[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 154 (2008), Part 6]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 7888]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




 SALUTING BLOOMINGTON, MINNESOTA, ON ITS 150TH BIRTHDAY AND REMARKABLE 
                       ROLE IN MINNESOTA HISTORY

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. JIM RAMSTAD

                              of minnesota

                    in the house of representatives

                          Tuesday, May 6, 2008

  Mr. RAMSTAD. Madam Speaker, I rise to pay tribute to a truly great 
community in Minnesota's 3rd Congressional District which has played a 
crucial role in the history and development of our region and State.
  Bloomington is our State's 5th largest city and this special city 
will celebrate its 150th birthday on May 11, the same day the State of 
Minnesota was admitted to the Union.
  Madam Speaker, we salute Bloomington for its remarkable success, 
pioneering spirit, record of public service to help people in need and 
role in positioning both Minnesota and the U.S. for a prosperous future 
in the global economy.
  Bloomington is a place of historic importance situated near the 
confluence of the Mississippi and the Minnesota Rivers, and in close 
proximity to Historic Fort Snelling, completed in 1825. The soldiers of 
Fort Snelling mediated disputes between Minnesota's Dakota and Ojibwe 
Indians. In 1843, the first European settlers built a cabin near the 
current 10th Avenue Circle and taught farming methods to Dakota 
Indians. The territory to the west opened to settlers in 1851.
  Bloomington is a city with tremendous historical pride and patriotism 
and we honor all of Bloomington's courageous members of our armed 
forces who have fought for freedom. Bloomington was also the home of 
Tom Burnett, Jr., one of the heroes of Flight 93 on September 11, 2001.
  Madam Speaker, Bloomington is home to 85,172 wonderful people and it 
has been my pleasure to represent all of them in Washington the past 18 
years. Bloomington natives have been leaders in commerce, technology, 
environmental awareness, sports and the arts. Control Data was born in 
Bloomington and was one of the pioneering supercomputer firms. For most 
of the 1960s, it built the fastest computers in the world.
  It has been my great pleasure to work with the Bloomington Art Center 
on the 3rd Congressional District High School Arts Competition every 
year. Bloomington's public schools have produced some of our Nation's 
best and brightest. Bloomington is also home to the Minnesota Valley 
National Wildlife Refuge, which has been so critical to preserving 
water quality throughout the Midwest and the Mississippi River Valley 
all the way to the Gulf of Mexico.
  Madam Speaker, you could travel this entire Nation and not find a 
more caring, committed, hard-working and innovative community. 
Bloomington is home to Minnesota's first major league baseball and 
football teams and the world famous Mall of America, and it is adjacent 
to Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport. Bloomington has been the 
face of Minnesota to many all across this great land. For that we thank 
all the people of Bloomington for helping boost Minnesota's image in 
the eyes of the world.
  Madam Speaker, in recognition of the historic significance of the 
Sesquicentennial Celebration to the Community of Bloomington, to the 
State of Minnesota, and to the United States of America, we are pleased 
to dedicate May 11, 2008, as the Bloomington Sesquicentennial Day in 
Minnesota. Happy 150th birthday, Bloomington, Minnesota!

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