Political Quotes

“Senator Tim Johnson of South Dakota and I are submitting this resolution today because of the significant role the North American Bison has played in the history of our Nation. This resolution honors that legacy by designating November 2, 2013, as National Bison Day. Since our frontier days, the bison has become a symbol of American strength and determination. The bison has also been integrally linked to the economic and spiritual lives of many Native American tribes over the centuries. The Department of Interior has depicted the bison on its official seal since 1912 and several sports teams across America have chosen the bison as their mascot. At one point in American history, bison were brought in to graze outside the original Smithsonian Institution Building here in Washington, DC. In 1911, when sculptor James Earle Fraser was tasked with designing a new nickel, he wanted to ``do something totally American.'' On the reverse of his design, he chose to depict the American bison, as a symbol of America's western background that was ``100 percent American.'' This coin came to be known as the buffalo nickel and played an important role in modernizing our currency in the early 20th century. I must also add that my home state of Wyoming is one of three states that recognize the bison as its official state mammal and has honored an image of a bison on the Wyoming state flag since it was first adopted in 1917.…”