[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 152 (2006), Part 9]
[Senate]
[Pages 12697-12698]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




CELEBRATING THE 150TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE CITIES OF BRISTOL, TENNESSEE, 
                         AND BRISTOL, VIRGINIA

  Mr. FRIST. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate now 
proceed to the consideration of S. Res. 522, which was submitted 
earlier today.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will report the resolution by title.
  The legislative clerk read as follows:

       A resolution (S. Res. 522) celebrating the 150th 
     anniversary of the cities of Bristol, Tennessee and Bristol, 
     Virginia.

  There being no objection, the Senate proceeded to consider the 
resolution.
  Mr. FRIST. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the resolution 
be agreed to, the preamble be agreed to, and the motion to reconsider 
be laid upon the table.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  The resolution (S. Res. 522) was agreed to.
  The preamble was agreed to.
  The resolution, with its preamble, reads as follows:

                              S. Res. 522

       Whereas the twin cities of Bristol, Tennessee and Bristol, 
     Virginia were officially chartered in 1856, celebrated the 
     Bristol Centennial in 1956, and have organized to celebrate 
     the Bristol Sesquicentennial in 2006;
       Whereas the Bristol Sesquicentennial theme, ``Celebrating 
     150 Years of Heritage and Harmony'' underscores the duality 
     of Bristol as a cohesion of 2 separate cities with 1 communal 
     spirit;
       Whereas the ``Bristol Sign'', listed in the National 
     Register of Historic Places, serves to exemplify the communal 
     spirit of Bristol, bridge the States of Tennessee and 
     Virginia over the cooperatively named ``State Street'', and 
     declare Bristol ``A Good Place to Live'';
       Whereas the people of Bristol continue to work to preserve 
     structures of historical significance, including the 
     Paramount Theatre, the Old Customs House, and the historic 
     train station;
       Whereas the phonographic recordings known as the Bristol 
     Sessions launched the country music careeers of the Carter 
     Family, the Stonemans, and Jimmie Rogers, and prompted 
     historians to describe Bristol as the ``Big Bang'' of modern 
     country music;
       Whereas country music is a central part of the history of 
     Bristol, which Congress recognized as the ``Birthplace of 
     Country Music'';
       Whereas the history and economic development of Bristol is 
     intimately tied to commercial transportation and Bristol 
     countinues to serve as an important commercial hub for the 
     surrounding region; and
       Whereas automotive racing is integral to the identity of 
     Bristol and the ``World's Fastest Half-Mile'' at the Bristol 
     Motor Speedway continues to offer exciting events to scores 
     of racing fans: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the Senate--
       (1) acknowledges the cultural and historic achievements of 
     the people of Bristol, Tennessee and Bristol, Virginia; and
       (2) congratulates the twin cities of Bristol on their 
     sesquicentennial.
  Mr. FRIST. Mr. President, S. Res. 522, which was just adopted, 
celebrates the 150th anniversary of the cities of Bristol, TN, and 
Bristol, VA. Throughout the year, the people of Bristol have celebrated 
this anniversary, and the adoption of this resolution coincides with a 
number of exciting local events.
  Bristol is a unique city because of the nature of its founding just 
along the Tennessee and Virginia border in what started out as two 
separate communities founded along an anticipated railroad route. 
Through years of give and take and sometimes bitter disputes over that 
Tennessee-Virginia border, Bristol has developed into a shining example 
of how hard work, cooperation,

[[Page 12698]]

partnership, and entrepreneurial spirit can lead to tremendous 
opportunities and to tremendous economic growth for communities around 
the country.
  What once modestly started as a connecting point between the Virginia 
and Tennessee railroads has developed into a central crossroad of the 
country's interstate highway systems.
  While many people in the region are known to joke that ``all roads 
lead to Bristol,'' the city is not only a commercial crossroad, it has 
also served as a gathering place for musicians from the Appalachian 
region. Many country music fans know Bristol because of the famous 
``Bristol Sessions'' and recognize the city as the birthplace of 
country music.
  Today when people think of NASCAR racing, they think about Bristol. 
In the early 1960s, it was two Bristol natives who decided to build a 
racetrack in northeast Tennessee. A little over 40 years later, racing 
has become America's fastest growing sport, and, indeed, the Bristol 
Motor Speedway is on the forefront of what is widely known as the 
``World's Fastest Half Mile''--I reiterate that cutting edge, the 
entrepreneurial spirit one finds in Bristol.
  In closing, I am pleased to congratulate the twin cities of Bristol 
for 150 years of cooperation and achievement. With this rich history 
and cultural heritage, Bristol represents the best of Tennessee and 
Virginia.

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