[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 55 (Thursday, March 29, 2007)]
[Senate]
[Page S4184]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

      By Mr. DODD (for himself, Mr. Grassley, Mr. Obama, and Mrs. 
        Dole):
  S. 1051. A bill to authorize National Mall Liberty Fund D.C. to 
establish a memorial on Federal land in the District of Columbia at 
Constitution Gardens previously approved to honor free persons and 
slaves who fought for independence, liberty, and justice for all during 
the American Revolution; to the Committee on Energy and Natural 
Resources.
  Mr. DODD. Mr. President, I rise today to introduce the National 
Liberty Memorial Act along with my colleagues, Senators Charles E. 
Grassley and Sen. Barack Obama. Representatives Donald M. Payne, 
William Lacy Clay, Steve Cohen, Sheila Jackson-Lee, Henry C. ``Hank'' 
Johnson, Jr., Nita M. Lowey, Albio Sires, and Betty Sutton have 
introduced companion language in the House.
  The depth and breadth of patriotic contributions by African Americans 
in the Revolutionary War have gone practically unacknowledged. 
Historians are now beginning to uncover their forgotten heroism, and 
estimate that 5,000 slaves and free blacks fought in the army, navy, 
and militia during that harrowing time. They served and struggled in 
major battles from Lexington and Concord to Yorktown and made 
significant contributions to the revolutionary effort. More than 400 
hailed from my State of Connecticut.
  More than twenty years ago, Congress authorized a memorial to black 
Revolutionary War soldiers and sailors, those who provided civilian 
assistance, and the many slaves who fled slavery or filed petitions to 
courts or legislatures for their freedom. A site was selected in 
Constitution Gardens, fittingly near the 56 Signers of the Declaration 
of Independence Memorial and the great war memorials. Unfortunately, 
the group originally authorized to raise funds for and build the 
memorial was unable to conclude its task, and the site sits empty 
today.
  A group of committed citizens has formed the National Mall Liberty 
Fund DC, ``Liberty Fund D.C.'', to carry out the vision of Congress. 
Last year, the National Capital Memorial Advisory Commission concluded 
that there are no legal impediments that would preclude the Liberty 
Fund DC from assuming the prior group's site approvals on the Mall. The 
legislation that we offer today would amend the 1986 enactment to 
authorize the Liberty Fund to raise money for and build this valuable 
memorial.
  The time has come to recognize the sacrifice and the impact of the 
African Americans who fought for the birth of our country. I urge my 
colleagues to support the National Liberty Memorial Act.
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