Political Quotes

“for many years, a plan has been in development to build the Ellis Island Family History Center, a facility equipped with a data base which visitors of Ellis Island can access to learn about their immigrant ancestors. The Center would provide passenger lists and ship manifests for the millions of visitors who travel to Ellis Island searching for a piece of their past. Upon completion the Family History Center would contain almost 30 million records. This project has been listed by the Department of the Interior and the National Park Service as one of their highest priorities, and it has been allowed to languish for too many years. Various groups, including the Ellis Island Restoration Commission, which has served as a consultant to the Department of the Interior, have compiled a data base of almost 8 million records. Yet, no action has been taken to put all of these records to any use. Some may wonder why this project has been delayed. The answer is this: Over the objections of many distinguished members of this body as well as some officials at the Department of the Interior, a contract was signed between the Department of the Interior and the Statue of Liberty/Ellis Island Foundation for the construction of the Center.”