[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 115 (Wednesday, July 31, 1996)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1413]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

[[Page E1413]]


LEGISLATION INTRODUCED TO CONSTRUCT AIR AND SPACE MUSEUM AT WASHINGTON 
                             DULLES AIRPORT

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. FRANK R. WOLF

                              of virginia

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, July 31, 1996

  Mr. WOLF. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased today to introduce legislation--
along with my colleagues Representatives Bob Livingston, Sam Johnson, 
Tom Davis, Tom Bliley, Bob Goodlatte, Jim Moran, L.F. Payne, Rick 
Boucher, Owen Pickett, and Norman Sisisky--to authorize the Board of 
Regents of the Smithsonian Institution to construct the National Air 
and Space Museum Extension at Washington Dulles International Airport. 
This legislation represents the next critical step in making the 
extension a reality and I urge my colleagues to support this bill.
  The need for this extension is clear. The existing Air and Space 
Museum on the Mall now faces a critical shortage of critical storage 
facilities. Current facilities are inadequate, storage for larger 
artifacts is simply not available, and existing storage facilities do 
not provide controlled climate conditions necessary for the safe 
preservation of most museum artifacts. Not only that, as a result of 
current space limitations at the Mall Museum, only about 20 percent of 
the Nation's aircraft collection is on public display.
   Mr. Speaker, some of our Nation's most historic aircraft are hidden 
from public view. The Enola Gay, the SR-71 Blackbird spy plane, the 
space shuttle Enterprise, and many others sit in warehouses because 
there is no room for these large artifacts at the Mall Museum facility. 
The extension facility will provide the space necessary to house and 
exhibit these great artifacts for families who come from all over the 
country with the Air and Space Museum at the top of their sightseeing 
list. The Mall Museum is the most popular of the Smithsonian's museums 
and the extension is expected to draw significant crowds too. 
Approximately 7 to 8 million people now visit the Air and Space Museum 
on the mall and an estimated 2 to 3.5 million visitors are expected 
annually at the extension.
  In 1993, the Smithsonian Institution was first authorized to plan and 
design an Air and Space Museum Extension at Washington Dulles 
International Airport and I was pleased to support this effort. In 
fiscal year 1996, Congress and the Commonwealth of Virginia provided 
funding for planning and design work on the extension. Further work on 
schematic plans are planned in preparation for the construction phase 
of the project.
  While Congress has authorized and appropriated funding for planning 
and design work, Congress has previously made it clear that no Federal 
funds are to be made available for the construction portion of the 
project. Instead, the Smithsonian Institution is responsible for 
raising private funds for construction of the extension and already, 
the Air and Space Museum has begun to build a capital campaign 
infrastructure. A National Air and Space Society membership program was 
begun in 1995 to generate public support for the museum and the 
extension and already more than 4,000 people have joined and 
contributed.
  The legislation I am introducing today merely authorizes the Board of 
Regents of the Smithsonian Institution to construct the museum 
extension and also makes clear that no appropriated funds are to be 
used to pay any expense of the construction of this facility. The new 
Director of the Smithsonian Institution, former Federal Aviation 
Administration Administrator and retired Adm. Donald Engen, has stated 
that his No. 1 priority will be to wage a national campaign to raise 
adequate funding for construction and his goal will be accomplished 
more effectively once Congress has clearly authorized this 
construction.
   Mr. Speaker, the museum extension will significantly increase the 
amount of the collection on public display, provide safe and climate-
controlled storage facilities, and provide a restoration facility 
capable of the handling the largest artifacts in the collection in full 
view of visitors. Federal funds will not be used for construction of 
the extension and instead these costs will be paid for by privately 
raised funds.
  I urge my colleagues to support the Air and Space Museum Extension 
project and this legislation authorizing its construction.

                                H.R. --.

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

     SECTION 1. CONSTRUCTION OF MUSEUM CENTER.

       The Board of Regents of the Smithsonian Institution is 
     authorized to construct the Smithsonian Institution National 
     Air and Space Museum Dulles Center at Washington Dulles 
     International Airport.

     SEC. 2. LIMITATION ON USE OF FUNDS.

       No appropriated funds may be used to pay any expense of the 
     construction authorized by section 1.

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