Tom Harkin

Mr. President, today I am introducing one last bill as a United States Senator. It is on an issue I have long wanted to tackle, changing our national anthem to one I believe is more representative of the amazing country and people that make up our United States of America. I believe that from its very first line, ``Oh beautiful for spacious skies'' America the Beautiful captures the spirit of our democracy and our shared commitment to liberty and freedom far better than our current anthem.

Now some might say but the Star Spangled Banner has always been our national anthem, but that's not true. In fact its only been the anthem since 1931 and its only been in popular use during the last 100 years. It first became popular with the military, particularly the Navy.

But the bottom line is that the Star Spangled banner commemorates a single battle, just one of the many historic battles and wars that we have fought to create and protect our great country. I think to me the thing that best captures my concern with the Star Spangled Banner, in addition to the fact that it is hard as heck for a layperson to sing, is that it doesn't actually mention the word ``America.''

In contrast, America the Beautiful celebrates not just the amazing geography and wonder of our country--from amber waves of grain to purple mountains--from sea to shining sea, but also captures something of our national spirit when we sing ``A thoroughfare of freedom beat, across the wilderness.''

Moreover, unlike the Star Spangled banner, America the Beautiful, like our coins, like our daily invocation here in the Senate acknowledges a higher power and calls upon god to guide us, to shed grace upon us, while also celebrating the heroism of those who have sacrificed their lives to create and preserve our democracy.

I am well aware that this legislation to redesignate the national anthem to ``America the Beautiful'' is not going to pass today, one of my final days in the Senate, but I would ask those who follow me to keep in mind the importance of symbols like the national anthem in reminding us what is great about this country--equality of opportunity, geographic diversity and majesty, shared commitment to individual liberty--and give serious thought to this proposal.

America the Beautiful is an anthem that far better embodies both the land and the principles that are the unifying beliefs of our democracy and for which we all stand together: freedom, liberty, and progress. For these reasons I believe that ``America the Beautiful'' should replace ``The Star Spangled Banner'' as the national anthem and I hope that my colleagues will come to share this view.

Mr. President, today I am introducing one last bill as a United States Senator. It is on an issue I have long wanted to tackle, changing our national anthem to one I believe is more representative of the amazing country and people that make up our United States of America. I believe that from its very first line, ``Oh beautiful for spacious skies'' America the Beautiful captures the spirit of our democracy and our shared commitment to liberty and freedom far better than our current anthem.

Now some might say but the Star Spangled Banner has always been our national anthem, but that's not true. In fact its only been the anthem since 1931 and its only been in popular use during the last 100 years. It first became popular with the military, particularly the Navy.

But the bottom line is that the Star Spangled banner commemorates a single battle, just one of the many historic battles and wars that we have fought to create and protect our great country. I think to me the thing that best captures my concern with the Star Spangled Banner, in addition to the fact that it is hard as heck for a layperson to sing, is that it doesn't actually mention the word ``America.''

In contrast, America the Beautiful celebrates not just the amazing geography and wonder of our country--from amber waves of grain to purple mountains--from sea to shining sea, but also captures something of our national spirit when we sing ``A thoroughfare of freedom beat, across the wilderness.''

Moreover, unlike the Star Spangled banner, America the Beautiful, like our coins, like our daily invocation here in the Senate acknowledges a higher power and calls upon god to guide us, to shed grace upon us, while also celebrating the heroism of those who have sacrificed their lives to create and preserve our democracy.

I am well aware that this legislation to redesignate the national anthem to ``America the Beautiful'' is not going to pass today, one of my final days in the Senate, but I would ask those who follow me to keep in mind the importance of symbols like the national anthem in reminding us what is great about this country--equality of opportunity, geographic diversity and majesty, shared commitment to individual liberty--and give serious thought to this proposal.

America the Beautiful is an anthem that far better embodies both the land and the principles that are the unifying beliefs of our democracy and for which we all stand together: freedom, liberty, and progress. For these reasons I believe that ``America the Beautiful'' should replace ``The Star Spangled Banner'' as the national anthem and I hope that my colleagues will come to share this view.

Mr. President, the omnibus appropriations bill that the Senate approved today includes the Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education, and Related Agencies bill. Or, as we like to refer to it, the Labor-HHS bill. Most people didn't think that would happen. They thought Labor-HHS was too controversial. There was no way the Senate and House could work out a compromise on this bill. But we did, and as the Senate clerk of the Labor-HHS bill, Adrienne Hallett is the staffer who deserves the greatest credit. More than any other staffer, the burden of completing this bill fell on her. Despite what so many people expected, she made it happen.

Adrienne has been an outstanding staff director of my Labor-HHS subcommittee. She has served the Appropriations Committee and the Senate extraordinarily well during her 15 years of Senate service. I believe she will continue to serve it well after my term expires. I think a bit of background will help you understand why I have this view.

First of all, Adrienne has strong Iowa roots. She hails from Cedar Rapids, where her mom still lives and enjoys the company of dozens of relatives throughout the State. Her father left us too soon after a battle with ALS ended over a decade ago. However, before his untimely death he had already helped Adrienne develop a strongly held view on service and a can-do spirit that propels her forward in pursuit of solutions to challenges that seemingly can't be overcome. He also had already supported Adrienne in her pursuit of higher education.

That higher education started with a degree in philosophy from the University of Northern Iowa, UNI. Now, you might say that such a degree is perfect for the ponderous Senate. What I have noticed is that the ethical decisionmaking skills she honed there have enabled her to more effectively find agreements that help the Senate and Congress advance good public policy. I will discuss some of that policy in a moment.

After earning her degree from UNI she went on to divinity school at Vanderbilt University, where she earned a master's degree and then went on to work for the Vice Chancellor for Health at Vanderbilt University Medical Center. Fortunately for me, Adrienne did not stay long before she joined my staff in Washington, DC in 1999.

Adrienne quickly demonstrated what an asset she was to me through her hard work and dedication to serving my Iowa constituents. I realized she could help me serve them and all Americans even better by joining my labor-HHS subcommittee staff which she agreed to do in 2001.

Now, I frequently am thanked and recognized for the things I have done as one of Iowa's Senators and in my role leading the labor-HHS subcommittee. What most people don't always know is the role that Adrienne Hallett has played in helping make those accomplishments a reality.

I think of community health centers from Clinton to Council Bluffs. That is thousands of families in Iowa receiving critical medical care they need to stay healthy or recover from injury or illness.

There is the Job Corps Center in Ottumwa that will give hundreds of youth another chance at education and training that will enable them to be self-sufficient and positively contribute to society.

There is the National Civilian Community Corps campus in Vinton. Hundreds of young men and women are being trained for service projects in local communities throughout the North Central region of the United States.

I could go on and on in naming centers and programs around Iowa where someone has thanked me for something that Adrienne helped make possible. But it is not just Iowa that has benefitted from her service.

It is also the expansion of community health centers throughout the United States. There are millions of families being served by those centers.

Something so close to my heart is the significant role she has played in advancing public health systems in the United States and throughout the world. These all are things where I am recognized for something Adrienne helped make possible.

Adrienne, I join with the entire Senate family in thanking you for your outstanding service and offering best wishes to you for the future.