[Congressional Record Volume 147, Number 7 (Monday, January 22, 2001)]
[Senate]
[Page S414]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

      By Mr. BENNETT:
  S. 139. A bill to assist in the preservation of archaeological, 
paleontological, zoological, geological, and botanical artifacts 
through construction of a new facility for the University of Utah 
Museum of Natural History, Salt Lake City, Utah; to the Committee on 
Energy and Natural Resources.


          utah public lands artifact preservation act of 2001

  Mr. BENNETT. Mr. President, I rise today to introduce my first bill 
of the 107th Congress, the ``Utah Public Lands Artifact Preservation 
Act of 2001.''
  Utah's public lands are a treasure trove of the natural and cultural 
history of the west. Over a century of scientific exploration and 
research of these public lands have unearthed Native American 
artifacts, fossilized remains of prehistoric life-forms, and other 
objects of botanical and geological significance. Fortunately, these 
unique and remarkable finds now comprise a substantial portion of the 
collection of the University of Utah Museum of Natural History.
  The University of Utah Museum of Natural History collection contains 
more than one million objects and artifacts from the field of 
archaeology, botany, geology, paleontology, and zoology. It is one of 
the largest and most comprehensive collections in the region and is 
internationally significant. Over 75 percent of the collection was 
recovered from lands managed by the Bureau of Land Management, Bureau 
of Reclamation, National Park Service, United States Fish and Wildlife 
Service, and United States Forest Service.
  Currently the home of the Museum of Natural History is the library 
where I studied while I was a student at the University of Utah. 
Although I have fond memories of the time I spent in the library, it is 
an unfit home for the museum. As we all know, the needs of a library 
and the needs of a museum are very different. The current facility is 
not large enough to accommodate the museum's annual level of 
visitation. Additionally, space to display the collection is severely 
limited and the facilities to store the collection are unsuitable for a 
museum, Clearly, the Museum of Natural History needs an appropriate 
structure to exhibit, research, and house its collection.
  This legislation will result in an enhanced museum experience that 
will be more meaningful, educational, and accessible to the public and 
scientific researchers. Furthermore, the collection will no longer be 
jeopardized by inadequate facilities. The new museum will contain 
proper facilities for storage and research.
  I believe the strength of this project lies in the fact that its 
success will rely upon a public-private partnership among the state of 
Utah, the federal government, and hundreds of private individuals and 
foundations. Already, unprecedented support has been given by the Emma 
Eccles Jones Foundation for this project. I expect there will be many 
generous offers of support in the near future to make this project a 
success.
  I believe that this legislation is an exciting opportunity to 
showcase the many treasures that Utah's public lands contain. I look 
forward to working with my colleagues in the Senate and the new 
administration to pass this legislation this session.
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