[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 151 (2005), Part 12]
[House]
[Pages 16008-16009]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




         CELEBRATING WALT DISNEY'S CONTRIBUTIONS TO OUR NATION

  Mr. TOM DAVIS of Virginia. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that 
the Committee on Government Reform be discharged from further 
consideration of the resolution (H. Res. 355) celebrating Walt Disney's 
contributions to our Nation, and ask for its immediate consideration in 
the House.
  The Clerk read the title of the resolution.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Simpson). Is there objection to the 
request of the gentleman from Virginia?
  Ms. LORETTA SANCHEZ of California. Mr. Speaker, reserving the right 
to object, I would first like to thank my friend from Virginia for 
bringing up this legislation today as well as the distinguished 
Republican leader for allowing it to be considered under unanimous 
consent. I would also like to extend my thanks to the ranking member of 
the Government Reform Committee and my fellow Californian for his 
support, and, of course, our leader, the gentlewoman from California.
  Mr. Speaker, Disneyland is the treasure of the 47th Congressional 
District of California, and it is also a national treasure. Its doors 
first opened 50 years ago, on July 17, 1955. This bill commemorates the 
anniversary, which will be celebrated this weekend in my hometown of 
Anaheim, California. The bill also celebrates the extraordinary life of 
its creator and visionary, Mr. Walt Disney.
  Since Disney introduced his lovable Mickey Mouse to the world in 
1928, his creations and his legacy have been a joy and an inspiration 
to this country and to every corner of the globe. Disneyland and the 
world of Disney, of course, have gone far beyond its humble beginnings. 
Disneyland, itself, has grown from a single theme park with one hotel 
into a full-scale resort with two world-class theme parks; 2,200 hotel 
rooms; and 40 restaurant and retail locations. And it is Orange 
County's leading employer, directly employing 2,000 individuals and 
supporting an additional 45,700 jobs.
  It is, therefore, my pleasure and honor to recognize the 50th 
anniversary of Disneyland, for as we say in Anaheim, it is the happiest 
place on Earth. I thank, again, my colleagues for allowing me to offer 
this legislation today.
  Mr. TOM DAVIS of Virginia. Mr. Speaker, will the gentlewoman yield?
  Ms. LORETTA SANCHEZ of California. Further reserving the right to 
object, I yield to the gentleman from Virginia.
  Mr. TOM DAVIS of Virginia. Mr. Speaker, I would also like to support 
H. Res. 355, which celebrates Walt Disney's contributions to our 
Nation. I want to thank my distinguished colleague, the gentlewoman 
from California, for sponsoring and spearheading this resolution.
  As 2005 marks the 50th anniversary of Disneyland, now is an 
appropriate time to recognize the outstanding contributions of its 
founder, Walt Disney, to our Nation. Like so many American success 
stories, Walt Disney was a self-made man. In the 1920s he began by 
independently producing a series of animated comedies, starting with 
Alice's Wonderland in 1923. In 1928 Walt Disney figuratively struck 
gold when he created Mickey Mouse. Since then, he went on to create 
countless other memorable characters, too numerous to list here.
  In the process, he won 32 Academy Awards for his work. Nevertheless, 
the highest praise for Disney may lie in the sustained delight his 
creations have inspired in millions of Americans, young and old, for 
more than 70 years.
  Not content with just his screen creations, Walt Disney was inspired 
by his daughters to create a special place where adults and children 
could have fun together. In 1955, he realized this dream with the 
opening of Disneyland in Anaheim, California. In the park's formal 
dedication, he expressed his hope that Disneyland would be ``a source 
of joy and inspiration to the world.'' It is no exaggeration to say

[[Page 16009]]

that his dream has become a reality. Now, millions of people around the 
world benefit from his inspiration at Disneyland and the many other 
family-oriented Disney theme parks, cruise lines, and resorts. Much 
like his movies, a visit to Disneyland is a cherished memory of 
countless childhoods.
  Walt Disney was an unrivaled imaginative visionary. Through his 
gifted imagination, he has touched nearly all of us and left our 
culture far richer than he found it.
  Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentlewoman for yielding.
  Ms. LORETTA SANCHEZ of California. Mr. Speaker, I withdraw my 
reservation of objection.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. McHenry). Is there objection to the 
request of the gentleman from Virginia?
  There was no objection.
  The Clerk read the resolution, as follows:

                              H. Res. 355

       Whereas in the summer of 1923, Walt Disney independently 
     produced a cartoon called Alice's Wonderland, and he decided 
     that he could use it as his ``pilot'' film to sell a series 
     of Alice comedies to a distributor;
       Whereas a New York distributor, M.J. Winkler, contracted to 
     distribute the Alice comedies on October 16, 1923, and this 
     date is credited as the birth of the Disney company;
       Whereas the company was originally known as the Disney 
     Brothers Cartoon Studio, with Walt Disney and his brother, 
     Roy, as equal partners, the company soon changed its name, at 
     Roy's suggestion, to the Walt Disney Studio;
       Whereas today, the list of Disney classic animated films 
     reads like an all-time favorites list of children everywhere: 
     Cinderella, Pinocchio, Bambi, Alice in Wonderland, Beauty and 
     the Beast, Dumbo, 101 Dalmations, The Jungle Book, Aladdin, 
     The Lion King, Toy Story, Pocahontas, The Hunchback of Notre 
     Dame, Mulan, Monsters Inc., The Emperor's New Groove, A Bug's 
     Life, and many others;
       Whereas Disney has also produced timeless live action 
     family films including 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea, Swiss 
     Family Robinson, Treasure Island, Honey, I Shrunk the Kids, 
     and The Santa Clause;
       Whereas the Walt Disney Foundation strives to promote 
     discourse, writing, and scholarship about the life, work, and 
     philosophy of Walt Disney;
       Whereas 2005 is the 50th anniversary of Disneyland;
       Whereas Walt Disney's dream of ``a place where parents and 
     children could have fun together'', became a reality with the 
     opening of Disneyland in Anaheim, California, and 
     subsequently in the opening of additional theme parks, cruise 
     lines, and resorts worldwide;
       Whereas when Walt Disney formally dedicated Disneyland on 
     July 17, 1955, he stated that he hoped the park would be ``. 
     . . a source of joy and inspiration to all the world'';
       Whereas Walt Disney's original venture in Anaheim has 
     expanded from a single theme park with one hotel into a full-
     scale Resort with two world-class theme parks, 2,200 hotel 
     rooms and 40 restaurant and retail locations;
       Whereas the success of Walt Disney's dream has launched an 
     industry and sparked an empire of fun that now spans the 
     globe, attracting millions of visitors on three continents 
     every year;
       Whereas Walt Disney opened Disneyland with 1,280 cast 
     members in 1955 and today Walt Disney Parks and Resorts 
     employs more than 100,000 cast members worldwide;
       Whereas in the spirit of Walt Disney millions of dollars in 
     cash, in-kind gifts, and volunteer services are provided to 
     hundreds of non-profit groups, touching the lives of 
     thousands of people; and
       Whereas Walt Disney's creation of Disneyland was, perhaps, 
     the single greatest family entertainment achievement of the 
     20th century--introducing an entirely new concept in outdoor 
     entertainment and establishing an icon of fun and magic known 
     around the world: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved,  That the House of Representatives--
       (1) celebrates Walt Disney's contributions to our Nation; 
     and
       (2) congratulates Disneyland, ``the Happiest Place on 
     Earth'', on the occasion of its 50th Anniversary.

  The resolution was agreed to.


     Amendment to the Preamble Offered by Mr. Tom Davis of Virginia

  Mr. TOM DAVIS of Virginia. Mr. Speaker, I offer an amendment to the 
preamble.
  The Clerk read as follows:

       Amendment to the preamble offered by Mr. Tom Davis of 
     Virginia:

                              H. Res. 355

       Whereas Walter Elias Disney, an imaginative visionary who 
     changed the face of American culture, was born in 1901;
       Whereas in the summer of 1923, Walt Disney independently 
     produced a cartoon called Alice's Wonderland, and he decided 
     that he could use it as his ``pilot'' film to sell a series 
     of Alice comedies to a distributor;
       Whereas Walt Disney's primary cartoon character, Mickey 
     Mouse, has delighted millions of children and adults around 
     the world since his debut in 1928;
       Whereas Walt Disney personally won 32 Academy Awards for 
     his work, including a special award for the creation of 
     Mickey Mouse, a special award for Snow White and the Seven 
     Dwarfs, and the prestigious Irving Thalberg Memorial Award 
     given by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences;
       Whereas Walt Disney introduced the world to his special 
     brand of entertainment at the 1964-1965 New York World's 
     Fair, which incorporated four Disney shows, including Great 
     Moments with Mr. Lincoln, a tribute to the 16th President of 
     the United States;
       Whereas Walt Disney's original vision of a place for 
     children and adults to have fun together was inspired by his 
     two daughters;
       Whereas Walt Disney's ``dream of a place where parents and 
     children could have fun together'', became a reality with the 
     opening of Disneyland in Anaheim, California, and 
     subsequently in the opening of additional theme parks, cruise 
     lines, and resorts worldwide;
       Whereas when Walt Disney formally dedicated Disneyland on 
     July 17, 1955, he stated that he hoped the park would be ``. 
     . . a source of joy and inspiration to all the world'';
       Whereas Walt Disney hosted dignitaries at Disneyland, 
     including Presidents Harry Truman, Dwight Eisenhower, John F. 
     Kennedy, and Richard Nixon, and his legacy of hospitality has 
     extended to Presidents Jimmy Carter, Gerald Ford, Ronald 
     Reagan, and George H. W. Bush;
       Whereas 2005 is the 50th anniversary of Disneyland;
       Whereas Walt Disney's dream has launched an industry and 
     sparked an empire of fun that now spans the globe, attracting 
     millions of visitors on three continents every year; and
       Whereas the Walt Disney Foundation strives to promote 
     discourse, writing, and scholarship about the life, work, and 
     philosophy of Walt Disney: Now, therefore, be it

  Mr. TOM DAVIS of Virginia (during the reading). Mr. Speaker, I ask 
unanimous consent that the amendment to the preamble be considered as 
read and printed in the Record.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from Virginia?
  There was no objection.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the amendment to the 
preamble offered by the gentleman from Virginia (Mr. Tom Davis).
  The amendment to the preamble was agreed to.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

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