Official Dinosaur Designation Act of 1998
Bill 12-538

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A BILL IN THE COUNCIL OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA

To designate the Capitalsaurus as the official dinosaur of the District of Columbia.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, That this act may be cited as the "Official Dinosaur Designation Act of 1998".

Sec. 2  Findings:

(1) The dinosaur which was discovered, in January 1898 at First and F Streets S.E., in the District of Columbia, by workmen during a sewer connection project 100 years ago is the only known specimen of its kind in the world.

(2) The Capitalsaurus was a large meat eating reptile which may be an ancestor of the T. (tyrannosaurs) rex.

(3) About 110 million years ago, the Capitalsaurus lived in the District of Columbia with many other dinosaurs including planteaters.

(4) The District of Columbia during the Capitalsaurus lifetime resembled the bayou country of southern Louisiana.

(5) The Capitalsaurus fossil discovered in 1898 is now at the Smithsonian Museum of Natural History in the type room.

(6) The Capitalsaurus is unique to the District of Columbia because its fossil remains have not been discovered anywhere else in the world.

(7) The vertebra of the dinosaur was given to the Smithsonian Institution as a gift by J. K. Murphy on January 28, 1898 and recorded as accession number 33153 and specimen number NMNH 3904.

(8) District of Columbia Public Schools' students have been studying the Capitalsaurus and many other dinosaurs from this area for years.

(9) The students have also helped to dig up dinosaurs fossils which are now part of the Smithsonian's permanent collection.

Sec. 3.

The Capitalsaurus shall be the official Dinosaur of the District of Columbia.

Sec. 4. Fiscal impact.

This act shall have no fiscal impact.

Sec. 5.

This act shall take effect immediately following approval by the Mayor (or in the event of veto by the Mayor, action by the Council to override the veto), approval by the Financial Responsibility and Management Assistance Authority as provided in section 203(a) of the District Financial Responsibility and Management Assistance Act of 1995, approved April 17, 1995 (109 Stat. 116; D.C. Code §47-392.3(a), 30-day period of Congressional review as provided in section 602(c)(1) of the District of Columbia Home Rule Act, approved December 24, 1973 (97 Stat. 813; D.C. Code §1-233(c)(1), and publication in the District of Columbia Register.

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Appendices to the Bill

1. Two drawings of the Capitalsaurus
   
2. The Smithsonian Museum accession card, dated January 28, 1898
3. The Smithsonian Museum memorandum to registrar, dated January 28, 1898
4. Nancy Reckler, "Digging Up the Dirt on Prehistory: Fossil-Laden Clay Offered for Study," Washington Post, undated.
5. The following lyric:

THEM DINO BONES

THEM BONES, THEM BONES, THEM DINO BONES.
THEM BONES, THEM BONES, THEM DINO BONES.
THEM BONES THEM BONES, THEM DINO BONES
WHERE [sic] FOUND IN SOUTHEAST D.C.

THEY WERE FOUND 100 YEARS AGO,
THEY WERE FOUND 100 YEARS AGO.
THEY WERE FOUND 100 YEARS AGO,
NEAR A PARK IN SOUTHEAST D.C.

WE KNOW IT'S RELATED TO THE T-REX.
WE KNOW IT'S RELATED TO THE T-REX.
WE KNOW IT'S RELATED TO THE T-REX.
WE NEED TO GIVE IT A NAME.

WE'D LIKE FOR THE CITY COUNCIL TO PASS A BILL.
WE'D LIKE FOR THE CITY COUNCIL TO PASS A BILL.
WE'D LIKE FOR THE CITY COUNCIL TO PASS A BILL TO MAKE IT OFFICIAL.

WE WANT IT TO BE THE OFFICIAL DINO OF D.C.
WE WANT IT TO BE THE OFFICE [sic] DINO OF D.C
WE WANT TO TO BE THE OFFICIAL DINO OF D.C.
SO PLEASE PASS THE BILL.

WE'D LIKE IT TO BE NAMED CAPITALSAURUS.
WE'D LIKE IT TO BE NAMED CAPITALSAURUS.
WE'D LIKE FOR IT TO BE NAMED CAPITALSAURUS,
OR FOR SHORT.

(REPEAT THE FIRST VERSE).