[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 124 (Wednesday, September 17, 1997)]
[Senate]
[Pages S9440-S9443]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




  DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR AND RELATED AGENCIES APPROPRIATIONS ACT, 
                                  1998

  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Under the previous order, the Senate now 
resumes consideration of H.R. 2107, which the clerk will report.
  The legislative clerk read as follows:

       A bill (H.R. 2107) making appropriations for the Department 
     of the Interior and related agencies for the fiscal year 
     ending September 30, 1998.

  The Senate resumed consideration of the bill.
  Pending:

       Ashcroft amendment No. 1188 (to committee amendment 
     beginning on page 96, line 12, through page 97, line 8) to 
     eliminate funding for programs and activities carried out by 
     the National Endowment for the Arts.
       Hutchinson amendment No. 1196, to authorize the President 
     to implement the recently announced American Heritage Rivers

[[Page S9441]]

     Initiative subject to designation of qualified rivers by act 
     of Congress.

  Mr. GORTON addressed the Chair.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The distinguished Senator from Washington is 
recognized.
  Mr. GORTON. Mr. President, the Senator from Delaware has used this 
time very much to good effect with thoughtful analyses of two 
questions, and he certainly did not interfere with debate on the 
Interior appropriations bill, as no one was here to present an 
amendment on the subject. I do have a unanimous consent request that 
has been agreed to by both sides, Mr. President, and I will present it 
now.


                      Unanimous-Consent Agreement

  Mr. GORTON. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that at 1:30 p.m. 
today, the Senate resume consideration of the Ashcroft amendment No. 
1188, and that the time be divided in the following fashion: 70 minutes 
under the control of Senator Byrd, or his designee; 70 minutes under 
the control of Senator Ashcroft, or his designee; 5 minutes under my 
control.
  I further ask unanimous consent that following the conclusion or 
yielding back of time, the Senate proceed to vote on, or in relation 
to, the Ashcroft amendment.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  Mr. GORTON. Mr. President, I also express my strong hope and 
preference, and that of the majority leader, that after disposition of 
the Ashcroft amendment, unless it is adopted, that we proceed promptly 
to the consideration of the other amendments relating to the National 
Endowment for the Arts. They are: an amendment by Senator Abraham; an 
amendment by Senator Sessions and Senator Hutchinson of Arkansas; and 
an amendment by Senator Hutchison of Texas. Each of them has been 
debated thoroughly. While no unanimous-consent request has been made 
with respect to any of them, I hope that we will be able to get 
relatively short debate periods and thereby finish dealing with the 
most controversial aspect of this bill.
  There are also other outstanding amendments, some of which may 
require rollcall votes. I know of one relating to forest roads that 
will be proposed by Senator Bryan of Nevada. I hope we will, within the 
hour at least, be able to arrange a time for its debate.
  I believe that there are a couple of others. I am also delighted to 
report that Senator Bumpers and Senator Reid have apparently reached an 
agreement on an element in this bill which divided the two of them. I 
believe that, again, within the hour or hour and a half, we may be able 
to adopt an agreed amendment on that subject.
  I know the majority leader still would like to finish this bill 
tonight. That may be a vain hope, but I certainly hope we will get a 
long way toward that end. With that, I suggest the absence of a quorum.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will call the roll.
  The legislative clerk proceeded to call the roll.
  Mr. KENNEDY. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the order 
for the quorum call be rescinded.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.


             supporting the national endowment for the arts

  Mr. KENNEDY. Mr. President, here we go again. Every year since 1989, 
Congress has held a highly charged debate about the future of the 
National Endowment for the Arts. This year is no different. Ironically, 
extremists opposing NEA have recently been claiming that there has been 
inadequate oversight of the agency. Dollar for dollar, it is likely 
that no agency has been more heavily scrutinized than the Arts 
Endowment.
  The arts and humanities have, and deserve to have, a central role in 
the life of America. The Arts Endowment has contributed immensely to 
that role. It has encouraged the growth and development of the arts in 
communities across the Nation, giving new emphasis and vitality to 
American creativity and scholarship, and to the cultural achievement 
that are among America's greatest strengths.
  Americans have a great deal to celebrate and learn about our 
extraordinary cultural traditions. The arts are an important part of 
our complex and modern society, and will play a key role in fulfilling 
our country's many possibilities for the future.
  Critics used to claim that the Endowment spent money unwisely--
awarding grants to unqualified artists or to artists that clearly did 
not merit Federal aid. But the critics quickly ran out of examples. 
Over the period of its entire 32-year history, a grand total of about 
25 of the tens of thousands of grants awarded by the Endowment have 
raised genuine concerns. Yet, the budget for the Arts Endowment has 
been cut to penalize the agency for these so-called inappropriate 
grants. Other restrictions have also been imposed--on content, on 
seasonal support grants, on grants to individuals, and on subgrants.
  Nothing will ever satisfy the critics, because their real intent is 
to eliminate any Federal role in the arts. Their goal is to abolish the 
agency--either directly by denying it any funds at all, or, indirectly 
by block-granting all the funds to the States.
  In fact, the Arts Endowment has an extraordinary record of successful 
achievement. As a result of the its leadership over the past three 
decades, there are now double the number of orchestras in America, 11 
times the number of dance companies, and 50 times the number of local 
arts agencies. The NEA reaches out to thousands of America's 
communities and neighborhoods. It is functioning as it should, 
encouraging the arts in all parts of the country, providing the seed 
money that enables local arts to grow and thrive.
  Let us be honest. In recent years, since the rightwing's misguided 
ideological assault on the agency first began, Congress has gone the 
extra mile. We have taken every reasonable action to ensure that the 
Arts Endowment only supports grants and programs that are responsible, 
that fulfill the agency's widely accepted mission, and that reach the 
widest possible audience. Every year the agency has to run the 
appropriations gauntlet and every year it convinces a majority of 
Congress that it deserves support. This year should be no different, 
because there is no new evidence to justify the critics' shameful 
attack.
  The Labor and Human Resources Committee recently approved a 5-year 
reauthorization of the Arts Endowment. The bill includes appropriate 
restrictions and set-asides, so that the arts will reach as many 
communities across the country as possible. The bill also establishes 
arts education as a primary focus of the agency. The bill was approved 
by a solid bipartisan committee vote of 14 to 4.
  I commend Senator Jeffords of the Labor Committee for his excellent 
job in guiding that authorization through the committee. He is a strong 
supporter of the arts and has been thorough and conscientious in his 
oversight of the Endowment.
  The Appropriations Committee has also demonstrated its support for 
the Endowment, by recommending just over $100 million for the Arts 
Endowment in this bill. I commend the committee for its support.
  The agency has made a significant contribution to the quality of life 
in thousands of communities in our country. The arts have broad appeal, 
and the Endowment's mission is to encourage artists and institutions 
across the country to create, produce, and present programs to tap and 
encourage that appeal. In 1996, for example, the NEA supported 
significant programs such as the Delaware Theater Co., the Atlanta 
Ballet, the Tulsa Philharmonic Society, the University of Southern 
Mississippi's Folk and Traditional Arts Program, and the International 
Association of Jazz Educators.
  Countless other examples can be cited. Federal support for the arts 
has clearly made a large difference in communities across the country. 
The current Federal role is significant, and it has overwhelming 
support in every State. Families want their children to visit 
symphonies and museums. They want to enjoy theater and dance. The arts 
are more than a diversion or entertainment. They are educational and 
enriching, and their central place in the Nation's life and experiences 
should be supported and increased.
  The Conference of Mayors has strongly endorsed the Arts Endowment. 
These local officials, who know their communities best, clearly 
understand the positive role of the arts. They know that the arts 
contribute to the vitality of their locality, and increase its economic 
base as well.
  In Massachusetts, the arts community is thriving and dynamic. A 
wealth

[[Page S9442]]

of cultural and educational activities is available to every citizen. 
These activities also attract tourists to our State. Recently, the 
Museum of Science presented its hugely successful Leonardo da Vinci 
exhibition. A major retrospective on Picasso's early years is about to 
open at the Museum of Fine Arts. Many of my colleagues, I am sure, had 
the opportunity to see this extraordinary exhibition at the National 
Gallery of Art in Washington. The Endowment's support helped to make 
this dramatic exhibition possible.
  People in every State treasure their own arts institutions and arts 
programs in the same way. Whatever the size of the State or community, 
the impact of the arts is significant and indisputable, from the 
youngest child to the oldest senior citizen.
  Leaders in State and local institutions across the country are 
convinced that support by the Arts Endowment has been a significant 
part of their success. Federal aid is seed money. It has never been 
intended to replace State or local or private support for the arts. But 
it has often been a critical component in the overall development and 
success of countless local institutions.
  In many communities, the Federal role has been indispensable, 
especially in disseminating innovative programs to institutions that 
might not have the resources to develop and produce their own programs.
  Arts education is an excellent example of this impact. Music is an 
especially effective tool in developing the discipline and the learning 
potential of students. Recent studies by the college board show that 
students who have studied 4 years of music or more do significantly 
better in both their math and verbal scores on standard SAT tests.
  Let me just repeat that. The studies by the college board show that 
students who have studied 4 years of music or more do significantly 
better in both their math and verbal scores on standard SAT tests--up 
to about 50 points more.
  You would find it extremely difficult to point to any single 
particular educational program that results in that kind of a bump in 
terms of educational achievement and accomplishment. But there it is. 
There are the statistics. And it should not be any mystery.
  We know, for example, for 300 years the Greeks had the greatest 
mathematicians in the world. It is interesting to note that the reason 
that they had the greatest mathematicians in the world is that they 
taught their youngest children mathematics through the arts and through 
music--for 300 years.
  I have 10 schools in my own city of Boston where the Conservatory of 
Music is working with those schools to try and provide the same kinds 
of initiative in terms of the music and the math that was used many 
hundreds of years ago with phenomenal success.
  I remember being in the Trotter School in Boston with Larry Lesser, 
who is probably one of the world's great cellists, and the time he was 
working in an inner-city school and working with those inner-city 
children in terms of enhancing their academic achievement and 
accomplishment. You would, as I say, rarely find a particular 
educational program that would have that kind of result.
  We are all looking to what is going to be magical in terms of 
education, that is going to enhance academic achievement. We have the 
results in with regard to those students who study music for 4 or more 
years and how that has enhanced children who have that 4 or 5 years of 
study in their academic achievement. And it is out there for all of us 
to see.
  So it is not only an issue that we are talking about in terms of the 
value of the arts, in terms of the culture, and the values which we 
value in our society, but it is very, very tangible and a very 
important component in terms of education.
  We have some important alterations and changes in the authorization 
to try and enhance and build on that in the reauthorization which 
Senator Jeffords and I have been strongly supportive of.
  We should be doing more, not less, for the arts. The heavy-handed 
attempt by the House Republican leadership to eliminate the Arts 
Endowment should be categorically rejected, and it is gratifying that 
President Clinton has pledged to veto any bill that reaches his desk 
that attempts to do so. In fact, many of the agency's strongest and 
most effective supporters are on the Republican side of the aisle.
  Congress should start listening to the people and stop bashing this 
small agency. When we listen to the exaggerated protests of the 
critics, it is hard to remember that we are talking about a program 
that costs each taxpayer 37 cents a year.
  We have already taken a full range of steps to see that the agency 
operates as effectively and responsibly as possible. It is time to 
support fair funding for this important agency, and give it the solid 
vote of confidence it deserves.
  Mr. President, I remember last year--maybe others do--when we had the 
Vermeer exhibition at the National Gallery. It was in the wintertime. I 
remember over a weekend going down to try and visit that exhibit on a 
cold and blustery day and getting there on a Sunday morning at 8 or 9 
o'clock in the morning, and seeing the lines there four blocks long, 
people outside waiting 4 hours.
  Finally, when I was able to get in there a number of people came up 
and spoke to me just quietly saying to me, ``Senator, we hope you will 
tell Members in the Congress and the Senate that we value the arts. We 
are prepared to wait for the 3 or 4 hours outside to see this 
extraordinary exhibit of the arts.''
  Whether the National Endowment supported that particular exhibit or 
not, it is doing otherwise, primarily in exhibits that might not have 
as high a visibility as the Vermeer exhibit but certainly still 
bringing the value of those programs to the American people.
  Mr. President, in his 1960 campaign for President, President Kennedy 
discussed the close historical relationship between great achievement 
in public life and great achievement in the arts. He said, ``There is a 
connection, hard to explain logically but easy to feel, between 
achievement in public life and progress in the arts. The age of 
Pericles was also the age of Phidias. The age of Lorenzo de Medici was 
also the age of Leonardo da Vinci. The age of Elizabeth also the age of 
Shakespeare. And the New Frontier for which I campaign in public life, 
can also be a new frontier for American arts.''
  Three years later, as President, in a major address at Amherst 
College in October 1963, he said this:

       I look forward to an America which will reward achievement 
     in the arts as we reward achievement in business or 
     statecraft. I look forward to an America which will steadily 
     raise the standard of artistic accomplishment and which will 
     steadily enlarge cultural opportunities for all our citizens. 
     And I look forward to an America which commands respect 
     throughout the world not only for its strength but for its 
     civilization as well.

  Those are timeless goals. They apply to our own day and generation as 
well. I urge the Senate to heed them, to give the arts in America the 
strong support they so eminently deserve.
  Mr. President, I have one further observation. Yesterday one of the 
critics of the Endowment raised the issue of elitism and cited a grant 
to my State as an example of the elitist focus of the National 
Endowment for the Arts.
  Well, I agree. This grant--to the Phillips Academy--is a perfect 
example. It is an example of a worthwhile program--and an example of 
the distortion that critics of the agency rely on to make their 
specious arguments.
  The Addison Gallery of American Art, which is affiliated with 
Phillips, applied for a NEA grant as the lead members of a consortium. 
The grant seeks support for a project entitled ``To Conserve a Legacy: 
American Art From Historically Black Colleges.'' The other consortia 
organizations are Clark Atlanta University, Fisk University, Hampton 
University, Howard University, North Carolina Central University, the 
Studio Museum of Harlem, and the Williamstown Art Conservation Center.
  Art work from each of the five participating black colleges and 
universities will be selected for conservation and inclusion in the 
exhibit which will travel to Clark, Hampton, Howard, and the Studio 
Museum of Harlem, in addition to the Addison.
  The works in the exhibition will represent artists such as Romare 
Beardon, Sam Gilliam, Jacob Lawrence, and others. And one component of 
the project

[[Page S9443]]

is a year-long training program in which minority students will be 
selected by the participating universities to work on-site for one 
school year during the selection and conservation of the art work.
  This is one of those grants that is going to Massachusetts--yes, it 
is, but its scope and audience and impact is national. And the funds 
were matched on a 3-to-1 basis.
  I believe that this grant is not only defensive but also commendable. 
And I think those that have criticized this grant as an elitist grant 
will take a second look.

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