Bill Text: IA HJR4 | 2019-2020 | 88th General Assembly | Introduced


Bill Title: A joint resolution recognizing the fossil crinoid as the state fossil.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2019-02-04 - Subcommittee: Bacon, Bergan and Mascher. H.J. 211. [HJR4 Detail]

Download: Iowa-2019-HJR4-Introduced.html
House Joint Resolution 4 - Introduced HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION 4 BY MASCHER HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION A Joint Resolution recognizing the fossil crinoid as the state 1 fossil. 2 WHEREAS, the study of fossils contained in sedimentary rock 3 formations in the state provides geologists with evidence of 4 the geological and paleontological history of the state; and 5 WHEREAS, fossils of crinoids, marine invertebrates that 6 live in all depths and temperatures, are abundant in the rock 7 of marine origin underlying the state, including significant 8 deposits in the cities of Burlington, Le Grand, and Gilmore 9 City; and 10 WHEREAS, the crinoid has survived approximately 500 million 11 years of earth history and remains an active part of the 12 world’s ocean life; and 13 WHEREAS, crinoid skeletal fragments make up a significant 14 portion of the limestone deposits of Iowa, providing Iowa 15 industry with the limestone used for road base, as agricultural 16 lime, as building stone, and as the raw material for cement 17 including “portland cement”, which is used to form the most 18 widely used type of construction cement; and 19 WHEREAS, in addition to the economic benefits resulting from 20 the presence of fossil crinoids, the crinoid has also brought 21 recognition to the state and to citizens of the state as the 22 result of the research of both professionals and amateurs; and 23 WHEREAS, three of these researchers have received 24 recognition in the global scientific community for their 25 efforts: Charles Wachsmuth (1829-1896), a German immigrant who 26 settled at Burlington and who, due to his collecting, research, 27 and writings regarding the crinoid, received an appointment 28 to the Museum of Comparative Zoology at Harvard University; 29 Frank Springer (1848-1927) who, as an attorney practicing in 30 Burlington, became a friend and coworker of Charles Wachsmuth 31 TLSB 1253YH (1) 88 js/rn
House Joint Resolution 4 - Introduced with whom he produced many texts on crinoids and for whom a 32 room at the Smithsonian Institution is named; and Bernice H. 33 Bean (1879-1966) who, as a farmer near Le Grand, collected, 34 studied, and wrote about crinoids, saving thousands of 35 perfectly preserved fossil crinoids from destruction, thereby 36 providing universities and museums across the nation with 37 exhibits of these specimens, including a past exhibit at the 38 State Historical Building; and 39 WHEREAS, pictures of crinoids found in Iowa have been 40 featured on the covers of scholarly journals and magazines; and 41 WHEREAS, members of the paleontology community have referred 42 to the city of Burlington as “the crinoid capital of the 43 world”; and 44 WHEREAS, the fossil crinoid, also referred to as the sea 45 lily, is a symbol of the state’s geological and paleontological 46 heritage, has provided economic benefits to the state as a 47 source of limestone, and is recognized for its completeness and 48 beauty worldwide; NOW THEREFORE, 49 BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF IOWA: 50 TLSB 1253YH (1) 88 js/rn
H.J.R. 4 Section 1. STATE FOSSIL DESIGNATION. The fossil crinoid 1 shall officially be designated as the state fossil of Iowa. 2 Sec. 2. OFFICIAL REGISTER. The edition of the Iowa official 3 register shall include an appropriate illustration of the 4 fossil crinoid, accompanied by suitable text in the section 5 devoted to the state flower, state bird, state rock, and state 6 tree. 7 EXPLANATION 8 The inclusion of this explanation does not constitute agreement with 9 the explanation’s substance by the members of the general assembly. 10 This joint resolution proposes the official designation 11 of the fossil crinoid as the state fossil. The resolution 12 describes the way in which the fossil crinoid has benefited the 13 state, including the fossil’s economic and aesthetic benefits. 14 The Iowa official register shall include an appropriate 15 illustration of the fossil crinoid accompanied by suitable text 16 in the section devoted to the state’s official symbols. 17 -1- LSB 1253YH (1) 88 js/rn 1/ 1
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