[Congressional Record Volume 145, Number 46 (Tuesday, March 23, 1999)]
[House]
[Page H1496]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


   AUTHORIZING USE OF EAST FRONT OF CAPITOL GROUNDS FOR PERFORMANCES 
                      SPONSORED BY KENNEDY CENTER

  Mr. FRANKS of New Jersey. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules 
and agree to the concurrent resolution (H. Con. Res. 52) authorizing 
the use of the East Front of the Capitol Grounds for performances 
sponsored by the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts.
  The Clerk read as follows:

                            H. Con. Res. 52

       Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate 
     concurring), 

     SECTION 1. AUTHORIZING USE OF EAST FRONT OF CAPITOL GROUNDS 
                   FOR PERFORMANCES SPONSORED BY KENNEDY CENTER.

       In carrying out its duties under section 4 of the John F. 
     Kennedy Center Act (20 U.S.C. 76j), the John F. Kennedy 
     Center for the Performing Arts, in cooperation with the 
     National Park Service (in this resolution jointly referred to 
     as the ``sponsor''), may sponsor public performances on the 
     East Front of the Capitol Grounds at such dates and times as 
     the Speaker of the House of Representatives and Committee on 
     Rules and Administration of the Senate may approve jointly.

     SEC. 2. TERMS AND CONDITIONS.

       (a) In General.--Any performance authorized under section 1 
     shall be free of admission charge to the public and arranged 
     not to interfere with the needs of Congress, under conditions 
     to be prescribed by the Architect of the Capitol and the 
     Capitol Police Board.
       (b) Assumption of Liabilities.--The sponsor shall assume 
     full responsibility for all liabilities incident to all 
     activities associated with the performance.

     SEC. 3. PREPARATIONS.

       (a) Structures and Equipment.--In consultation with the 
     Speaker of the House of Representatives and the Committee on 
     Rules and Administration of the Senate, the Architect of the 
     Capitol shall provide upon the Capitol Grounds such stage, 
     sound amplification devices, and other related structures and 
     equipment as may be required for a performance authorized 
     under section 1.
       (b) Additional Arrangements.--The Architect of the Capitol 
     and the Capitol Police Board may make such additional 
     arrangements as may be required to carry out the performance.

     SEC. 4. ENFORCEMENT OF RESTRICTIONS.

       The Capitol Police Board shall provide for enforcement of 
     the restrictions contained in section 4 of the Act of July 
     31, 1946 (40 U.S.C. 193d; 60 Stat. 718), concerning sales, 
     displays, and solicitations on the Capitol Grounds, as well 
     as other restrictions applicable to the Capitol Grounds, with 
     respect to a performance authorized by section 1.

     SEC. 5. EXPIRATION OF AUTHORITY.

       A performance may not be conducted under this resolution 
     after September 30, 1999.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from New 
Jersey Mr. Franks) and the gentleman from Mississippi Mr. Shows) each 
will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from New Jersey Mr. Franks).
  Mr. FRANKS of New Jersey. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I 
may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, House Resolution 52, introduced by the chairman of the 
Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, the gentleman from 
Pennsylvania Mr. Shuster), and cosponsored by the ranking member, the 
gentleman from Minnesota Mr. Oberstar), authorizes the use of the East 
Front of the Capitol for performances by the Millennium Stage of the 
John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts. It is expected the 
performances are to take place on Tuesdays and Thursdays when Congress 
is in session, from Memorial Day through September 30, 1999.
  The performances will be open to the public, free of admission 
charge, and the sponsors of the event, the Kennedy Center and the 
National Park Service, will assume responsibility for all liabilities 
associated with the event. The Architect of the Capitol will be 
responsible for some of the expenses associated with the performances. 
The Architect and the Police Board will make additional arrangements in 
complete compliance with the rules and regulations governing the use of 
the Capitol grounds. The resolution expressly prohibits sales, displays 
and solicitation in connection with the event.
  This unique event allows the Kennedy Center to provide leadership in 
the national performing arts education policy and programs and to 
conduct community outreach, as provided for in its mission statement. 
By permitting these performances on the East Front, the Congress is 
assisting the Kennedy Center in fulfilling its important mission.
  Mr. Speaker, I support the resolution, and I urge my colleagues to 
support it as well.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. SHOWS. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to support this resolution, which 
authorizes the use of the Capitol grounds for summer concerts presented 
by the John F. Kennedy Center. Consistent with other resolutions 
regarding the use of the Capitol grounds, the concerts will be free of 
charge and open to the public, and the sponsors will abide by the 
applicable rules and regulations.
  On Tuesdays and Thursdays around lunchtime, the public will be 
treated with presentations of music, drama and dance by fine local and 
regional talent. This is a rare opportunity for a wide range of 
visitors and tourists to enjoy the offerings of the Kennedy Center. The 
1998 summer series was a great hit and enjoyed by several hundred 
visitors, Capitol Hill residents, and hill Staff and Members.
  I support House Concurrent Resolution 52 and look forward to the 
summer program.
  Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman 
from Minnesota Mr. Oberstar), the ranking Democrat on the Committee on 
Transportation and Infrastructure.
  Mr. OBERSTAR. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding time to 
me.
  The Kennedy Center at the Millennium Stage is truly one of the most 
remarkable innovations of the center and is the brainchild of the 
chairman of the center's board of trustees, Jim Johnson, and carried 
out brilliantly by president Larry Wilker.
  The Millennium Stage operates 365 days a year, free to the public, 
and has entertained over half a million people, visitors to our 
Nation's Capital who can come to the Kennedy Center, to the Nation's 
center for the performing arts, and enjoy a free performance of the 
greatest array of talent that this Nation has to offer. It is an 
enjoyable, wonderful, uplifting experience for hundreds of thousands of 
visitors to our Nation's Capital as well as to residents of our 
Nation's Capital.
  The resolution we bring to the House floor today will bring to the 
Capitol grounds this edition of the Millennium Stage and make it 
available here in the heart of the Nation's Capital.
  It is a great privilege for me to serve, in my capacity as ranking 
member of the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, along 
with the chairman of our full committee, the gentleman from 
Pennsylvania Mr. Bud Shuster), on the board of trustees of the Kennedy 
Center. Together, we enthusiastically welcome to the Capitol grounds 
the Millennium Stage of the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing 
Arts.
  Mr. SHOWS. Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for time, and I 
yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. FRANKS of New Jersey. Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for 
time, and I yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Franks) that the House suspend the rules 
and agree to the concurrent resolution, House Concurrent Resolution 52.
  The question was taken; and (two-thirds having voted in favor 
thereof) the rules were suspended and the concurrent resolution was 
agreed to.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

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