[Congressional Record Volume 148, Number 17 (Tuesday, February 26, 2002)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E201-E202]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                MUSEUM AND LIBRARY SERVICES ACT OF 2002

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. PETER HOEKSTRA

                              of michigan

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, February 26, 2002

  Mr. HOEKSTRA. Mr. Speaker, today I am introducing a bipartisan bill 
to reauthorize the Museum and Library Services Act. I would like to 
thank the Ranking Member of the Subcommittee on Select Education, Mr. 
Roemer, for working with me to put together a bill that I trust will 
have broad, bipartisan support in the Congress. The Museum and Library 
Services Act of 1996 authorizes the Federal library and museum program 
until the end of fiscal year 2002. The Subcommittee on Select Education 
of the Committee on Education and the Workforce has been working to 
reauthorize the Museum and Library Services Act before it expires.
  I believe there will be broad support for this reauthorization 
because museums and libraries are a vital part of our society. 
Attendance at American museums is now at more than 865 million visits 
per year and today's 21st century library is not just a provider of 
books; instead, the typical American library coordinates a complete and 
comprehensive approach to community development and services. Under 
current law, the Museum and Library Services Act:
  Provides modest but essential federal support, in partnership with 
State and local private and public sector sources, for museum and 
library contributions to public education services and stewardship of 
the Nation's cultural heritage collections;
  Funds the one Federal agency (the Institute of Museum and Library 
Services) devoted exclusively to museums and libraries, which are 
natural partners with out nation's schools; and
  Encourages model cooperation between museums and libraries as no 
other legislation does.
  The Library Services and Technology subtitle is the only Federal 
program solely devoted to supporting libraries. This legislation 
assists libraries in providing crucial services to the communities they 
serve. Throughout our Nation, libraries are at the forefront of reading 
and family literacy programs. And importantly, libraries serve as 
essential links to the business community, assisting with job creation 
and training programs, and assisting with business development 
initiatives as well. They are also critical to many people with 
disabilities, providing them with specialized materials and resources 
that are obtainable in a single location. For older Americans, 
libraries provide a place to interact with others, use the Internet, 
and receive services. For those persons of limited resources or who 
live in remote areas, libraries provide access to books and reference 
materials, computers and the Internet, and community-based social 
services that are often available no where else.
  The Museum and Library Services Act also supports museums in their 
educational role and assists museums in modernizing their methods and 
facilities so that they are better able to conserve the cultural, 
historic, and scientific heritage of the United States. Museums play an 
important role in the education of people of all ages. Specifically, 
most American museums provide K-12 educational programming, with most 
using local and State curriculum standards to shape their programs. 
Additionally, museums increasingly partner with libraries to offer 
joint educational opportunities for adults as well as children.
  Museums can be an important source of cultural and historical 
knowledge for people, as they learn about the history and traditions of 
our country and our shared identity as Americans. Museums increasingly 
serve as places where people of different backgrounds, economic levels 
and home locations come together and not only share the experience of 
viewing their community's artifacts and natural objects, but also 
discuss community issues.
  The Museum and Library Services Act of 2002 makes several 
modifications to current law to streamline and strengthen museum and 
library services across the country:
  Coordination--Ensures that library activities are coordinated with 
activities under P.L. 107-110, the No Child Left Behind Act of 2001;
  Museum and Library Services Board--Eliminates references to the 
National Commission on Libraries and Information Science and 
consolidates its advisory responsibilities under the existing Museum 
Services Board that will expand to include library services. The 
purpose of this change is to consolidate museum and library board 
activities under a single statute;
  National Awards for Museum and Library Service--Authorizes the 
Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) Director to award a 
National Award for Library Service as well as a National Award for 
Museum Service;
  Analysis of Impact of Museum and Library Services--Ensures that 
administrative funds are also used to conduct annual analyses of the 
impact of museum and library services to identify needs and trends of 
services provided under museum and library programs; and
  Minimum Allotment--Increases the minimum State allotment for library 
programs to $500,000 (roughly a 46 percent increase over current law).
  I hope that my colleagues on both sides of the aisle cosponsor the 
Museum and Library Services Act of 2002. I look forward to moving this 
legislation through the Committee on Education and the Workforce and to 
the Floor so that we can ensure that our Nation's museums and libraries 
are getting the best assistance we are able to provide from the Federal 
level.

[[Page E202]]



                          ____________________