[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 62 (Tuesday, May 7, 1996)]
[House]
[Pages H4442-H4446]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




  AUTHORIZING USE OF CAPITOL GROUNDS FOR EVENT SPONSORED BY SPECIALTY 
                      EQUIPMENT MARKET ASSOCIATION

  Mr. GILCHREST. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to 
the concurrent resolution (H. Con. Res. 150) authorizing the use of the 
Capitol Grounds for an event sponsored by the Specialty Equipment 
Market Association, as amended.
  The Clerk read as follows:

                            H. Con. Res. 150

       Whereas the United States public has demonstrated a 
     continuing love affair with motor vehicles since their 
     introduction 100 years ago, enjoying vehicles for 
     transportation, for enthusiast endeavors ranging from racing 
     to show competitions, and as a mode of individual expression;
       Whereas research and development in connection with 
     motorsports competition and speciality applications have 
     provided consumers with life-saving safety features, 
     including seat belts, air bags, and many other important 
     innovations;
       Whereas hundreds of thousands of amateur and professional 
     participants enjoy motorsports competitions each year 
     throughout the United States;
       Whereas such competitions have a total annual attendance in 
     excess of 14,500,000 spectators, making the competitions 
     among the most widely attended in United States sports; and
       Whereas sales of motor vehicle parts and accessories for 
     performance and appearance enhancement, restoration, and 
     modification exceeded $15,000,000,000 in 1995, resulting in 
     500,000 jobs for United States citizens: Now therefore, be it
       Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate 
     concurring),

     SECTION 1. USE OF CAPITOL GROUNDS FOR SPECIALITY MOTOR 
                   VEHICLE AND EQUIPMENT EVENT.

       On May 16, 1996, or such other date as the Speaker of the 
     House of Representatives and the President pro tempore of the 
     Senate may jointly designate there is authorized to be 
     conducted on the Capitol Grounds a public event (in this 
     resolution referred to as the ``event'') displaying racing, 
     restored, and customized motor vehicles and transporters.

     SEC. 2. CONDITIONS.

       The event shall be free of admission charge to the public 
     and arranged not to interfere with the needs of Congress, 
     under conditions to be prescribed by the Architect of the 
     Capitol and the Capitol Police Board. The sponsor of the 
     event shall assume full responsibility for all expenses and 
     liabilities incident to all activities associated with the 
     event.

     SEC. 3. STRUCTURE AND EQUIPMENT.

       For the purposes of this resolution, the sponsor of the 
     event is authorized to erect upon the Capitol Grounds, 
     subject to the approval of the Architect of the Capitol, such

[[Page H4443]]

     stage, sound amplification devices, tents, and other related 
     structures and equipment as may be necessary for the event. 
     The sponsor is further authorized to display racing, 
     restored, and customized motor vehicles and transporters in 
     the condition in which they appear.

     SEC. 4. ADDITIONAL ARRANGEMENTS.

       The Architect of the Capitol and the Capitol Police Board 
     are authorized to make any additional arrangement that may be 
     required to carry out the event.

     SEC. 5. LIMITATIONS ON REPRESENTATIONS.

       The sponsor of the event (including its members) shall not 
     represent, either directly or indirectly, that this 
     resolution or any activity carried out under this resolution 
     in any way constitutes approval or endorsement by the Federal 
     Government of the sponsor (or its members) or any product 
     or service offered by the sponsor (or its members).

     SEC. 6. PHOTOGRAPHS.

       The event may be conducted only after the Architect of the 
     Capitol and the Capitol Police Board enter into an agreement 
     with the sponsor of the event, with each person owning a 
     vehicle to be displayed at the event, and with the 
     manufacturers of such vehicles that prohibits the sponsor and 
     the vehicle owners and manufacturer from using any photograph 
     taken at the event for a commercial purpose. The agreement 
     shall provide for financial penalties to be imposed if any 
     photograph is used in violation of this section.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from 
Maryland [Mr. Gilchrest] and the gentleman from Minnesota [Mr. 
Oberstar] will each be recognized for 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Maryland [Mr. Gilchrest].
  Mr. GILCHREST. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may 
consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of House Concurrent Resolution 150, as 
amended, a resolution authorizing the use of the Capitol Grounds for a 
specialty motor vehicle and equipment event. This resolution authorizes 
the Special Equipment Marketing Association to conduct a public event 
on the Capitol Grounds displaying racing, restored, and customized 
motor vehicles and trucks. The event will be part of an American picnic 
on the Capitol Grounds celebrating 100 years of the introduction of the 
automobile.
  Motor sports is a large spectator sports in American drawing millions 
of fans every year to events. The specialty equipment industry, which 
manufacturers many of the products used in racing vehicles, employs 
500,000 Americans and generates $15 billion in revenue.
  The bill specifies May 16, 1996, as the date on which the event would 
occur. It would not detract from the ceremony which will honor our 
peace officers, which event is now occurring on the 15th of May, and 
honoring these peace officers who have died in the line of duty will 
not be interfered with at all.
  Mr. Speaker, the event is to be free of charge, and the Architect and 
Capitol Police Board are to specify conditions for the event so as not 
to interfere with the needs of Congress. The sponsor is to assume full 
responsibility for all expenses and liabilities associated with the 
event. The resolution authorizes the sponsor to display racing, 
restored, and customized motor vehicles and trucks in the condition in 
which they currently appear. This will allow these special vehicles to 
be displayed in their original or unaltered state. Many of these 
vehicles display decals or stickers promoting commercial sponsors. This 
amendment would permit these vehicles to be displayed without 
alteration.
  Subject to the approval of the Architect, the sponsor may erect 
stage, sound amplification devices, tents or other structures necessary 
for the event. The sponsor, including its members, may not represent 
that the resolution nor any activities carried out under it constitutes 
approval or endorsement by the Federal Government of the sponsor, its 
members, or any product or services offered by the sponsor or its 
members.
  Finally, the resolution provides that the event may be conducted only 
after the Architect and the Capitol Police Board enter into an 
agreement with the sponsor and the owners and manufacturers of vehicles 
to be displayed that prohibits the use of photos taken at the event for 
commercial purposes. Finally, penalties would be imposed for those 
violations.
  This resolution has the support of the resolution's sponsor, the 
sponsor of the event. I would like to thank my colleagues on the other 
side of the aisle for their assistance in crafting compromise language 
so this event may go forward. I urge my colleagues to support this 
resolution.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. OBERSTAR. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, House Concurrent Resolution 150, as amended, would 
authorize the use of the Capitol Grounds for a display of specialty 
vehicles, including racing cars and antique cars.
  Mr. Speaker, as I understand this event, like other events on the 
Capitol Grounds, it will be open to the public and will be free of 
charge. The amended resolution before us includes some substantial 
improvements over the introduced resolution.
  In my opinion, the concurrent resolution as introduced did not 
contain sufficient safeguards to ensure that the authorized event would 
be consistent with our longstanding and bipartisan policy, and one 
enforced by the previous Architect of the Capitol, that the Capitol 
Grounds should not be used for commercial purposes. I frankly find it 
offensive that anybody would want to do such a thing.
  Mr. Speaker, I had two major concerns in that regard about the 
introduced resolution, First, it did not prohibit the cars on display 
from being covered with decals advertising automotive and other 
products. Second, there did not appear to be adequate protections to 
assure that photographs of cars on the Capitol Grounds would not be 
used in commercial advertising; the selling of the Capitol, it seemed 
to me.
  We discussed this a great deal with our good friend, the gentleman 
from Maryland [Mr. Gilchrest], the very thoughtful and concerned Member 
of Congress, for whom I have great respect and appreciation. The 
amended resolution now deals with these issues. It did not totally 
prohibit the decals. We were advised in the course of these discussions 
that the event would not be able to go forward with a total ban on 
decals, since owners would not be willing to display their cars with 
the decals covered up with masking tape, which I frankly suggested. 
However, the bill limits the decals to those that are already on the 
car, so they cannot put new ones on. I do not know how we are going to 
monitor that, test it, or check it, but we will take them at their 
word.
  With respect to photographs, the amended resolution includes a 
provision prohibiting the sponsor of the event, the person displaying 
the vehicles, and the manufacturers of the vehicles, from using 
photographs of the event for commercial purposes. I hope, I just 
strongly, hope, that these prohibitions, which carry financial 
penalties, will control the potential for commercialization of the U.S. 
Capitol.
  I know the gentleman from Maryland shares that concern. He has 
endeavored vigorously to achieve the same objective. I believe with his 
vigilance and with the attention that has been drawn to this subject 
that the commercialization, the use of the U.S. Capitol for commercial 
purposes, will not go forward.
  Mr. Speaker, I think these protections are as good as we can get, 
short of not allowing the event. Congress has an obligation, Mr. 
Speaker, I feel very strong about this, to ensure that the Capitol 
Grounds are used in a fitting and in a proper manner. Use of grounds 
for a commercial purpose detracts from the integrity of this national 
treasure and this landmark that belongs to all of us, to all Americans.
  It offends me, frankly, that groups that criticize Washington and 
criticize government then want to turn around and use Washington and 
its most important symbol, the U.S. Capitol, to further their own 
commercial purposes. I find that inconsistent, I find that offensive.

                              {time}  1445

  Use of the grounds of the U.S. Capitol should be reserved for events 
that have public significance, that have national significance, that 
have broad national interest, such as the Special Olympics torch relay 
run, the memorial ceremony honoring law enforcement officers killed in 
the line of duty.
  Even in those, as in this particular event with racing cars, we ought 
to be sensitive to safeguarding the integrity of this very treasured 
national symbol

[[Page H4444]]

of freedom. It is, after all, a symbol of freedom. It is not a symbol 
of commerce.
  I think the amendment before us achieves those objectives, responds 
to my concerns, and I appreciate the cooperation I have had from the 
gentleman from Maryland and the sensitivity and concern and cooperation 
we have had from the chairman of the full committee.
  Mrs. SCHROEDER. Mr. Speaker, will the gentleman yield?
  Mr. OBERSTAR. I yield to the gentlewoman from Colorado.
  Mrs. SCHROEDER. Mr. Speaker, I was in the Cloakroom, and I really 
want to congratulate the gentleman on his statement. I am a little 
stunned at what I think I heard. We are turning the Capitol Grounds 
into kind of a car lot with this resolution? Is that what I heard?
  Mr. OBERSTAR. There is going to be a display of vehicles in honor of 
the 100th anniversary of motor vehicles.
  Mrs. SCHROEDER. If the gentleman will yield further, what a precedent 
this is. Does this then mean we can do all sorts of future displays for 
any commercial thing that wants to come in here?
  Mr. OBERSTAR. We have attempted to restrict the opportunity for 
commercialization with the language included in this resolution that 
the gentleman from Maryland has included, and with his splendid 
cooperation, to prevent use of photographs for commercial purposes, to 
limit the amount of commercialization evident on the vehicles to be 
displayed here.
  Mrs. SCHROEDER. If the gentleman will yield further, I am very glad 
that the gentleman was there and vigilant and got those amendments in, 
but I am a little troubled at the time we are going through this gas 
crisis and everything else that we are going to turn, I think, the 
Capitol Grounds into a parking lot and a public display.
  I hope we have a vote on this, because I would like to see how 
Members vote on this issue. I am stunned. I never saw anything like 
this in my 24 years and I am troubled as to why it comes up now, but I 
thank the gentleman for his hard work.
  Mr. OBERSTAR. I thank the gentlewoman.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. GILCHREST. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may 
consume.
  I share many of the sentiments of the gentleman from Minnesota in his 
concerns about commercializing the Capitol Grounds and also I share the 
concerns of the gentlewoman from Colorado for the same reason. This 
will not specifically be on the Capitol Grounds. It is across the 
street and to the rear of the Senate office buildings, so we will not 
see any motor vehicles right here directly on the Capitol Grounds.
  I would also like to reemphasize two areas that the gentleman from 
Minnesota [Mr. Oberstar] emphasized, as far as these motor vehicles 
will not be able to use this particular display for profit or for 
commercializing any of their products. It is the 100-year anniversary 
of the automobile in the United States, and I know we have troubles 
through the years as far as gas taxes are concerned, gas crises are 
concerned, environmental issues are concerned.
  It is not my intent nor is it the intent of this committee to demean 
the Capitol Grounds in any way, shape or form by sponsoring motor 
vehicles and expending more gasoline products. That is exactly the 
opposite of what we are trying to do. What we are trying to do is to 
come up with some consensus language on both sides of the aisle so we 
can have some understanding how to put forth a display which will be 
off the Capitol Grounds, on property owned by the U.S. Capitol but not 
on the Capitol Grounds proper, so we can have some sense of history.
  As a former school teacher, I know that when I have brought students 
here for many, many years, the students found many fascinating things 
about Washington, DC, and we could always associate something, some 
type of display, whether it was on the Mall or up here dealing with the 
issue of democracy and the issue of debate. We are now engaged in a 
debate whether or not this is a proper use of the Capitol Grounds.
  It is my judgment, after consultation with the gentleman from 
Minnesota [Mr. Oberstar] and the gentleman from Ohio [Mr. Traficant], 
that we have realized some of these issues and that we will go forward 
with this event ensuring, with the legislation's specific language, 
that none of the uses of these motor vehicles, which are all U.S.-
manufactured motor vehicles, can be used in any way for the advancement 
of any particular product.
  Mrs. SCHROEDER. Mr. Speaker, will the gentleman yield?
  Mr. GILCHREST. I yield to the gentlewoman from Colorado.
  Mrs. SCHROEDER. Mr. Speaker, if this display is not going to be on 
the Capitol Grounds, as I think I heard the gentleman say, then why do 
we need the resolution?
  Mr. GILCHREST. Reclaiming my time, I said it is not on the Capitol 
Grounds proper. In other words, when we say the Capitol Grounds, people 
right away think it is going to be right in front of the west side or 
the east side of the Capitol.
  It is, properly spoken, Capitol Grounds, but we could not see this 
display from the Capitol. We would have to walk across the street to 
the other side of the U.S. Senate office buildings before we could see 
the display. So I wanted to make a distinction. It is not right here on 
the east front or the west front of the U.S. Capitol.
  Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from California [Mr. 
Cunningham].
  Mr. CUNNINGHAM. I thank my friend for yielding.
  Mr. Speaker, for years we have been touting American workers, and I 
would say to my friend from Ohio [Mr. Traficant], who fights for 
American products and ``Made in America,'' these are American cars. For 
100 years Americans have been making these products. My colleagues on 
the other side say they are big strong supporters of the unions. It is 
mostly union members that make these cars and they have for 100 years.
  I think we need to show that we are proud of our products. Only a few 
short years ago there were other products that came into this country 
that cut them out. For 100 years our workers have been the finest in 
the world, and I think we need to honor them. I laud the gentleman for 
his initiative.
  Mr. GILCHREST. I thank the gentleman.
  Mr. Speaker, one other quick comment. We do have, and I know this is 
not on the Capitol Grounds but it is on The Mall, we have the Air and 
Space Museum that sort of in some indirect way, I guess, promotes air 
travel and specific airlines. We have the American History Museum. I 
really do not want to get into a semantic argument here, but I do think 
we have come up with a fairly consensus bill on both sides of the 
aisles.
  Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Pennsylvania 
[Mr. Walker].
  Mr. WALKER. I thank the gentleman for yielding me the time. I want to 
congratulate him for bringing the resolution to the floor. I rise in 
support of the resolution.
   Mr. Speaker, for 100 years the American automobile has been a part 
of the American scene. It has transformed the way in which we live, the 
way in which we work. It has been an important part of our entire 
history for the last 100 years. This display is in congratulations and 
celebration of that very fact.
  The fact is that for people who are concerned about this, when they 
go to the Smithsonian. They will find cars on display in the 
Smithsonian museum, they will find racing cars, for instance, in the 
Smithsonian that actually have decals on them.
  There are in fact historic reasons why there has been a link between 
motor sports and people who are willing to pay the bill. For that 100-
year history, motor sports has been a part of it. The fact is that 
today it has become the largest single spectator sport in the country. 
That is motor racing. All over this country, in small communities and 
in large, there are people who spend their weekends going out. Some of 
the language I have heard on the floor today is kind of an insult to 
some of those people who find this to be an enjoyable sport and who 
participate in it honorably and go as spectators.
  The fact is also that there are hundreds of thousands of people who 
participate each year in car shows, that simply go to look at products 
and look

[[Page H4445]]

at restored kinds of vehicles. There are hundreds of thousands of 
people who participate in the actual restoration of automobiles and in 
the historic sense of preserving that piece of Americana that was built 
years ago.
  There are lots of people out there who regard these phases of motor 
sports as an intimate part of their lives and think that it is entirely 
appropriate to have a display on the 100th anniversary of the motor 
vehicle on the Capitol Grounds in celebration of that fact. That is 
what we are doing here. This is not a commercial kind of display at 
all. It has nothing to do with commercialism.
  It is the same kind of thing that often goes on in the Capitol 
Building. When we have a historic event, we actually bring the 
artifacts of that historic event to the Capitol to allow the public to 
see them. That is what is happening here. I congratulate the gentleman 
for his resolution.
  Mr. GILCHREST. I thank the gentleman from Pennsylvania. I might say 
that I think maybe the largest spectator sport is little league 
baseball, or maybe it might be a close second there.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. OBERSTAR. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the 
gentleman from Ohio [Mr. Traficant].
  Mr. TRAFICANT. Mr. Speaker, we end up getting in major debates over 
items that need not be controversial around here. I have a few 
questions. I would like to join in an ongoing colloquy if I could 
without a lot of parliamentary discourse.
  But in the process when we discussed this, there was a special 
section put that would prohibit the use of photos of this event for 
commercial purposes. I want to thank Chairman Gilchrest for that. 
Further, there have been placed into this resolution financial 
penalties associated with violation of that prohibition.
  We have had a lot of talk about American cars and an event that would 
highlight the automobile in our history, and the great invention and 
pursuits of American manufacturing. The first question is, Will there 
be foreign cars highlighted, and will they be a part of this display?
  Mr. GILCHREST. Mr. Speaker, will the gentleman yield?
  Mr. TRAFICANT. I yield to the gentleman from Maryland.
  Mr. GILCHREST. Mr. Speaker, it is my understanding that only U.S. 
manufactured vehicles and U.S. manufactured parts will be a part of 
this display.
  Mr. TRAFICANT. There is in here, then, penalties associated with 
violation of any of these promotional concerns that we have. For the 
sake of this debate, who would be responsible for enforcement of those 
penalties?
  Mr. GILCHREST. The whole arrangement is going to be cleared through 
the Architect of the Capitol and the Capitol police. The Capitol police 
will be responsible for enforcing any of the violations.
  Mr. TRAFICANT. Will there be any association with foreign sponsors at 
this event?
  Mr. GILCHREST. It is my clear understanding that there will be no 
association with foreign sponsors. These are all U.S. sponsored, U.S. 
manufactured products.
  Mr. TRAFICANT. Let me say this. I think there is a lot of concern 
because of the fact that we are using the grounds, and we are using 
Capitol Grounds, as evidenced by the fact we need a resolution. We use 
Capitol Grounds for many other things.
  I am not opposed to this. I believe that we should highlight the 
achievements and the great, in fact, pursuits of the American 
automobile industry, from the invention and the creation to the mass 
production.
  I am very concerned, though, and I want to state this before the 
Congress, on a resolution of this kind which is noncontroversial, that 
right now many of our trucks carrying American-made manufactured brands 
are made overseas. The beautiful Regal, Buick Regal, is made in Canada. 
So I want to make sure this is an event for America.
  I certainly will not oppose it. I will vote for it. I want to thank 
the chairman for including the concerns that both the gentleman from 
Minnesota [Mr. Oberstar] and I had on this when it was previously 
discussed.
  I would like to say this, though, that in the future when we talk 
about penalties for violation of certain behaviors involved with issues 
such as this that seem noncontroversial, not to be big mind benders, we 
should at least have a study reported back to us if in fact the design 
and intent of these particular programs was as they were first 
recommended and presented to us.
  With that, I would yield to the chairman for any comment relative to 
that last issue.
  Mr. GILCHREST. I will assure the gentleman from Ohio [Mr. Traficant] 
that we will continue to work with his side of the aisle in any future 
resolution that deals with a similar matter, that we will assure that 
all of his concerns will continue to be shared, that there will be 
precise and concise penalties on those who violate it, that this will 
be sponsoring U.S. manufacturers and not foreign manufacturers of 
automobiles, and that we will ensure that no photographs taken during 
this event can be used for commercializing purposes or for endorsement 
purposes. If they are, they will feel the full force of the law.
  Mr. TRAFICANT. Would it be reasonable, then, to spread across the 
Record at least the following concern, that the Architect of the 
Capitol should report back to our subcommittee on in fact the questions 
that I have posed here relative to any possible foreign participation 
that is not the intent of this particular resolution?
  Mr. GILCHREST. Mr. Speaker, the gentleman from Ohio [Mr. Traficant] 
has an excellent idea and we will follow it up. We will, sometime 
following the event, assure him that there will be a hearing on that 
issue.
  Mr. TRAFICANT. In closing, let me say this. The gentleman from 
Pennsylvania [Mr. Walker] is a friend of mine. He has had a number of 
Corvettes over the years, and I am sure that that car made in Kentucky, 
made out of American parts, will be highly featured.
  With that, I will not pose any further opposition and would vote for 
the resolution.
  Mr. GILCHREST. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from 
Michigan [Mr. Chrysler].

                              {time}  1500

  Mr. CHRYSLER. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of the resolution to 
allow the use of the Capitol Grounds for a specialty motor vehicle and 
equipment event. As a former race car driver, auto manufacturer, union 
member, and SEMA member, I have first-hand knowledge of the importance 
of the auto industry to our economy. This event will demonstrate the 
economic and employment benefits, as well as contributions to 
engineering, safety, and entertainment provided by U.S. motorsports 
industries.
  The event will be held on May 16 on the Upper Senate Park and will 
include a wide variety of race cars, motorcycles, and collector cars 
spanning the evolution of the industry including vehicles from prewar 
classics, street rods, and '60's muscle cars. Also on hand will be race 
car drivers, car collectors, and U.S. performance and specialty 
manufacturers from around the country. It will be a convenient way for 
Members not familiar with the industry to gain greater insight into 
motorsports and for car and motorcycle enthusiasts to join in the 
celebration and perhaps display their own customized car or bike, as I 
will.
  It has been 100 years since the automobile was first introduced in 
the United States. I urge your support of this exciting event 
commemorating the importance of the motorsport industry to our economy 
on this 100-year anniversary.
  Mr. GILCHREST. Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for time, and 
I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. OBERSTAR. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3\1/2\ minutes to the gentlewoman 
from Colorado [Mrs. Schroeder].
  Mrs. SCHROEDER. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding me 
time.
  Mr. Speaker, I guess I am a little troubled by this, not because I am 
against the auto industry for heaven's sakes. I think the auto industry 
is terribly important, and I am a car lover as every other red-blooded 
American is.
  In the last year and a half we have seen the Capitol Grounds used for 
all sorts of things. We had elephants here for the first time, a circus 
came through, a couple weeks ago there was

[[Page H4446]]

a rock concert going on on the front lawn, and for people whose windows 
face that way it was really quite noisy.
  I understand people were saying, well, we will not be able to see 
this show from the Capitol, but you will be able to see the Capitol 
from the show, is the way I understand it. And I guess I am saying, are 
there any criteria? Are we just going to wait and be surprised day 
after day by new ideas that come up on the other side of the aisle for 
what we should use the Capitol as a showcase for? What about assault 
weapons? Can we have assault weapon or gun shows around here? Can we 
have dog and cat shows or horse shows?
  Mr. GILCHREST. Mr. Speaker, will the gentlewoman yield?
  Mrs. SCHROEDER. I yield to the gentleman from Maryland.
  Mr. GILCHREST. Mr. Speaker, I would like to tell the gentlewoman, I 
think there are a lot of people that share her concerns about 
commercializing the Capitol Grounds and trivializing the Capitol 
Grounds. This is the Nations's Capitol, which has a great and grand 
history of legislating for the Nation's good. So I will tell the 
gentlewoman that in the future, as these things usually come through 
the subcommittee of which I am chairman, that we will ensure that 
Members on both sides of the aisle receive this kind of information and 
notice well in advance.
  Now, there was information about this for the past several months. I 
realize we are all very busy with a variety of things and do not pick 
up on all of the activities that are occurring, but certainly I will 
assure both sides of the aisle that whenever events like this are 
coming up, I will do my level best, and I know the gentleman from 
Minnesota [Mr. Oberstar] and the gentleman from Ohio [Mr. Traficant] 
will help with this, as well as other members of the committee, to make 
sure the body as a whole realizes these things are coming up and they 
can be prepared for them.
  Mrs. SCHROEDER. Mr. Speaker, reclaiming my time, I guess my point is 
I think we need some criteria. I think before we keep doing this in an 
ad hoc manner, in which we kind of walk into the cloakroom and hear, 
wow, elephants are coming, the circus is coming, we are going to have a 
car lot, do this or that, or have a rock show, I would hope there would 
be some general criteria, rather than in an ad hoc way, as to what we 
can and cannot use the Capitol Grounds for.
  Otherwise maybe we should rent it out, maybe privatization; they 
should pay us and we get the money back and we use it for something to 
maintain the Capitol. I do not know. I must say it is not the car show 
per se, but it is just the idea that there is more of ad hoc casual way 
that they are coming one on one, and there does not seem to be any 
criteria or any overall agenda that they fit through.
  Mr. GILCHREST. Mr. Speaker, if the gentlewoman will continue to 
yield, what a number of us have been talking about over the past week 
is the issue of raising a specific criteria, there ought to be some 
type of specific or some flexible specific criteria that people can 
agree on for the type of activities that will go on on the Capitol 
Grounds.
  Mrs. SCHROEDER. Mr. Speaker, would the gentleman be bringing that out 
of the committee shortly?
  Mr. GILCHREST. It is in the early stages of discussion. We have not 
had any hearings on it. I think it would be a good idea, whether or not 
we have hearings on it, at which time, if we did have hearings, we 
could certainly bring in Members to give their perspective on it.
  Mrs. SCHROEDER. I thank the gentleman. I really think that would 
help.
  Mr. OBERSTAR. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, following up the discussion with the ranking member of 
the subcommittee, the gentleman from Ohio [Mr. Traficant], discussing 
the matter of foreign cars, which we have been assured there are not 
going to be foreign automobiles, the provision of the resolution deals 
with this issue, section 6, do I understand the chairman's response to 
mean that in entering into an agreement authorizing the event, that the 
Architect will include provisions to assure that no foreign 
manufactured cars will be included in the display?
  Mr. GILCHREST. Mr. Speaker, if the gentleman will yield, it is my 
understanding that since the Architect of the Capitol issues the 
permit, we would communicate to him that no foreign manufactured 
vehicle can be on display.
  Mr. OBERSTAR. That will be part of the agreement that will be entered 
into by the Architect with those displaying vehicles?
  Mr. GILCHREST. Yes. To the power that I have and the gentleman has, 
we will directly communicate that with the Architect of the Capitol. I 
would say to the gentleman from Minnesota [Mr. Oberstar], he and I 
wield considerable power around here.
  Mr. OBERSTAR. The gentleman does; the chairman does.
  Mr. HEFNER. Mr. Speaker, will the gentleman yield?
  Mr. OBERSTAR. I yield to the gentleman from North Carolina.
  Mr. HEFNER. Mr. Speaker, I do not know a lot about this bill we are 
considering, but in my part of the country, stock car racing is very, 
very big business, and to my knowledge, there is no foreign 
participation, to my knowledge, in stock car racing, either in NASCAR 
or Busch Grand National as we know it today.
  Is what we are doing today just setting aside a facility or grounds 
for the NASCAR people and the Grand National people to come in and 
display? This is not going to be highlighting individuals, or either 
Ford or Chrysler or GM, this is not going to be highlighting products, 
this is just going to be showcasing NASCAR as we understand it in this 
country? Is that what this bill does?
  Mr. GILCHREST. Mr. Speaker, if the gentleman will yield further, that 
is correct. It showcases the American automobile over the last 100 
years, showcases racing. The gentleman is correct when he says there 
are no foreign manufactured products in NASCAR racing.
  The display goes from 12 noon to 3 p.m. It is not a real long period 
of time. It is a very short period of time to display the history of 
racing in the United States.
  Mr. HEFNER. Whatever cost is incurred for this or damage they would 
to the grounds, who picks up the cost?
  Mr. GILCHREST. It is completely picked up by the association, not by 
the U.S. Congress and not by the taxpayers.
  Mr. HEFNER. I thank the gentleman.
  Mr. OBERSTAR. Mr. Speaker, reclaiming my time, I would say that the 
assurances given by the scholarly gentleman from Maryland [Mr. 
Gilchrest] are satisfactory to our side and to those who have raised 
concerns in the course of the debate this afternoon, and I would most 
certainly hope that we will not have a request for a recorded vote. I 
think this should pass on voice vote.
  Mr. GILCHREST. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentleman from Maryland [Mr. Gilchrest] that the House suspend the 
rules and agree to the concurrent resolution, House Concurrent 
Resolution 150, as amended.
  The question was taken; and (two-thirds having voted in favor 
thereof) the rules were suspended and the concurrent resolution, as 
amended, was agreed to.
  The title of the concurrent resolution was amended so as to read: 
``Concurrent resolution authorizing the use of the Capitol Grounds for 
an event displaying racing, restored, and customized motor vehicles and 
transporters.''.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

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