[Congressional Record Volume 157, Number 95 (Wednesday, June 29, 2011)]
[Senate]
[Page S4240]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
RECOGNIZING THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION CENTER
Mr. REID. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate
proceed to the consideration of S. Res. 222.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will report the resolution by title.
The bill clerk read as follows:
A resolution (S. Res. 222) recognizing the American
Revolution Center for its role in telling the story of the
American Revolution and the continuing impact on struggles
for freedom, self-government, and the rule of law throughout
the world, and encouraging the Center in its efforts to build
a new Museum of the American Revolution.
There being no objection, the Senate proceeded to consider the
resolution.
Mr. CASEY. Mr. President, it goes without saying that the history of
the American evolution is a major chapter of our Nation's history, of
American history. Yet currently there is no single place where a person
can go which tells the American story from its colonial past through
present day. I believe that there should be a place where visitors can
come to learn more about the revolution and can see artifacts,
manuscripts, and artwork from this period. I believe there should be an
institution dedicated to telling this important story.
Today, I am very happy to submit a resolution which not only
expresses how important it is to tell the story of the American
Revolution and the continuing impact on struggles for freedom, self-
government and the rule of law throughout the world, but also to
encourage the American Revolution Center in its efforts to build a new
Museum of the American Revolution.
The American Revolution Center plans to open the Nation's first
museum dedicated to this period. When built, the museum will house such
items as General George Washington's original sleeping and office tent
and an original Revolutionary-era 13-star flag known as the Commander-
in-Chief's Standard. By educating Americans and visitors from abroad,
the museum will honor the sacrifices of the Founding generation by
keeping the story alive.
I am particularly pleased that the American Revolution Center has
decided to build this museum in Philadelphia, PA, just steps from
Independence Hall, the Liberty Bell, Carpenter's Hall, and Christ
Church. It is fitting that a museum dedicated to telling the rich,
detailed story of America's founding should make its home in
Philadelphia, the birthplace of the Declaration of Independence and the
U.S. Constitution. Nearly 1 million people are expected to visit the
museum, which will be located among the streets and buildings where
armies once marched and where people debated powerful ideas about
democracy and equality.
As someone who believes that there is much to learn from history, I
strongly support the American Revolution Center and its effort to build
a Museum of the American Revolution in Philadelphia.
Mr. REID. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the resolution
be agreed to, the preamble be agreed to, the motions to reconsider be
laid upon the table, with no intervening action or debate, and any
statements relating to the matter be printed in the Record.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
The resolution (S. Res. 222) was agreed to.
The preamble was agreed to.
The resolution, with its preamble, reads as follows:
S. Res. 222
Whereas the American Revolution secured the independence of
the United States of America, and made possible a vibrant
system of self-government based on liberty and equality;
Whereas the history and ideas of the American Revolution
have sustained the Nation through its moments of greatest
peril and inspired many of the greatest achievements;
Whereas the American Revolution Center (in this resolution
referred to as the ``Center'') is the steward of a nationally
significant collection of artifacts, manuscripts, and artwork
from the period of the American Revolution;
Whereas the Center is actively working to be a
``connector'' to other American Revolution organizations and
sites through its website and with collaborative programming;
Whereas the Center has committed itself to the
establishment of a new ``Museum of the American Revolution''
that is to be built in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, just steps
from Independence Hall, the Liberty Bell, Carpenter's Hall,
and Christ Church;
Whereas the Museum of the American Revolution will be built
in one of our Nation's most historic neighborhoods, visited
by many millions of people from around the world each year;
Whereas the Museum of the American Revolution will tell the
entire story of the American Revolution, providing a context
for heritage tourists as they travel to other Revolutionary-
era sites in Philadelphia and throughout the United States;
and
Whereas the Center and the proposed Museum of the American
Revolution will provide future generations with both a
physical and a virtual venue to learn the story of the
American Revolution: Now, therefore, be it
Resolved, That the Senate--
(1) recognizes the contribution of the American Revolution
Center to the preservation of the story of the founding of
the United States; and
(2) expresses support for the Center's efforts to establish
an appropriate museum to tell such story to future
generations.
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