[Congressional Record Volume 155, Number 135 (Wednesday, September 23, 2009)]
[Senate]
[Page S9758]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                  PROVIDING FOR STATUE OF HELEN KELLER

  Mrs. FEINSTEIN. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the 
Senate proceed to the immediate consideration of S. Con. Res. 41, which 
was introduced earlier today.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will report the resolution by title.
  The legislative clerk read as follows:

       A concurrent resolution (S. Con. Res. 41) providing for the 
     acceptance of a statue of Helen Keller, presented by the 
     people of Alabama.

  There being no objection, the Senate proceeded to consider the 
concurrent resolution.
  Mrs. FEINSTEIN. I ask unanimous consent that the resolution be agreed 
to, the preamble be agreed to, the motions to reconsider be laid upon 
the table, and that any statements relating to the resolution be 
printed in the Record.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  The concurrent resolution (S. Con. Res. 41) was agreed to.
  The preamble was agreed to.
  The concurrent resolution, with its preamble, reads as follows:

                            S. Con. Res. 41

       Whereas Helen Keller was born in Tuscumbia, Alabama on June 
     27, 1880, and at the age of 19 months lost her sight and 
     hearing as a result of meningitis;
       Whereas Helen was liberated from the ``double dungeon of 
     darkness and silence'' by her teacher, Anne Sullivan, when 
     she discovered language and communication at the water pump 
     when she was 7 years old;
       Whereas Helen enrolled in Radcliffe College in 1900 and 
     graduated cum laude in 1904 to become the first deaf and 
     blind college graduate;
       Whereas Helen's life served as a model for all people with 
     disabilities in America and worldwide;
       Whereas Helen became friends with many American Presidents 
     and was the recipient of some of our Nation's most 
     distinguished honors;
       Whereas Helen became recognized as one of Alabama's and 
     America's best known figures and became ``America's Goodwill 
     Ambassador to the World'';
       Whereas Helen pioneered the concept of ``talking books'' 
     for the blind;
       Whereas LIFE Magazine hailed Helen as ``one of the 100 most 
     important Americans of the 20th Century--a national 
     treasure''; and
       Whereas Helen Keller will become the first person with 
     disabilities enshrined in the Capitol and will become an even 
     greater inspiration for people with disabilities worldwide: 
     Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved by the Senate (the House of Representatives 
     concurring), That--

     SECTION 1. ACCEPTANCE OF HELEN KELLER, FROM THE PEOPLE OF 
                   ALABAMA, FOR PLACEMENT IN THE CAPITOL.

       (a) In General.--The statue of Helen Keller, furnished by 
     the people of Alabama for placement in the Capitol, in 
     accordance with section 1814 of the Revised Statutes of the 
     United States (2 U.S.C. 2131), is accepted in the name of the 
     United States, and the thanks of Congress are tendered to the 
     people of Alabama for providing this commemoration of one of 
     Alabama's most eminent personages.
       (b) Presentation Ceremony.--The State of Alabama is 
     authorized to use the Rotunda of the Capitol on October 7, 
     2009, for a presentation ceremony for the statue. The 
     Architect of the Capitol and the Capitol Police Board shall 
     take such action as may be necessary with respect to physical 
     preparations and security for the ceremony.
       (c) Display in Rotunda.--The Architect of the Capitol shall 
     provide for the display of the statue accepted under this 
     section in the Rotunda of the Capitol for a period of not 
     more than 6 months, after which period the statue shall be 
     displayed in the Capitol, in accordance with the procedures 
     described in section 311(e) of the Legislative Branch 
     Appropriations Act, 2001 (2 U.S.C. 2132(e)).

     SEC. 2. TRANSMITTAL TO GOVERNOR OF ALABAMA.

       The Secretary of the Senate shall transmit an enrolled copy 
     of this concurrent resolution to the Governor of Alabama.

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