[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 160 (Thursday, November 13, 1997)]
[Senate]
[Pages S12696-S12697]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 PROVIDING FOR A CENTER FOR HISTORICALLY BLACK HERITAGE WITHIN FLORIDA 
                             A&M UNIVERSITY

  Mr. LOTT. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate 
proceed to the consideration of S. 1559, introduced earlier today by 
Senators Mack and Graham.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  The clerk will report.
  The legislative clerk read as follows:

       A bill (S. 1559) to provide for the design, construction, 
     furnishing, and equipping of a Center for Historically Black 
     Heritage within Florida A&M University.

  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. GRAHAM. Mr. President, I rise today on behalf of myself and my 
friend Senator Mack to introduce legislation authorizing the expansion 
of the Black Archives Research Center and Museum at the Florida 
Agricultural and Mechanical University in Tallahassee, Florida.
  This legislation is significant not only to the Florida A&M but to 
national heritage. Since 1977, the Black Archives at FAMU has been 
charged with collecting all materials reflecting the African-American 
presence and participation regionally, nationally and internationally.
  The Black Archives Research Center and Museum is the largest 
repository of African-American history in the Southeast.
  In 1997, Time magazine and Princeton Review chose Florida A&M 
University as the college of the year. This recognition is well 
deserved. Since 1992, Florida A&M University has vied with Harvard in 
enrolling the most National Achievement Scholars. (Florida A&M leading 
in 1992 and 1995 and Harvard in 1993 and 1994.)
  The Black Archives includes over 500,000 artifacts, manuscripts, art 
works and oral history tapes pre-dating the Civil War, through the 
early days of the civil rights movement to today.
  Unfortunately, this fine center finds itself in disrepair.
  The bill Senator Mack and I introduce today would authorize the 
design, and construction of a facility to better house these priceless 
documents for future generations.
  Our bill would stipulate that the State of Florida match the Federal 
investment dollar for dollar, making it truly a Federal-State 
partnership.
  Specifically, our bill would make the Black Archives Research Center 
and Museum eligible for up to $3.8 million in Federal funding beginning 
in 1998 and any succeeding years.
  I ask unanimous consent that material relating to the Black Archives 
Research Center and Museum be printed in the Record.
  There being no objection, the material was ordered to be printed in 
the Record, as follows:


[[Page S12697]]


       The BARCM is located in the oldest building on the campus 
     of Florida A&M University. The building was completed in 
     1907, with the assistance of a $10,000 grant from Andrew 
     Carnegie. This building is still standing and has been placed 
     on the National Register of Historic Places.
       The purpose of the Black Archives was set forth in 1971 in 
     an act of the Florida legislature that mandated the 
     establishment of a repository to ``serve the state by 
     collecting and preserving source materials on or about Black 
     Americans from the earliest beginnings to the present.''
       The BARCM was formally dedicated and officially opened in 
     1977. Part of its scholarly and cultural responsibility is 
     the collection of any materials reflecting the Black presence 
     and participation in local, regional, national and 
     international history. The BARCM has the largest repository 
     of African American history and artifacts in the southeast 
     including over 500,000 artifacts, manuscripts, art work, and 
     oral history tapes, as well as meeting and research rooms and 
     a mobile touring museum.
       The Black Archives Research Center and Museum (BARCM) is 
     presently 3000 square feet. It is planned that the interior 
     of the present building be restored to its original 
     appearance. True to the Carnegie-style architectural design, 
     the building can easily be divided into four wings; two on 
     the first floor and two on the second floor. The building 
     which was originally the campus library and post office, 
     would be used solely as museum space and would house 
     permanent collections as well as traveling or touring 
     exhibits. As such, there would only be a need for one staff 
     person on site, a tour guide or docent. There is also 
     potential for housing a museum store and gift shop at this 
     location. This enterprise could possibly generate revenues 
     toward the ongoing support and maintenance of the building. 
     The basement of the Carnegie building would be used for an 
     educational ``Underground Railroad'' for grades K-12.
       With proper funding, the Carnegie building would be 
     ``connected'' (via catwalk or breezeway) to the larger 33,000 
     square foot space that is proposed to be built directly 
     behind it. The larger 33,000 square foot space would be used 
     as a research library, an archives, and as much-needed 
     storage space. In addition, work space and preservation 
     laboratory would be housed on the sub-level. While the 
     Carnegie building would be used for major exhibitions and 
     educational programs, the larger and newer space would be 
     designated almost solely for serious study and analysis of 
     the various collections. Tours would be prohibited in the 
     larger space.

  Mr. LOTT. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the bill be 
deemed read the third time, and passed, the motion to reconsider be 
laid upon the table, and that any statements related to the bill appear 
at this point in the Record.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  The bill (S. 1559) was deemed read the third time, and passed, as 
follows:
       Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of 
     the United States of America in Congress assembled,

     SECTION 1. CONSTRUCTION OF A CENTER FOR REGIONAL BLACK 
                   CULTURE.

       (a) Findings.--Congress makes the following findings:
       (1) Currently 500,000 historically important artifacts of 
     the Civil War era and the early days of the civil rights 
     movement in the Southeast region of the United States are 
     housed at Florida A&M University.
       (2) To preserve this large repository of African-American 
     history and artifacts it is appropriate that the Federal 
     Government share in the cost of construction of this national 
     repository for culture and history.
       (b) Definition.--In this section:
       (1) Center.--The term ``Center'' means the Center for 
     Historically Black Heritage at Florida A&M University.
       (2) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary 
     of Interior acting through the Director of the National Park 
     Service.
       (c) Construction of Center.--The Secretary may award a 
     grant to the State of Florida to pay for the Federal share of 
     the cost, design, construction, furnishing, and equipping of 
     the Center at Florida A&M University.
       (d) Grant Requirements.--
       (1) In general.--In order to receive a grant awarded under 
     subsection (c), Florida A&M University, shall submit to the 
     Secretary a proposal.
       (2) Federal share.--The Federal share described in 
     subsection (c) shall be 50 percent.
       (e) Authorization of Appropriation.--There is authorized to 
     be appropriated to the Secretary of Interior to carry out 
     this section a total of $3,800,000 for fiscal year 1998 and 
     any succeeding fiscal years. Funds appropriated pursuant to 
     the authority of the preceding sentence shall remain 
     available until expended.

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