[Congressional Record Volume 140, Number 141 (Monday, October 3, 1994)]
[House]
[Page H]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[Congressional Record: October 3, 1994]
From the Congressional Record Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

 
 GRANTING CONSENT OF CONGRESS TO THE KANSAS AND MISSOURI METROPOLITAN 
                        CULTURE DISTRICT COMPACT

  Mr. BROOKS. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the 
bill (H.R. 4896) to grant the consent of the Congress to the Kansas and 
Missouri Metropolitan Culture District Compact.
  The Clerk read as follows:

                               H.R. 4896

       Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of 
     the United States of America in Congress assembled,

     SECTION 1. CONSENT TO COMPACT.

       The Congress consents to the Kansas and Missouri 
     Metropolitan Culture District Compact entered into between 
     the State of Kansas and the State of Missouri. The compact 
     reads substantially as follows:

     ``KANSAS AND MISSOURI METROPOLI- TAN CULTURE DISTRICT COMPACT

                   ``ARTICLE I.  AGREEMENT AND PLEDGE

       ``The states of Kansas and Missouri agree to and pledge, 
     each to the other, faithful cooperation in the future 
     planning and development of the metropolitan culture 
     district, holding in high trust for the benefit of this 
     people and of the nation, the special blessings and natural 
     advantages thereof.

                   ``ARTICLE II.  POLICY AND PURPOSE

       ``The party states, desiring by common action to fully 
     utilize and improve their cultural facilities, coordinate the 
     services of their cultural organizations, enhance the 
     cultural activities of their citizens, and achieve solid 
     financial support for such cultural facilities, organizations 
     and activities, declare that it is the policy of each state 
     to realize such desires on a basis of cooperation with one 
     another, thereby serving the best interests of their 
     citizenry and effecting economies in capital expenditures and 
     operational costs. The purpose of this compact is to provide 
     for the creation of a metropolitan culture district as the 
     means to implementation of the policy herein declared with 
     the most beneficial and economical use of human and material 
     resources.

                      ``ARTICLE III.  DEFINITIONS

       ``As used in this compact, unless the context clearly 
     requires otherwise:
       ``(a) `Metropolitan culture district' means a political 
     subdivision of the states of Kansas and Missouri which is 
     created under and pursuant to the provisions of this compact 
     and which is composed of the counties in the states of Kansas 
     and Missouri which act to create or to become a part of the 
     district in accordance with the provisions of Article IV.
       ``(b) `Commission' means the governing body of the 
     metropolitan culture district.
       ``(c) `Cultural activities' means activities which 
     contribute to or enhance the aesthetic, artistic, historical, 
     intellectual or social development or appreciation of members 
     of the general public.
       ``(d) `Cultural organizations' means nonprofit and tax 
     exempt social, civic or community organizations and 
     associations which are dedicated to the development, 
     provision, operation, supervision, promotion or support of 
     cultural activities in which members of the general public 
     may engage or participate.
       ``(e) `Cultural facilities' means facilities operated or 
     used for participation or engagement in cultural activities 
     by members of the general public.

                      ``ARTICLE IV.  THE DISTRICT

       ``(a) The counties in Kansas and Missouri eligible to 
     create and initially compose the metropolitan culture 
     district shall be those counties which meet one or more of 
     the following criteria:
       ``(1) The county has a population in excess of 300,000, and 
     is adjacent to the state line;
       ``(2) The country contains a part of a city with a 
     population according to the most recent federal census of at 
     least 400,000; or
       ``(3) The county is contiguous to any county described in 
     provisions (1) or (2) of this subpart (a). The counties of 
     Johnson in Kansas and Jackson in Missouri shall be sine qua 
     non to the creation and initial composition of the district. 
     Additional counties in Kansas and Missouri shall be eligible 
     to become a part of the metropolitan culture district if such 
     counties are contiguous to any one or more of the counties 
     which compose the district and within 60 miles of the 
     counties that are required by this article to establish the 
     district;
       ``(b)(1) Whenever the governing body of any county which is 
     eligible to create or become a part of the metropolitan 
     culture district shall determine that creation of or 
     participation in the district is in the best interests of the 
     citizens of the county and that the levy of a tax to provide 
     on a cooperative basis with another county or other counties 
     for financial support of the district would be economically 
     practical and cost beneficial to the citizens of the county, 
     the governing body may adopt by majority vote a resolution 
     authorizing the same.
       ``(2) Wherever a petition, signed by not less than the 
     number of qualified electors of an eligible county equal to 
     5% of the number of ballots cast and counted at the last 
     preceding gubernatorial election held in the county and 
     requesting adoption of a resolution authorizing creation of 
     or participation in the metropolitan culture district and the 
     levy of a tax for the purpose of contributing to the 
     financial support of the district, is filed with the 
     governing body of the county, the governing body shall adopt 
     such a resolution.
       ``(3) Implementation of a resolution adopted under this 
     subpart (b) shall be conditioned upon approval of the 
     resolution by a majority of the qualified electors of the 
     county voting at an election conducted for such purpose.
       ``(c)(1) Upon adoption of a resolution pursuant to subpart 
     (b)(1) or subpart (b)(2), the governing body of the county 
     shall request, within 36 months after adoption of the 
     resolution, the county election officer to submit to the 
     qualified electors of the county the question of whether the 
     governing body shall be authorized to implement the 
     resolution. The resolution shall be printed on the ballot and 
     in the notice of election. The question shall be submitted to 
     the electors of the county at the primary or general election 
     next following the date of the request filed with the county 
     election officer. If a majority of the qualified electors are 
     opposed to implementation of the resolution authorizing 
     creation of, or participation in, the district and the levy 
     of a tax for financial support thereof, the same shall not be 
     implemented. The governing body of the county may review 
     procedures for authorization to create or become a part of 
     the district and to levy a tax for financial support thereof 
     at any time following rejection of the question.
       ``(2) The ballot for the proposition in any county shall be 
     in substantially the following form:
       ``Shall a retail sales tax of ____________ (insert amount, 
     not to exceed \1/4\ cent) be levied and collected in Kansas 
     and Missouri metropolitan culture district consisting of the 
     county(ies) of ____________ (insert name of counties) for the 
     support of cultural facilities and organizations within the 
     district?


                            YES           NO

     The governing body of the county may place additional 
     language on the ballot to describe the use or allocation of 
     the funds.
       ``(d)(1) the metropolitan culture district shall be created 
     when implementation of a resolution authorizing the creation 
     of the district and the levy of a tax for contribution to the 
     financial support thereof is approved by respective 
     majorities of the qualified electors of at least Johnson 
     County, Kansas, and Jackson County, Missouri.
       ``(2) When implementation of a resolution authorizing 
     participation in the metropolitan culture district and the 
     levy of a tax for contribution to the financial support 
     thereof is approved by a majority of the qualified electors 
     of any county eligible to become a part of the district, the 
     governing body of the county shall proceed with the 
     performance of all things necessary and incidental to 
     participation in the district.
       ``(e) Any of the counties composing the metropolitan 
     culture district may withdraw from the district by adoption 
     of a resolution and approval of the resolution by a majority 
     of the qualified electors of the county, all in the same 
     manner provided in this Article IV for creating or becoming a 
     part of the metropolitan culture district. The governing body 
     of a withdrawing county shall provide for the sending of 
     formal written notice of withdrawal from the district to the 
     governing body of the other county or each of the other 
     counties comprising the district. Actual withdrawal shall not 
     take effect until 90 days after notice has been sent. A 
     withdrawing county shall not be relieved from any obligation 
     which such county may have assumed or incurred by reason of 
     being a part of the district, including, but not limited to, 
     the retirement of any outstanding bonded indebtedness of the 
     district.

                      ``ARTICLE V.  THE COMMISSION

       ``(a) The metropolitan culture district shall be governed 
     by the metropolitan culture commission which shall be a body 
     corporate and politic and which shall be composed of resident 
     electors of the states of Kansas and Missouri, respectively, 
     as follows:
       ``(1) A member of the governing body of each county which 
     is a part of the district, who shall be appointed by majority 
     vote of such governing body;
       ``(2) A member of the governing body of each city, with a 
     population according to the most recent federal census of at 
     least 50,000, located in whole or in part within each county 
     which is a part of the district, who shall be appointed by 
     majority vote of such governing body;
       ``(3) A member of the arts commission of Kansas or the 
     Kansas commission for the humanities, who shall be appointed 
     by the governor of Kansas; and
       ``(4) A member of the arts commission of Missouri or the 
     Missouri humanities council, who shall be appointed by the 
     governor of Missouri.

     To the extent possible, the gubernatorial appointees to the 
     commission shall be residents of the district. The term of 
     each commissioner initially appointed by a county governing 
     body shall expire concurrently with such commissioner's 
     tenure as a county officer or three years after the date of 
     appointment as a commissioner, whichever occurs sooner. The 
     term of each commissioner succeeding a commissioner initially 
     appointed by a county governing body shall expire 
     concurrently with such successor commissioner's tenure as a 
     county officer or four years after the date of appointment as 
     a commissioner, whichever occurs sooner. The term of each 
     commissioner initially appointed by a city governing body 
     shall expire concurrently with such commissioner's tenure as 
     a city officer or two years after the date of appointment as 
     a commissioner, whichever occurs sooner. The term of each 
     commissioner succeeding a commissioner initially appointed by 
     a city governing body shall expire concurrently with such 
     successor commissioner's tenure as a city officer or four 
     years after the date of appointment as a commissioner, 
     whichever occurs sooner. The term of each commissioner 
     appointed by the governor of Kansas or the governor of 
     Missouri shall expire concurrently with the term of the 
     appointing governor, the commissioner's tenure as a state 
     officer, or four years after the date of appointment as a 
     commissioner of the district, whichever occurs sooner. Any 
     vacancy occurring in a commissioner position for reasons 
     other than expiration of terms of office shall be filled for 
     the unexpired term by appointment in the same manner that the 
     original appointment was made. Any commissioner may be 
     removed for cause by the appointing authority of the 
     commissioner.
       ``(b) The commission shall select annually, from its 
     membership, a chairperson, a vice chairperson, and a 
     treasurer. The treasurer shall be bonded in such amounts as 
     the commission may require.
       ``(c) The commission may appoint such officers, agents and 
     employees as it may require for the performance of its 
     duties, and shall determine the qualifications and duties and 
     fix the compensation of such officers, agents and employees.
       ``(d) The commission shall fix the time and place at which 
     its meetings shall be held. Meetings shall be held within the 
     district and shall be open to the public. Public notice shall 
     be given of all meetings.
       ``(e) A majority of the commissioners from each state shall 
     constitute, in the aggregate, a quorum for the transaction of 
     business. No action of the commission shall be binding unless 
     taken at a meeting at which at least a quorum is present, and 
     unless a majority of the commissioners from each state, 
     present at such meeting, shall vote in favor thereof. No 
     action of the commission taken at a meeting thereof shall be 
     binding unless the subject of such action is included in a 
     written agenda for such meeting, the agenda and notice of 
     meeting having been mailed to each commissioner by postage 
     paid first-class mail at least 14 calendar days prior to the 
     meeting.
       ``(f) The commissioners from each state shall be subject to 
     the provisions of the laws of the states of Kansas and 
     Missouri, respectively, which relate to conflicts of interest 
     of public officers and employees. If any commissioner has a 
     direct or indirect financial interest in any cultural 
     facility, organization or activity supported by the district 
     or commission or in any other business transaction of the 
     district or commission, the commissioner shall disclose such 
     interest in writing to the other commissioners and shall 
     abstain from voting on any matter relating to such facility, 
     organization or activity or to such business transaction.
       ``(g) If any action at law or equity, or other legal 
     proceeding, shall be brought against any commissioner for any 
     act or omission arising out of the performance of duties as a 
     commissioner, the commissioner shall be indemnified in whole 
     and held harmless by the commission for any judgment or 
     decree entered against the commissioner and, further, shall 
     be defended at the cost and expense of the commission in any 
     such proceeding.

           ``ARTICLE VI. POWERS AND DUTIES OF THE COMMISSION

       ``(a) The commission shall adopt a seal and suitable bylaws 
     governing its management and procedure.
       ``(b) The commission has the power to contract and to be 
     contracted with, and to sue and to be sued.
       ``(c) The commission may receive for any of its purposes 
     and functions any contributions or moneys appropriated by 
     counties or cities and may solicit and receive any and all 
     donations, and grants of money, equipment, supplies, 
     materials and services from any state or the United States or 
     any agency thereof, or from any institution, foundation, 
     organization, person, firm or corporation, and may utilize 
     and dispose of the same.
       ``(d) Upon receipt of recommendations from the advisory 
     committee provided in subsection (g), the commission may 
     provide donations, contributions and grants or other support, 
     financial or otherwise, or in aid of cultural organizations, 
     facilities or activities in counties which are part of the 
     district. In determining whether to provide any such support 
     the commission shall consider the following factors:
       ``(1) economic impact upon the district;
       ``(2) cultural benefit to citizens of the district and to 
     the general public;
       ``(3) contribution to the quality of life and popular image 
     of the district;
       ``(4) contribution to the geographical balance of cultural 
     facilities and activities within and outside the district;
       ``(5) the breadth of popular appeal within and outside the 
     district;
       ``(6) the needs of the community as identified in an 
     objective cultural needs assessment study of the metropolitan 
     area; and
       ``(7) any other factor deemed appropriate by the 
     commission.
       ``(e) The commission may own and acquire by gift, purchase, 
     lease or devise cultural facilities within the territory of 
     the district. The commission may plan, construct, operate and 
     maintain and contract for the operation and maintenance of 
     cultural facilities within the territory of the district. The 
     commission may sell, lease, or otherwise dispose of cultural 
     facilities within the territory of the district.
       ``(f) At any time following five years from and after the 
     creation of the metropolitan cultural district as provided in 
     paragraph (1) of subsection (d) of article IV, the commission 
     may borrow moneys for the planning, construction, equipping, 
     operation, maintenance, repair, extension, expansion, or 
     improvement of any cultural facility and, in that regard, the 
     commission at such time may:
       ``(1) issue notes, bonds or other instruments in writing of 
     the commission in evidence of the sum or sums to be borrowed. 
     No notes, bonds or other instruments in writing shall be 
     issued pursuant to this subsection until the issuance of such 
     notes, bonds or instruments has been submitted to and 
     approved by a majority of the qualified electors of the 
     district voting at an election called and held thereon. Such 
     election shall be called and held in the manner provided by 
     law;
       ``(2) issue refunding notes, bonds or other instruments in 
     writing for the purpose of refunding, extending or unifying 
     the whole or any part of its outstanding indebtedness from 
     time to time whether evidenced by notes, bonds or other 
     instruments in writing. Such refunding notes, bonds or other 
     instruments in writing shall not exceed in amount the 
     principal of the outstanding indebtedness to be refunded and 
     the accrued interest thereon to the date of such refunding;
       ``(3) provide that all notes, bonds and other instruments 
     in writing issued hereunder shall or may be payable, both as 
     to principal and interest, from sales tax revenues authorized 
     under this compact and disbursed to the district by counties 
     comprising the district, admissions and other revenues 
     collected from the use of any cultural facility or facilities 
     constructed hereunder, or from any other resources of the 
     commission, and further may be secured by a mortgage or deed 
     of trust upon any property interest of the commission; and
       ``(4) prescribe the details of all notes, bonds or other 
     instruments in writing, and of the issuance and sale thereof. 
     The commission shall have the power to enter into covenants 
     with the holders of such notes, bonds or other instruments in 
     writing, not inconsistent with the powers granted herein, 
     without further legislative authority.
       ``(g) The commission shall appoint an advisory committee 
     composed of members of the general public consisting of an 
     equal number of persons from both the states of Kansas and 
     Missouri who have demonstrated interest, expertise, knowledge 
     or experience in cultural organizations or activities. The 
     advisory committee shall make recommendations annually to the 
     commission regarding donations, contributions and grants or 
     other support, financial or otherwise, for or in aid of 
     cultural organizations, facilities and activities in counties 
     which are part of the district.
       ``(h) The commission may provide for actual and necessary 
     expenses of commissioners and advisory committee members 
     incurred in the performance of their official duties.
       ``(i) The commission shall cause to be prepared annually a 
     report on the operations and transactions conducted by the 
     commission during the preceding year. The report shall be 
     submitted to the legislatures and governors of the compacting 
     states, to the governing bodies of the counties comprising 
     the district, and to the governing body of each city that 
     appoints a commissioner. The commission shall publish the 
     annual report in the official county newspaper of each of the 
     counties comprising the district.
       ``(j) The commission has the power to apply to the congress 
     of the United States for its consent and approval of the 
     compact. In the absence of the consent of congress and until 
     consent is secured, the compact is binding upon the states of 
     Kansas and Missouri in all respects permitted by law for the 
     two states, without the consent of congress, for the purposes 
     enumerated and in the manner provided in the compact.
       ``(k) The commission has the power to perform all other 
     necessary and incidental functions and duties and to exercise 
     all other necessary and appropriate powers not inconsistent 
     with the constitution or laws of the United States or of 
     either of the states of Kansas or Missouri to effectuate the 
     same.

                        ``ARTICLE VII.  FINANCE

       ``(a) The moneys necessary to finance the operation of the 
     metropolitan culture district and the execution of the 
     powers, duties and responsibilities of the commission shall 
     be appropriated to the commission by the counties comprising 
     the district. The moneys to be appropriated to the commission 
     shall be raised by the governing bodies of the respective 
     counties by the levy of taxes as authorized by the 
     legislatures of the respective party states.
       ``(b) The commission shall not incur any indebtedness or 
     obligation of any kind; nor shall the commission pledge the 
     credit of either or any of the counties comprising the 
     district or either of the states party to this compact, 
     except as authorized in article VI. The budget of the 
     district shall be prepared, adopted and published as provided 
     by law for other political subdivisions of the party states. 
     No budget shall be adopted by the commission until it has 
     been submitted to and reviewed by the governing bodies of the 
     counties comprising the district and the governing body of 
     each city represented on the commission.
       ``(c) The commission shall keep accurate accounts of all 
     receipts and disbursements. The receipts and disbursements of 
     the commission shall be audited yearly by a certified or 
     licensed public accountant and the report of the audit shall 
     be included in and become a part of the annual report of the 
     commission.
       ``(d) The accounts of the commission shall be open at any 
     reasonable time for inspection by duly authorized 
     representatives of the compacting states, the counties 
     comprising the district, the cities that appoint a 
     commissioner, and other persons authorized by the commission.

                   ``ARTICLE VIII.  ENTRY INTO FORCE

       ``(a) This compact shall enter into force and become 
     effective and binding upon the states of Kansas and Missouri 
     when it has been entered into law by the legislatures of the 
     respective states.
       ``(b) Amendments to the compact shall become effective upon 
     enactment by the legislatures of the respective states.

                       ``ARTICLE IX.  TERMINATION

       ``This compact shall continue in force and remain binding 
     upon a party state until its legislature shall have enacted a 
     statute repealing the same and providing for the sending of 
     formal written notice of enactment of such statute to the 
     legislature of the other party state. Upon enactment of such 
     a statute by the legislature of either party state, the 
     sending of notice thereof to the other party state, and 
     payment of any obligations which the metropolitan culture 
     district commission may have incurred prior to the effective 
     date of such statute, including, but not limited to, the 
     retirement of any outstanding bonded indebtedness of the 
     district, the agreement of the party states embodied in the 
     compact shall be deemed fully executed, the compact shall be 
     null and void and of no further force or effect, the 
     metropolitan culture district shall be dissolved, and the 
     metropolitan culture district commission shall be abolished.

              ``ARTICLE X.  CONSTRUCTION AND SEVERABILITY

       ``The provisions of this compact shall be liberally 
     construed and shall be severable. If any phrase, clause, 
     sentence or provision of this compact is declared to be 
     contrary to the constitution of either of the party states or 
     of the United States or the applicability thereof to any 
     government, agency, person or circumstance is held invalid, 
     the validity of the remainder of this compact and the 
     applicability thereof to any government, agency, person or 
     circumstance shall not be affected thereby. If this compact 
     shall be held contrary to the constitution of either of the 
     states party thereto, the compact shall thereby be nullified 
     and voided and of no further force or effect.
       ``(a) The board of county commissioners of any county which 
     has been authorized by a majority of the electors of the 
     county to create or to become a part of the metropolitan 
     culture district and to levy and collect a tax for the 
     purpose of contributing to the financial support of the 
     district shall adopt a resolution imposing a countywide 
     retailers' sales tax and pledging the revenues received 
     therefrom for such purpose. The rate of such tax shall be 
     fixed in an amount of not more than .25%. Any county levying 
     a retailers' sales tax under authority of this section is 
     hereby prohibited from administering or collecting such tax 
     locally, but shall utilize the services of the state 
     department of revenue to administer, enforce and collect such 
     tax. The sales tax shall be administered, enforced and 
     collected in the same manner and by the same procedure as 
     other countywide retailers' sales taxes are levied and 
     collected and shall be in addition to any other sales tax 
     authorized by law. Upon receipt of a certified copy of a 
     resolution authorizing the levy of a countywide retailers' 
     sales tax pursuant to this section, the state director of 
     taxation shall cause such tax to be collected within and 
     outside the boundaries of such county at the same time and in 
     the same manner provided for the collection of the state 
     retailers' sales tax. All moneys collected by the director of 
     taxation under the provisions of this section shall be 
     credited to the metropolitan culture district retailers' 
     sales tax fund which fund is hereby established in the state 
     treasury. Any refund due on any countywide retailers' sales 
     tax collected pursuant to this section shall be paid out of 
     the sales tax refund fund and reimbursed by the director of 
     taxation from retailers' sales tax revenue collected pursuant 
     to this section. All countywide retailers' sales tax revenue 
     collected within any county pursuant to this section shall be 
     remitted at least quarterly by the state treasurer, on 
     instruction from the director of taxation, to the treasurer 
     of such county.
       ``(b) All revenue received by any county treasurer from a 
     countywide retailers' sales tax imposed pursuant to this 
     section shall be appropriated by the county to the 
     metropolitan culture district commission within 60 days of 
     receipt of the funds by the county for expenditure by the 
     commission pursuant to and in accordance with the provisions 
     of the Kansas and Missouri metropolitan culture district 
     compact. If any such revenue remains upon nullification and 
     voidance of the Kansas and Missouri metropolitan culture 
     district compact, the county treasurer shall deposit such 
     revenue to the credit of the general fund of the county.
       ``(c) Any countywide retailers' sales tax imposed pursuant 
     to this section shall expire upon the date of actual 
     withdrawal of the county from the metropolitan culture 
     district or at any time the Kansas and Missouri metropolitan 
     culture district compact becomes null and void and of no 
     further force or effect. If any moneys remain in the 
     metropolitan culture district retailers' sales tax fund upon 
     nullification and voidance of the Kansas and Missouri 
     metropolitan culture district compact, the state treasurer 
     shall transfer such moneys to the county and city retailers' 
     sales tax fund to be apportioned and remitted at the same 
     time and in the same manner as other countywide retailers' 
     sales tax revenues are apportioned and remitted.''.

     SEC. 2. RESERVATION OF RIGHTS.

       The Congress expressly deserves the right to alter, amend, 
     or repeal this Act.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from 
Texas [Mr. Brooks] will be recognized for 20 minutes, and the gentleman 
from California [Mr. Moorhead] will be recognized for 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Texas [Mr. Brooks].
  Mr. BROOKS. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  (Mr. BROOKS asked and was given permission to revise and extend his 
remarks.)
  Mr. BROOKS. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 4896, a bill to 
grant the consent of the Congress to the Kansas and Missouri 
Metropolitan Culture District Compact.
  H.R. 4896 authorizes the formation of a special taxing district to 
provide financial support for cultural programs and facilities in a 
metropolitan culture district composed of counties in the States of 
Kansas and Missouri. Both Kansas and Missouri have enacted identical 
compact language, and the bill was introduced by our colleagues, the 
gentleman from Missouri [Mr. Wheat] and the gentlewoman from Kansas 
[Mrs. Meyers].
  Mr. Speaker, I urge Members to cast an ``aye'' vote for this bill.

                              {time}  1320

  Mr. MOORHEAD. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume, 
and I rise in support of H.R. 4896.
  (Mr. MOORHEAD asked and was given permission to revise and extend his 
remarks.)
  Mr. MOORHEAD. Mr. Speaker, this is a noncontroversial bill which 
merely gives congressional approval, as required under the 
Constitution, to a compact between Kansas and Missouri establishing the 
Kansas and Missouri culture district compact.
  The district that would be established pursuant to the compact would 
be a special taxing unit composed of counties on either side of their 
border that would support cultural programs and facilities.
  Mr. Speaker, this compact would not adversely affect other States and 
should be consented to by the Congress.
  I urge support for the measure.
  Mr. WHEAT. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 4896, a bill 
to grant the consent of Congress to the Missouri and Kansas 
metropolitan culture district compact. I sponsored this legislation 
along with Representative Meyers of Kansas. This proposal has the 
overwhelming support of the region's elected officials, civic 
organizations, and cultural groups on both sides of the State line.
  Simply put, this compact will allow the voters in five Missouri and 
Kansas counties to join together as one entity to support cultural 
activities that benefit the entire region. Let us be clear that this is 
not a tax increase, nor a mandate for one. It will instead allow 
taxpayers on both sides of the Missouri-Kansas State line to decide 
jointly whether to approved increased revenues to improve the quality 
of life in the region.
  The district will be governed by a commission composed of private 
citizens, public officeholders, and officials of cultural organizations 
from both States. The commission will encourage a wide variety of 
museums, art galleries, music festivals, street fairs, and community 
theater groups to apply for funding.
  Missouri and Kansas taxpayers will decide the scope, size, and 
financing of the district, and they will directly benefit from the 
increased range of cultural activity in communities large and small 
across the bistate region. This compact is the fulfillment of a dream 
to enlist the ideas and support of the people to enhance Kansas City's 
role as a cultural gem in the ``heart of America.''
  The people of our bistate metropolis have long shared interests, 
values, and experiences. Nevertheless, the State line between them can 
still hamper the best intentions of communities in either State. 
Difficult legal requirements and jurisdictional complications have 
delayed submission of this compact to the voters of Missouri and Kansas 
for too long. Enactment of this measure will allow the States to avoid 
the conflicting laws that have defeated past efforts to establish the 
culture district.
  I thank the chairman of the Judiciary Committee, Mr. Brooks, and the 
chairman of the Subcommittee on Administrative Law, Mr. Bryant, for 
working so tirelessly to assure passage of H.R. 4896 in this session of 
Congress. Congressional consent to this unique blueprint for 
cooperation will allow the people of the Kansas City metro area to 
decide, in the best tradition of American democracy, how they will 
improve the life of their community.
  Mr. MOORHEAD. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. BROOKS. Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for time, and I 
yield the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Montgomery). The question is on the 
motion offered by the gentleman from Texas [Mr. Brooks] the House 
suspend the rules and pass the bill, H.R. 4896.
  The question was taken.
  Mr. ROHRABACHER. Mr. Speaker, I object to the vote on the grounds 
that a quorum is not present and make the point of order that a quorum 
is not present.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to clause 5, rule I, and the 
Chair's prior announcement, further proceedings on this motion will be 
postponed.
  The point of no quorum is considered withdrawn.

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