[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 116 (Thursday, August 1, 1996)]
[Senate]
[Page S9444]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




    SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION NATIONAL AIR AND SPACE MUSEUM EXTENSION

 Mr. ROBB. Mr. President, I rise today to celebrate the 
Senate's passage last night of S. 1995, legislation I cosponsored to 
authorize construction of a Smithsonian Institution National Air and 
Space Museum extension at Washington Dulles International Airport. This 
Dulles center, which will be built without any Federal funds, will 
provide crucial additional exhibit space for displaying national 
aviation treasures to the public.
  The current Air and Space Museum on the Mall is filled to capacity. 
There is no room to store any more of our large, invaluable aviation 
artifacts. These artifacts are currently stored in warehouses, hidden 
from the public, and some even stored outside, where they are exposed 
to the elements. The passage of S. 1995 places us on track to provide a 
safe and secure facility to house and preserve, for the public, these 
historical aircraft and spacecraft such as the B-29 Enola Gay, the 
Space Shuttle Enterprise, and the SR-71 Blackbird. This bill seeks to 
save these irreplaceable artifacts for our children and our future 
generations.
  Mr. President, in 1946, President Truman, believing in the importance 
of preserving our historical aircraft, signed Public Law 722 
establishing the National Air Museum. Twenty years later, in 1966, 
President Johnson understood the importance of this museum and signed 
the law authorizing construction of a National Air and Space Museum, 
which expanded the museum's collection efforts to include spacecraft 
and lunar artifacts. This museum was built on the National Mall here in 
Washington, opening its doors in 1976 and becoming the world's most 
visited museum, averaging over 8 million visitors per year.
  In keeping with this tradition of preservation and planning for the 
future, the Senate has passed S. 1995. When it becomes law, we will be 
able to house historical air and spacecraft, underscoring the major 
advances we have developed and the contributions to history we have 
made. Construction efforts for the Air and Space extension at Dulles, 
estimated to cost $200 million, represents exemplary coordination 
between public funds from the Commonwealth of Virginia and private 
sources. It is expected that the Smithsonian Institution National Air 
and Space Museum Dulles Center could be completed by 2003, in time for 
the 100 year anniversary of the Wright Brothers' first flight. This 
Dulles Center is an incredible, historical effort that will be a 
benefit to us now and for generations to come.

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