A resolution designating July 25, 2009, as "National Day of the American Cowboy".

Madam President, I rise today to talk about one of the great icons of the American West--the cowboy. The cowboy is an enduring symbol of strong character, honesty, integrity, respect, and patriotism. I am proud to carry on a tradition started by my late colleague and friend, Senator Craig Thomas, by sponsoring S. Res. 142, which honors the men and women called cowboys by designating July 25, 2009, the National Day of the American Cowboy.

Craig truly showed us what it meant to be a cowboy. He knew that they come from all walks of life. Cowboys are men and women of any age, any race, and can be found across the country. The cowboy spirit isn't about boots and spurs and a hat. It is about strength of character, sound family values, courage, respect, and good common sense. Senator Thomas said:

Trying to define a cowboy is like trying to rope the wind,

but you certainly recognize one when you see them.

It was easy to recognize that Senator Thomas truly was a Wyoming cowboy in every sense of the word.

The cowboy way of life has been passed down for generations since the first cowboys settled the American West. They were true pioneers who came west to settle an untamed frontier. Many of the cowtowns that sprung up around the cattle business when the West was being settled are still there now. They continue to live their western heritage. The first cowboys relied on hard work and persistence to make their living in a tough country. Today's cowboys haven't changed all that much from when the first wranglers and ranch hands started herding cattle on the Great Plains.

Today's cowboys continue to rope and ride across the United States. They live and work in every State to manage nearly 100 million cattle. They are an integral part of the economy of Wyoming and many other Western States. Cowboys work hard but they also play hard. Rodeo is a sport that tests skill with a rope or challenges a cowboy's ability to stay on the back of bucking rough stock for 8 long seconds. Rodeos across the Nation, from big events such as Cheyenne Frontier Days and the National Finals Rodeo in Las Vegas, to weekly smalltown jackpots at community arenas around the country, draw millions of fans every year.

The cowboy legend still lives in our culture and our imaginations through music, movies, and books. From cowboy blockbusters on the big screen to the thousands of country radio stations on the air, the cowboy remains a larger-than-life figure. We look up to cowboys because they are examples of honesty, integrity, character, patriotism and self-reliance. Cowboys have a strong work ethic, they are compassionate, and they are good stewards of the land. We look to cowboys as role models for how to live up to the best American qualities.

I am proud to be from a State that continues to live the cowboy tradition every day. Their contributions have helped shape what it means to be an American and have created a high standard we can all strive to meet. I am proud to continue Senator Thomas's tradition of recognizing the many contributions cowboys have made to our country. I look forward to celebrating the National Day of the American Cowboy on July 25, 2009.

Mr. President, I am proud to introduce a resolution today to designate Saturday, July 25, 2009 as ``National Day of the American Cowboy.'' My late colleague, Senator Craig Thomas, began the tradition of honoring the men and women known as ``Cowboys'' five years ago when he introduced the first resolution to designate the fourth Saturday of July as National Day of the American Cowboy. I'm proud to carry on Senator Thomas's tradition.

The national day celebrates the history of Cowboys in America and recognizes the important work today's Cowboys are doing in the United States. The Cowboy Spirit is about honesty, integrity, courage, and patriotism, and Cowboys are models of strong character, sound family values, and good common sense.

Cowboys were some of the first men and women to settle in the American West and they continue to make important contributions to our economy, Western culture and my home state of Wyoming today. This year's resolution designates July 25, 2009 as the National Day of the American Cowboy. I hope my colleagues will join me in recognizing the important role Cowboys play in our country.

Madam President, I ask unanimous consent that the Judiciary Committee be discharged from further consideration and the Senate now proceed to the consideration of S. Res. 142.

Madam President, I ask unanimous consent that the resolution be agreed to, the preamble be agreed to, and the motions to reconsider be laid upon the table.