[Congressional Record Volume 154, Number 148 (Wednesday, September 17, 2008)]
[Senate]
[Pages S8955-S8956]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 SENATE RESOLUTION 664--CELEBRATING THE CENTENNIAL OF UNION STATION IN 
                    WASHINGTON, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA

  Mrs. DOLE submitted the following resolution; which was referred to 
the Committee on Environment and Public Works:

                              S. Res. 664

       Whereas, on February 28, 1903, President Theodore Roosevelt 
     signed into law the act entitled ``An Act to provide a union 
     railroad station in the District of Columbia, and for other 
     purposes'', and Daniel Burnham, a noted architect from 
     Chicago, Illinois, was chosen to design the building;
       Whereas, on October 27, 1907, Union Station officially 
     opened at 6:50 a.m. when the Baltimore and Ohio Pittsburgh 
     Express pulled in to the station;
       Whereas the building was ultimately completed in 1908;
       Whereas, in 1924, 5,000 cheering fans met the victorious 
     Washington Nationals at Union Station after they defeated the 
     Boston Red Sox to capture the American League pennant;
       Whereas, in 1951, President Harry Truman dedicated the 
     Presidential Suite at Union Station as a ``home away from 
     home'' for members of the Armed Services;
       Whereas, in 1968, in preparation for the bicentennial of 
     the United States, the decision was made to transform the 
     building into a National Visitor Center;
       Whereas Congress then passed the Union Station 
     Redevelopment Act of 1981 (Public Law 97-125; 95 Stat. 1667) 
     to return Union Station to its original use as a 
     transportation center;
       Whereas, in 1983, the Union Station Redevelopment 
     Corporation was created to oversee the development of the 
     station into an operating railroad station, to restore the 
     architectural and historical elements of the structure, to 
     explore collaboration with the private sector in the 
     commercial development of the station, and to withdraw the 
     Federal Government from active management of the station;
       Whereas the renovation and restoration of Union Station 
     began on August 13, 1986, with the ringing of an old train 
     bell;

[[Page S8956]]

       Whereas the restoration of Union Station was the largest 
     public-private restoration project accomplished in the United 
     States;
       Whereas the restoration took 2 years and the grand 
     reopening was held on September 29, 1988;
       Whereas, in 2008, Union Station includes more than 210,000 
     square feet of retail space, including 50,000 square feet of 
     restaurant space;
       Whereas Union Station is the corporate headquarters for 
     Amtrak and contains 200,000 square feet of Amtrak passenger 
     and baggage facilities;
       Whereas 32,000,000 people visit Union Station annually; and
       Whereas Union Station is the most visited tourist 
     destination in Washington, District of Columbia: Now, 
     therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the Senate--
       (1) celebrates the centennial of Union Station in 
     Washington, District of Columbia;
       (2) applauds the efforts of the people who worked to 
     preserve this national treasure; and
       (3) encourages the people of the United States to continue 
     to visit and learn about Union Station and its storied 
     history.

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