Congressional Record, Volume 144 Issue 70 (Wednesday, June 3, 1998)

[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 70 (Wednesday, June 3, 1998)]
[House]
[Pages H3991-H3993]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

JOHN F. KENNEDY CENTER FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS AUTHORIZATION ACT OF
1998

Mr. KIM. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill
(H.R. 3504) to amend the John F. Kennedy Center Act to authorize
appropriations for the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts
and to further define the criteria for capital repair and operation and
maintenance.
The Clerk read as follows:

H.R. 3504

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

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

This Act may be cited as the ``John F. Kennedy Center for
the Performing Arts Authorization Act of 1998''.

SEC. 2. CAPITAL REPAIR DUTIES.

Section 4(a)(1)(G) of the John F. Kennedy Center Act (20
U.S.C. 76j(a)(1)(G)) is amended to read as follows:
``(G) with respect to the building and site of the John F.
Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, plan, design, and
construct each capital repair, replacement, improvement,
rehabilitation, alteration, or modification necessary to
maintain the functionality of the building and site at
current standards of life, safety, security, and
accessibility;''.

SEC. 3. OPERATION AND MAINTENANCE DUTIES.

Section 4(a)(1)(H)(ii) of the John F. Kennedy Center Act
(20 U.S.C. 76j(a)(1)(H)(ii)) is amended to read as follows:
``(ii) with respect to the building and site of the John F.
Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, all necessary
maintenance, repair, and alteration of, and all janitorial,
security, and other services and equipment necessary for the
operations of, the building and site, in a manner consistent
with requirements for high quality operations; and''.

SEC. 4. REPEAL OF AUDIT REQUIREMENT.

Section 6 of the John F. Kennedy Center Act (20 U.S.C. 76l)
is amended by striking subsection (d) and redesignating
subsections (e) and (f) as subsections (d) and (e),
respectively.

SEC. 5. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

Section 12 of the John F. Kennedy Center Act (20 U.S.C.
76r) is amended by striking subsections (a) and (b) and
inserting the following:
``(a) Maintenance, Repair, and Security.--There are
authorized to be appropriated to the Board to carry out
section 4(a)(1)(H)--
``(1) $13,000,000 for fiscal year 1999;
``(2) $14,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2000 and 2001;
and
``(3) $15,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2002 and 2003.
``(b) Capital Projects.--There are authorized to be
appropriated to the Board to carry out subparagraphs (F) and
(G) of section 4(a)(1)--
``(1) $20,000,000 for each of fiscal years 1999, 2000, and
2001;
``(2) $19,000,000 for fiscal year 2002; and
``(3) $17,000,000 for fiscal year 2003.''.

The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from
California (Mr. Kim) and the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Traficant) each
will control 20 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentleman from California (Mr. Kim).
Mr. KIM. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, H.R. 3504, as amended, the John F. Kennedy Center for
the Performing Arts Authorization Act of 1998, authorizes
appropriations for operations, maintenance, security, and capital
improvements and repair of the facility through the year 2003. In
addition, the bill provides further criteria for defining capital
repair and operation and maintenance.
The bill provides authorization of $59 million for operations,
maintenance, security; and $87 million for capital improvements.
Initially the bill provided for an 11-year authorization. However, it
was amended in committee to limit the authorization of appropriations
to a 5-year period, and further to eliminate the requirement for the
General Accounting Office to conduct periodic audits of the financial
operations of the Center. Why? Because the Center performs annual
audits which fulfill entirely the original statutory mandates anyway.
Mr. Speaker, the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts is a
national Presidential monument and a living memorial. H.R. 3504 ensures
that the Center remains a living memorial to the late President.
When Congress designated the National Cultural Center as the John F.
Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in 1964, it set a policy of the
presentation of classical and contemporary music, opera, drama, dance
and other performing arts from the United States and other countries.
The act directed the board of trustees to promote and maintain the
Kennedy Center as the National Center for Performing Arts by developing
a leadership role in national performing arts education policy and
programs, including developing and presenting original and innovative
performing arts and educational programs for children, youth, families,
adults and educators.
The Kennedy Center was also charged with the responsibility of
initiating, developing and maintaining a program for national and
community outreach for the arts. These responsibilities are in addition
to the responsibility of maintaining a memorial to President Kennedy.
I am pleased to say the board has achieved these objectives through
successful fund-raising to support the performing arts and the prudent
expenditure of Federal funds to operate, maintain and improve the
building. The legislation before us today will continue the work begun
in 1991 to upgrade, improve and maintain the 1.5 million square foot
facility.
Since its opening in 1971, the facility has exceeded all expectations
in visitor attendance. Today the Kennedy Center attracts 3.5 million
visitors annually. This is in addition to the 1.7 million children who
attend the 2,800 performances held annually at the Center.
The building is a blend of modern architecture and functional
requirements. This 1.5 million square foot structure houses 8 theaters,
3 restaurants, 3 foyers, parking for 1,450 vehicles, and 23 elevators,
6 escalators, office space, rehearsal rooms, and 2,000

[[Page H3992]]

doors, all requiring some form of security. Originally constructed at
the cost of $78 million, the replacement value of the Kennedy Center
today in today's dollars is estimated at $500 million.
For over two decades the building received minimal care. The roof
leaked, the facade was crumbling, systems were wearing out. The Park
Service and Kennedy Center could not communicate on priorities for
needed repair.
In 1994 Congress transferred the responsibilities of the care and
maintenance to the board of the Kennedy Center and provided a steady
stream of funding to repair, maintain, secure and improve the building.
This legislation directed the board to develop and submit to Congress a
comprehensive building plan for capital improvement programs. That plan
was submitted, and annual updates have been submitted as well.
The authorization for capital repair for the next 5 years will allow
the Center to undertake a major renovation to the Opera House and
related facilities called the central block. This will include
reconfiguration to the Opera House to allow for full accessibility, and
improved life and fire safety features. Improvements to the mezzanine
level of the foyers will include the addition of eating facilities.
Office space, rehearsal rooms and related space will also be renovated.
Mr. Speaker, this legislation enjoys the support of both sides of the
aisle in Congress, as well as the administration and the Kennedy
Center.
In closing, I want to pay particular tribute to the gentleman from
Pennsylvania (Mr. Shuster) and the gentleman from Minnesota (Mr.
Oberstar) members of the board of trustees who also cosponsored this
legislation, and who have taken a personal interest in ensuring the
Kennedy Center remains on track through this massive building
renovation program.
I support H.R. 3504 and urge my colleagues to support the measure.
Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. TRAFICANT. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as she may consume to
the tremendous gentlewoman from the District of Columbia (Ms. Norton).
Ms. NORTON. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from Ohio (Mr.
Traficant) for yielding this time to me, and I thank the chairman and
the ranking member for their prompt and diligent work on this bill that
would indeed give to what I think every Member recognizes as a national
treasure funds necessary for its upkeep, maintenance and security.
Mr. Speaker, this bill passed our committee by a voice vote not only
because it is noncontroversial but because it involves an institution
that has the support of the Nation and the great respect and gratitude
of the Nation.
If there has been anything controversial about the Kennedy Center, it
has been its maintenance and security. To the credit of this body, the
Congress in 1991 transferred its maintenance and upkeep from the Park
Service to the Board of the Kennedy Center. The Park Service was
miscast in this role and, of course, with all that it has to do, could
not fulfill that role in the way we expect it. What we now expect in
this bill is that necessary maintenance and security matters will be
upgraded.
For example, the ADA provisions which now need to be fully recognized
and implemented will be taken care of by this bill.
Mr. Speaker, this is a facility built in 1971. We are coming onto 30
years old. Its upkeep and maintenance becomes more and more important
when we recognize that it has become a more and more popular facility
for all of our constituents and people around the world to visit.
I must say that the Kennedy Center has been wonderfully innovative in
its outreach to the American people, and I am sure every Member of this
body and of the other body are grateful for the way in which it has
become a truly national institution.
As for those of us fortunate enough to live in the District of
Columbia, we have formed an increasing working partnership with the
Kennedy Center. Most recently, we have begun to talk with the Kennedy
Center about a specific relationship to the Duke Ellington School of
the Arts; and those talks and that partnership would be uniquely
promising; and I would hope ultimately for the support for this body on
that matter.
Meanwhile, this bill simply assures that the Kennedy Center will be
in good repair and will be secure when 25 million Americans and people
from around the world visit the Nation's Capital and when so many of
them believe they simply cannot leave without visiting the Kennedy
Center.
Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for having yielded this time to
me.
Mr. KIM. Mr. Speaker, I do not have any other speakers at this time.
I yield back the balance of my time, Mr. Speaker.
Mr. TRAFICANT. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to
the gentleman from Minnesota (Mr. Oberstar) our ranking member, who
probably did not get the credit he deserved on the recent BESTEA bill.
I want to thank him as one of his members of the committee and thank
him for the job he has done at the Kennedy Center because his
fingerprints are on every improvement possibly since I have been in
Congress for 14 years, and they certainly are in this bill, and we are
glad to take his leadership.
Mr. OBERSTAR. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from Ohio (Mr.
Traficant) the former chairman of the Subcommittee on Public Buildings
and Economic Development for those kind remarks. I thank the
gentlewoman from the District of Columbia for her strong advocacy for
the Kennedy Center and the chairman, the gentleman from California (Mr.
Kim) for leading the way on this reauthorization and bringing it to the
floor so expeditiously.
The gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Shuster) and I both serve on the
Board of Trustees of the Kennedy Center and have participated very
actively and vigorously in the deliberation of the Board on the
improvements that have been made and will continue to be made under the
5-year reauthorization.
Literally, the activities authorized under this bill will transform
the Kennedy Center into the vision of a national, vital Center for the
performing arts, far beyond its already outstanding accomplishments. It
will make the Center more accessible and available to the general
public, will bring a wide variety of new activities and life to the
Center's public spaces. Work already has been completed on replacement
of the roof at the various levels, replacing of the roof terrace and
repairs to the planters.
Next to come are security improvements. Sad to say, we have to think
about security at the Kennedy Center as one of the most visible and
public centers in our Nation's capital but one that also is an inviting
target for terrorists, and a very extensive security analysis has been
completed. The authorization will allow for a centrally controlled
security system, door access controls for the building, the garage and
for sight monitoring and better access that will move traffic in a
continuous flow through the Center, access for people buying tickets so
that there will be no stoppage of traffic and invitation for
opportunity for terrorist activities.
Site work will include new signs, modification to the plaza
circulation pattern and improved landscaping to preserve the good-
neighbor spirit of the Kennedy Center with its nearby neighbors.
The comprehensive building plan has been established around a series
of remedial actions to improve the many building deficiencies and make
the interior space more attractive and more user friendly.
In the future, visitors to the Center who come to the two principal
halls will be excited about the new level of activities, the new
opportunities, I should say, and the many activities that will be
offered at different levels of the Center halls. It will be much more
friendly to users of the Kennedy Center, to the visitors, more
opportunity for food and for relaxation of the guests. It just is going
to make this whole Kennedy Center come alive.
And I really compliment President Larry Wilker for the splendid job
he has done in developing the improvements that we have been discussing
in this reauthorization bill as well as his important work as the
artistic director at the Kennedy Center and bringing so many high-level
performances to the Center and for his initiative with the

[[Page H3993]]

Millennium Stage that has opened the great hall of the Kennedy Center
to the public every day at 6 o'clock for free performances. This makes
the Kennedy Center truly a people's center for cultural activities and
for the performing arts in all of their exciting and stimulating
manner.
I only wish that all of us in this Chamber could have more time to
partake of those cultural activities rather than being locked up here
in session late night after late night so that we, too, could be
enlivened and enriched by the many offerings of the Kennedy Center.
Again, I want to thank the gentleman from Ohio for his persistent
leadership over many, many years on issues involving the Kennedy
Center. His fingerprints, too, are on all the building improvements and
innovations that have come about at the Center, and I thank him for his
vigilance, and I thank the gentleman from California (Mr. Kim) for his
splendid participation and partnership in this great endeavor.
Mr. TRAFICANT. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may
consume.
Mr. Speaker, I want to once again thank the ranking member and our
chairman, the gentleman from Minnesota (Mr. Oberstar) for his work with
the Kennedy Center on an ongoing basis in all areas and the gentleman
from Pennsylvania (Mr. Shuster) the chairman of the committee who works
very well. Both the ranking member and the chairman at the top of this
committee work well.
I want to thank the gentleman from California (Mr. Kim). I want to
thank Mr. Kim for his contributions on this legislation, and I want to
thank him for his friendship and, understanding that he had not
experienced well in the election, we will miss him. I want to
compliment him for the hard job that he has done and how he has
addressed himself to details, and I want to thank him for his
bipartisanship and his attitude and spirit in doing that.
With that, I would like to say this: I think President of the Kennedy
Center Larry Wilker deserves a lot of credit. I believe the Kennedy
Center right now does not look as good as it should as the focal point
of arts, theater and culture in America. Quite frankly, when one goes
by the building it is not all that it should be. We must make it all
that it should be.
Now the Kennedy Center asked and Mr. Wilker proposed a long 11-year
program; and, quite frankly, he was looking at long-range scenarios to
affect those goals.
We particularly felt at the subcommittee/committee level that we
should maybe take a couple bites of that apple, and we made a 5-year
restriction in here, but that could be addressed. We want the Kennedy
Center people to know that did not fall on deaf ears and that will be
looked at in the upcoming Congress, and an extension of that is very
possible considering the type of activity that they are involved in.
But this is our treasure. This is the focal point. And ladies and
gentlemen of Congress, when we go around this beautiful city and see
all these great monuments, the Kennedy Center is simply not all it
should be. It must become everything that it is possible of being.
I will, furthermore, like to see in years to come, envision a day
where there may be three, four, or maybe five or six regional satellite
Kennedy Centers operated by the Kennedy Center that takes it closer to
all of our people so they do not have to come all the way down here to
the Nation's capital.
But, in any regard, I want to thank the gentleman from California
(Mr. Kim), thank the committee. I want to thank Rick Barnett and Susan
Brita of our staff.
And, with that, I ask for an aye vote.
Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the
gentleman from California (Mr. Kim) that the House suspend the rules
and pass the bill, H.R. 3504, as amended.
The question was taken; and (two-thirds having voted in favor
thereof) the rules were suspended and the bill, as amended, was passed.
A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

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