[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 158 (2012), Part 10]
[Senate]
[Page 13341]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                      BRUMIDI GOLD MEDAL CEREMONY

  Mr. ENZI. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the remarks I 
deliver on July 11 at the Brumidi Gold Medal Ceremony be printed in the 
Record.
  There being no objection, the material was ordered to be printed in 
the Record, as follows:

                          Statement on S. 254


a bill to award posthumously a Congressional Gold Medal to Constantino 
    Brumidi, Constantino Brumidi Gold Medal Ceremony, Rayburn Room, 
                     delivered July 11, 2012--11 am

       Mr. Speaker, Leaders, Mr. Ambassador, fellow Italians--and 
     friends of Italy. This is a process that started about five 
     years ago, and it's the first one that one hundred Senators 
     ever sponsored. It's taken 5 years but for Constantino 
     Brumidi, there was no greater honor than being called an 
     American citizen. It was a title he sought and then signed 
     with pride on the best of his work.
       For my own family and for many of you, it wasn't long after 
     Constantino Brumidi left for America, that my own ancestors 
     heard the call for freedom and came here as well. Just like 
     Constantino Brumidi they left the beauty of Italy--its 
     mountains and its sunny shores--to come and be a part of the 
     great adventure called the United States.
       And I swear that if you walk through these halls late at 
     night you can almost hear the whispers of the past and the 
     hushed echoes of the voices of our Founding Fathers, past 
     Senators and Representatives as they debated and discussed 
     the issues of the day. And perhaps Constantino, as he talks 
     about the art.
       The history books tell us that Constantino Brumidi was born 
     in Rome of Italian and Greek heritage, and he had a great 
     talent for painting that revealed itself at an early age. 
     After he came to the United States and one day, after 
     completing a commission, he stopped in Washington, DC, to 
     visit the Capitol on his way home, and looking at its tall, 
     blank walls and empty corridors, he must have felt the 
     excitement and inspiration only an artist facing an empty 
     canvas can know. On that day he began what was more than an 
     assignment for him--it was a labor of love--as he brought to 
     life the great moments in American history for all of us to 
     see on the walls and ceilings. His efforts were destined to 
     earn him the title of ``America's Michelangelo.''
       Liberty is the philosophy that guided Constantino Brumidi's 
     hand as it fired his imagination and inspired his creations 
     in our nation's Capital. Imagine what he would think if he 
     could walk these corridors today. He would see that his 
     beautiful work has stood the test of time, especially after 
     being cleaned up after the accumulated lamp smoke. He would 
     know of the appreciation and admiration of countless visitors 
     from our shores and around the world. He would see that his 
     art continues to thrill the millions who flock here every 
     year. I believe he would be both proud and humbled to be the 
     center of such attention.
       Throughout the Capitol, each careful stroke of Brumidi's 
     brush will continue to remind us that we are blessed and 
     truly fortunate to live in this land of promise and 
     opportunity.
       Now it is only fitting that the Congress of the United 
     States of America should bestow on Constantino Brumidi the 
     nation's highest civilian honor--the Congressional Gold 
     Medal--which incidentally is to be permanently displayed in 
     the Capitol. It will be the only one displayed in the 
     Capitol, and will give people an opportunity to see what a 
     Congressional Gold medal looks like.
       And now I would like to introduce my colleague and fellow 
     Italian-American, Senator Pat Leahy of Vermont, who served 
     since 1974, and if you check his left lapel, he is wearing 
     one of the highest awards that Italy can give to a son of 
     Italy. He was one of the original sponsors on my Senate 
     Constantino Brumidi bill and helped me gather every single 
     signature to support this bill. Senator Leahy is the Chairman 
     of the Senate Judiciary Committee, and is a senior member of 
     both the Agriculture and Appropriations Committee. I give you 
     my fellow Italian, Senator Pat Leahy.

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