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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE DEAR FRIEND OF CONSTANTINO BRUMIDI,
The Senate bill to give Constantino Brumidi the Gold Medal now has 92 co-sponsors, more than enough to assure passage in the Senate. Many thanks to Senators Enzi and Clinton and their staffers for their outstanding efforts.
Now the action moves to the House of Representatives.
On March 20, Representative Bill Pascrell, Jr. reintroduced the bill to award Brumidi the Congressional Gold Medal, posthumously. Representatives Rick Renzi, Carolyn Maloney, Gus Bilirakis, John Mica and Zacary Space were original co-sponsors. (The bill now has 22 co-sponsors).
Many thanks to these representatives for their noble efforts in support of this great man. But, they will need the support of the Italian American and Greek American communities, as well as all Friends of Constantino Brumidi to secure passage of this important legislation.
For this bill to pass in the House it will also require that two-thirds (290) of all representatives co-sponsor the legislation. This will be a major undertaking. Please e-mail your representative today and ask him/her co-sponsor H. R. 1609, A bill to award posthumously a Congressional gold medal to Constantino Brumidi.
The easiest way to do this is to go to www.house.gov where you will be instructed how to do this. It is quite simple. As an alternative, you may call the Capitol switchboard at (202) 224-3121 to reach your representative’s office. As few as 12 letters or calls to a representative can have a major impact. In your letter, please ask your representative to also give consideration to naming the Capitol Visitor Center, now under construction, after Brumidi.
Please remember, you are asking your representative to “co-sponsor H. R. 1609.” Use these words in your letter or phone call.
To keep track of both bills go to the THOMAS website at thomas.loc.gov.
TALKING POINTS FOR YOUR LETTER OR CALL
1. Constantino Brumidi spent 25 years of his life making beautiful the most important building in the U.S., the Capitol, including its magnificent Rotunda with the beautiful “Apotheosis of Washington” in the dome;
2. Born in Italy in 1805, of Greek and Italian parents, he brought to the U.S. the finest art traditions and styles of Italy (fresco painting in the styles of the High Italian Renaissance and the Baroque);
3. Having come to the U.S., in 1852, seeking liberty, he truly loved America and considered painting in the Capitol his greatest joy and highest honor. Brunidi is famous for saying, "My one ambition and my daily prayer is that I may live long enough to make beautiful the Capitol of the one country on earth in which there is liberty." He personifies the immigrant dream of a productive life and a better future in the U.S.
(For more information on Brumidi, go to the Architect of the Capitol website at www.aoc.gov hit Capitol Complex, then Art, then The Brumidi Corridors).
Please consider forwarding this message to family members, friends, colleagues and ethnic and cultural organizations you belong to.
Many thanks to you for writing your letters and making your phone calls.
Sincerely yours,
Joseph N. Grano, Chair The Constantino Brumidi Society 202.364.2526
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