[Congressional Record Volume 155, Number 29 (Thursday, February 12, 2009)]
[Senate]
[Page S2252]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




SENATE RESOLUTION 48--HONORING THE SESQUICENTENNIAL OF OREGON STATEHOOD

  Mr. WYDEN (for himself and Mr. Merkley) submitted the following 
resolution; which was considered and agreed to:

                               S. Res. 48

       Whereas 53,000 settlers traveled the Oregon Trail, the 
     longest of the overland routes used in westward expansion of 
     the United States;
       Whereas approximately 80 Native American tribes inhabited 
     Oregon before the pioneers settled, making Oregon rich with 
     Native American history and culture;
       Whereas the ``Father'' of Oregon, John McLoughlin, valued 
     the Oregon Country and reached out to settlers from the 
     United States who were heading west to seek a new life in a 
     land rich with resources and opportunity;
       Whereas Oregon was admitted to the Union 150 years ago, on 
     February 14th, 1859;
       Whereas Oregon is the only State in the United States to 
     have a 2-sided flag;
       Whereas Oregon is home to the deepest lake in the United 
     States, Crater Lake, known for its beautiful deep blue 
     waters;
       Whereas Oregon is home to the Sea Lion Caves, the largest 
     sea lion caves in the world, where Steller sea lions and a 
     variety of wild birds reside;
       Whereas the State fish of Oregon, the Chinook salmon, is 
     the largest of the Pacific salmon;
       Whereas among the natural bounty of Oregon, the State 
     produces some of the finest nuts, berries, pears, wines, and 
     microbrews in the world;
       Whereas the varied geography of Oregon ranges from 
     mountains to rivers, deserts to lakes, fossil beds to deep 
     canyons;
       Whereas the forests of Oregon have diverse ecologies and 
     histories, from temperate rainforests to ancient old growth 
     forests;
       Whereas Oregon is home to Forest Park, the largest urban 
     forest reserve in the United States;
       Whereas Oregon is the home of companies such as Nike, 
     Intel, and Columbia Sportswear, which are responsible for 
     employing tens of thousands of people in the United States;
       Whereas the largest city in Oregon, Portland, known as the 
     ``Rose City'', is home to the International Rose Test Garden, 
     which was founded in 1917 and is the oldest official rose 
     garden in the United States;
       Whereas Oregon has been a national leader in democratic 
     innovations, such as a ballot initiative system that dates 
     back to the turn of the 20th century;
       Whereas the Oregon legislature was the first in the United 
     States to pass a ``bottle bill'', a landmark piece of 
     legislation that promoted conservation and environmental 
     responsibility; and
       Whereas the Oregon legislature has passed a ``beach bill'' 
     and instituted a state-wide land use planning process to 
     protect the very resources that brought people to Oregon: 
     Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, That--
       (1) it is the sense of the Senate that--
       (A) the people of the United States should observe and 
     celebrate the sesquicentennial of Oregon on February 14, 
     2009, to honor the admission of Oregon as the 33rd State of 
     the United States; and
       (B) Oregonians should be honored for their pioneering 
     spirit and innovation; and
       (2) the Senate respectfully requests the Secretary of the 
     Senate to transmit to the Governor of the State of Oregon an 
     enrolled copy of this resolution for appropriate display.

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