A concurrent resolution providing for the acceptance of a statue of Helen Keller, presented by the people of Alabama.

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

I am pleased to support this resolution, Mr. Speaker, to accept the statue of Helen Keller presented by the people of the great State of Alabama. I come here today not to honor a mere statue of marble or stone, but to honor a woman of extraordinary courage, compassion and determination.

Helen Keller was born June 27, 1880, in Tuscumbia, Alabama. During only the 19th month of her young life, Helen lost not only her sight but also her hearing during an apparent bout of meningitis.

As many of us have seen in the award-winning play and the movie ``The Miracle Worker,'' at age 7, with the help of her gifted teacher, Anne Sullivan, Helen ascertained the ability to communicate. During her young life, she worked strenuously and tirelessly to overcome her sensory impediments and help others do the same.

She attended the Perkins School for the Blind for 4 years; the Cambridge School for Young Ladies for 1; and Radcliffe College, a sister school to Harvard University, for 4 years. There she earned a bachelor of arts degree and graduated cum laude as our Nation's first deaf and blind college graduate.

Helen Keller worked tirelessly on behalf of her fellow men and women in this country and around the world: the blind, the deaf, the disabled, those seeking the right to vote, workers, and many others. A prolific author, one of her autobiographies, ``The Story of My Life,'' has been translated into over 50 languages.

She provided vital support to organizations such as the American Foundation for the Blind, and was justly given honorary degrees from Temple University, the University of Glasgow, the University of Delhi, the University of Berlin, and the University of Johannesburg. In 1964, President Lyndon Johnson awarded her the highest possible civilian award, the Presidential Medal of Freedom. She was also honored with Brazil's Order of the Southern Cross, the Philippines' Golden Heart, and Japan's Sacred Treasure. In 1991, she was named by LIFE magazine as one of the 100 most important Americans of the 20th century.

Helen Keller will be the first person with disabilities enshrined here in our Nation's Capitol. This honor is long overdue. She was and is an inspiration to all of us regardless of our age, status, ethnicity, or background. To marvel at the dignity and beauty inherent in all human beings, to use the gifts and attributes that each of us possess to their full potential, to help our fellow citizens and human beings meet and overcome whatever fears, challenges and adversity they may face, these are the legacies of Helen Keller that will be so richly preserved by this statue in her honor.

During this time of important challenges in our country and at all times in which human beings embark and journey on the road of life, Helen Keller reminds us that ``Although the world is full of suffering, it is full also of the overcoming of it'' and ``No pessimist ever discovered the secret of the stars or sailed an uncharted land, or opened a new doorway for the human spirit.''

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

Mr. Speaker, I now yield to the distinguished gentleman from Alabama, Congressman Bachus, such time as he may consume.

Mr. Speaker, I have no other speakers who are here, so let me just say that I rise in support of this resolution.

Helen Keller is not only a tremendous symbol of the State of Alabama and the United States, but it's not just her history that we reflect on today, it is her inspiration for those of us who are alive today.

There are some in our society--I remember Professor Peter Singer--who have suggested that some infants are not worthy of our support as human beings because they are less than the rest of us. I've often wondered if it is our failure to be able to unlock that vault in which some children find themselves where they're unable to communicate to us. And if we reflect back on Helen Keller's life, Helen Keller had that greatness within her at all times. It was the inability of the outside world to be able to communicate with her as much as it was her inability to communicate with the outside world. That should be a lesson for all of us that no child is unworthy in our society and that sometimes when we do not understand their worth, it may be our loss rather than theirs.

Think what would have happened if that great teacher of Helen Keller hadn't taken the time to be able to unlock that vault and be able to begin to communicate with that young girl. Not only how differently would Helen Keller's life had turned out, but how differently the plight of the disabled in this country and around the world would have been.

So let us not just think of Helen Keller as a historic figure for which we give her homage today and for which we will honor her with this statue, but let's think of her as a living memorial of the challenge to all of us to reach beyond that which is easy to find out the greatness that lies within every individual.

So I thank you, Mr. Speaker. I thank Chairman Brady and the delegation of Alabama for taking up this resolution. I urge my colleagues to join me in support.

I yield back the balance of my time.

The story of Helen Keller has inspired generations of Americans. It is especially meaningful for those of us from Alabama because Helen Keller is one of our own. Her statue will vividly remind us of a young girl from the rural south and how she overcame tremendous challenges to become a symbol of hope and determination for people throughout the world.

As my colleague, Mr. Lungren, described, Helen was not even 2 years old when illness left her unable to see or hear. That would be difficult enough for a child and for a father and mother to deal with today with all our advantages. Imagine how devastating it must have been for a family in the Deep South during the 1880s.

Some might have mistakenly assumed that Helen or a child who is blind and deaf may not aspire to do anything more than be cared for with compassion. But such is certainly not the normal mindset of children with physical limitations as many of us know. They have the same aspirations and hopes and dreams as their fellow children.

It certainly was not the case for Helen. Helen's parents also refused to accept limits on their child or on her life, just as Helen. When she grew older, they refused to be limited by her disabilities. They had a deep and strong faith that their daughter could be educated and live a full and rich life. And while Helen could not yet express that she had the same determination, ultimately this would bring them in contact with Anne Sullivan and lead to the scene which is depicted by the new statue: that miraculous moment when Helen Keller, with water running over her hands, finally understood what a word meant and that word was ``water.'' Very few statues can tell such a moving story. This one does.

But, of course, it is only the beginning of the story of Helen Keller and what she chose to use her life for, and that was to help others. As an educator, as an advocate, as a humanitarian, she showed there is no obstacle that cannot be overcome. Her life reminds us to cherish every member of our society because each person has unique gifts and blessings from God.

The statue will be very popular, especially with children. It conveys the important message that whatever life's challenges, nothing should ever hold us back. We live in a country where you can overcome any obstacle and achieve your dreams if you work hard and possess the desire to succeed.

There were many people involved with this project that the Alabama delegation wishes to acknowledge. My colleague, Parker Griffith, has mentioned Governor Bob Riley and his wife Patsy. They were two of the guiding forces behind the statue that is such a great gift from the people of Alabama to the people of our Nation. Governor, I hope you and the First Lady look upon this as one of your proudest legacies.

Dr. Joe Busta from the University of South Alabama, who was co-chair of the Helen Keller Campaign, and his co-chair Elmer Harris, former CEO of Alabama Power.

Dr. Bob Morris and his team at the Helen Keller Foundation. Dr. Morris devotes weeks of each year to restoring sight of children who have lost their sight and is actually a miracle worker today giving the gift of sight.

Dr. Terry Graham, president of the Alabama Institute for the Deaf and Blind, and Lynne Hanner from the Institute.

Among the members who served on the Helen Keller Campaign and the Artist Selection Committee, the Alabama delegation is honored to have three members of the Keller family: great nephew Bill Johnson, great nephew Warren Johnson, and great grand niece Keller Johnson Thompson.

And, of course, finally we recognize the outstanding work of the artist, Edward Hlavka.

We all look forward to the formal unveiling of the Helen Keller statue next Wednesday. It will be a powerful moment for those of us from the State of Alabama at our beautiful Capitol.

Let me thank Senator Sessions and Senator Shelby for their support of this resolution.

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and concur in the concurrent resolution (S. Con. Res. 41) providing for the acceptance of a statue of Helen Keller, presented by the people of Alabama, as amended.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks on this legislation.

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

Mr. Speaker, this resolution provides for the use of the Capitol rotunda on October 7, 2009, for a presentation and unveiling ceremony of the statue of Helen Keller. Since her story has been widely told, Helen Keller has been a lasting symbol of perseverance and bravery worldwide. Struck blind and deaf when she was a little over a year old, Helen Keller went on to lead a remarkable life.

She was the first blind person to receive a bachelor's degree. At the age of

22, she published her autobiography, ``The Story of My Life'' and went on to write 10 more books. She was an outspoken activist and proponent of women's rights as well as an advocate for people with disabilities.

Helen Keller is a superb addition to the already impressive National Statuary Hall collection. I am proud to support this resolution.

I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I would like to yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Alabama (Mr. Griffith).

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

I also thank the gentleman for his cooperation in everything we do in our committee. I do think that Helen Keller will be a great addition to Statuary Hall.

Some wise old lady told me years ago that when someone gives you lemons, you turn them into lemonade, and that's exactly what that lady did. That statue in Statuary Hall will be an inspiration to all of us.

With that, I support the resolution.

I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I, too, rise in honor of the life and the experiences of Helen Keller.

Born in my district in Tuscumbia, the Helen Keller birthplace is a national shrine visited by thousands of Americans every year. She was a remarkable woman, had great courage, and, with the help of Anne Sullivan, learned to overcome both deafness and blindness. She said about her disability that the loss of sight separated her from objects but the loss of hearing separated her from people. She overcame these with great courage and determination, and her teacher and her constant companion, Anne Sullivan, were heroes for all of America and continue to be heroes today.

Always a constant role model for people with disabilities in America and around the globe, Mrs. Keller was a friend of many of our world leaders, recognized, as has been said, as one of the greats of the 20th century.

Soon we will celebrate her life and her experiences by unveiling a statue, and we believe that she will be permanently enshrined in the history of the life of America. Her great courage and great determination are qualities that we certainly admire and can use to this day.

I appreciate so much Governor Riley of Alabama and the entire State of Alabama in their dedication and their perseverance in getting the statue here and all the work that has gone into it. Our Alabama delegation here in the Congress as well as our Senators have taken part, and we appreciate that so much.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate proceed to the immediate consideration of S. Con. Res. 41, which was introduced earlier today.

I ask unanimous consent that the resolution be agreed to, the preamble be agreed to, the motions to reconsider be laid upon the table, and that any statements relating to the resolution be printed in the Record.