To express support for the celebration in 2004 of the 150th anniversary of the Grand Excursion of 1854.

Mr. Speaker, I thank my good friend, the gentleman from Tennessee (Mr. Duncan), for yielding time to me, and for his thoughtfulness in bringing this resolution. I also thank our distinguished colleague, the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Davis), for his input into the resolution.

Mr. Speaker, at a time when we as a country are galvanized by a singular international event, it is important to deal with normalcy. It is particularly uplifting to discuss history.

The resolution before us speaks to an event a century and a half ago, the Grand Excursion of 1854, which symbolizes the energy of the railroads from the east meeting and crossing our country's greatest river at what we now call the Quad Cities.

The excursion party of 1854 traveled from Chicago, the home of the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Davis), to Rock Island by train, proceeding then by boat from the Quad Cities to the present day Twin Cities of Minneapolis and St. Paul, Minnesota.

Among the 1,200 participants in the initial excursion was our 13th President, Millard Fillmore. In the first year after the trip, steamboat traffic from St. Paul doubled and 30,000 new immigrants traveled the Mississippi River. The power of the river as a force for commerce, along with its magic and beauty, drew increasingly greater numbers of people as the years continued.

The second Grand Excursion, the one which will take place in 2004, builds on the history of the Grand Excursion of 1854 to bring together the communities of the Upper Mississippi River in a celebration of national and international proportions. The capstone event of the celebration will be a grand flotilla which will retrace the path of the original trip made 150 years ago.

Featuring the finest river boats from all reaches of the inland waterways, this journey along the upper Mississippi will not only recall a time gone by, but bring the attention of the Nation and the world to the Mississippi River.

From the Quad Cities to the Twin Cities, over 50,000 opportunities exist to board authentic river boats, steam boats, or rail cars for sightseeing trips or excursions up river from one community celebration to the next. It is anticipated that people from around the world will join in community celebrations, activities and programs highlighting local and regional accomplishments along the way.

For the last 10 to 15 years, communities have been working together to reclaim their relationship with the Mississippi and reestablish vibrant riverfront communities. Over 50 communities along the 419-mile route are investing millions of dollars, in fact billions of dollars, in recreational, commercial, and environmental improvements as part of preparation for the celebration, but more importantly, as permanent improvements in their communities.

Mr. Speaker, in conclusion, let me stress that the early history of my State, that of Iowa, is the history of Native Americans and then European, African, and Asian settlers finding the Mississippi River basin bountiful and beautiful.

As word of the majesty and opportunity of the area spread to new generations of Americans, commerce and industry followed. The trains from the east and the boats from the north and south brought excitement and adventure to a land destined for greatness. It is this greatness that we celebrate, and it is this greatness that its citizens who are so privileged to live along this great waterway pledge to preserve and enhance in this particular set of commitments related to this particular celebration.

I thank again the distinguished chairman and the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Davis) for their thoughtfulness.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of House Concurrent Resolution 44, which recognizes the contributions of the many Mississippi River communities which are planning events to commemorate the 150th anniversary of the Grand Excursion that took place in 1854. In 1854, the Grand Excursion was truly a historic event. It brought nationwide attention to the Upper Mississippi River and led Minnesota to statehood.

This excursion transformed our entire region, bringing prosperity and economic growth. However, over time the development that followed separated the people from the river. Transportation and industry walled communities off from the Mississippi, and pollution took its toll. Now we are working to reclaim our relationship with the mighty Mississippi.

In preparing to celebrate the 150th anniversary of the Grand Excursion, communities all along the 419-mile route are redeveloping their river fronts. Citizens and business groups have joined with State and local governments to renew their commitment

to this great international resource. River fronts are being revitalized, and our quality of life is being improved.

St. Paul, for example, has turned the Mississippi River back into our community's gathering place. On Harriet Island, the Target Stage is a place for the world-renowned St. Paul Chamber Orchestra to play on summer nights, while people overlook St. Paul's downtown skyline or walk along the river.

New projects are also planned to help reconnect St. Paul's people to its river's edge. Mr. Speaker, the Grand Excursion, the 150th anniversary celebration, is not just about recognizing these achievements; it is also an opportunity to learn about the Mississippi and what we need to do to protect it for future generations.

The Mississippi is America's river, it is Minnesota's river, and like many towns in south St. Paul where I grew up, it is a childhood river. It is also a working river, a river that continues to work. Thousands of jobs and the livelihoods of many families are connected to it.

People not only from St. Paul, from the United States, and from around the world call the Mississippi River home, but it is also home to our wildlife, from eagles in Minnesota to pelicans in the Delta Bay of Louisiana.

Activities associated with the Grand Excursion's anniversary will bring its historical, cultural, and environmental importance alive for thousands of people. Hundreds of permanent exhibits will be established honoring the river's past and looking towards the river's future.

Mr. Speaker, I am very proud to have an opportunity to support this resolution today. As an original cosponsor, I look forward to continuing working with the gentleman from Iowa (Mr. Leach) and others to bring attention to this national treasure, our Mississippi River, and to this exciting national event, the 150th anniversary of the Grand Excursion.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of House Concurrent Resolution 44, a concurrent resolution to express support for the celebration in 2004 of the 150th anniversary of the Grand Excursion of 1854.

Mr. Speaker, the Grand Excursion of 1854 represents a major turning point of the settlement and expansion of the Upper Mississippi River. It started out simply as a celebration of America's first railroad link to the Mississippi River from Chicago to Rock Island. Over 1,200 dignitaries, politicians, journalists, and businessmen, including former President Millard Fillmore, boarded a rail car in Chicago for Rock Island, Illinois. This group transferred to a fleet of at least five steamboats for a trip up the Mississippi to St. Paul, Minnesota, then traveled by horseback and wagon to view the falls of St. Anthony in what is now known as Minneapolis.

When the travelers wrote home about their great adventure, word spread about what a splendid place that part of America was. The next year, the upper Mississippi saw twice the number of visitors as the previous year.

The 2004 Grand Excursion is a regional initiative designed to recognize and celebrate the incredible renaissance that has occurred throughout the upper reaches of America's river, the Mississippi. As of December 2, 2002, 48 communities and 22 regional organizations, including Moline, Illinois, have endorsed and will participate in the Grand Excursion.

The 2004 excursion is designed to celebrate the capital improvements, along with the environmental and ecological changes, that have made the upper Mississippi one of the cleanest stretches of river in the country. Steamboats, river boats, and trains will be used to honor the spirit of the 1854 Grand Excursion to draw national and international attention to the lasting legacies of the 1854 excursion.

I urge my colleagues to support House Concurrent Resolution 44.

Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

I want to thank the gentleman from Iowa (Mr. Leach) for bringing this tremendous event to our attention. I had the good fortune to drive from Chicago to Rock Island 2 weeks ago, and it is indeed tremendous territory. Looking at the mighty Mississippi is a delight in and of itself.

Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as she may consume to the gentlewoman from Minnesota (Ms. McCollum).

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

I simply reiterate, Mr. Speaker, that this has been a tremendous event and will be a tremendous event. I strongly support it.

Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to offer my strong support of this legislation anticipating next year's 150th anniversary of the Grand Excursion of 1854, offered by my colleague, Mr. Leach.

The Grand Excursion is regarded as one of the greatest promotional trips ever devised in our Nation's history--one that changed the face of the upper Mississippi River.

In 1854, the Chicago and Rock Island Railroad became the first railroad to reach the Mississippi River. To celebrate, the owners and contractors for the railroad proposed an excursion for a select group of stockholders, friends, and family.

But word spread quickly about the occasion, resulting in a 1,200- person entourage traveling from Rock Island, IL to the Falls of St. Anthony--now known as Minneapolis, MN.

According to the Chicago Tribune, the excursionists were considered ``the most brilliant ever assembled in the West'': statesmen, historians, diplomats, poets, and newspaper editors. As the media wrote home to their newspapers, word spread about the wonders of the Nation's ``dark interior''.

This event turned into an opportunity to show some of our Nation's most influential people the fantastic beauty, numerous resources, and the unlimited opportunities that the Mississippi River and the West could provide.

The year after, steamboat traffic along the upper Mississippi River doubled, flooding the region with new settlers. The Grant Excursion also brought millions of dollars of investment to the area and positioned the upper Mississippi region as a dominant force in the development of the Nation in the 19th century.

The Grand Excursion of 2004 is an opportunity to draw awareness from around the Nation and around the world about the recreational, commercial and environmental opportunities the Mississippi River provides. In addition to the ``Grand Flotilla''--the retracing of the Grand Excursion's journey by trains, paddlewheelers, and steamboats-- over 50 communities along the 419-mile route, many in my district, will hold festivals and educational events to commemorate the event's sesquicentennial. And those who are unable to participate first-hand in the celebrations will be able to experience the excitement through a dynamic website and through ``exploration trunks'' that will be provided with curriculum to classrooms throughout the region.

I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting this resolution of America's celebration of the Mississippi River: the Grant Excursion of 2004.

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the concurrent resolution (H. Con. Res. 44) to express support for the celebration in 2004 of the 150th anniversary of the Grand Excursion of 1854.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their remarks on the concurrent resolution under consideration.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Mr. Speaker, House Concurrent Resolution 44, introduced by our distinguished colleague, the gentleman from Iowa (Mr. Leach), expresses support for the celebration in 2004 of the 150th anniversary of the Grand Excursion of 1854.

Mr. Speaker, during the summer of 1854, the Chicago Tribune sponsored a trip for around 1,000 well-regarded east coast journalists, artists, businessmen and others to visit the great Midwest.

The Tribune wanted to expose this influential group to American culture west of the east coast.

These people traveled through Chicago and on to Rock Island, Illinois, by train, and then boarded a steamboat to head to the Twin City area of Minneapolis/St. Paul, Minnesota. This event, called the Grand Excursion of 1854, is credited with having massively impacted the development of the Upper Mississippi River Valley and greatly promoted westward expansion in the United States as a whole.

Many communities and organizations in the Mississippi River Valley have celebrations planned for the summer of 2004 to commemorate the 150th anniversary of this momentous event. Therefore, I urge all Members to join in this tribute by supporting the adoption of House Concurrent Resolution 44. I thank our colleague, the gentleman from Iowa (Mr. Leach), for introducing this important measure.

Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to our distinguished colleague, the gentleman from Iowa (Mr. Leach).

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Mr. Speaker, I will simply close by saying that my mother spent all of her life from her birth to the end of her college years, in Iowa. I still have relatives in the great State of Iowa. Thus, it has been an honor for me to help bring this resolution to the floor, along with the chief sponsor, the gentleman from Iowa (Mr. Leach), and to recognize a very important part of this great Nation.

I urge all Members to support this resolution.

Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.