SJR 2002 (LSB 5732SS (3) 83)

SENATE JOINT RESOLUTION 2002

BY  WILHELM

SENATE JOINT RESOLUTION

A Joint Resolution relating to the placement of a statue in the United States capitol honoring Dr. Norman Borlaug.

   WHEREAS, each state may provide two statues of notable citizens for display in the United States capitol, and may replace the statues if a resolution to do so is approved by a state’s legislature and governor; and
   WHEREAS, Dr. Norman Borlaug, is a native son of Iowa who conducted groundbreaking work in breeding varieties of wheat to feed starving populations across the globe, earning the title of father of the “green revolution”; and
   WHEREAS, in honor of his service to humanity, Dr. Borlaug also received a Nobel peace prize, a presidential medal of freedom, and the congressional gold medal; NOW THEREFORE,
BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF IOWA:

    Section 1.  REPLACEMENT AUTHORIZATION.  The state of Iowa authorizes the replacement of the statue of Samuel Kirkwood with a statue honoring Dr. Norman Borlaug.
    Sec. 2.  COMMITTEE CREATED.  A committee of seven is created, to be appointed by the governor and to serve at the pleasure of the governor, to exchange the statue of Samuel Kirkwood currently on display in the United States capitol with a statue of Dr. Norman Borlaug.
   a.  The committee shall annually select its own chairperson and establish its rules of procedure. The committee shall meet as may be deemed necessary by the chairperson. A majority of the members of the committee shall constitute a quorum.
   b.  Members shall serve without compensation or reimbursement for actual expenses.
   c.  The committee shall raise all of the funds necessary for the operation of the committee; and shall solicit donations to exchange the statue, commission the creation of a new statue, and make all arrangements with the architect of the United States capitol necessary for the new statue to be put into place.
    Sec. 3.  ADMINISTRATIVE SUPPORT.  The department of cultural affairs shall provide all necessary administrative support for the committee and shall administer the capitol statuary fund.
    Sec. 4.  CAPITOL STATUARY FUND.  A capitol statuary fund is created in the state treasury, to be administered by the department of cultural affairs. The proceeds of the fund shall be used for the purposes specified in section 2 of this resolution. Any funds remaining after the exchange of statues shall be used to suitably restore and relocate the Kirkwood statue. The department may accept gifts, grants, bequests, and other moneys, including but not limited to state or federal moneys, and in-kind contributions for deposit in the fund. Notwithstanding section 12C.7, interest or earnings on moneys in the fund shall be credited to the fund. Notwithstanding section 8.33, any unexpended or unencumbered moneys remaining in the fund at the end of a fiscal year shall not revert to the general fund of the state, but shall remain available from the fund for expenditure by the department in succeeding fiscal years for the purposes specified in section 2 of this resolution.
EXPLANATION
   Under federal law each state is allowed to place two statues of its noted personages in the U.S. capitol; and a state may request federal approval for the replacement of a statue. The federal law requires the request to be in the form of a resolution adopted by the general assembly and approved by the governor. The resolution must identify the statue to be replaced, name the individual to be newly commemorated, and cite the individual’s qualifications. The resolution must create a committee to select the sculptor and direct the method of obtaining the necessary funds to meet all expenses.
   This joint resolution provides for the exchange of the statue of Samuel Kirkwood with a statue of Dr. Norman Borlaug. 
   The joint resolution creates a seven-member committee to raise, through donations, all funds necessary to make this exchange. The committee members will not receive any compensation or reimbursement. Staff support is to be provided by the department of cultural affairs.
   The joint resolution creates a capitol statuary fund in the state treasury, administered by the department of cultural affairs. The fund will finance committee operations, and the exchange of statuary and the relocation of the Kirkwood statue.
   Samuel Jordan Kirkwood was Iowa’s civil war governor, also serving in the U.S. senate and as the U.S. secretary of the interior in 1881-1882. Geneticist Dr. Norman E. Borlaug developed strains of high-yield wheat and received the Nobel peace prize as father of the “green revolution”.