[Congressional Record Volume 158, Number 24 (Tuesday, February 14, 2012)]
[Senate]
[Pages S657-S659]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                      RESOLUTIONS SUBMITTED TODAY

  Mr. BROWN of Ohio. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent the Senate 
proceed to the immediate consideration en bloc of the following 
resolutions which were submitted earlier today: S. Res. 373, S. Res. 
374, and S. Res. 375.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  The Senate proceeded to consider the resolutions en bloc.
  Mr. BROWN of Ohio. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent the 
resolutions be agreed to, the preambles be agreed to, the motions to 
reconsider be laid upon the table en bloc, with no intervening action 
or debate, and any statements be printed in the Record.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  The resolutions were agreed to.
  The preambles were agreed to.
  The resolutions, with their preambles, read as follows:

                              S. Res. 373

   Recognizing February 14, 2012, as the Centennial of the State of 
                                Arizona

       Whereas, after many changes in government administration, 
     territorial divisions, and additions, including lands 
     acquired through the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo and the 
     Gadsden Purchase, the Territory of Arizona came into 
     existence nearly 150 years ago after serving as a sacred home 
     to native cultures for thousands of years;
       Whereas Arizona is home to many of the greatest natural 
     treasures of the United States, including the Sedona Red 
     Rocks, the White Mountains, the Painted Desert, the Petrified 
     Forest, Monument Valley, Saguaro National Park, the 12,000-
     foot San Francisco Peaks, and the Grand Canyon, 1 of the 7 
     natural wonders of the world, which explorer John Wesley 
     Powell said could not be ``adequately represented in symbols 
     of speech, nor by speech itself'';
       Whereas Arizona is also home to man-made wonders, including 
     innovative projects that have allowed much-needed fresh water 
     to flow to Arizona communities for decades, such as the 
     Hoover Dam, the Glen Canyon Dam, the Central Arizona Project, 
     the Salt River Project, and the keystone element of the Salt 
     River Project, the Theodore Roosevelt Dam;
       Whereas Arizona has long been recognized for being rich in 
     natural resources, including the famous ``5 C's'', copper, 
     cattle, cotton, citrus, and climate, that continue to sustain 
     the economies of Arizona and the United States;
       Whereas Arizona is a mosaic of cultures, cuisines, and 
     traditions, drawing continuing influence from 21 proud 
     American Indian tribes and the early prospectors, ranchers, 
     cowboys, adventurers, and missionaries, as well as a dynamic 
     Latino community;
       Whereas all of these Arizonans were, and remain, bound by a 
     strong sense of independence and a willingness to persevere 
     against the odds, and are again picking themselves up in the 
     wake of devastating wildfires and economic challenges;
       Whereas this unique Arizona spirit has nurtured leaders in 
     the arts, justice, conservation, and science, as well as some 
     of the greatest statesmen in the 20th century United States, 
     including Senators Ernest McFarland, Carl Hayden, and Barry 
     Goldwater, Representative Morris Udall, and Supreme Court 
     Justices William Rehnquist and Sandra Day O'Connor;
       Whereas the many military installations in Arizona have 
     provided valuable contributions to the defense of the United 
     States and will continue to do so for years to come;
       Whereas, after nearly half a century as a territory of the 
     United States, Arizona became the 48th State of the United 
     States, and the last contiguous State, on February 14, 1912;
       Whereas the people of the United States now have the 
     opportunity to celebrate the natural splendor, innovative 
     spirit, and cultural diversity that have made Arizona so 
     special for the past 100 years and will continue to make 
     Arizona special for centuries to come: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the Senate recognizes February 14, 2012 as 
     the centennial of the State of Arizona.

                              S. Res. 374

Supporting the mission and goals of 2012 National Crime Victims' Rights 
Week to increase public awareness of the rights, needs, and concerns of 
          victims and survivors of crime in the United States

       Whereas each year, approximately 19,000,000 individuals in 
     the United States are victims of crime, including more than 
     4,000,0000 victims of violent crime;
       Whereas a just society acknowledges the impact of crime on 
     individuals, families, and communities by ensuring that 
     rights, resources, and services are available to help rebuild 
     lives;
       Whereas although the United States has steadily expanded 
     rights, protections, and services for victims of crime, too 
     many victims are still not able to realize the hope and 
     promise of these gains;
       Whereas despite impressive accomplishments during the past 
     40 years in the rights of and services available to crime 
     victims, there remain many challenges to ensure that all 
     victims--
         (1) are treated with fairness, dignity, and respect;
         (2) are offered support and services regardless of 
     whether the victims report crimes committed against them; and
         (3) are recognized as key participants within systems of 
     justice in the United States when the victims do report 
     crimes;
       Whereas observing the rights of victims and treating 
     victims with fairness, dignity, and respect serve the public 
     interest by--
         (1) engaging victims in the justice system;

[[Page S658]]

         (2) inspiring respect for public authorities; and
         (3) promoting confidence in public safety;
       Whereas the people of the United States recognize that we 
     make our homes, neighborhoods, and communities safer and 
     stronger by serving victims of crime and ensuring justice for 
     all;
       Whereas in each of the last 30 years, communities 
     throughout the United States have joined Congress and the 
     Department of Justice in observing National Crime Victims' 
     Rights Week to celebrate a vision of a comprehensive and just 
     response to all victims of crime;
       Whereas, the theme of 2012 National Crime Victims' Rights 
     Week, celebrated on April 22, 2012, through April 28, 2012, 
     is ``Extending the Vision: Reaching Every Victim,'' which 
     highlights the importance of ensuring that services are 
     available for all victims of crime; and
       Whereas the people of the United States appreciate the 
     continued importance of promoting victims' rights and 
     honoring crime victims and those who advocate on their 
     behalf: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the Senate--
       (1) supports the mission and goals of 2012 National Crime 
     Victims' Rights Week to increase public awareness of--
       (A) the impact on victims and survivors of crime; and
       (B) the constitutional and statutory rights and needs of 
     those victims and survivors; and
       (2) recognizes that fairness, dignity, and respect comprise 
     the very foundation of how victims and survivors of crime 
     should be treated.

                              S. Res. 375

Celebrating the bicentennial of the City of Columbus, the capital city 
                          of the State of Ohio

       Whereas in 1787, Congress enacted the Northwest Ordinance 
     to settle claims following the American Revolution and begin 
     the westward expansion of our Nation;
       Whereas in 1803, Ohio was admitted as the 17th State in the 
     Union, becoming the first territory of the Northwest 
     Ordinance to achieve statehood;
       Whereas in 1812, the Ohio General Assembly was offered land 
     along the Scioto River in Central Ohio to serve as the 
     capital of the State, due to its central location;
       Whereas on February 14, 1812, the Ohio General Assembly 
     officially designated the new capital city as Columbus, in 
     honor of Christopher Columbus;
       Whereas Columbus emerged as a trading and transportation 
     hub through the influence of the Ohio & Erie Canal and the 
     National Highway;
       Whereas on March 3, 1834, 31 years after Ohio achieved 
     statehood, Columbus was officially chartered as a city 
     because of its growing population;
       Whereas during the Civil War, Columbus was home to Camp 
     Chase, a major base for the Union Army that housed 26,000 
     troops, Camp Jackson, an assembly center for recruits, and 
     Columbus Barracks, which served as an arsenal;
       Whereas Columbus was a major outpost on the Underground 
     Railroad, led by the Kelton family, who assisted fugitive 
     slaves on their road to freedom;
       Whereas in 1870, the Ohio General Assembly used to the 
     Morrill Land Grant Act to create the Ohio Agricultural and 
     Mechanical College, which was renamed the Ohio State 
     University in 1878 and is presently one of the Nation's 
     premier public universities and an anchor for economic 
     activity in the City of Columbus;
       Whereas Columbus is home to other world-class institutions 
     of higher learning, including Capital University, established 
     in 1830, Columbus College of Art and Design, established in 
     1879, Pontifical College Josephinum, established in 1888, 
     Franklin University, established in 1902, Mount Carmel 
     College of Nursing, established in 1903, Ohio Dominican 
     University, established in 1911, and Columbus State Community 
     College, established in 1963;
       Whereas Columbus is home to some of the Nation's earliest 
     schools for Americans living with disabilities, having 
     established the Ohio School for the Deaf in 1829 and the Ohio 
     State School for the Blind in 1837;
       Whereas Columbus is of historical importance to the 
     organized labor movement, as one of the Nation's first 
     federations of labor, the American Federation of Labor, was 
     founded in Columbus in 1886;
       Whereas the American Veterans of Foreign Service, the 
     earliest organization of veterans of foreign wars, was 
     founded in Columbus in 1899;
       Whereas in the late 19th century and the early 20th 
     century, Columbus saw the rise of manufacturing and steel 
     businesses, brewers, and cultural and arts institutions, such 
     as the Southern Theatre;
       Whereas leading retail corporations, health care and 
     insurance companies, and financial institutions call Columbus 
     their home, attracted by the city's world-class workforce and 
     cultural outlets;
       Whereas Columbus serves as a leader in cutting-edge medical 
     research and hospital systems through the Ohio State Medical 
     Center and the Arthur James Cancer Hospital and Richard J. 
     Solove Research Institute, Nationwide Children's Hospital, 
     Mt. Carmel Hospital, Riverside Community Hospital, and Grant 
     Medical Center;
       Whereas Columbus is home to green space and parks that are 
     used as both community gathering locations and to honor 
     pioneers, including Shrum Mound, one of the last remaining 
     conical burial mounds in the United States, which dates back 
     more than 2,000 years;
       Whereas Columbus is also home to the Midwest's largest 
     Fourth of July Festival and the famed Ohio State Fair;
       Whereas Columbus combines excellence in art and culture 
     with professional sports teams such as the Columbus Clippers, 
     the Columbus Crew, and the Columbus Blue Jackets;
       Whereas Columbus is Ohio's most populous city and the 15th 
     largest city in the United States, as well as one of the 
     fastest growing cities in the Eastern United States;
       Whereas February 14, 2012, marks the 200th anniversary of 
     the founding of Columbus, Ohio; and
       Whereas the citizens of Columbus will commemorate a year-
     long bicentennial celebration with the theme of ``Honor the 
     Past. Celebrate the Present. Envision the Future.'': Now, 
     therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the Senate--
       (1) celebrates the bicentennial anniversary of the founding 
     of the City of Columbus, the capital of the State of Ohio; 
     and
       (2) honors the important economic, cultural, educational, 
     and artistic contributions that the people of Columbus have 
     made to this Nation over the past 200 years.

  Mr. BROWN of Ohio. Mr. President, I would like to speak on one of 
these resolutions, S. Res. 375, about the Columbus, OH, bicentennial.
  Today marks the 200th anniversary of the founding of the city of 
Columbus, our largest city, one of the great cities of America, the 
capital of the great State of Ohio. I have lived in different 
neighborhoods in Columbus over the last 30 years--from German Village 
to Berwick to the Hilltop. My grandson and his parents live in 
Clintonville, a great neighborhood in the north side of Columbus. Our 
daughter lives in the Short North, one of the most exciting places of 
any city in the Midwest.
  For 200 years Columbus has been a hub of economic and cultural 
activity for the State. We talk often in Columbus about the great brain 
gain; how Columbus is one of the fastest growing cities in the Midwest 
and east of the Mississippi.
  Columbus started in its early days as a trading post along the Scioto 
River and continued as steamboats and railroads connected more people 
with new opportunities and new commerce. I should add that the 
Presiding Officer, if I am allowed to say this, once lived in the great 
city of Columbus. I think I am allowed to say that. He now is the very 
able junior Senator from Colorado.
  During the Civil War, Columbus became an important location for the 
Union Army, and something I am more particularly proud of, the 
Underground Railroad. Through the turmoil of that era, President 
Lincoln signed the Morrill Act, which led to the creation of the Ohio 
Agricultural and Mechanical College in 1870. In 1878 it was renamed 
Ohio State University.
  Today, OSU is one of the Nation's premiere public universities, and 
there are many other institutions of higher learning in Columbus: 
Capital University, established much earlier than that, 1830; the 
Columbus College of Art and Design, established in 1879; the Pontifical 
College Josephinum, established in 1888; Franklin University, 
established in 1902; the Mount Carmel College of Nursing in 1903; Ohio 
Dominican University, established in 1911, the year my father was born; 
and the Columbus State Community College, part of the great group of 
community colleges who were visiting the Capitol today--many people 
from those colleges--established in 1963.
  Columbus is home to some of the Nation's earliest schools for 
Americans living with disabilities. The Ohio School for the Deaf was 
established in 1829. Many graduates of that school have gone on to 
Gallaudet University located in Washington, founded during the Civil 
War by Abraham Lincoln, the most outstanding school of its kind in the 
country. The Ohio School for the Blind was established in 1837.
  In 2011, the Columbus library system was named the best in the United 
States, the recipient of the National Medal for Museum and Library 
Service. Columbus prospered in the post-Civil-War era through new 
banks, expanded railroad networks, extended streetcar service, and the 
city's first waterworks system. Manufacturers from horse-and-buggy 
manufacturers, to steel, and brewers made Columbus an important 
location for organized labor. The American Federation of Labor later 
merged with the Congress of Industrial Organizations into what we know 
today as the

[[Page S659]]

AFL-CIO. The American Federation of Labor was founded in Columbus 116 
years ago in 1886.
  Today the legacy of advanced manufacturing continues at Ohio's 
cutting-edge Edison Networks, the Ohio Manufacturing Association, and 
Battelle. The spirit of the labor movement continues as workers of the 
Columbus local unions represent all types of industries and 
professions.
  Attracted by world-class workforces and cultural outlets, leading 
retail corporations, health care, insurance companies, and financial 
institutions such as the Limited, Nationwide, Grange, Cardinal Health, 
and Huntington all call Columbus their home.
  Columbus is a leader in cutting-edge medical research and hospital 
systems. We see it at the Ohio State Medical Center, the Arthur James 
Cancer Hospital, the Richard J. Solove Research Institute, and 
Nationwide Children's Hospitals. Of the top 10 Children's Hospitals in 
America, three of them are in Ohio consistently: Cleveland, Columbus, 
and Cincinnati, in addition to other great Children's Hospitals in 
Ohio: Mount Caramel Hospital, Riverside Community Hospital, and Grant 
Medical Center.
  Columbus is a crown jewel of arts and culture in the Midwest. The 
majestic Southern Theatre, Southern Theatre and Hotel attracted world-
class performances for more than 100 years. The Southern Hotel was one 
of President Theodore Roosevelt's favorite stops as he traveled through 
the Midwest.
  The Short North is the epicenter of the burgeoning art scene, home to 
galleries, parks, and restaurants such as Betty's, the Happy Greek, 
Jeni's Ice Cream, and the North Market that attract an incredible 
number of young people with energy and commitment to that city.
  It hosts some of the Midwest's largest concerts, fairs, and festivals 
ranging from ComFest to the Pride Festival. Columbus is also home to 
the Midwest's largest Fourth of July festival and the very famous Ohio 
State Fair.
  Mayor Coleman and the Columbus Partnership, which is much more than 
just business organizations, are doing a tremendous job promoting 
economic development from the South Campus Gateway to the Short North, 
to the Scioto riverfront and the German Village.
  Like Ohioans across the State, our people have long served those who 
serve us. One of the first Veterans of Foreign Wars chapters in the 
country was founded in Columbus in 1899.
  Aside from the Buckeyes of Ohio State, Columbus is home to 
professional sports teams, including the Columbus Clippers, the 
Columbus Crew, and the Blue Jackets.
  This year, Columbus will commence a year-long bicentennial 
celebration, with the theme ``Honoring the Past. Celebrate the Present. 
Envision the Future.'' In doing so, it will celebrate the economic, 
cultural, educational, and artistic contributions of the people of 
Columbus to our great State and Nation.
  On behalf of the Senate, with unanimous consent, I wish all the 
citizens of Columbus a happy 200th anniversary.

                          ____________________