congressional_record: CREC-2004-12-08-pt1-PgS12020-5
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| granule_id | date | congress | session | volume | issue | title | chamber | granule_class | sub_granule_class | page_start | page_end | speakers | bills | citation | full_text |
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| CREC-2004-12-08-pt1-PgS12020-5 | 2004-12-08 | 108 | 2 | AMERICAN BALD EAGLE RECOVERY AND NATIONAL EMBLEM COMMEMORATIVE COIN ACT | SENATE | SENATE | ALLOTHER | S12020 | S12021 | [{"name": "William H. Frist", "role": "speaking"}, {"name": "Lamar Alexander", "role": "speaking"}] | [{"congress": "108", "type": "HR", "number": "4116"}, {"congress": "108", "type": "HR", "number": "4116"}] | 150 Cong. Rec. S12020 | Congressional Record, Volume 150 Issue 139 (Wednesday, December 8, 2004) [Congressional Record Volume 150, Number 139 (Wednesday, December 8, 2004)] [Senate] [Pages S12020-S12021] From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov] AMERICAN BALD EAGLE RECOVERY AND NATIONAL EMBLEM COMMEMORATIVE COIN ACT Mr. FRIST. I ask unanimous consent that the Senate proceed to the immediate consideration of H.R. 4116, which is at the desk. The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will report the bill by title. The legislative clerk read as follows: A bill (H.R. 4116) to require the Secretary of the Treasury to mint coins celebrating the recovery and restoration of the American bald eagle, the national symbol of the United States, to America's lands, waterways, and skies and the great importance of the designation of the American bald eagle as an ``endangered'' species under the Endangered Species Act of 1973, and for other purposes. There being no objection, the Senate proceeded to consider the bill. Mr. FRIST. Mr. President, I do want to say a word about H.R. 4116, a bill requiring the U.S. Mint to produce coins celebrating the recovery and restoration of America's greatest symbol; that is, the American bald eagle. The proceeds from these coin sales will be used to establish the American Eagle Fund, which is a special endowment to assure the ongoing care and protection of this symbol of our freedom. As many of our colleagues know, in 1782 our Nation's Founding Fathers established the bald eagle as the national emblem of the United States. Since that point in time, the bald eagle has represented the spirit of America: our liberty, our freedom, our democracy, and our strength. I mention consideration of this bill in part to give tribute to the extraordinary dedication and work of Al Cecere, who is president of the American Eagle Foundation, and his colleagues. The foundation is located in Pigeon Forge, TN. It is a remarkable foundation that cares for and studies and shares with the public several nonreleasable eagles at Dollywood's Eagle Mountain Sanctuary, which is a very large aviary there. Many Americans have seen this specific symbol as they watched the Foundation's most famous member, a beautiful bald eagle called Challenger, a truly majestic bird, because it makes regular appearances all over this country, at the U.S. Capitol and most of the major sporting events and other large indoor and outdoor gatherings throughout this country, all of which are celebrating the various aspects of American life. I want to pay tribute to my colleague, Tennessee Senator Lamar Alexander, for his dedicated and diligent work of signing up 70 of our colleagues in support of the bill, and Senator Landrieu for being an original cosponsor of the Senate bill. I want to thank our House colleague, Bill Jenkins, for his extraordinary leadership on the issue. He took the lead there in signing up over 300 House cosponsors of the bill, assisted by several of his House colleagues, most particularly Congressman Harold Ford. Again, a majestic bird, a majestic symbol of so much of what we do on the floor of the Senate, was honored through this bill, the American Bald Eagle Recovery and National Emblem Commemorative Coin Recovery Act. Mr. ALEXANDER. Mr. President, I rise today to commend and thank my colleagues in the Congress for considering H.R. 4116, the American Bald Eagle Recovery and National Emblem Commemorative Coin Act. I was proud to sponsor the companion bill in the Senate. The act authorizes the U.S. Mint to issue commemorative coins ``celebrating the recovery and restoration of the American bald eagle, the national symbol of the United States, to America's lands, waterways, and skies'' in 2008. The proceeds from these coins, which are expected to exceed $1 million, will go to the American Eagle Foundation of Pigeon Forge, TN. The foundation intends to use these funds for a national competitive grant program to support eagle recovery, education, and other related conservation efforts. The American bald eagle is not just another bird. It is one of the most recognized symbols of our Nation. Since the Second Continental Congress selected the bald eagle as our national emblem in 1782, the image of the bald eagle has come to represent two core [[Page S12021]] values for all Americans: freedom and democracy. Like the bald eagle, the American Eagle Foundation is not just a Tennessee treasure, but a national one. The work done by the American Eagle Foundation has been critical to helping bring the American bald eagle back from the brink of extinction. The bald eagle now soars above every State except Hawaii. With the continued success of programs and efforts of the American Eagle Foundation and other groups, the American bald eagle may soon be ``de-listed'' from the Endangered Species Act. Senator Landrieu and I have worked hard to pass this bill in the Senate, and Tennessee Congressmen Bill Jenkins and Harold Ford led the bipartisan effort in the House of Representatives. Al Cecere, President of the American Eagle Foundation, worked tirelessly to assemble a national coalition of eagle supporters, and his face has been a welcome sight in the halls of Congress over the last year. Al was regularly accompanied by Challenger, a 16-year-old American bald eagle that has brought this campaign to life. Many Americans have seen Challenger perform, flying into the World Series, professional and college football games, and other events. Now many Congressmen and Senators have met Challenger, too. We should all be proud to have taken this step, today, to commemorate and support our national symbol, the American bald eagle. Mr. FRIST. I ask unanimous consent that the bill be read a third time and passed, the motion to reconsider be laid upon the table, and that any statements be printed in the Record. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered. The bill (H.R. 4116) was read the third time and passed. ____________________ |