Senate Resolution 315-To Commemorate the Bicentennial Anniversary of the Arrival of Lewis and Clark at the Pacific Ocean

SENATE RESOLUTION 315--TO COMMEMORATE THE BICENTENNIAL ANNIVERSARY OF THE ARRIVAL OF LEWIS AND CLARK AT THE PACIFIC OCEAN

Ms. CANTWELL (for herself, Mr. Wyden, and Mrs. Murray) submitted the following resolution; which was considered and agreed to:

S. Res. 315

Whereas, on January 18, 1803, President Thomas Jefferson began an extraordinary journey by sending a secret message to Congress requesting approval and funding to establish the ``Corps of Volunteers for Northwest Discovery'' to explore the most direct and practical water route across the continent of the United States all the way to the Pacific Ocean;

Whereas, on May 14, 1804, the journey up the Missouri River and across the vast and newly acquired Louisiana Territory began at Camp Dubois, Illinois, led by Captain Meriwether Lewis and Second Lieutenant William Clark;

Whereas after a long year and a half and 4,133 arduous miles, the expedition endured a dangerous storm of wind, rain, and waves for 6 days at Clark's Dismal Nitch;

Whereas, on November 13, 1805, the Corps of Discovery moved further west to Station Camp and beheld their first comprehensive view of the Pacific Ocean, and thereby began the realization of the vision of President Jefferson of a country ``from sea to shining sea'';

Whereas Station Camp also marks the occurrence of a historical democratic vote to determine where to stay for winter that included all members of the expedition, including Sacagawea, an Indian woman, and York, an African American slave;

Whereas, on November 19, 1805, Clark and 11 of his men set out on an ocean excursion, hiking 25 miles to Cape Disappointment to get a complete view of the Pacific Ocean and reach the furthest western point of the expedition;

Whereas the expedition built their winter camp on the south side of the Columbia River at Fort Clatsop, Oregon, named in honor of the friendly local Clatsop Indians, and the 33 member party spent 106 days among lush old-growth forest, wetlands, and wildlife preparing for their long journey back to St. Louis, Missouri;

Whereas Lewis and Clark's Corps of Discovery produced detailed journals with maps, charts, samples, and descriptions of the previously undocumented western geography, climate, plants, animals, and native cultures from which the Nation continues to benefit today;

Whereas the Lewis and Clark Expedition marks a significant benchmark in American history and a crucial step in securing the claim and the eventual creation of all the States in the Pacific Northwest;

Whereas the exploration of the western frontier of our fledgling Nation was the great odyssey of America, symbolic of the core values of teamwork, courage, perseverance, science, and opportunity held by the United States;

Whereas, on October 30, 2004, President George W. Bush signed into law legislation creating the Lewis and Clark National Historical Park which preserves these 3 Washington State sites integral to the dramatic arrival of the expedition at the Pacific Ocean, and incorporates Fort Clatsop of Oregon and important State parks for the benefit and education of generations to come; and

Whereas, during November 2005, Washington and Oregon are hosting, ``Destination: The Pacific'', a unique commemoration of the 200 year anniversary of the arrival of the Corps of Discovery in the Pacific Northwest: Now, therefore, be it

Resolved, That the Senate--

(1) commemorates the bicentennial anniversary of the arrival of Lewis and Clark at the Pacific Ocean; and

(2) recognizes that by exploring the unknown frontier, Lewis and Clark expanded the boundaries of our great Nation and pushed the limits of what we are capable of as citizens.

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