[Congressional Record Volume 150, Number 139 (Wednesday, December 8, 2004)]
[Senate]
[Pages S12020-S12021]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




AMERICAN BALD EAGLE RECOVERY AND NATIONAL EMBLEM COMMEMORATIVE COIN ACT

  Mr. FRIST. I ask unanimous consent that the Senate proceed to the 
immediate consideration of H.R. 4116, which is at the desk.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will report the bill by title.
  The legislative clerk read as follows:

       A bill (H.R. 4116) to require the Secretary of the Treasury 
     to mint coins celebrating the recovery and restoration of the 
     American bald eagle, the national symbol of the United 
     States, to America's lands, waterways, and skies and the 
     great importance of the designation of the American bald 
     eagle as an ``endangered'' species under the Endangered 
     Species Act of 1973, and for other purposes.

  There being no objection, the Senate proceeded to consider the bill.
  Mr. FRIST. Mr. President, I do want to say a word about H.R. 4116, a 
bill requiring the U.S. Mint to produce coins celebrating the recovery 
and restoration of America's greatest symbol; that is, the American 
bald eagle. The proceeds from these coin sales will be used to 
establish the American Eagle Fund, which is a special endowment to 
assure the ongoing care and protection of this symbol of our freedom.
  As many of our colleagues know, in 1782 our Nation's Founding Fathers 
established the bald eagle as the national emblem of the United States. 
Since that point in time, the bald eagle has represented the spirit of 
America: our liberty, our freedom, our democracy, and our strength.
  I mention consideration of this bill in part to give tribute to the 
extraordinary dedication and work of Al Cecere, who is president of the 
American Eagle Foundation, and his colleagues. The foundation is 
located in Pigeon Forge, TN. It is a remarkable foundation that cares 
for and studies and shares with the public several nonreleasable eagles 
at Dollywood's Eagle Mountain Sanctuary, which is a very large aviary 
there.
  Many Americans have seen this specific symbol as they watched the 
Foundation's most famous member, a beautiful bald eagle called 
Challenger, a truly majestic bird, because it makes regular appearances 
all over this country, at the U.S. Capitol and most of the major 
sporting events and other large indoor and outdoor gatherings 
throughout this country, all of which are celebrating the various 
aspects of American life.
  I want to pay tribute to my colleague, Tennessee Senator Lamar 
Alexander, for his dedicated and diligent work of signing up 70 of our 
colleagues in support of the bill, and Senator Landrieu for being an 
original cosponsor of the Senate bill. I want to thank our House 
colleague, Bill Jenkins, for his extraordinary leadership on the issue. 
He took the lead there in signing up over 300 House cosponsors of the 
bill, assisted by several of his House colleagues, most particularly 
Congressman Harold Ford.
  Again, a majestic bird, a majestic symbol of so much of what we do on 
the floor of the Senate, was honored through this bill, the American 
Bald Eagle Recovery and National Emblem Commemorative Coin Recovery 
Act.
  Mr. ALEXANDER. Mr. President, I rise today to commend and thank my 
colleagues in the Congress for considering H.R. 4116, the American Bald 
Eagle Recovery and National Emblem Commemorative Coin Act. I was proud 
to sponsor the companion bill in the Senate.
  The act authorizes the U.S. Mint to issue commemorative coins 
``celebrating the recovery and restoration of the American bald eagle, 
the national symbol of the United States, to America's lands, 
waterways, and skies'' in 2008. The proceeds from these coins, which 
are expected to exceed $1 million, will go to the American Eagle 
Foundation of Pigeon Forge, TN. The foundation intends to use these 
funds for a national competitive grant program to support eagle 
recovery, education, and other related conservation efforts.
  The American bald eagle is not just another bird. It is one of the 
most recognized symbols of our Nation. Since the Second Continental 
Congress selected the bald eagle as our national emblem in 1782, the 
image of the bald eagle has come to represent two core

[[Page S12021]]

values for all Americans: freedom and democracy.
  Like the bald eagle, the American Eagle Foundation is not just a 
Tennessee treasure, but a national one. The work done by the American 
Eagle Foundation has been critical to helping bring the American bald 
eagle back from the brink of extinction. The bald eagle now soars above 
every State except Hawaii. With the continued success of programs and 
efforts of the American Eagle Foundation and other groups, the American 
bald eagle may soon be ``de-listed'' from the Endangered Species Act.
  Senator Landrieu and I have worked hard to pass this bill in the 
Senate, and Tennessee Congressmen Bill Jenkins and Harold Ford led the 
bipartisan effort in the House of Representatives. Al Cecere, President 
of the American Eagle Foundation, worked tirelessly to assemble a 
national coalition of eagle supporters, and his face has been a welcome 
sight in the halls of Congress over the last year.
  Al was regularly accompanied by Challenger, a 16-year-old American 
bald eagle that has brought this campaign to life. Many Americans have 
seen Challenger perform, flying into the World Series, professional and 
college football games, and other events. Now many Congressmen and 
Senators have met Challenger, too.
  We should all be proud to have taken this step, today, to commemorate 
and support our national symbol, the American bald eagle.
  Mr. FRIST. I ask unanimous consent that the bill be read a third time 
and passed, the motion to reconsider be laid upon the table, and that 
any statements be printed in the Record.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  The bill (H.R. 4116) was read the third time and passed.

                          ____________________