[Congressional Record Volume 155, Number 29 (Thursday, February 12, 2009)]
[Senate]
[Pages S2254-S2255]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




           HONORING THE SESQUICENTENNIAL OF OREGON STATEHOOD

  Mr. BEGICH. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate 
proceed to the immediate consideration of S. Res. 48, submitted earlier 
today.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will report the resolution by title.
  The bill clerk read as follows:

       A resolution (S. Res. 48) honoring the sesquicentennial of 
     Oregon statehood.

  There being no objection, the Senate proceeded to consider the 
resolution.
  (Mr. BEGICH assumed the Chair.)
  Mr. WYDEN. Mr. President, we rise to offer this resolution in 
recognition of a historic day for my STATE and the people of Oregon. On 
February 14, 1859, 150 years ago, President James Buchanan signed the 
bill that admitted Oregon as the 33rd STATE to join this great union.
  Mr. President, 150 years ago, there were barely 50,000 people living 
in Oregon. Pictures from that era show hearty men and women standing in 
mud streets in front of clapboard buildings. That would soon change as 
thousands migrated across the continent on the Oregon Trail, a trek 
that would become synonymous with the American spirit.
  Those who made that arduous journey were not nomads aimlessly 
wandering the land looking for a quick buck. They came with a purpose: 
to work hard and to make a new start in a new land. And what a new land 
it was. Oregon was graced by providence with endless forests, rivers 
teeming with fish, fertile valleys, majestic mountains, a dramatic 
coast line, and rugged high deserts.
  Today, more than 3,500,000 people live in Oregon, which continues to 
boast some of the NATION's most unique and beautiful forests, farm 
lands, mountains, coast line and high deserts. They still beckon to 
those who seek a better life, much in the same way as those who endured 
the Oregon Trail. In some parts of Oregon the tracks made by the 
pioneers covered wagons are still visible, forever etched in the 
landscape.
  Oregon has its geographic icons such as the Columbia River, Crater 
Lake, and Mount Hood. It has its great names: Wayne Morse, Mark 
Hatfield, Tom McCall. It has been a national leader with innovations 
such as an initiative stem that dates back to the turn of the last 
century, a beach bill, a bottle bill and a statewide land use planning 
process to protect those things that brought people to Oregon in the 
first place.

[[Page S2255]]

  Over its 150-year history, Oregon has earned a reputation as a 
progressive, forward thinking STATE. We Oregonians are not without our 
quirks, but we embrace them with enthusiasm and wear them with pride. 
We have watched our economy change from one based on forestry and wood 
products to one that has become a leader in high-tech innovation, from 
wood chips to silicon chips. Millions of people around the world know 
of Oregon because of companies like Nike, Intel, and Columbia 
Sportswear that call Oregon home.
  As our STATE embarks on another 150 years, Oregon is already working 
to cultivate new economies grounded in alternative energy, green 
buildings, and clean technology. Wind, geothermal, and wave energy are 
either already being generated in Oregon or will be soon. The solar 
energy industry has recognized the quality of Oregon's workforce and is 
moving to our STATE in a big way.
  But as Oregon embraces the new economy and new technology, we have 
not forgotten those places for which we have become famous. With the 
help of this body, thousands of acres of Oregon's most beautiful, 
rugged, and pristine areas are destined for permanent protection. The 
anticipated additions of the Lewis and Clark Mount Hood Wilderness, the 
Copper Salmon Wilderness, the Badlands Wilderness, the Spring Basin 
Wilderness, and the Cascade Siskiyou National Monument guarantee future 
generations of Americans will see firsthand why Oregon was the NATION's 
first destination resort.
  We are all aware that these are serious times that require our full 
and undivided attention if we are going to restore America's greatness 
as an economic power and rebuild our reputation with the rest of the 
world. But at the same time, I believe there is value at looking back 
to celebrate a place which has done so much to help make this country 
great. Please join me at wishing the great STATE of Oregon a happy 
birthday and many more to come.
  Mr. MERKLEY. Mr. President, I rise today to honor Oregon's 150th 
birthday. On February 14 of this year, we will begin a year-long 
celebration of those who invested their lives in making Oregon a great 
place to live, work, and raise a family.
  I was born in Myrtle Creek, OR, the son of a sawmill worker and grew 
up in Roseburg, OR. I later moved to East Multnomah County with my 
family and am truly blessed to call Oregon my home and share all of its 
natural beauty with my family.
  There are so many diverse events that take place all across Oregon 
which give our State its unique character. The Shakespeare Festival 
held in Ashland, OR, draws tens of thousands of people from all over 
the country and is one of the oldest non-profit theater companies in 
the world. The Pendleton Roundup, located in Eastern Oregon, is one of 
the largest rodeos in the world and has been going strong for nearly 
one hundred years.
  Oregon is one of the most geographically diverse States in the 
country and people from all across the state love to celebrate the 
great Oregon outdoors. The Hood to Coast Relay, which starts at Mount 
Hood and ends in Seaside Oregon, is the largest relay in the world. 
Every year, Oregonians compete in six events at the Pole Peddle Paddle 
in Bend, OR, a relay race that begins at the top of Mount Bachelor and 
ends on the grassy banks of the Deschutes River. The Pole Peddle Paddle 
consists of a leg in alpine skiing/snowboarding, cross-country skiing, 
biking, running, canoe/kayaking and a sprint to the finish line.
  Each of these events and the many other cultural, artistic and civic 
festivals held in the State--will have a special resonance this year as 
we honor our sesquicentennial.
  But even more than the beautiful vistas of Oregon or the countless 
celebrations, Oregon is defined by the people who live there. I've 
traveled all over the State and met so many amazing Oregonians who 
continue to carry on the legacy of innovation and hard work that has 
transformed our State into an influential civic laboratory and high 
tech hub. Oregon has taken the lead on issues vital to our natural 
resources and led the way in producing of some of the finest goods in 
the country. As a United States Senator, I couldn't be prouder to 
represent such a wonderful State, filled with people who are incredibly 
kind and welcoming.
  I encourage my fellow Oregonians to commemorate Oregon's 150th 
birthday by taking part in local celebrations of our culture and 
history and volunteering some of your time to a service project in your 
community. I invite my colleagues here in the Senate, your 
constituents, and citizens from around the world to come to Oregon this 
year and experience all our wonderful State has to offer. Regardless of 
where you live whether you are in North Carolina or Texas or Europe or 
South America a world of opportunity awaits you in Oregon. Come see how 
together we can make Oregon's next 150 years even more memorable.
  (Mr. MERKLEY assumed the Chair.)
  Mr. BEGICH. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the 
resolution be agreed to, the preamble be agreed to, and the motions to 
reconsider be laid upon the table, with no intervening action or 
debate, and that any statements relating to the resolution be printed 
in the Record.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  The resolution (S. Res. 48) was agreed to.
  The preamble was agreed to.
  The resolution, with its preamble, reads as follows:

                               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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