Citizens in the capitol. To replacein 2006 one of theirs with the edison statute. Theinute ceremony features house speaker. Ladies and gentlemen, the the United States house of representatives, the honorable paul ryan. [applause] speaker ryan oish that, even from a badger fan. Welcome to the United States capitol. Exciting day. Today were unveiling the latest the National Statutory hall. Contributes two statues put on display throughout the capitol and the delegation decided that one of their state statutes, former governor william allen, wasnt the best choice. His place they have decided to put a statue of the thomas elvaor, milan, who was born in ohio, in 1847. I want to congratulate the of ohio for this most excellent choice and i thank all you for coming today, especially those of you from ohio, for joining us in this celebration. Thank you, everybody. [applause] ladies and gentlemen, please stand for the presentation of the United States armed forces color guard, the anthem of our national and the retiring of the colors. O, say can you see by the dawns early light what so proudly we hailed at the twilights last gleaming whose broad stripes and bright stars thru the perilous fight oer the ramparts we watched were so gallantly streaming and the rockets red glare the bombs bursting in air gave proof through the night that our flag was still there oh, say does that starspangled banner yet wave oer the land of the free and the home of the brave ladies and gentlemen, please standing as the chaplain of the United States house of representatives, father gives thenroy, invocation. Pray. Us light the universe, the of the world, we give you thanks of life and for the Many Blessings that life brings. We gather in this hallowed temple to human freedom one of ohios and americas favorite sons. Few american figures have projected such a broad swath of influence on the worlds thomas alva, as edison. Inquisitive desire and inspired imagination of ourity in the spirit human family. Many advances in science, in technology, medicine and physics, which have bettered the lives of millions, were made the presence of artificial light. We give you thanks for Thomas Edisons long career of and for the numerous contributions to the world, recording, and motion pictures, which most profoundly artistic expression in the modern world. Impel us with your spirit to the betterworld for and may our gathering redown to greater honor and glory, amen. Please be seated. Gentlemen, United States representative from the ohio, therict of kepter. E marcie afternoon. Father conroy, chaplain black, fellow members of the ohio delegation, senator brown, senator portman, majority leader pelosi,l, leader speaker ryan, and all assembled ise today, what an honor it to celebrate the legacy of edison, a native statue as we unveil his in the United Statessical top. Buckeyeet me extend a welcome to the ohioans joining us as well as profound things to many dear individuals from many walks of life whose us to this moment. Considered one of americas greatest inventors, the life and of Thomas Edison lives large among us today. Areon believed what you will show in what you do. Edison was the youngest of seven children. He was born in a small brick a white picket fence in mylan, ohio. A small town then, and still today, in Northern Ohio that i have had the privilege of my earlying during service. Edisons early life was not the story book character you might envision. Edison faced early hardships, many of them. His teacher said, and i quote, too stupid to learn anything. A hearinge had problem resulting from a out about with scarlet fever. Thus, he was largely home mother, nancy. His firstfailed College Entrance exam and became selftaught. Hisr, edison was fired from first two jobs for being nonproductive. Yet, this genius of a human to achieve 1,093 patents to his name. 1,093. Edison once observed, missed by most people because it is dressed in overalls and looks like work. So he had a sense of humor. And work he did. Companies 14 including general electric, still one of the largest traded companies worldwide. Americas greatest inventor world to, as was said earlier, the light bulb, but not just that. Power utilities, sound pictures otion all of which established new industries worldwide. Other breakthroughs included the telegraph, and storage batteries. Inventions, including the stock ticker, a battery for car, cement, the magnetic irone ore separator. Range. Ns mind had full Thomas Edison even invented the the electronicf vote counter for legislative like congress. Edison declared, our greatest giving up. Es in the most certain way to succeed try just one more time. Andinspiring those words actions of Thomas Edisons remain today. Never succeeded by thinking small. By givingver thrived up. Thomas alva edison always big, delivered big, and he always tried just one more time. His genius moved america forward. Now the oldest democratic republic on the face of the being one of the youngest nations, and we are most the largest and dynamic economy in the world. Thank you, thomas alva edison, leading america forward. Now let us follow his example. Congratulations to all. [applause] United States senator from ohio, the honorable robert portman. [applause] senator portman wonderful to be here. All theseing distinguished buckeyes in town to celebrate Thomas Edison. Mr. Speaker, leader mcconnell, leader pelosi, speaker rosenberger, a surprise guest here today, came all the way from columbus for this occasion, and to my colleagues delegation who i see here in the front row, my senate, itsthe great to have everyone together on a bipartisan effort here to great ohioan and great american. Teabury was unbelievable to unable to be here today. He hoped to say a few words. Passes along his congratulations and to all of you, his best wishes. To hold up Thomas Edison as a symbol from ohio is, of course, something were all proud of today but it was said early, it was the ohio delegation. It really wasnt. Vote of the people. So the people of ohio made this decision. A couple of them are here today helped organize it. Mark wagner, doug mcdonald, thank you for being here and the years,ork over talking to me about this process and getting us to this point. I know youre happy about it. Not an easyt was decision. We had a lot of remarkable ohioans to choose from. To have quite a few ohioans distinguished enough to be in this great hall. We have Neil Armstrong and 23 other astronauts so that was competition right there. Weve had eight president s to choose from. Ofalso have had a couple guys named orville and wilbur who were in the running. Easy. S was not were a state with a lot to be proud of. But i think we got it right. Kaptur saidressman it well in terms of his background. Thomas edison was not a guy greatness. R he was near deaf. He was the son of a shingle a school teacher. As was said earlier, he didnt do particularly well in school. Really had noe formal schooling. He got bad grades. Teacher told his mom one day addled, and too stupid to learn anything, because of his disability. There, isntesson it . But he had something that other kids didnt have. Had an amazing work ethic and he had this determination and perseverance and will to succeed by age 14,school but he was already an entrepreneur, he was doing things, making andgs, selling newspapers concessions on this new fangled Railroad System america had put in place. He was sort of ahead of his time. At age 22, he had his first real invention, it was an electronic recorder, which he tried unsuccessfully to sell to the United States congress. You love that . Again, he was ahead of his time, he . t he was a guy who just couldnt stop experimenting and inventing. He often slept in his lab. Quote, geniusme, is 1 inspiration and 99 perspiration. It was about hard work for him and it paid off. By the time he was 31, that nearly deaf kid who struggled in school had invented the phonograph and was making some sound recordings in history. Invented theer, he which weent light bulb may see in a moment. But the light bulb is what hes for. Famous and we honor him today for all those successes. Changed the world and he truly represents ohio in terms of his invention and innovation but i think more important he represents ohio values of hard work, determination, perseverance. Im sure as folks think about Thomas Edison and walk by the think about the light bulb but i hope, also, the members of congress who go past visitors who come through this hall, the staff and others who stroll past, will also be inspired by those ohio values that propelled him to greatness. Thank you. [applause] United States senator from odio, the honorable shared brown. [applause] ryan,r brown speaker leader mcconnell, leader pelosi, rosenberger, thank you, and to my friend, rob part man delegation here and alan, congratulations on this wonderful statue. Thank you. Was on june 1, 1869, that a inventor named thomas alva his first granted patent. Edison was born only 50 miles from where i grew up. Patent was an electronic vote recorder. He came to washington where he presented his invention to a house committee. Inventorst 22yearold showed the committee how his electronic voting machine worked. It would save time for them and for their colleagues. The Committee Chairman responded, young man, that is just what we do not want. Would destroy the only hope that the minority would have of influencing legislation. As the ruling majority knows, leader, the ruling majority that at some day they may become a minority, they will be as much averse to change as opponents. A dejected edison stomped out of the room, promised himself he never invent anything else that did not have a commercial purpose. 104 years later, speaker ryan the house ofer, representatives installed an electronic Voting System on edisons invention by1869, and it was installed former Cleveland Browns quarterback frank ryan who was physicist at stanford university. Thats the history of the Voting System in the house of representatives. I thought i have been looking time to 20 years at a use that story. What better place than right now . [applause] edison, aswn thomas all of the speakers will say, is such a fitting choice to spirit of ohio. Were a state of inventors, pioneers, dreamers and creators. Edison lived the world. Vaulted usbrothers into the skies, john glenn reached for the heavens, neil touched the stars. They inspired their state, their country and the world. Did our artists and writers. Gloria steinem from toledo was a pioneer. Jesse owens from cleveland sprinted into our imagination. Ohio, more than any state, no offense to wisconsin, california kentucky ohio more than any state, makes things. About toveland is install the first offshore wind in northnd fresh water america. Selfdriving vehicles are coming to columbus. Panels in toledo. We have the most efficient steel mill in the world in cleveland, was made by suit Union Workers 10 miles from my house. Thomas inventor, is not frozen in bronze. Not frozen in bronze. He lives on in the soul of the people of this state, his legacy will continue. Thank you. [applause] Christine Schultz and sarah mccoy. [applause] what a thing, what a thing, live for,ng to mankind, to give for mankind, all hesoys of living, got hes giving, work away, work day, never play, if america needed a king on a mr. Edison sits on a own, never quit, a of foil that no fame can spoil. Yankees all applaud him, other nations laud him, wears a smile, while, rank and file, edison, theres an o, say, can you see, he gives youthat and me, what a man he is, what a wiz, groping, groping would dark without him we be, its a light so bright the land ofng, for the free and the land or the sea, oh, you like the way edison s a [applause] the democratic leader of the United States house of representatives, the honorable nancy pelosi. Peaker Speaker Pelosi im honored to speaker, paul ryan, senator mitch mcconnell, leader thehe senate, and distinguished senators and congressmen who are here to new addition to our capitol. Today, 85 years after his death. The capitol the statue of one of the greatest ever lived,o has thomas alva edison, the wizard machine row monroe park. Gave inventory to many of his inventions, senator the workalked about ethic so essential to his success. Senator brown talked about the convention between that voting card and a Cleveland Browns named ryan who was a physicist at stanford who installed the voting card here many years later. So ill make another california connection. As a californian, i take special delight in the connection between munlow park, new jersey, munlow park, california. The wizard of munlow park. Fitting that munlow park, california, named years before the new Jersey Development made edisons labs, is now home to the wizardry of our own time, silicon valley. The none of that would have happened, though, without Thomas Edison. Again and again, the world was genius. Med by edisons the diligence that powered discovery. He was about two things. About invention and he was about discovery, discovery and what doesnt, worthvity, the heroic ethic that brought his ideas to fruition. Butnology has marched on edisons achievements still stir touchaginations, still our hearts with pride and wonder. Edison, we behold the power of Applied Science and innovation to illuminate the world. 50 years after the invention of incandescent bulb, at goldns congressional medal ceremony here in the calvin, president coolidge said, few men possess degree thetriking blending of the imagination of a dreamer with the practical doer. Force of the edison, coolidge proclaimed, represents the finest tradition of our citizenship. Indeed, edison embodies the essence of america, not only the invention of things but spirit of innovation at the soul of our national character, innovation, entrepreneurship, discovery, creativity. Congress, we have a special responsibility to help americasd advance leadership in innovation. We must take inventory of the greents ingredients needed to foster a new generation of edisons. How could there be a whole generation of edisons, but in of edison, recognizing the importance of respect for science, patience takes, thee it investment in resources to produce breakthroughs, and remembering that, for most innovation begins in the classroom, in this case, the his mother, nancy. Statues that fill the capitol are more than commemoration, they are inspiration. Edison was never consent to rest on his laurels. Relentlessly perfecting, always hungry for a new idea. Entrepreneurally. Let edisons presence this these hallowed halls challenge us to that same determination, dissatisfaction and daring and optimism. Let Thomas Edisons remind us of the invention innovation that keeps america number one. Thank you, ohio, for sending us edison to the capitol. [applause] majority leader of the United States senate, the honorable mitch mcconnell. [applause] i believe itell was par klees who once said whole earthave the has their memorial. Im not sure about the entire planet but Thomas Edison has of admirers among our 50 states. Theirrsey claims them as wizard of menlo park. Michigan has its own connection. And not only does ohio have a solid stake, but the buckeyes just seriously upped the ante largerthanlife bronze statute behind us. So im staying out of that. Remind everyone of kentuckys own ties to Thomas Edison. Edison was only about 19 when he moved to louisville to work as a telegraph operator. Long. Nt last edisons interest back then towards the when one of his experiments went wrong, that was the last straw. Edison was promptly fired. Thus the curtain dropped on his time in the bluegrass state, but open to a world of new , and i would like to thank edisons experience in kentucky helped to shape that. Here is a guy who was clearly gifted. Uninterested in playing by anybodys rules but his own. , but edisonsnge focus did. He picked up the pieces and got back to the drawing board. In a few short years, he would earn his first patent. It was for a machine the nays herehe yeas and in congress. Many of edisons other inventions did catch on, the phonograph, the libel, the movie camera, and so many others. As the New York Times declared, edison has stamped his pattern on our social fabric. How true that headline remains today. Just look around. All of this impacted by one inventors handiwork. Edison did give the world so much. He transformed our way of life. Andparked revolution, through the trying times, he took away lessons he would need to be the industry changing entrepreneur we know today. The inventor with more than 1000 , thets, the talented son pride today of so many of our 50 states, including kentucky. [applause] the speaker of the United States house of representatives, the honorable paul d ryan. [applause] that we wereheard unveiling a statue of edison my first thought is we dont already have one here . State isard which sponsoring the statue, my reaction was he was born in ohio , then i thought that makes absolute perfect sense. Ralph Waldo Emerson once argued that great men dont check their times so much as they reflect their times. They give voice to long simmering frustrations and desires. Way take in a funny all the quirks and fellowictions of their foll countrymen. Edison was absolutely no exception. Born in the middle of the 19th century in the middle of the country, he spent his life in the middle of all the action. In his heyday, america was on the rise. It seemed like we were inventing our way to prosperity. There was the railroad,