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CONCURRENT RESOLUTION RECOGNIZING THE 150TH

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ANNIVERSARY OF THE FIRST TRANSCONTINENTAL

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RAILROAD

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2017 GENERAL SESSION

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STATE OF UTAH

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Chief Sponsor: Peter C. Knudson

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House Sponsor: Scott D. Sandall

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9     LONG TITLE
10     General Description:
11          This concurrent resolution of the Legislature and the Governor recognizes the 150th
12     anniversary of the first transcontinental railroad and requests that a committee be
13     formed to plan a commemorative celebration.
14     Highlighted Provisions:
15          This resolution:
16          ▸     recognizes the 150th anniversary of the completion of the United States' first
17     transcontinental railroad; and
18          ▸     requests that the Governor appoint a committee to plan a commemorative
19     celebration.
20     Special Clauses:
21          None
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23     Be it resolved by the Legislature of the state of Utah, the Governor concurring therein:
24          WHEREAS, the marrying of the Union Pacific and Central Pacific railroads on May 10,
25     1869, at Promontory Summit marked a significant accomplishment for the people of Utah and
26     the nation;
27          WHEREAS, completion of the first transcontinental railroad made transporting

28     passengers and goods coast to coast considerably faster, safer, and less expensive;
29          WHEREAS, completion of the railroad reduced travel time across the nation from six
30     months or more down to just one week;
31          WHEREAS, completion of the railroad contributed to continued development of
32     infrastructure, business growth, population growth, and interconnectivity for Utah and the
33     nation;
34          WHEREAS, many workers hired by Union Pacific had served in the Union and
35     Confederate armies during the U.S. Civil War, and the side-by-side collaboration between
36     northern and southern laborers significantly contributed to the healing of the nation;
37          WHEREAS, Chinese, Irish, and other immigrant laborers were responsible for much of
38     the labor necessary to complete the railroad; and
39          WHEREAS, Mormon settlers in Utah provided significant and substantive grading
40     work to complete the Union Pacific westward portion of the transcontinental line:
41          NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Legislature of the state of Utah, the
42     Governor concurring therein, recognizes the historical significance of the completion of the
43     first transcontinental railroad and requests that the Governor appoint a committee to plan a
44     celebration to commemorate its 150th anniversary.
45          BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the celebration be held on or around May 10, 2019.
46          BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the committee be comprised of the Governor or the
47     Governor's designee; the Senate District 17 Senator; the House District 1 Representative; the
48     Director of the Governor's Office of Economic Development (GOED); the Director of the
49     Division of State History; GOED's Managing Director of Tourism, Film, and Global Branding;
50     the Superintendent of the Golden Spike National Historic Site; representatives of the Union
51     Pacific Railroad; and other local government officials as appropriate.
52          BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the committee report its progress regularly to the
53     Legislative Management Committee.






Legislative Review Note
Office of Legislative Research and General Counsel