[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.
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