As Introduced

128th General Assembly Regular Session 2009-2010

S. B. No. 303

Senator Wagoner 

Cosponsors: Senators Fedor, Gillmor, Goodman, Grendell, Miller, D., Sawyer, Harris 

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A BILL

To request the Congressional Joint Committee on the

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Library of Congress to approve the replacement of

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Ohio's statue of Governor William Allen in the

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National Statuary Hall Collection with a statue of

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Thomas Edison.

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BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF OHIO:

Section 1.  (A) The state of Ohio requests that the Joint	6
Committee on the Library of Congress approve the replacement of	7
Ohio's statue of Governor William Allen in the National Statuary	8
Hall Collection with a statue of Thomas Edison.	9

(B) In accordance with the Procedure for Replacement of	10
Statues in the National Statuary Hall Collection, Ohio submits the	11
following information for consideration by the Joint Committee on	12
the Library of Congress:	13

(1) Thomas Edison, a native of Milan, Ohio, was a world	14
famous inventor and highly successful businessperson whose	15
inventions, such as the phonograph, the kinetoscope (a precursor	16
to the film projector), and the first practical incandescent light	17
bulb, have had a tremendous impact on the world. In addition to	18
these inventions, Thomas Edison's service to the United States	19
Government has also impacted world history. During World War I, he	20
consulted for the government, examining inventions submitted for	21
military use and working on defensive devices for submarines and	22
ships. For his service, he eventually was awarded a Distinguished	23
Service Medal by the Department of the Navy. By the time of his	24
death, he had received over one thousand patents.	25

Thomas Edison also has had a significant impact on the state	26
of Ohio. He established the Edison Steel Company in Cleveland,	27
Ohio, and established one of the first electric power stations in	28
Tiffin, Ohio. His General Electric Company established the first	29
industrial park in Ohio, which has employed hundreds of thousands	30
of people over time. And the Ohio Department of Development	31
sponsors The Thomas Edison Award, which was established in	32
partnership with the Edison Birthplace Museum in Milan, Ohio. The	33
Edison Birthplace Museum also has been instrumental in the	34
issuance of a Thomas Edison stamp and commemorative silver dollar,	35
and has received, on Thomas Edison's behalf, a posthumously	36
awarded GRAMMY Award.	37

Thomas Edison's impact on the world, and, in particular, on	38
the state of Ohio, through his inventions, business endeavors, and	39
government service, merits inclusion of a statue of him in the	40
National Statuary Hall Collection.	41

(2) The Ohio Statuary Hall Commission, a nonprofit Ohio	42
corporation, was established in 2009 for the purpose of assisting	43
with the process of recommending an Ohio citizen for statuary	44
representation in the National Statuary Hall Collection, including	45
raising funds and providing financial support for that effort. If	46
the Joint Committee on the Library of Congress approves this	47
replacement statue request, the Commission shall be responsible	48
for the selection of a sculptor for the Thomas Edison statue as	49
well as for paying all costs incurred for placing the Thomas	50
Edison statue in the United States Capitol, including costs	51
incurred for all of the following:	52

(a) Paying the sculptor;

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(b) Carving or casting the statue;

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(c) Creating a pedestal and any inscription;

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(d) Transporting the statue and pedestal to the United States	56
Capitol;	57

(e) Removing and transporting the replaced statue;

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(f) Temporarily erecting the new statue in the Rotunda of the	59
Capitol for the unveiling ceremony;	60

(g) Expenses related to the unveiling ceremony; and

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(h) Any other expenses that the Ohio Statuary Hall Commission	62
finds it to be necessary to incur.	63

(C) As required by the Procedure for Replacement of Statues	64
in the National Statuary Hall Collection, the Governor shall	65
submit to the Architect of the Capitol a copy of this act, along	66
with a letter from the Governor, requesting approval from the	67
Joint Committee on the Library of Congress to replace Ohio's	68
statue of Governor William Allen in the National Statuary Hall	69
Collection with a statue of Thomas Edison.	70