[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 111 (Thursday, July 31, 1997)]
[Senate]
[Page S8506]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




         JOHN F. KENNEDY CENTER PARKING IMPROVEMENT ACT OF 1997

  Mr. DOMENICI. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate 
now proceed to the consideration of Calendar No. 85, S. 797.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  The clerk will report.
  The assistant legislative clerk read as follows:

       A bill (S. 797) to amend the John F. Kennedy Center Act to 
     authorize the design and construction of additions to the 
     parking garage and certain site improvements, and for other 
     purposes.

  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Is there objection to the immediate 
consideration of the bill?
  There being no objection, the Senate proceeded to consider the bill.
  Mr. CHAFEE. Mr. President, I am delighted that the Senate is 
considering S. 797, the John F. Kennedy Center Parking Improvement Act. 
This legislation, which will help to address parking and security 
problems at the Kennedy Center, was approved unanimously by the 
Committee On Environment and Public Works on June 5 of this year. I 
want to recognize the bill's cosponsors, Senators Lott, Baucus, 
Stevens, and Kennedy, for their valuable assistance.
  Briefly, Mr. President, this legislation provides authority to the 
Kennedy Center Board of Trustees to construct an addition to the 
existing parking garage at each of the north and south ends of the 
Center. Importantly, the Congressional Budget Office, in their letter 
of June 11, 1997, wrote that there will be not Federal costs associated 
with the enactment of S. 797.
  The garage project will be financed through the issuance of 
industrial revenue bonds which will be repaid entirely with revenue 
derived from operation of the expanded garage. The bill includes a 
provision explicitly prohibiting the use of appropriated funds for the 
purpose of constructing or financing the parking garage expansion.
  Also included in the bill is authorization for the Center to take 
action on site modifications for the improvement of security on the 
site. The Center has conducted a complete security review, and among 
the recommendations are changes to the main approach and plaza. This 
legislation allows the Center to pursue site modifications for the 
protection of the building and its visitors. The authorization of 
appropriations for this work, the site improvements and modifications, 
is provided by existing law.
  Consistent with the John F. Kennedy Center Act Amendments of 1994, 
the Center's plans for the garage expansion and other, related site 
improvements will be developed in close consultation with the 
Department of the Interior.
  Mr. President, the legislation reflects the commitment of the Kennedy 
Center Trustees to continually improve this Presidential monument for 
the benefit of the public--in a manner that is financially responsible. 
I want to again thank Senators Lott, Baucus, Stevens, and Kennedy, for 
their help in drafting this bill. I urge the Senate to adopt this 
legislation.

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