79–010

Calendar No. 931

106TH CONGRESS REPORT

2d Session " ! SENATE 106–482

HERMANN MONUMENT AND HERMANN HEIGHTS PARK

OCTOBER 3 (legislative day, SEPTEMBER 22), 2000.—Ordered to be printed

Mr. MURKOWSKI, from the Committee on Energy and Natural

Resources, submitted the following

REPORT

[To accompany H. Con. Res. 89]

The Committee on Energy and Natural Resources, to which was

referred the concurrent resolution (H. Con. Res. 89) recognizing the

Hermann Monument and Hermann Heights Park in New Ulm,

Minnesota, as a national symbol of the contributions of Americans

of German heritage, having considered the same, reports favorably

thereon without amendment and recommends that the concurrent

resolution do pass.

PURPOSE OF THE MEASURE

The purpose of H. Con. Res. 89 is to recognize the Hermann

Monument and Hermann Heights Park in New Ulm, Minnesota, as

a national symbol of the contributions of Americans of German heritage.

BACKGROUND AND NEED

The Hermann Monument was erected in 1889 as a tribute to

German immigrants to the United States. It honors Hermann the

Cheruscan, who forged the creation of a united Germany by defeating three Roman Legions who had occupied the area now known

as Germany. Hermann remains a symbol of German history, culture, dedication, and perseverance.

The Hermann Monument, located in New Ulm, Minnesota,

stands 102 feet tall and is the second largest copper statue in the

United States, behind only the Statue of Liberty. The monument

is in need of renovation and the citizens of New Ulm are raising

the $1.75 million needed for its restoration and for construction of

an interpretive center at its base.

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H. Con. Res. 89 provides congressional recognition of the Hermann Monument and Hermann Heights Park as a national symbol

of the contributions of Americans of German heritage. The resolution does not authority any Federal funds or assistance.

LEGISLATIVE HISTORY

The House of Representatives passed H. Con. Res. 89 on May 9,

2000. A similar resolution, S. Con. Res. 106, was introduced by

Senators Grams and Wellstone on April 13, 2000. The Subcommittee on National Parks, Historic Preservation and Recreation

held a hearing on S. Con. Res. 106 on July 13, 2000. At the business meeting on September 20, 2000, the Committee on Energy

and Natural Resources ordered H. Con. Res. 89 favorably reported.

COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION

The Committee on Energy and Natural Resources, in open business session on September 20, 2000, by a unanimous vote of a

quorum present, recommends that the Senate pass H. Con. Res. 89.

SUMMARY OF THE RESOLUTION

H. Con. Res. 89 resolves that the Hermann Monument and Hermann Heights Park in New Ulm, Minnesota, are recognized as a

national symbol of the contributions of Americans of German heritage.

COST AND BUDGETARY CONSIDERATIONS

The following estimate of the cost of this measure has been provided by the Congressional Budget Office.

U.S. CONGRESS,

CONGRESSIONAL BUDGET OFFICE,

Washington, DC, September 26, 2000.

Hon. FRANK H. MURKOWSKI,

Chairman, Committee on Energy and Natural Resources,

U.S. Senate, Washington, DC.

DEAR MR. CHAIRMAN: The Congressional Budget Office has prepared the enclosed cost estimate for H. Con. Res. 89, recognizing

the Hermann Monument and Hermann Heights Park in New Ulm,

Minnesota, as a national symbol of the contributions of Americans

of German heritage.

If you wish further details on this estimate, we will be pleased

to provide them. The CBO staff contact is Barry Blom.

Sincerely,

BARRY B. ANDERSON

(For Dan L. Crippen, Director).

Enclosure.

CONGRESSIONAL BUDGET OFFICE COST ESTIMATE

H. Con. Res. 89—Recognizing the Hermann Monument and Hermann Heights Park in New Ulm, Minnesota, as a national

symbol of the contributions of Americans of German heritage

H. Con. Res. 89 would recognize the Hermann Monument and

Hermann Heights Park in Minnesota as a national symbol of GerVerDate 11-MAY-2000 17:11 Oct 05, 2000 Jkt 089010 PO 00000 Frm 00002 Fmt 6659 Sfmt 6602 E:\HR\OC\SR482.XXX pfrm04 PsN: SR482
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man heritage. CBO estimates that passage of the resolution would

have no impact on the federal budget. The resolution would not affect direct spending or receipts; therefore, pay-as-you-go procedures

would not apply.

On March 17, 2000, CBO submitted a cost estimate for H. Con.

Res. 89, as ordered reported by the House Committee on Resources

on March 15, 2000. The two resolutions are identical as are our

costs estimates.

The CBO staff contact is Barry Blom. This estimate was approved by Peter H. Fontaine, Deputy Assistant Director for Budget

Analysis.

REGULATORY IMPACT EVALUATION

In compliance with paragraph 11(b) of rule XXVI of the Standing

Rules of the Senate, the Committee makes the following evaluation

of the regulatory impact which would be incurred in carrying out

H. Con. Res. 89. The bill is not a regulatory measure in the sense

of imposing Government-established standards or significant economic responsibilities on private individuals and businesses.

No personal information would be collected in administering the

program. Therefore, there would be no impact on personal privacy.

Little, if any, additional paperwork would result from the enactment of H. Con. Res. 89 as ordered reported.

EXECUTIVE COMMUNICATIONS

On July 17, 2000, the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources requested legislative reports from the Department of the

Interior and the Office of Management and Budget setting forth

Executive agency recommendations on S. Con. Res. 106. These reports had not been received at the time the report on H. Con. Res.

89 was filed. When the reports become available, the Chairman

will request that they be printed in the Congressional Record for

the advice of the Senate. The testimony provided by the National

Park Service at the Subcommittee hearing follows:

STATEMENT OF THE DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

This statement for the record sets forth the comments of

the Department of the Interior regarding S. Con. Res. 106,

which would provide recognition by Congress for the Hermann Monument and Hermann Heights Park in New Ulm,

Minnesota, as a national symbol of the contributions of

Americans of German heritage. Since the concurrent resolution involves a statement of Congressional recognition

and would not become law, our comments are limited to

providing background information for the consideration of

the committee.

The Hermann Monument, in New Ulm (Brown County),

Minnesota, was added to the National Register of Historic

Places on October 2, 1973. The monument is located in

Hermann Heights Park.

The Hermann Monument was listed for local significance

under National Register Criteria A and C, in the areas of

Ethnic Heritage/European and Art. Consisting progressively of an 18′-high stone base, ten 25′-tall iron columns,

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and a ‘‘dome room’’ topped by a 32′-tall statue, the monument reaches a height of 102 feet. Within the open space

defined by the columns, a spiral staircase leads visitors

from the base up into a masonry-sided room with a copper

dome. Atop the dome an iron-railed walkway circles the

column supporting the statue of Hermann. The monument

dominates the local skyline from Hermann Heights Park

in the western section of New Ulm.

Hermann, the person credited with uniting German

tribes in 9 A.D. and driving back the Romans, also was a

unifying symbol for the 19th century German immigrants

to the United States. In 1885 hundreds of Sons of Hermann Lodges participated in a nationwide drive to construct a monument to Hermann. The monument was constructed in 1887–1890 and formally dedicated at the 21st

National Convention of the Sons of Hermann in 1897. Its

location in New Ulm reflects the strong German heritage

of the area.

Julius Berndt of New Ulm planned and built the monument, which was modeled by Alfonz Pelzer of Salem, Ohio

(also known for Lincoln statues in seven states). The figure

is that of a capped warrior holding a sword aloft in his

right hand. Cast in Ohio, it is sheet copper counter sunk

and riveted over an interior support structure of iron.

The city of New Ulm completed a restoration of the

monument in 1973.

CHANGES IN EXISTING LAW

In compliance with paragraph 12 of rule XXVI of the Standing

Rules of the Senate, the Committee notes that no changes in existing law are made by H. Con. Res. 89, as ordered reported.

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