851;
       Whereas upon completion of the Central Military Tract 
     Railroad, the Northern Cross Railroad joined the Central 
     Military Tract Railroad at Galesburg;
       Whereas in 1886 Galesburg secured the Atchison, Topeka, and 
     Santa Fe Railway and became one of the few places in the 
     world served by 2 major railroads;
       Whereas the National Railroad Hall of Fame, Inc., has been 
     established in Galesburg and chartered under the laws of the 
     State of Illinois as a not-for-profit corporation;
       Whereas the objectives of the National Railroad Hall of 
     Fame, Inc., include (1) perpetuating the memory of leaders 
     and innovators in the railroad industry, (2) fostering, 
     promoting, and encouraging a better understanding of the 
     origins and growth of railroads, especially in the United 
     States, and (3) establishing and maintaining a library and 
     collection of documents, reports, and other items of value to 
     contribute to the education of all persons interested in 
     railroading; and
       Whereas the National Railroad Hall of Fame, Inc., is 
     planning to erect a monument known as the National Railroad 
     Hall of Fame to honor the men and women who actively 
     participated in the founding and development of the railroad 
     industry in the United States: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the House of Representatives supports the 
     National Railroad Hall of Fame, Inc., of Galesburg, Illinois, 
     in its endeavor to erect a monument known as the National 
     Railroad Hall of Fame.


[[Page H9313]]


  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from 
Nevada (Mr. Porter) and the gentlewoman from Florida (Ms. Corrine 
Brown) each will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Nevada (Mr. Porter).
  Mr. PORTER. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of this bipartisan resolution in 
support of the National Railroad Hall of Fame in Galesburg, Illinois.
  The history of railroading in Illinois began in 1837 with the 
construction of a rail line linking the Illinois and the Mississippi 
Rivers. From that small beginning, Illinois emerged as the major 
connecting point for railroads linking the entire continent.
  The National Railroad Hall of Fame in Galesburg, Illinois, was 
founded to honor the memory of the inventors, the engineers, the 
surveyors, the financiers and workers who built these great railroads.
  Past inductees to the National Railroad Hall of Fame include George 
Pullman, developer of the famous Pullman sleeping car, and Cyrus K. 
Holliday, builder of the Atchison Topeka & Santa Fe.
  Another great and recent inductee is Ralph Budd, president of the 
Great Northern and the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy railroads. In the 
1930s, Mr. Budd rejuvenated passenger rail service by developing the 
fastest and most efficient train of its time, the Pioneer Zephyr.
  Highly streamlined and constructed of lightweight stainless steel, 
the Pioneer Zephyr represented a true landmark in the history of 
passenger railroading. On May 26, 1934, this train made a record-
breaking trip from Denver to Chicago, a distance of 1,000 miles, in 
only 13 hours. Today, that same train trip takes over 17 hours.
  The mission of the National Railroad Hall of Fame is to perpetuate 
the memory of great railroaders, such as Ralph Budd, and to serve as an 
educational resource for our younger generation. I strongly urge 
approval of this resolution.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Ms. CORRINE BROWN of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time 
as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I think one of the most valuable lessons we have learned 
from the tragic events of September 11 is just how important our 
railroads are to this country. With the aviation system grounded, 
American railroads were working hard to help both passenger and freight 
reach their destinations. Not only was this important to keep the 
economy running, but sent an important message to our enemies that 
American transportation system was still the strongest in the world.
  On November 12, 2001, I was in New York when American Airlines Flight 
587 crashed shortly after taking off from JFK Airport, creating a 
national panic and shutting down the entire city. Fortunately for me 
and many other Members of Congress who ended up at Penn Station that 
day, Amtrak was still running, and returned us safely to Washington to 
deal with this latest tragedy. I realized once again just how important 
Amtrak is to the American people and how important it is for this 
Nation to have alternate modes of transportation.
  I personally fell in love with railroads as a child watching the 
Silver Meteor passenger train pass my house in Jacksonville, and today 
I get firsthand information on the railroads from my friends, 
constituents and my brother, who worked with CSX for over 30 years, 
which I proudly say is headquartered in my district.
  Since the first horse-drawn cars hauled coal on steel rails, the 
success of the U.S. economy has been directly linked to the success of 
the railroad industry. It is only right to pay homage to the men and 
women who have worked so hard to build this Nation's railroad 
infrastructure.
  The National Railroad Hall of Fame's goal is to promote and encourage 
a better understanding of this country's railroads, and is collecting 
documentation and information that is open to the public. The planned 
National Railroad Hall of Fame Monument will honor the men and women 
responsible for founding and developing the U.S. rail industry.
  I want to thank the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Evans) for 
introducing this legislation. The veterans of this Nation have no 
better friend in Congress than the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Evans). 
It has been an honor serving with him on the Committee on Veterans' 
Affairs, and I am glad to join him in celebrating the noble history of 
American railroads.
  Mr. Speaker, I encourage my colleagues to support this excellent 
legislation, which educates the public on the vital role our railroad 
plays in the development of our young Nation and the strong role it 
plays in the world economy today.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. PORTER. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from 
Illinois (Mr. Shimkus).
  (Mr. SHIMKUS asked and was given permission to revise and extend his 
remarks.)
  Mr. SHIMKUS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of this legislation 
that seeks to create a privately-funded museum to help promote a better 
understanding of the origins and growth of the railroad industry in 
America. I would like to thank my friend the gentleman from Illinois 
(Mr. Evans) for introducing this legislation.
  The resolution highlights the efforts of men and women whose hard 
work and resourcefulness helped build one of the Nation's best modes of 
transportation. Nowhere can this be seen better than in my home State 
of Illinois. Illinois has had a pioneering role in the Nation's 
railroad industry since 1837 with the creation of the Northern Cross 
Railroad, linking the Illinois and the Mississippi Rivers together for 
commerce and transportation. Railroads are just one of the reasons why 
Illinois is considered the transportation hub of the country.
  The National Railroad Museum would be located in Galesburg, Illinois. 
Galesburg has a rich history of railroads, being first connected to 
Chicago by rail in 1854 and being home of the Carl Sandburg College, 
one of the first colleges to establish an educational curriculum in 
railroading.
  Mr. Speaker, we all rely on staff. Many times their work goes 
unrecognized. I also wanted to take this time to thank Ken Johnson of 
the Committee on Energy and Commerce and a native of Galesburg, 
Illinois, for his work on this issue. I know his folks, family and 
friends from Galesburg are very proud of his efforts.
  Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this resolution.
  Ms. CORRINE BROWN of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he 
may consume to the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Evans).
  Mr. EVANS. Mr. Speaker, I am here today to urge my colleagues to 
support H. Res. 342, a resolution recognizing the National Railroad 
Hall of Fame in my district in Galesburg, Illinois.
  Galesburg is a city rich in railroading history. In 1849, the Peoria 
and Oquawka Railroad first connected Galesburg to the railroad system 
in western Illinois. Soon after, the people of Galesburg worked hard to 
develop connections between Chicago and the Mississippi River, 
eventually expanding the railroad into the West. By 1886, Galesburg 
became one of the few places in the world to be served by two major 
railroads.
  Because of this rich history, a private group in Galesburg formed to 
develop the National Railroad Hall of Fame in Galesburg, Illinois. The 
mission of the Hall of Fame is focused on honoring the men and women 
who have developed, maintained and strengthened one of the world's 
greatest forms of transportation. The Hall of Fame is being built to 
inspire future generations to continue in America's tradition of growth 
and ingenuity. This resolution simply recognizes the project put 
together by the National Railroad Hall of Fame to maintain that history 
and go forth in the next step in its development.
  Before I finish, I would like to thank my colleagues, the gentleman 
from Illinois (Mr. LaHood) and the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. 
Shimkus), for their support. This would not have happened without the 
support of their staff people. I also want to thank the chairman and 
ranking member of the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure 
for their quick action on this bill.
  I want to thank Bob Bondi of Galesburg, who has worked tirelessly to 
get

[[Page H9314]]

this organization on its feet and with my staff to pass this 
resolution. Also I would like to thank Ken Johnson, who has been of 
tireless help to us. Ken, it would not happen without your support.
  Finally, I would like to thank the Committee on Energy and Commerce 
and Erin Doyle on my staff for her work on this bill.
  This represents good bipartisan support. It is something long 
overdue.

                              {time}  1245

  Mr. PORTER. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Ms. CORRINE BROWN of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the 
gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Davis).
  Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I want to thank the gentlewoman 
from Florida for yielding and also commend her for her tremendous 
leadership. I also want to commend the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. 
Evans), my good friend, for introducing this legislation. I think it is 
so timely and so important.
  I grew up during the era of trains, and I can remember being a small 
child and seeing trains zip by. I was also part of what we call the 
Great Migration, and that is people who lived in the area of the 
country where I lived, in the south, in Arkansas, migrating to the 
Midwest, to the north, going west to California. I also remember the 
cultural experiences that people had with trains. Writers and blues 
singers: ``C.C. Rider, See What You Have Done''; ``Take the A Train''; 
``The Wabash Special''; ``The Chattanooga Choo Choo: Pardon me, boy, is 
that the Chattanooga Choo Choo.''
  So trains were a great part of the history and development and the 
culture of this country, and for the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. 
Evans) to capture that in terms of a Railroad Hall of Fame I think is 
indeed commendable. I simply voice my support for it; and once again, 
it indicates what a great Nation the United States of America is, and 
all of the different entities that have played a part in its 
development. As a student of history, I say to the gentleman from 
Illinois (Mr. Evans) I commend him for this legislation, I strongly 
support it.
  Mr. EVANS. Mr. Speaker, I am here today to urge my colleagues to 
support H. Res. 342, a resolution which recognizes the National 
Railroad Hall in Galesburg, Illinois.
  The development of a national railroad system from coast to coast in 
the United States had major impacts on our economy, national defense, 
and national lifestyle. As the railroad grew, it allowed an increasing 
ease in transporting goods and people. However, the development and 
expansion of the railroad could not have occurred without the hard work 
and ingenuity of individuals in the industry.
  For that reason, a private group has gathered in Galesburg, Illinois 
to create a National Railroad Hall of Fame. The mission of the Hall of 
Fame focuses on the men and women who developed and maintained one of 
our nation's greatest forms of transportation. They are building the 
Hall of Fame to inspire us to continue in the American tradition that 
built our railroad system. To show how this tradition has continued 
through history, inductees are selected from three eras in railroad 
history. The first is the Birth and Development Era, from 1800 to 1965. 
The second is the Golden Era, from 1866 to 1945. And the final period 
is the Modern Era, from 1946 to present day. The reason the founders of 
the Hall of Fame choose these time periods is to reflect the different 
stages of railroad development and the continuing growth through today 
into the future.
  In 2002, they introduced three inductees. The people that they 
recognized were George Pullman, Sanford Fleming, and Louis Menk, all of 
who provided enormous contributions to the success of the railroad 
industry. George Pullman is probably the most recognized of the 
inductees, having invented the Pullman sleeper car and an entire 
village for the employees who made it. His contribution to American 
railroading was profound because it made traveling great distances over 
rail comfortable, even luxurious.
  Sanford Fleming, the inductee from the Golden Era, arranged a system 
that each of us utilize when we travel, Standard Time. Prior to Mr. 
Fleming's system, train stations ran on local time. Local time was 
determined by the sun. Traveling on a schedule set by each station's 
local time became a headache for station managers and railroad 
passengers alike. To address this problem, Sanford Fleming divided the 
world map into 24 sections, thus creating the Standard Time which we 
all follow now.
  Finally, Louis Menk was inducted from the Modern Era. Mr. Menk is an 
example of the American dream. Having started out as a telegraph 
messenger for Union Pacific Railroad, he worked his way to the top of 
the railroad industry to become President and CEO of Burlington lines. 
He doubled the size of the company and merge it with a number of other 
lines to stretch across the Western United States.
  Placing this history in Galesburg, Illinois is appropriate to the 
history of the railroad as well. Galesburg has a long history with 
railroading. In 1849, the Peoria and Oquawka Railroad was established 
providing Galesburg with the opportunity to connect to a rail system. 
After that, Galesburg quickly became an important link between Chicago 
and the West. Finding a need to connect Iowa with the east coast, 
Galesburg worked as a community to expand the rail system from Chicago 
to the Mississippi River and then over into Iowa. This allowed for the 
extension of a rail system that eventually reached coast to coast. By 
1886, Galesburg secured the Atchison, Topeka, and Santa Fe Railway and 
became one of the few places in the world served by two major 
railroads. Currently, Galesburg is still a central point in the 
railways for shippers moving good across the country.
  Additionally, Carl Sandberg College of Galesburg, Illinois, was one 
of the first institutions to establish an education curriculum in 
railroading. Currently, the College continues this program offering a 
certificate program and an associates program in railroad operations. 
This shows how basic the tie between Galesburg and the railroad is.
  In honor of this history in Galesburg and the history of the 
ingenuity of those that shaped the railroad industry, a group of people 
got together in Galesburg, Illinois and developed the National Railroad 
Hall of Fame, Inc. The main purpose of the Hall of Fame is to continue 
the memory of the leaders, inventors, engineers, riders, teachers, and 
all other participants in this proud industry. However, the Hall of 
Fame also seeks to inspire future generations to continue this proud 
tradition of growth and invention. Finally, they seek to provide a home 
to research surrounding the railroading industry and provides an 
opportunity for local history students to work on the history of the 
railroad industry. By working with local college students to enhance 
the background information for recommended inductees, the Hall of Fame 
expands the historical information and the people that study it.
  What the National Railroad Hall of Fame in Galesburg has asked for 
its simple recognition of its and its mission. The people who have put 
this project together have raised the money necessary for the building 
on their own. Additionally, they simply wish to continue the project of 
creating a deposit of history and inspiration for the work ethic that 
built the industry that built this country. In return, all they request 
is recognition.
  Before I finish, I would like to thank my colleague Mr. LaHood for 
working with me to pass this resolution, and Andrea Tebbe on his staff. 
I also want to thank the Chairman and Ranking Member of the 
Transportation Committee for this quick action on this bill. I want to 
thank Bob Bandi of Galesburg, who has worked tirelessly on to get this 
organization on its feet and with my staff to pass this resolution. 
Also, I would like to thank Ken Johnson from the Energy and Commerce 
Committee for his assistance and enthusiasm for his hometown. Finally, 
I would like to thank Erin Doyle on my staff for her work on this bill.
  Once again, I urge my colleagues to support this resolution and pay 
tribute to the history of the railroading industry.
  Mr. LaHOOD. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H. Res. 342, 
legislation supporting the National Railroad Hall of Fame, Inc.'s 
endeavor to erect a monument supporting the Hall of Fame in Galesburg, 
Illinois. The National Railroad Hall of Fame, Inc. is a not for profit 
organization dedicated to preserving the legacy of the railroad 
industry and educating the public regarding its role in American 
history. Galesburg has been intricately linked with railroading since 
1849, when the organization of the Peoria and Oquawka Railroads began 
an era of massive expansions of railroads across North America.
  Too often we forget one of the most important aspects of American 
history--the development and expansion of our transportation system. 
Modern and efficient transportation links, whether by road, air, or 
rail, have, and will continue to be, integral to sustaining and 
expanding our economic development. Railroads were one of the first 
modes of transportation to efficiently move goods and people across 
North America. They have helped expand our economy and played an 
important role in social and cultural life during the late nineteenth 
and early twentieth centuries.
  I applaud the National Railroad Hall of Fame, Inc. for their 
dedication to preserving this history and for their work to educate the 
public about the important contributions railroads have made to our 
society. I would like

[[Page H9315]]

to thank Congressman Lane Evans for offering H. Res. 342, and I urge my 
colleagues to pass this historic legislation.
  Ms. CORRINE BROWN of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance 
of my time.
  Mr. PORTER. Mr. Speaker, 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 Nevada (Mr. Porter) that the House 
suspend the rules and agree to the resolution, H. Res. 342.
  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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