[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 147 (2001), Part 13]
[House]
[Pages 18326-18327]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]



                       TOMAS G. MASARYK MEMORIAL

  Mr. RADANOVICH. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the 
bill (H.R. 1161) to authorize the American Friends of the Czech 
Republic to establish a memorial to honor Tomas G. Masaryk in the 
District of Columbia, as amended.
  The Clerk read as follows:

                               H.R. 1161

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

     SECTION 1. AUTHORITY TO ESTABLISH MEMORIAL.

       (a) In General.--The Government of the Czech Republic is 
     authorized to establish a memorial to honor Tomas G. Masaryk 
     on the Federal land in the District of Columbia.
       (b) Compliance With Standards for Commemorative Works.--The 
     establishment of the memorial shall be in accordance with the 
     Commemorative Works Act (40 U.S.C. 1001 et seq.), except that 
     sections 2(c), 6(b), 8(b), and 10(c) of that Act shall not 
     apply with respect to the memorial.
       (c) Limitation on Payment of Expenses.--The United States 
     Government shall not pay any expense for the establishment of 
     the memorial or its maintenance.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from 
California (Mr. Radanovich) and the gentlewoman from the Virgin Islands 
(Mrs. Christensen) each will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from California (Mr. Radanovich).
  Mr. RADANOVICH. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may 
consume.
  Mr. Speaker, H.R. 1161 introduced by the gentleman from New York (Mr. 
Gilman) would authorize a memorial to be built on Federal land in the 
District of Columbia to honor Tomas G. Masaryk, the first President of 
Czechoslovakia.
  Mr. Masaryk embodies the close ties between the governments of the 
United States and Czechoslovakia. He was well acquainted with the 
United States from repeated trips to this country over the period of 4 
decades as a philosopher, scholar, and teacher.
  President Masaryk's close personal relationship with many Americans, 
including President Woodrow Wilson, ultimately led to the recognition 
by the United States of a free Czechoslovakia in 1918.
  The bill, as introduced, specified an exact location for the 
memorial, but was later amended to merely state that the memorial would 
be established on Federal land in the District of Columbia and that the 
memorial would be in compliance with the Commemorative Works Act.
  Moreover, the passage of this bill would not result in any expense to 
the Federal Government. The bill, as amended, specifies that the United 
States will pay no expenses associated with the establishment or 
maintenance of the memorial.
  Mr. Speaker, this legislation is not controversial. It is supported 
by the majority and minority of the Committee on Resources and the 
administration. I urge all of my colleagues to support H.R. 1161, as 
amended.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mrs. CHRISTENSEN. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may 
consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I would like to take this opportunity to welcome our new 
chairman of the Subcommittee on Parks and Public Lands, the gentleman 
from California (Mr. Radanovich), to his chairmanship of the 
subcommittee. I look forward to working with the gentleman.
  Mr. Speaker, Tomas G. Masaryk was a professor of philosophy who 
became the first President of Czechoslovakia and served in that 
capacity until ill health forced his retirement in 1935.
  Based on his public service and writings, which include the 
Czechoslovakian Declaration of Independence, many have referred to 
Masaryk as the father of democratic Czechoslovakia.
  H.R. 1161, as introduced, authorizes the American Friends of the 
Czech Republic to establish a memorial to Tomas G. Masaryk on a 
specific parcel of Federal land at 19th Street and Pennsylvania Avenue 
here in Washington, D.C. The legislation stated that the memorial would 
be established in accordance with the Commemorative Works Act, and that 
it would be funded privately.
  Clearly, Mr. Masaryk is an important and compelling figure not only 
in Czech history but in the history of democracy. However, in order for 
the legislation to achieve its own stated goal in order to comply with 
the Commemorative Works Act, the bill was amended during consideration 
by the Committee on Resources. The amendment removed the language 
identifying the specific site of the memorial and included language 
making clear that the memorial is to be a gift from the Government of 
the Czech Republic.
  Mr. Speaker, with these amendments, we support H.R. 1161.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. RADANOVICH. Mr. Speaker, the sponsor of this legislation, the 
gentleman from New York (Mr. Gilman), has been detained; and he will be 
producing a statement for the Record.
  Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mrs. CHRISTENSEN. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to 
the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Davis).

                              {time}  1645

  Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 1161, 
to authorize the American Friends of the Czech Republic to establish a 
memorial to honor Tomas G. Masaryk in the District of Columbia. Tomas 
Masaryk, the first President of Czechoslovakia, stands in history as 
the embodiment of the close ties between the United States and 
Czechoslovakia. H.R. 1161 celebrates Tomas Masaryk's life achievements 
and quest for democracy, peace, freedom and humanity. The statue of Mr. 
Masaryk exemplifies the democratic ideal best expressed by his words, 
``Not with violence but with love, not with sword but with plow, not 
with blood but with work, not with death but with life, that is the 
answer to Czech geniuses, the meaning of our history and the heritage 
of our ancestors.''
  I have a community in the neighborhood where I live and the district 
where I represent who are descendants of Czech heritage. On behalf of 
all of them, I would urge all of my colleagues to support H.R. 1161.
  Mr. GILMAN. Mr. Speaker, I want to thank the Chairman of the House 
Resources Committee, Representative James Hansen and Ranking Member, 
Representative Nick Rahall, National Parks, Recreation and Public Lands 
Subcommittee Chairman Radanovich, and former Chairman Hefley who were 
instrumental in bringing H.R. 1161 before us today. I would also like 
to express my thanks to the leadership for bringing H.R. 1161 to the 
Suspensions Calendar today.
  H.R. 1161, which enjoys bi-partisan support was introduced earlier 
this session and authorizes the Government of the Czech Republic to 
establish a memorial in honor of Tomas Garrigue Masaryk, the first 
President of Czechoslovakia.
  Consideration of this bill is very timely as Jan Kavan, the Czech 
Republic's Deputy Prime Minister of Foreign Affairs, began a series of 
high level meetings in Washington, D.C., with our colleagues in the 
Congress and with Secretary of State Powell. On October 1, 2001, the 
Deputy Prime Minister was the guest at a luncheon sponsored by the 
American Friends of the Czech Republic, an organization which I am 
honored to have worked with in support of H.R. 1161.
  By considering this bill, we are celebrating Tomas Masaryk's life 
long achievements and his quest for democracy, peace, freedom, and 
humanity. The statue of Mr. Masaryk will immortalize a true friend of 
the United States and a pioneer for world democracy. Tomas Masaryk 
exemplifies the democratic ideal best expressed by his words, ``Not 
with violence but with love, not with sword but with plough, not with 
blood but with work, not with death but with life--that is the answer 
of Czech genesis, the meaning of our history and the heritage of our 
ancestors.''

[[Page 18327]]

  Mr. Speaker, Tomas Garrigue Masaryk, the first president of 
Czechoslovakia, stands in history as the best embodiment of the close 
ties between the United States and Czechoslovakia. He knew America from 
his personal, firsthand experience from continuous visits as a 
philosopher, scholar and teacher, which took place over four decades. 
He taught at major universities in the United States, and he married a 
young woman from Brooklyn, New York, Charlotte Garrigue, and carried 
her name as his own. For four decades he saw America transform from 
pioneer beginnings to the role of a world leader.
  President Masaryk's relationship with America is best illustrated by 
his writings, speeches, interviews, articles and letters which can be 
found in our national archives--notably the Library of Congress. 
Masaryk's personal relationships with Secretary of State Lancing. 
Colonel House and most notably President Woodrow Wilson, led to the 
recognition by the United States of a free Czechoslovakia in 1918. For 
six months Masaryk traveled throughout the United States writing the 
Joint Declaration of Independence from Austria that was signed in 
Philadelphia and issued in Washington on October 18, 1918, where he was 
declared the President of Czechoslovakia.
  Today, Masaryk stands as a symbol of the politics of morality. A 
steadfast disciple of Wilson, Lincoln and Jefferson it is befitting 
that he be honored as a world leader and a loyal friend of the United 
States by a monument to his work.
  Mr. Speaker, on September 19, 2001, President George W. Bush wrote to 
Milton Cerny, President of the Czech Republic, offering his support for 
this memorial project, and I request that his letter be made a part of 
the Record. Moreover, the National Capital Memorial Commission has 
expressed its unanimous support for this memorial which will be 
presented as a gift by the Czech Republic. All costs associated with 
maintaining the memorial will be paid for by American Friends of the 
Czech Republic at no cost to the taxpayers or the U.S. government.
  It is my understanding that this legislation will receive speedy 
consideration in the Senate where Senator Chuck Hagel, the sponsor of a 
similar bill is awaiting referral of this legislation. I am hopeful 
that with the passage of H.R. 1161 today and with the concurrence of 
the Senate, that the White House will expeditiously sign it into law so 
that an unveiling of this memorial to Tomas Masaryk may take place 
early next year to coincide with a visit to Washington, D.C., by Vaclav 
Havel, the President of the Czech Republic.
  Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to fully support H.R. 1161, 
authorizing the citizens of the Czech Republic to establish a memorial 
in honor of Tomas Garrigue Masaryk, the first President of the Czech 
Republic and the father of Czech democracy!
  Mrs. CHRISTENSEN. Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for time, 
and I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. RADANOVICH. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Walden of Oregon). The question is on 
the motion offered by the gentleman from California (Mr. Radanovich) 
that the House suspend the rules and pass the bill, H.R. 1161, as 
amended.
  The question was taken; and (two-thirds having voted in favor 
thereof) the rules were suspended and the bill, as amended, was passed.
  The title of the bill was amended so as to read: ``A bill to 
authorize the Government of the Czech Republic to establish a memorial 
to honor Tomas G. Masaryk in the District of Columbia.''.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

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