Benjamin Franklin Tercendtenary Commission Act of 2005
BENJAMIN FRANKLIN TERCEN-ÐTENARY COMMISSION ACT OF 2005 -- (House of Representatives - September 20, 2006)
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Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, as a member of the House Government Reform Committee, I am pleased to join my colleague in the consideration of H.R. 4586, the Benjamin Franklin Tercentenary Commission Act.
This bill, which was introduced by Representative MICHAEL CASTLE of Delaware on December 16, 2005, and was unanimously reported by the Government Reform Committee on March 30, 2006, extends the authorization of the Commission until fiscal year 2009.
Mr. Speaker, in 2002 Congress created the Benjamin Franklin Tercentenary Commission, a panel of 15 outstanding Americans chosen to study and recommend programs to celebrate Franklin's 300th birthday and to mint a commemorative coin of Ben Franklin. Extending the Commission past 2007 to 2009 will allow the funds from the sale of the recently issued Ben Franklin commemorative coins to truly benefit the many Commission programs planned and underway to honor Ben Franklin.
The Benjamin Franklin Tercentenary, which was founded in 2000 by a consortium of five Philadelphia cultural institutions, is currently presenting an international traveling exhibition entitled ``Benjamin Franklin: In Search of a Better World.'' This exhibit has been organized to commemorate the 300th anniversary of Franklin's birth and will travel around the United States and France. The exhibit premiered in Philadelphia last year and just recently stopped in St. Louis, Missouri, and from there it would go on to Houston, Texas; Denver; Atlanta; London; and Paris.
Benjamin Franklin was this Nation's greatest citizen perhaps, diplomat, statesman. He was a scientist, a philanthropist, humanitarian, inventor, and humorist.
As a matter of fact, Mr. Speaker, I can remember when I was a child and found things to read that reading about Benjamin Franklin was really just simply one of the great joys of growing up, and I never will forget one thing that he said. I mean, he had all of these ideas about virtue, and he said on temperance, ``Eat not to dullness, drink not to elevation.'' And I was asking a young fellow the other day what that meant, and he said that Franklin was saying don't eat until you get too filled and don't drink until you get too high. So, obviously, there are a lot of people in our country and our society who could remember that.
But I am indeed pleased that we are recognizing the amazing achievements of Benjamin Franklin by celebrating his 300th birthday and presenting an international traveling exhibition.
I firmly support H.R. 4586 and urge its passage.
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