[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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