Washington, D.C.--Congressman Eliot Engel issued the following statement in recognition of the 100th Anniversary of the Grand Concourse in the Bronx. The statement was issued into the Congressional Record of the House of Representatives on December 8, in support of H.Res 907, co-sponsored by Rep. Engel. The resolution passed the House unanimously, by a vote of 405-0.

A full text of his remarks follows:

December 8, 2009

Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize the 100th Anniversary of the Grand Concourse. As a proud, lifelong resident of the Bronx, I am pleased to co-sponsor H.Res 907 recognizing the Grand Concourse as one of the most important and historic commerce and cultural centers of New York City.

The Grand Concourse is both the backbone and the heart of the Bronx. Each and every day, thousands of Bronxites travel up and down the Concourse, connecting our Borough from the North and South of the borough. It unifies the Bronx and enables people to interact and frequent the scores of businesses and cultural landmarks which run up and down the highway.

I grew up only four blocks from the Grand Concourse, and I have very fond memories of those days and the time spent along the thoroughfare. So much of my life, and the lives of my constituents, are tied to the Grand Concourse and I would not trade one moment of it for anything. As a child I watched films at the Loews Theater, I’ve attended numerous games at Yankee Stadium, and driven north along the Grand Concourse to visit Van Cortlandt Park.

I look forward to the start of the next 100 years in the life of the Grand Concourse, and Madam Speaker, I encourage my colleagues to come to the Bronx and do the same.