[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 132 (Tuesday, October 18, 2005)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E2120]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




BILL PERMITTING EACH OF THE TERRITORIES OF THE UNITED STATES TO PROVIDE 
                 A STATUE TO BE PLACED IN STATUARY HALL

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                       HON. ENI F.H. FALEOMAVAEGA

                           of american samoa

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, October 18, 2005

  Mr. FALEOMAVAEGA. Mr. Speaker, I am proud today to introduce 
legislation to permit American Samoa, the Virgin Islands, Guam, and 
Puerto Rico to provide one statue to be placed with the state statues 
in the Statuary Hall collection here in the Capitol Building. I want to 
thank my colleagues, Mrs. Christensen, Ms. Bordallo, and Mr. Fortuno 
for joining me as original co-sponsors of this legislation.
  On July 2, 1864, Congress enacted a law creating the National 
Statuary Hall. In the debate over what to do with the old House 
Chamber, Mr. Morrill in the House of Representatives proposed, ``To 
what end more useful or grand, and at the same time simple and 
inexpensive, can we devote the Chamber than to ordain that it shall be 
set apart for the reception of such statuary as each State shall elect 
to be deserving of in this lasting commemoration?''
  At the time of enactment, American Samoa, the Virgin Islands, Guam, 
and Puerto Rico were not a part of the U.S. and were not included in 
Mr. Morrill's proposal. For this reason we come before you today to 
introduce legislation that would extend this same courtesy to Americans 
who live in the outlying areas of our great country. Each of our 
outlying areas has a unique history and a unique relationship to the 
United States. The annals of our territorial histories are replete with 
examples of outstanding leaders. To allow this legislation would be to 
honor these great citizens' contributions.
  Also, this legislation would symbolically acknowledge that our U.S. 
Territories are an important, integral part of our national heritage. 
Imagine the pride a young person would feel, traveling here to our 
nation's capital from American Samoa, or the Virgin Islands, or Guam, 
or Puerto Rico, and seeing a statue of a person from their own 
territory's history, side by side with many of America's other 
significant historical figures.
  Mr. Speaker, the funding for the commissioning and transportation of 
the statues would be borne by the territories themselves in the same 
manner as the statues from the states, meaning there would be no cost 
to the American taxpayer. Because this legislation provides a simple 
and inexpensive method for us here in Congress to educate Capitol 
visitors about the contributions of our outlying areas to our great 
nation, I urge my colleagues to support this bill.

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