HF 4984

1st Engrossment - 93rd Legislature (2023 - 2024) Posted on 04/25/2024 08:05am

A memorial resolution
requesting the Joint Committee on the Library of Congress of the United States Congress
to approve replacement of the statue of Henry Mower Rice now on display in National
Statuary Hall in the Capitol of the United States.

WHEREAS, an act of Congress of July 2, 1864, established National Statuary Hall in the
United States Capitol; and

WHEREAS, the act provides that each state has the right to donate "statues, in marble or
bronze, not exceeding two in number for each State, of deceased persons who have been citizens
thereof, and illustrious for their historic renown or for distinguished civic or military services...";
and

WHEREAS, the state of Minnesota appreciates the opportunity provided by that act; and

WHEREAS, Minnesota currently has contributed for display a statue of Maria Sanford and
a statue of Henry Mower Rice; and

WHEREAS, the act of Congress creating Statuary Hall in the United States Capitol was
amended in 2000 by Section 311 of H.R. 5657, established as law by Public Law 106-554, and
provides that "Any State may request the Joint Committee on the Library of Congress to approve
the replacement of a statue the State has provided for display"; and

WHEREAS, the statue of Henry Mower Rice, having been first placed on display in 1916,
has met the minimum requirement of that act for display for at least ten years; and

WHEREAS, by this resolution, the state has selected the Honorable Hubert H. Humphrey,
former Vice President of the United States, to be newly commemorated; and

WHEREAS, Hubert H. Humphrey served as Mayor of Minneapolis from 1945 to 1948; and

WHEREAS, Hubert H. Humphrey led forces at the 1948 Democratic National Convention
in Philadelphia in support of the successful minority platform plank on civil rights and equal
opportunity, challenging the delegates to "get out of the shadow of states' rights and walk forthrightly
into the bright sunshine of human rights"; and

WHEREAS, Hubert H. Humphrey spent a total of 23 years of service in the Senate, serving
from 1949 to 1964 and from 1970 to 1978, compiling a record of accomplishments virtually
unmatched in the 20th century, including the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the Nuclear Test-Ban Treaty,
Medicare, human rights, workforce development, labor rights, health care, arms control and
disarmament, the Peace Corps, small business assistance, education reform, wilderness preservation,
immigration reform, and agriculture; and

WHEREAS, Hubert H. Humphrey served as Assistant Senate Majority Leader and Deputy
President Pro Tempore; and

WHEREAS, Hubert H. Humphrey served as floor leader during the Senate's consideration
of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which was essential to the eventual passage of the act in the aftermath
of breaking the filibuster against this historic legislation; and

WHEREAS, Hubert H. Humphrey, although dedicated to the Democratic Party, always
sought bipartisan support for his legislative goals and routinely shared credit with other Senators
for his legislative victories; and

WHEREAS, Hubert H. Humphrey, as Vice President of the United States, loyally served
President Lyndon Baines Johnson and successfully carried out a number of domestic and overseas
assignments; and

WHEREAS, Hubert H. Humphrey served as the Democratic Party's nominee for President
of the United States in 1968; and

WHEREAS, Hubert H. Humphrey was reelected by the people of Minnesota, in 1970 and
1976, to two additional terms in the Senate, thereby continuing his extraordinary record of legislative
achievement with passage of such bills as the Humphrey-Hawkins Full Employment Act; and

WHEREAS, Hubert H. Humphrey, after his time in government, went on to be a Professor
at Macalaster College and the University of Minnesota; and

WHEREAS, the state of Minnesota would contract with the Koh-Varilla Guild, Inc., to
replicate the statue of Hubert H. Humphrey that currently stands on the mall of the Minnesota State
Capitol, sculpted by artists Jeff and Anna Koh Varilla; and

WHEREAS, the state of Minnesota understands its responsibilities for expenditures associated
with removing and transporting the replaced statue and erecting the new statue in its place; and

WHEREAS, the statue of Henry Mower Rice would be transferred to the State of Minnesota;
NOW, THEREFORE,

BE IT RESOLVED by the House of Representatives and the Senate of the State of Minnesota
that they request that the application to replace the statue of Henry Mower Rice with a statue of
Hubert H. Humphrey, consistent with the requirements of Public Law 106-554, be approved by the
Joint Committee on the Library of Congress;

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the revisor of statutes is directed to prepare an enrolled
copy of this resolution, to be authenticated by the signature of the secretary of state and that of the
governor, and that the secretary of state transmit the enrolled copy to the Architect of the Capitol,
for forwarding to the Joint Committee on the Library of Congress.