[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 154 (2008), Part 7]
[House]
[Pages 9611-9612]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




HONORING THE 60TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE COMMENCEMENT OF THE CARVING OF THE 
                          CRAZY HORSE MEMORIAL

  Ms. BORDALLO. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to 
the resolution (H. Res. 1074) honoring the 60th anniversary of the 
commencement of the carving of the Crazy Horse Memorial.
  The Clerk read the title of the resolution.
  The text of the resolution is as follows:

                              H. Res. 1074

       Whereas sculptor Korczak Ziolkowski, who never received any 
     formal art training but nonetheless won 1st place for 
     sculpture at the New York World's Fair in 1939, came to the 
     Black Hills of South Dakota as an assistant to Gutzon Borglum 
     to help carve Mount Rushmore;
       Whereas Lakota Chief Henry Standing Bear contacted Korczak 
     Ziolkowski in 1939 to encourage him to create another 
     mountain memorial, saying in his letter of invitation: ``My 
     fellow chiefs and I would like the white man to know the red 
     man has great heroes, too'';
       Whereas Crazy Horse was remembered by his people as a 
     fierce warrior and visionary leader who was committed to 
     preserving the traditional Lakota way of life;
       Whereas Korczak Ziolkowski was inspired to honor the 
     culture, tradition, and living heritage of North American 
     Indians, and thus designed a metaphoric tribute to the spirit 
     of Crazy Horse and his people;
       Whereas Korczak Ziolkowski was dedicated as well to helping 
     his country preserve freedom, enlisted in the Army, and was 
     wounded in 1944 at Omaha Beach;
       Whereas Korczak Ziolkowski returned to South Dakota after 
     World War II in order to find a suitable mountain to carve in 
     order to honor Crazy Horse and his people;
       Whereas Korczak Ziolkowski and Chief Standing Bear 
     dedicated the Crazy Horse Memorial on June 3, 1948;
       Whereas Korczak Ziolkowski worked until his death in 1982, 
     and his wife, Ruth, and their family have dedicated their 
     lives to carving the mountain and continuing the mission of 
     the Crazy Horse Memorial;
       Whereas there is no way to predict when the mountain 
     carving will be completed, owing to the uncertainty of 
     weather, the availability of funding, and the challenges of 
     mountain engineering;
       Whereas, when completed, the Crazy Horse mountain carving 
     will be the largest carving in the world, at 641 feet long by 
     563 feet high;
       Whereas Korczak Ziolkowski's parting words to his wife 
     were, ``You must work on the mountain--but go slowly so you 
     do it right'';
       Whereas the Ziolkowski family and the Crazy Horse Memorial 
     Foundation have continued to do it right, and have proceeded 
     without government financial support, and remain dedicated to 
     making steady progress on the Memorial's humanitarian goals; 
     and
       Whereas the Crazy Horse Memorial will celebrate the 60th 
     anniversary of the dedication of the mountain carving on June 
     3, 2008: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the House of Representatives, on the 60th 
     anniversary of the commencement of the mountain carving of 
     the Crazy Horse Memorial, honors sculptor Korczak Ziolkowski, 
     the Ziolkowski family, and the Crazy Horse Memorial 
     Foundation for their dedication to honoring the culture, 
     tradition, and living heritage of North American Indians and 
     the spirit of Crazy Horse and his people.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentlewoman from 
Guam (Ms. Bordallo) and the gentleman from California (Mr. Issa) each 
will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentlewoman from Guam.


                             General Leave

  Ms. BORDALLO. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members 
may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks 
and include extraneous material on the resolution under consideration.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentlewoman from Guam?
  There was no objection.
  Ms. BORDALLO. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, Lakota leader Crazy Horse is remembered by his people as 
a fierce warrior and visionary leader who was committed to preserving 
the traditional Lakota way of life.
  A young sculptor named Korczak Ziolkowski, who served as an assistant 
sculptor during the carving of Mount Rushmore, was approached by Chief 
Standing Bear and asked to create another mountain memorial, this time 
to honor a great American Indian leader.
  Inspired by the life and legacy of Crazy Horse, the sculptor began a 
mountain memorial carving of Crazy Horse nearly 60 years ago in the 
Black Hills of South Dakota. The memorial upon completion will be the 
largest carving in the entire world, at 641 feet long by 563 feet high.
  I would like to commend our colleague from South Dakota (Ms. Herseth 
Sandlin) for sponsoring the resolution that is before us today, and I 
ask my colleagues to support its passage.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. ISSA. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of House Resolution 1074, 
and I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, House Resolution 1074 has been adequately explained by 
the majority. I urge its adoption, recognizing that it is, in fact, 
privately funded, has never taken Federal dollars in its construction, 
and continues to this day. I think it's a worthwhile project to 
recognize, and I urge the passage of this resolution.
  Ms. HERSETH SANDLIN. Mr. Speaker, today I rise in support of House 
Resolution 1074 which honors the 60th anniversary of the commencement 
of the carving of the Crazy Horse Memorial located in the Black Hills 
of South Dakota.
  I was proud to introduce this resolution that recognizes 60 years of 
work on the Crazy Horse Memorial, which, when completed, will be the 
largest carving in the world. In 1939,

[[Page 9612]]

upon witnessing the carving of Mt. Rushmore, Dakota Chief Henry 
Standing Bear contacted sculptor Korczak Ziolkowski. Chief Standing 
Bear encouraged Ziolkowski to create a mountain memorial, writing ``My 
fellow chiefs and I would like the white man to know the red man has 
great heroes, too.''
  On June 3, 1948, the mountain was dedicated and carving began. Though 
Mr. Ziolkowski passed away in 1982, his wife, Ruth, and their family 
continue to make progress on carving the mountain. To this end, they 
have established the Crazy Horse Foundation which is dedicated to 
honoring the culture, tradition, and living heritage of North American 
Indians and the spirit of Crazy Horse. There is no projected completion 
date for the Crazy Horse Memorial due to the availability of funding 
and to natural challenges, such as weather and the structure of the 
mountain.
  On June 3rd, 2008, the Crazy Horse Memorial will commemorate the 60th 
anniversary since Chief Standing Bear's dedication of the mountain. I 
thank my colleagues in joining me in celebrating the accomplishments of 
the Ziolkowski family, recognizing the legacy of Crazy Horse, and 
honoring the contributions and sacrifices of the Lakota nation and all 
Native Americans.
  Mr. ISSA. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  Ms. BORDALLO. Mr. Speaker, I again urge all of my colleagues to 
support the resolution, and I yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentlewoman from Guam (Ms. Bordallo) that the House suspend the rules 
and agree to the resolution, H. Res. 1074.
  The question was taken.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. In the opinion of the Chair, two-thirds 
being in the affirmative, the ayes have it.
  Mr. ISSA. Mr. Speaker, I object to the vote on the ground that a 
quorum is not present and make the point of order that a quorum is not 
present.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to clause 8 of rule XX and the 
Chair's prior announcement, further proceedings on this motion will be 
postponed.
  The point of no quorum is considered withdrawn.

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