[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 146 (2000), Part 6]
[Senate]
[Pages 7741-7742]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]



 142ND ANNIVERSARY OF THE ADMISSION OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA INTO THE 
                        UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

  Mr. GRAMS. Mr. President, the State of Minnesota has truly been 
blessed with a wide array of remarkable gifts. Few places on Earth can 
boast such diversity amongst its abundant natural resources, prosperous 
industries, and exceptional people. Today marks the 142nd anniversary 
of Minnesota's admission as the thirty-second state of the Union, and I 
want to take this opportunity to reflect on a few of the things that 
make my state special. This is a difficult speech to make in such a 
short amount of time, as I am sure I could break Senator Thurmond's 
twenty-four hour and eighteen minute filibuster record by talking about 
Minnesota's contributions to America but I will stick to just a few of 
the highlights and try to finish up by sundown.
  Minnesota's natural beauty has been photographed and documented time 
and time again. License plates may proclaim Minnesota to be ``The Land 
of 10,000 Lakes,'' but in reality, our vast lakes number in excess of 
12,000, and we have more than 63,000 miles of natural rivers and 
streams. But there is something about sitting on the shore of Mille 
Lacs Lake at dawn on a Saturday in July that even a two-page spread in 
National Geographic cannot capture.
  Minnesotans have a unique relationship with their great outdoors. 
Many take advantage of our pristine environment through a large 
assortment of activities, such as taking a week to canoe through the 
Boundary Waters or going for a walk along the Mississippi River over a 
lunch hour. Minnesota is a true sportsman's paradise. Our unique 
habitat creates some of the best hunting and fishing in the country. We 
are proud of our outdoor heritage, and take seriously our commitment to 
maintaining the delicate balance between protecting the environment and 
the responsible use of our resources.
  Nor are we shy about sharing our bounty with others. Minnesota 
welcomes more than 20 million vacationers every year, who support 
170,300 tourism jobs and return $9.1 billion to the local economy. Yet, 
for all those visitors, our state offers places of such

[[Page 7742]]

solitude that a camper or canoeist can travel for a week and spot any 
number of deer, bears, and bald eagles, but never see another person.
  The influence of agriculture on Minnesota life and traditions cannot 
be overstated. Even as family farms struggle in today's difficult 
market, the resilience and dedication of our farmers establishes the 
backbone of the Minnesota economy. One in every four Minnesota jobs is 
tied to the agriculture industry in some way. Minnesota has become a 
national leader in international exports, as our producers export 
billions of dollars worth of grains, meats, and other products every 
year. I am proud of my ongoing efforts to ensure that even more world 
markets are opened to Minnesota agriculture products--they are among 
the best products in the world, and they should be shared. Many of the 
nation's top job providers call Minnesota home. Well-known names like 
General Mills, Pillsbury, 3M, Target, and Cargill have deep roots 
within our communities. Aside from the economic impacts made by our 
corporate community, there is an impressive philanthropic presence in 
the state. For example, Cargill's generous contributions to causes such 
as education, environment, and youth programs total in the tens of 
millions of dollars.
  Firms such as Medtronic and St. Jude Medical are national leaders in 
the bio-medical industry. Their products have given hope to those who 
previously faced a bleak medical outlook. Other Minnesota organizations 
are searching for answers to tomorrow's problems--today. The world-
renowned Mayo Clinic not only treats over half a million patients a 
year, but is leading the charge against the mysteries of mankind's 
deadly diseases through its ongoing research.
  Of all the successful companies, natural beauty, and bountiful 
resources Minnesota plays host to, the real treasures are the people of 
my state. Successful Minnesotans come from all walks of life. Some of 
the most prolific writers of the past century have hailed from the 
North Star State. The first American to be awarded the Nobel Prize for 
Literature was Sinclair Lewis, a native of Sauk Centre, Minnesota. F. 
Scott Fitzgerald, Jon Hassler, and Garrison Keillor are all writers we 
are proud to call our own.
  Something about the fresh air in Minnesota inspires us to do bigger 
and better things. Charles Lindbergh must have gotten a big whiff of 
that air; so did Judy Garland, Kevin McHale, and Bob Dylan, just to 
name a few. Our state and nation recently mourned the loss of one of 
our most beloved natives. Charles Schulz captured the hearts of young 
and old alike with his long-running Peanuts comic strip, and we will 
miss him each and every Sunday.
  There are many Minnesota celebrities who have contributed to the 
richness of our nation, but the people who really deserve the applause 
and recognition are the men and women who day in and day out strive to 
make their communities, state, and nation a better place to live. The 
farmer who harvests our nation's corn, the policewoman who patrols the 
streets, the stay-at-home mom who supervises a household of kids, and 
the volunteer who takes the time to visit a disabled veteran rarely 
receive the accolades they deserve. These people are as indispensable 
to the growing, bustling community of St. Michael-Albertville as they 
are to the thriving metropolis of Minneapolis-St. Paul. I applaud them 
and am proud to represent each of them here in the United States 
Senate.
  The quality of life in Minnesota is outstanding for a reason. Ideals 
such as hard work, dedication, personal responsibility, and a true 
passion for life are all essential to my state's success. Growing up on 
a Minnesota dairy farm, I was fortunate enough to witness these 
qualities and their importance at a very young age.
  And for any of my colleagues who may be wondering, you don't have to 
be a native to spread the ``Minnesota Nice'' spirit. For example, some 
of the most outstanding Minnesota citizens are those from its many 
ethnic communities. Their devotion and contribution to Minnesota's way 
of life is commendable, and representative of the way our state seems 
to bring out the very best in its people.
  I am deeply proud of my state, Mr. President, and representing her 
and her citizens is a great honor. So, on this 142nd anniversary of our 
statehood, I encourage Minnesotans to take time to discover something 
new about our state and ponder some of the many treasures with which we 
have been blessed. Visit one of our sky-tinted lakes, the Mall of 
America, Split Rock Lighthouse, Fort Snelling, or even the world's 
largest ball of twine. Take pride in our state and continue the efforts 
to make Minnesota an even better place to call home.

                          ____________________