[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 146 (2000), Part 15]
[House]
[Page 21894]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]



       POSTHUMOUS PROMOTION OF WILLIAM CLARK TO GRADE OF CAPTAIN

  Mr. BARTLETT of Maryland. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules 
and pass the bill (H.R. 3621) to provide for the posthumous promotion 
of William Clark of the Commonwealth of Virginia and the Commonwealth 
of Kentucky, co-leader of the Lewis and Clark Expedition, to the grade 
of captain in the Regular Army.
  The Clerk read as follows:

                               H.R. 3621

       Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of 
     the United States of America in Congress assembled,

     SECTION 1. POSTHUMOUS PROMOTION OF WILLIAM CLARK, CO-LEADER 
                   OF THE LEWIS AND CLARK EXPEDITION, TO THE GRADE 
                   OF CAPTAIN IN THE REGULAR ARMY.

       (a) Posthumous Promotion.--William Clark, of the 
     Commonwealth of Virginia and the Commonwealth of Kentucky, 
     co-leader of the Lewis and Clark Expedition of 1804-1806, 
     shall be deemed for all purposes to have held the grade of 
     captain, rather than lieutenant, in the Regular Army, 
     effective as of March 26, 1804, and continuing until his 
     separation from the Army on February 27, 1807.
       (b) Prohibition of Benefits.--No person is entitled to any 
     bonus, gratuity, pay, or allowance because of the provisions 
     of subsection (a).

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from 
Maryland (Mr. Bartlett) and the gentleman from Hawaii (Mr. Abercrombie) 
each will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Maryland (Mr. Bartlett).


                             General Leave

  Mr. BARTLETT of Maryland. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that 
all Members may have 5 legislative days within which to revise and 
extend their remarks on H.R. 3621.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from Maryland?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. BARTLETT of Maryland. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I 
may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, today the House has a rare opportunity to correct a 
longstanding injustice and blemish in our Nation's history.
  H.R. 3621 would authorize the posthumous promotion of William Clark, 
co-leader of the Lewis and Clark Expedition, to the grade of captain in 
the Regular Army.
  William Clark played a pivotal role in the expedition to explore the 
Missouri River chartered by President Thomas Jefferson. He shared 
command of the exploration party known as the Corps of Discovery with 
Captain Meriweather Lewis.
  In fact, Captain Lewis had handpicked William Clark to jointly 
command the expedition team with him. Captain Lewis believed he was 
conveying the promise to the United States Government and the Army when 
he offered William Clark an appointment in the grade of captain. 
Unfortunately, the Army was unable to make a place for William Clark as 
a captain, and he was confirmed by the Senate as a lieutenant.
  The fact that William Clark was not appointed a captain was the 
source of great embarrassment and disappointment to Captain Lewis. His 
response was to treat William Clark as a co-commander of the 
expedition, with equal authority.
  In fact, the two agreed at Captain Lewis' insistence that the members 
of the Corps of Discovery and any others that came in contact with the 
expedition would only know William Clark as a captain and co-commander. 
As a result, all the documentation dealing with the expedition and the 
Corps Discovery refer to Captain William Clark.
  For all practical purposes, William Clark deserved equal billing with 
Captain Lewis. He performed superbly as co-commander throughout the 
expedition and was a respected leader.
  William Clark played a key role and contributed immeasurably to the 
history-making exploration of the Missouri River that paved the way for 
the expansion of the United States westward.
  William Clark's place in history is secure. The only thing left to do 
is remove the cloud of uncertainty concerning his appointment as a 
captain.
  Mr. Speaker, I commend the author of H.R. 3621, the gentleman from 
Nebraska (Mr. Bereuter), for bringing this issue to the attention of 
the House. His commitment to this issue again proves that it is never 
too late to do the right thing.
  Mr. Speaker, William Clark earned the privilege to be called captain 
and the records of our Nation should document that honor. I urge my 
colleagues to vote yes on H.R. 3621.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

                              {time}  2200

  Mr. ABERCROMBIE. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may 
consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I think the gentleman from Maryland (Mr. Bartlett) has 
provided the background, and I suspect there will be some further 
commentary by the introducer of the bill.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 3621, introduced by Mr. Doug 
Bereuter, which would provide for the posthumous promotion of William 
Clark to the grade of captain in the Regular Army.
  William Clark was the coleader with Meriwether Lewis of the ``Corps 
of Discovery'', a military and scientific expedition to the Pacific 
Northwest from 1804 to 1806. This expedition provided vast information 
on the resources of the West and encouraged further exploration and 
settlement.
  In 1792, William Clark became an officer in the regular army and 
fought in the battle of Fallen Timbers. In 1803, Clark accepted an 
invitation to serve as coleader of the ``Corps of Discovery''. He spent 
several months studying astronomy and map-making, and traveled with 
Meriwether Lewis down the Ohio River to Wood River, Illinois, where 
they made the final preparations for their expedition across America.
  Upon his return from the expedition, William Clark continued his 
outstanding service to this nation. In 1807, President Thomas Jefferson 
appointed him principal Indian Agent for the Louisiana Territory and 
brigadier general of its militia, which he held until 1813, when he 
became governor of the newly formed Missouri Territory.
  As we begin celebrations recognizing the 200th anniversary of the 
Corps of Discovery, it is fitting that we acknowledge the contributions 
of William Clark and provide him with a posthumous promotion to 
Captain.
  Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this measure.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. BARTLETT of Maryland. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may 
consume to the gentleman from Nebraska (Mr. Bereuter), the author of 
the bill.
  Mr. BEREUTER. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to rise today in support of 
H.R. 3621, a legislation this Member introduced to correct a nearly 
200-year-old error. I thank the gentleman for yielding me this time.
  This Member would also like to thank the distinguished gentleman from 
South Carolina (Chairman Spence) for his assistance in moving this bill 
forward, and the distinguished gentleman from Indiana (Mr. Buyer), 
chairman of the Subcommittee on Military Personnel for his cooperation.
  I also want to express my appreciation to the distinguished gentleman 
from Missouri (Mr. Skelton), the ranking minority member of the 
committee, for his continuing support on this effort and for his 
cosponsorship of the resolution.
  The gentleman from Maryland (Mr. Bartlett) has given us an important 
part of the background on this issue. As we approach the bicentennial 
of the Lewis and Clark Expedition, it is important to formally 
recognize the role of William Clark by posthumously awarding him the 
rank of captain which he had been promised.
  The legislation we are considering today, H.R. 3621, states that 
William Clark ``shall be deemed for all purposes to have held the grade 
of captain, rather than lieutenant, in the Regular Army, effective as 
of March 26, 1804, and continuing until his separation from the Army on 
February 27, 1807.'' This Member urges my colleagues to support H.R. 
3621 and help correct an error that has persisted for nearly two 
centuries.
  Although most people consider Meriwether Lewis and William Clark to 
be of equal rank due to their shared command of the expedition, the 
fact is that Clark remained a lieutenant despite an earlier promise by 
President Jefferson that he would be commissioned as a captain. In 
fact, Captain Lewis treated William Clark as a co-equal leader of the 
Corps of Discovery throughout the expedition; and in all probability, 
the men assumed that their leaders held the rank of captain, both of 
them.
  Stephen Ambrose, in his outstanding book ``Undaunted Courage,'' gives 
a detailed and well-documented description of the events that resulted 
in the diminished rank for Clark. Despite the clearly stated intentions 
by President Jefferson and Lewis, a number of actions denied Clark his 
rightful rank. Nevertheless, Clark served his country admirably and 
emerged, along with Lewis, a true American hero for all time.
  The approaching bicentennial of this extraordinarily important 
expedition provides the United States of America an excellent 
opportunity to correct this oversight and elevate Clark to his rightful 
rank. This Member has fully investigated this issue with the U.S. Army 
and finds that introducing this legislation is the proper course to 
follow without setting inappropriate precedent. A similar legislative 
action was taken to promote George Washington in rank posthumously in 
1978.
  As a footnote, Members may be interested to know that there is no 
cost associated with H.R. 3621 as the legislation prohibits any person 
from collecting any bonus, gratuity, pay or allowance because of the 
posthumous promotion. This legislation simply gives Lieutenant William 
Clark the promotion to Captain promised by President Jefferson before 
the Lewis and Clark expedition began.
  Retired General Gordon R. Sullivan on behalf of the Association of 
the United States Army applauded this legislation and pledged their 
support.
  Mr. Speaker, in closing, I would say this, William Clark served our 
country admirably, with great courage and leadership skills, and 
emerged, along with Meriwether Lewis, as a true American hero for all 
times. As a cochairman of the House Lewis and Clark Caucus and a former 
Army officer, this Member believes that this legislation is a matter in 
which the Congress should act.
  Therefore, I urge my colleagues to support H.R. 3621. It is the right 
thing to do, even now.
  Mr. ABERCROMBIE. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may 
consume.
  Mr. Speaker, there are no further requests for time on this side. I 
would like to close simply by observing that I have had the 
opportunity, the good fortune, I might say, through the auspices of the 
ranking minority member, to have conversations, with some other 
Members, with Mr. Ambrose, the author. I, just by way of observation, 
hope that, when this passes, as I am sure it will unanimously, that 
perhaps we could see to it that a copy of the resolution in some 
appropriate form be sent to him. I am sure he would find it interesting 
and a nice, not conclusion, certainly, but certainly an addition to the 
interest that Mr. Ambrose induced in the Nation with the publication of 
his book on the expedition.
  Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. BARTLETT of Maryland. Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for 
time, and I yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Ryan of Wisconsin). The question is on 
the motion offered by the gentleman from Maryland (Mr. Bartlett) that 
the House suspend the rules and pass the bill, H.R. 3621.
  The question was taken; and (two-thirds having voted in favor 
thereof) the rules were suspended and the bill was passed.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

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