Congressional Record—House H6117
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July 20, 2005 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE H6117 immigrant of both Italian and Greek Mr. MICA. Mr. Speaker, I have no California (Ms. MILLENDER-MCDONALD) descent. further requests for time, and I reserve for their leadership, and others. I explained that we live in a Nation the balance of my time. Rarely do we get to use the very cen- of immigrants, that Brumidi is one of Ms. MILLENDER-MCDONALD. Mr. ter of the Capitol building, the Ro- the greatest that we ever welcomed. He Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gen- tunda, in any ceremony. The Congress left Rome under unfortunate cir- tleman from New York (Mr. ISRAEL). requires a joint resolution and that cumstances, having been imprisoned in Mr. ISRAEL. Mr. Speaker, I thank that resolution be considered by the the great fight in Italy for independ- the gentlewoman for yielding me this other body for the purpose of honoring ence with both the Vatican and the time and thank her for her leadership one of our citizens. So it is very rare. state. Rome’s loss was America’s gain. on this issue. We paid tribute to Ronald Reagan. We When the French occupied Rome in I also want to thank the gentleman have paid tribute to great Americans, 1849, Brumidi was accused by the from Florida (Mr. MICA) for his leader- Rosa Parks, in awarding the Congres- Church of being a revolutionary. The ship, his passion for history, his leader- sional Gold Medal, leaders, political work he had been doing in the Vatican ship on behalf of the legacy of and social leaders. came to an end. He set out for America Constantino Brumidi in joining with b 1115 where he hoped our free way of life me in urging the Stamp Advisory Com- How fitting it is that we take time as would allow his talent to flourish. He mission to issue a United States post- a Congress to recognize one of the ar- arrived in New York City. Think of age stamp honoring Constantino tistic and cultural contributors to this Brumidi. that day in 1852. He was a proud citizen great Capitol building on the 200th an- Mr. Speaker, all Americans of all 5 years later. Hear me, 5 years later. In niversary of Brumidi’s birth. So we not faiths, of all backgrounds, of all experi- fact, he was known to sign some of his only honor next week in this special ences who come to this citadel of de- work ‘‘C. Brumidi Artist Citizen of the ceremony Constantino Brumidi, but mocracy are inspired by the legacy of United States.’’ How fitting. also all the sons and daughters of this After traveling the country for work, Constantino Brumidi. All of us are in- great Nation, immigrants, who made in 1855 Brumidi’s unique style found its fluenced by him. I was just walking not only this Capitol an incredible through the corridors of the Capitol, way to the empty walls of the United symbol of democracy and a beautiful and this is a very busy, very crowded States Capitol. He was commissioned place to work and visit and to have as by the Congress. Brumidi soon provided place. And everyone who comes to the our United States Capitol, but also to a unique ability to apply a classical Capitol today and during these weeks honor all those who have made this a style to create American themes. has no choice but to look at the work great country. Though paid handsomely at the start of Constantino Brumidi, to be affected Mr. Speaker, I urge the adoption of of his career, Brumidi was not inspired and influenced by it. the resolution. by financial gain. After 2 years of Constantino Brumidi epitomizes the Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance work, he never got a raise. But his greatest democratic values that our of my time. work continued. country offers to the world: a sense of The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. It continued in the Frieze of Amer- strength, a sense of pride, a sense of FOLEY). The question is on the motion ican History, in the Brumidi Corridor, hope, the sense that one can come here offered by the gentleman from Florida in the Senate Appropriations Com- with nothing and create an enduring (Mr. MICA) that the House suspend the mittee, in the reception room and in and permanent legacy of their values. rules and agree to the concurrent reso- the President’s Room, just to name a Constantino Brumidi captures not lution, H. Con. Res. 202. few. And on February 19, 1880, exactly just the history that we view in his The question was taken; and (two- 25 years to the day after Brumidi began works in the Capitol, but he also sends thirds having voted in favor thereof) work at the Capitol, he died of a kid- us a critical message about our future, the rules were suspended and the con- ney failure. He died in poverty. And our collective future. What he tells us current resolution was agreed to. following his death, Brumidi’s name in his work is that this is a special A motion to reconsider was laid on and work slipped into obscurity. Much place in the world, that one can come the table. of his artwork was painted over, in to America and work hard, they can f reach the literal zenith of their profes- fact. He was looked at as irrelevant. It GENERAL LEAVE was immaterial. It was not until 1952 sion, and in that workforce all the rest that his grave site was recognized by of us can look up at what they have Mr. MICA. Mr. Speaker, I ask unani- the Congress, the Congress that he done. That is something that should mous consent that all Members may dedicated his life to physically en- not be taken for granted. have 5 legislative days within which to hance. It was not until 10 years ago I would suggest that only in America revise and extend their remarks and in- that his work has truly begun to be re- could Constantino Brumidi’s works be clude extraneous material on H. Con. stored. as cherished as they are. Only in Amer- Res. 202. Brumidi was driven by enormous tal- ica could his work force all the rest of The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there ent. He was driven by enormous patri- us to look up at what he has done, and objection to the request of the gen- otism. His passion allowed him to only in America could people from all tleman from Florida? There was no objection. adorn the Capitol of his adopted coun- faiths and backgrounds be so influ- try with the grand symbolism of a enced and inspired by what he has f democratic Greco-Roman legacy. done. That is the true lesson of GENERAL LEAVE The event that this resolution will Constantino Brumidi. He does not cap- Mr. SMITH of New Jersey. Mr. authorize takes a step to ensure that ture the past. He tells us that the best Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that Americans will never forget one of our is yet to come. all Members may have 5 legislative greatest historical figures. It will work So I support this resolution. I thank days within which to revise and extend to ensure that every American, Italian, the gentlewoman and gentleman from their remarks and include extraneous Greek, or whatever, will recognize the Florida, and I urge my colleagues to material on H.R. 2601. name of Constantino Brumidi, one of adopt it. The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there the greatest immigrants to ever grace Ms. MILLENDER-MCDONALD. Mr. objection to the request of the gen- America. Speaker, I have no further requests for tleman from New Jersey? This is the 200th anniversary of his time, and I yield back the balance of There was no objection. birth. This is the 150th anniversary of my time. f the beginning of his artistic career. Mr. MICA. Mr. Speaker, I yield my- And this is the 125th anniversary of his self the balance of my time. FOREIGN RELATIONS AUTHORIZA- death. It is only fitting that Congress In closing, I do thank both sides of TION ACT, FISCAL YEARS 2006 honor Constantino Brumidi in this the aisle for participating in this, the AND 2007 showplace, in the Capitol Rotunda, on gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. the bicentennial of his birth. PASCRELL) and the gentlewoman from MICA). Pursuant to House Resolution VerDate jul 14 2003 00:23 Jul 21, 2005 Jkt 039060 PO 00000 Frm 00009 Fmt 7634 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\K20JY7.017 H20JYPT1 H6118 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE July 20, 2005 365 and rule XVIII, the Chair declares of this Act, the Secretary of State shall es- tional interests broadly considered and the House in the Committee of the tablish a mandatory requirement for back- help Egypt achieve the economic and Whole House on the State of the Union ground investigations of passport acceptance political reform it needs. for the further consideration of the agents. Mr. ISSA. Mr. Chairman, reclaiming (2) ESTABLISHMENT OF TRAINING PRO- bill, H.R. 2601. my time, I thank the gentleman. GRAM.—Not later than one year after the Mr. LANTOS. Mr. Chairman, will the b 1117 date of the enactment of this Act, the Under Secretary for Management of the Depart- gentleman yield? IN THE COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE ment of State, acting through the Bureau of Mr. ISSA. I yield to the gentleman Accordingly, the House resolved Consular Affairs of the Department, shall— from California.