[Senate Report 106-482]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]



                                                       Calendar No. 931
106th Congress                                                   Report
                                 SENATE
 2d Session                                                     106-482

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               HERMANN MONUMENT AND HERMANN HEIGHTS PARK

                                _______
                                

October 3 (legislative day, September 22), 2000.--Ordered to be printed

                                _______
                                

  Mr. Murkowski, from the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources, 
                        submitted the following

                              R E P O R T

                     [To accompany H. Con. Res. 89]

    The Committee on Energy and Natural Resources, to which was 
referred the concurrent resolution (H. Con. Res. 89) 
recognizing the Hermann Monument and Hermann Heights Park in 
New Ulm, Minnesota, as a national symbol of the contributions 
of Americans of German heritage, having considered the same, 
reports favorably thereon without amendment and recommends that 
the concurrent resolution do pass.

                         purpose of the measure

    The purpose of H. Con. Res. 89 is to recognize the Hermann 
Monument and Hermann Heights Park in New Ulm, Minnesota, as a 
national symbol of the contributions of Americans of German 
heritage.

                          background and need

    The Hermann Monument was erected in 1889 as a tribute to 
German immigrants to the United States. It honors Hermann the 
Cheruscan, who forged the creation of a united Germany by 
defeating three Roman Legions who had occupied the area now 
known as Germany. Hermann remains a symbol of German history, 
culture, dedication, and perseverance.
    The Hermann Monument, located in New Ulm, Minnesota, stands 
102 feet tall and is the second largest copper statue in the 
United States, behind only the Statue of Liberty. The monument 
is in need of renovation and the citizens of New Ulm are 
raising the $1.75 million needed for its restoration and for 
construction of an interpretive center at its base.
    H. Con. Res. 89 provides congressional recognition of the 
Hermann Monument and Hermann Heights Park as a national symbol 
of the contributions of Americans of German heritage. The 
resolution does not authority any Federal funds or assistance.

                          legislative history

    The House of Representatives passed H. Con. Res. 89 on May 
9, 2000. A similar resolution, S. Con. Res. 106, was introduced 
by Senators Grams and Wellstone on April 13, 2000. The 
Subcommittee on National Parks, Historic Preservation and 
Recreation held a hearing on S. Con. Res. 106 on July 13, 2000. 
At the business meeting on September 20, 2000, the Committee on 
Energy and Natural Resources ordered H. Con. Res. 89 favorably 
reported.

                        committee recommendation

    The Committee on Energy and Natural Resources, in open 
business session on September 20, 2000, by a unanimous vote of 
a quorum present, recommends that the Senate pass H. Con. Res. 
89.

                       summary of the resolution

    H. Con. Res. 89 resolves that the Hermann Monument and 
Hermann Heights Park in New Ulm, Minnesota, are recognized as a 
national symbol of the contributions of Americans of German 
heritage.

                   cost and budgetary considerations

    The following estimate of the cost of this measure has been 
provided by the Congressional Budget Office.

                                     U.S. Congress,
                               Congressional Budget Office,
                                Washington, DC, September 26, 2000.
Hon. Frank H. Murkowski,
Chairman, Committee on Energy and Natural Resources,
U.S. Senate, Washington, DC.
    Dear Mr. Chairman: The Congressional Budget Office has 
prepared the enclosed cost estimate for H. Con. Res. 89, 
recognizing the Hermann Monument and Hermann Heights Park in 
New Ulm, Minnesota, as a national symbol of the contributions 
of Americans of German heritage.
    If you wish further details on this estimate, we will be 
pleased to provide them. The CBO staff contact is Barry Blom.
            Sincerely,
                                          Barry B. Anderson
                                    (For Dan L. Crippen, Director).
    Enclosure.

               congressional budget office cost estimate

H. Con. Res. 89--Recognizing the Hermann Monument and Hermann Heights 
        Park in New Ulm, Minnesota, as a national symbol of the 
        contributions of Americans of German heritage

    H. Con. Res. 89 would recognize the Hermann Monument and 
Hermann Heights Park in Minnesota as a national symbol of 
German heritage. CBO estimates that passage of the resolution 
would have no impact on the federal budget. The resolution 
would not affect direct spending or receipts; therefore, pay-
as-you-go procedures would not apply.
    On March 17, 2000, CBO submitted a cost estimate for H. 
Con. Res. 89, as ordered reported by the House Committee on 
Resources on March 15, 2000. The two resolutions are identical 
as are our costs estimates.
    The CBO staff contact is Barry Blom. This estimate was 
approved by Peter H. Fontaine, Deputy Assistant Director for 
Budget Analysis.

                      regulatory impact evaluation

    In compliance with paragraph 11(b) of rule XXVI of the 
Standing Rules of the Senate, the Committee makes the following 
evaluation of the regulatory impact which would be incurred in 
carrying out H. Con. Res. 89. The bill is not a regulatory 
measure in the sense of imposing Government-established 
standards or significant economic responsibilities on private 
individuals and businesses.
    No personal information would be collected in administering 
the program. Therefore, there would be no impact on personal 
privacy.
    Little, if any, additional paperwork would result from the 
enactment of H. Con. Res. 89 as ordered reported.

                        executive communications

    On July 17, 2000, the Committee on Energy and Natural 
Resources requested legislative reports from the Department of 
the Interior and the Office of Management and Budget setting 
forth Executive agency recommendations on S. Con. Res. 106. 
These reports had not been received at the time the report on 
H. Con. Res. 89 was filed. When the reports become available, 
the Chairman will request that they be printed in the 
Congressional Record for the advice of the Senate. The 
testimony provided by the National Park Service at the 
Subcommittee hearing follows:

              Statement of the Department of the Interior

    This statement for the record sets forth the comments of 
the Department of the Interior regarding S. Con. Res. 106, 
which would provide recognition by Congress for the Hermann 
Monument and Hermann Heights Park in New Ulm, Minnesota, as a 
national symbol of the contributions of Americans of German 
heritage. Since the concurrent resolution involves a statement 
of Congressional recognition and would not become law, our 
comments are limited to providing background information for 
the consideration of the committee.
    The Hermann Monument, in New Ulm (Brown County), Minnesota, 
was added to the National Register of Historic Places on 
October 2, 1973. The monument is located in Hermann Heights 
Park.
    The Hermann Monument was listed for local significance 
under National Register Criteria A and C, in the areas of 
Ethnic Heritage/European and Art. Consisting progressively of 
an 18,-high stone base, ten 25,-tall iron columns, and a ``dome 
room'' topped by a 32,-tall statue, the monument reaches a 
height of 102 feet. Within the open space defined by the 
columns, a spiral staircase leads visitors from the base up 
into a masonry-sided room with a copper dome. Atop the dome an 
iron-railed walkway circles the column supporting the statue of 
Hermann. The monument dominates the local skyline from Hermann 
Heights Park in the western section of New Ulm.
    Hermann, the person credited with uniting German tribes in 
9 A.D. and driving back the Romans, also was a unifying symbol 
for the 19th century German immigrants to the United States. In 
1885 hundreds of Sons of Hermann Lodges participated in a 
nationwide drive to construct a monument to Hermann. The 
monument was constructed in 1887-1890 and formally dedicated at 
the 21st National Convention of the Sons of Hermann in 1897. 
Its location in New Ulm reflects the strong German heritage of 
the area.
    Julius Berndt of New Ulm planned and built the monument, 
which was modeled by Alfonz Pelzer of Salem, Ohio (also known 
for Lincoln statues in seven states). The figure is that of a 
capped warrior holding a sword aloft in his right hand. Cast in 
Ohio, it is sheet copper counter sunk and riveted over an 
interior support structure of iron.
    The city of New Ulm completed a restoration of the monument 
in 1973.

                        changes in existing law

    In compliance with paragraph 12 of rule XXVI of the 
Standing Rules of the Senate, the Committee notes that no 
changes in existing law are made by H. Con. Res. 89, as ordered 
reported.

                                  
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