[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 87 (Monday, June 27, 2005)]
[House]
[Pages H5196-H5197]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




  COMMEMORATING MYSTIC SEAPORT: THE MUSEUM OF AMERICA AND THE SEA IN 
                      RECOGNITION OF ITS 75TH YEAR

  Mr. FORTUNA. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to 
the concurrent resolution (H. Con. Res. 152) commemorating Mystic 
Seaport: the Museum of America and the Sea in recognition of its 75th 
year, as amended.
  The Clerk read as follows:

                            H. Con. Res. 152

       Whereas Mystic Seaport: the Museum of America and the Sea 
     was founded as the Marine Historical Association on December 
     29, 1929, to preserve, protect, and honor the legacy of 
     America's great maritime tradition and culture;
       Whereas Mystic Seaport has grown into the largest, most 
     diverse maritime museum, and the fourth largest history 
     museum, in the Nation;
       Whereas the mission of Mystic Seaport is to create a 
     greater awareness and deeper appreciation of America's 
     relationship to the sea and the impact of that relationship 
     upon us as individuals and as a Nation;
       Whereas the collections of Mystic Seaport include four 
     National Historic Landmark vessels including the CHARLES W. 
     MORGAN, the last wooden whaling ship in the world; the LA 
     DUNTON, one of the few remaining fishing schooners of its 
     era; the SABINO, one of the last coal-fired, steam ships 
     still in operation; and the EMMA C. BERRY, an 1866 wooden 
     fishing vessel;
       Whereas Mystic Seaport also maintains the largest 
     collection of watercraft in the nation with more than 500 
     vessels representing sail, oar, paddle and engine-powered 
     boats spanning 2 centuries of history;
       Whereas Mystic Seaport also features the Henry B. duPont 
     Preservation Shipyard as a live working facility that 
     showcases and interprets the art of shipbuilding and 
     restoration, including the restoration of its iconic National 
     Historic Landmark vessels;
       Whereas Mystic Seaport put the Preservation Shipyard to its 
     highest and best use in replicating the schooner AMISTAD in 
     full public view, demonstrating its claim that Mystic Seaport 
     is the only museum in the world that can build a large wooden 
     vessel from the keel up and launch it as part of a 
     comprehensive museum experience;
       Whereas the Collections Research Center of Mystic Seaport 
     houses 75,000 maritime artifacts, more than one million 
     photographs, and 1.5 million feet of film, and is a dynamic 
     national maritime research facility;
       Whereas the G.W. Blunt White Library is one of the largest 
     and most thoroughly catalogued and accessible collections of 
     marine and maritime research material in the world;
       Whereas Mystic Seaport also features a representative 19th-
     century New England coastal village featuring skilled 
     tradesmen and live interpretation to engage, educate, and 
     entertain its visitors;
       Whereas Mystic Seaport maintains educational and outreach 
     programs for all levels including accredited graduate and 
     undergraduate programs through the Munson Institute and 
     Williams-Mystic, the cooperative Maritime Studies Program of 
     Williams College and Mystic Seaport;
       Whereas Mystic Seaport continues to attract more than 
     300,000 visitors each year and millions of other individuals 
     through its interactive internet web site, demonstrating its 
     role as a vital cultural and educational center;
       Whereas more than 1,500 volunteers each year assist 300 
     professional and support staff in preserving and interpreting 
     the collections of the Mystic Seaport and in delivering its 
     unique programs; and
       Whereas Mystic Seaport has recently completed a 
     comprehensive self-study and a strategic program and master 
     plan, and has recommitted itself to its mission with an 
     effort to strengthen its endowment and make its programs more 
     cohesive and compelling: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate 
     concurring), That Congress--
       (1) commemorates Mystic Seaport: the Museum of America and 
     the Sea in recognition of its 75th year and commends the 
     staff, volunteers, and trustees of the Museum and encourages 
     them in their efforts to create greater awareness of 
     America's relationship to the sea and the profound impact of 
     maritime transportation and commerce upon our Nation's 
     economic growth;
       (2) supports Mystic Seaport's presentation of our Nation's 
     Merchant Mariners and shipbuilders whose efforts promoted the 
     expansion of maritime transportation and commerce;
       (3) asks all Americans to join in celebrating this 
     milestone for Mystic Seaport and its mission of preserving 
     and interpreting the legacy of American maritime 
     transportation and tradition; and
       (4) encourages Mystic Seaport in its efforts to secure the 
     future of its collections and programs and supports its 
     efforts to make those programs even more compelling and 
     engaging.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from 
Puerto Rico (Mr. Fortuno) and the gentlewoman from California (Ms. 
Millender-McDonald) each will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Puerto Rico (Mr. Fortuno).


                             General Leave

  Mr. FORTUNO. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members 
may have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their 
remarks on H. Con. Res. 152.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from Puerto Rico?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. FORTUNO. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, H. Con. Res. 152 was introduced by my colleague, the 
gentleman from Connecticut (Mr. Simmons), and commemorates Mystic 
Seaport, the Museum of America and the Sea, in recognition of its 75th 
year. Mystic Seaport was founded in 1929 to preserve, protect, and 
honor the legacy of America's great tradition and culture.

[[Page H5197]]

  Mystic Seaport is the largest maritime museum and fourth largest 
history museum in the Nation and attracts more than 300,000 visitors 
annually.
  The mission of Mystic Seaport is to create a greater awareness and 
deeper appreciation of America's relationship to the sea and to 
highlight the impact of that relationship upon us as individuals and as 
a Nation.
  Both the gentleman from Connecticut (Mr. Simmons) and I represent 
districts in which maritime activities play an important role in the 
lives of many of our constituents and are an important part of the 
history of our States.
  I urge my colleagues to support this resolution and join in 
celebrating this 75-year milestone for Mystic Seaport.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Ms. MILLENDER-McDONALD. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I 
may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I too rise in support of H. Con. Res. 152 commemorating 
the 75th anniversary of the Mystic Seaport, Museum of America and the 
Sea. Many Americans do not appreciate their U.S. maritime history and 
the legacy of the sea.
  The Mystic Seaport Museum was established in 1929 to protect that 
history and legacy. The Mystic Seaport Museum is the largest and most 
diverse maritime museum in the United States. Its collections include 
many types of ships from our past, including a whaling ship, a fishing 
schooner, a coal-fired steamship, and a wooden shipping vessel built in 
1866.
  Mystic Seaport is providing a valuable service to our Nation by 
teaching Americans about our Nation's maritime history, promoting 
research in their vast collections of artifacts, photographs and books, 
and conducting outreach programs to students of all ages.

                              {time}  1515

  Therefore, Mr. Speaker, I urge all of my colleagues to support this 
resolution commemorating the 75th anniversary of Mystic Seaport, and I 
hope that they will continue their programs to continue to grow and 
flourish in the years ahead. I urge the adoption of the resolution.
  Mr. LARSON of Connecticut. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H. 
Con. Res. 152 which acknowledges the 75th anniversary of Mystic 
Seaport: the Museum of America and the Sea. This resolution recognizes 
the efforts of the staff, volunteers, and trustees of the museum in 
preserving America's great maritime tradition. Mystic Seaport is also 
one of the jewels of my home state of Connecticut.
  Since the 1600's, the Mystic Seaport has been a center for 
shipbuilding. Between 1784 and 1919, Mystic Seaport contributed more 
than 600 vessels to the American maritime enterprise. After the advent 
of steam power and railroads, wooden shipbuilding began to decline. 
Three Mystic, Connecticut residents, Edward Bradley, Dr. Charles 
Stillman, and Carl Cutler created the Marine Historical Association on 
December 29, 1929 to prevent the disappearance of the American maritime 
tradition. Today, the Marine Historical Association is known as Mystic 
Seaport: the Museum of America and the Sea. Since the inception of the 
Mystic Seaport Museum, it has become the largest maritime museum, and 
the fourth largest history museum in the nation. The Seaport's 
membership represents 25,000 people from all 50 states and 30 
countries. More than 1,500 volunteers assist Mystic Seaport's 300 
employees each year.
  Mystic Seaport has helped increase awareness and appreciation of 
America's maritime tradition. The museum features the largest 
collection of watercraft in the nation, which includes four National 
Historic Landmark vessels. The vessels include the Charles W. Morgan, 
the last wooden whaling ship in the world, and the Sabino, the last 
coal-fired steam ship still in operation. The Mystic Seaport Museum's 
Collections Research Center functions as a dynamic resource for 
maritime research. The G.W. Blunt White Library is one of the leading 
collections of maritime research material in the world. Recently, the 
library has assembled a virtual run of the earliest published American 
ship registers. The Mystic Seaport Museum has made significant 
contributions in maintaining the cultural integrity of our nation's 
maritime legacy.
  Mystic Seaport was also involved in the construction of a replica of 
the freedom schooner Amistad, which serves as a floating classroom and 
monument to those who lost their freedom or their lives due to the 
transatlantic slave trade. I was privileged to attend the launch of the 
Amistad in March 2000 at Mystic Seaport with a delegation from the 
Congressional Black Caucus.
  Mr. Speaker, I ask that my colleagues join me today in honoring 
Mystic Seaport's role in preserving America's maritime culture. For the 
past 75 years, Connecticut has been proud to be the home of the Mystic 
Seaport Museum, which continues to be a vital protector of the Nation's 
nautical history.
  Ms. MILLENDER-McDONALD. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my 
time.
  Mr. FORTUNO. Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for time, and I 
yield back the balance of my time
  The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Issa). The question is on the motion 
offered by the gentleman from Puerto Rico (Mr. Fortuno) that the House 
suspend the rules and agree to the concurrent resolution, H. Con. Res. 
152, as amended.
  The question was taken; and (two-thirds having voted in favor 
thereof) the rules were suspended and the concurrent resolution, as 
amended, was agreed to.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

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