[Congressional Record Volume 148, Number 77 (Wednesday, June 12, 2002)]
[Senate]
[Pages S5455-S5456]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

      By Mr. LIEBERMAN (for himself and Mr. Miller):
  S. 2613. A bill to amend section 507 of the Omnibus Parks and Public 
Lands Management Act of 1996 to authorize additional appropriations for 
historically black colleges and universities, to decrease the cost-
sharing requirement relating to the additional appropriations, and for 
other purposes; to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
  Mr. LIEBERMAN. Mr. President, on behalf of myself and Senator Miller, 
I am submitting legislation that is designed to facilitate historic 
preservation activities at historically black colleges and 
universities. Specifically, this legislation would amend section 507 of 
the Omnibus Parks and Public Lands Management Act of 1996 to decrease 
the cost-sharing requirement for those seeking Federal funds for 
historic preservation activities at historically black colleges and 
universities. I am proud to say that the legislation I am submitting 
today is a companion bill to H.R. 1606, submitted by Congressman James 
Clyburn of South Carolina.
  American history has been a constant, if not always consistent, march 
toward an ideal. That ideal is equal opportunity for all.
  In every generation, it's taken the work of pioneers to open the 
gates of the American community to people who had previously been 
excluded. Pioneers have stepped forward when others would not to 
defiantly state, in effect, that we as a Nation will not be defined by 
surface characteristics. We will look deeper and try harder. The 
pioneers have held us to our national promise, and reminded us that 
America and Americanism are not about where you came from, what 
language you speak, what religion you practice, or what you look like, 
but about belief in basic ideals of responsibility, opportunity and 
community.
  Historically Black Colleges and Universities have been such pioneers 
for generations, and they continue today to help America become its 
best self.
  Today, America has 103 historically black colleges and universities 
in twenty-two States and the Virgin Islands, which educate about 
300,000 undergraduate students and thousands of graduate, professional 
and doctoral students. In fact, 8 of the top 10 producers of African-
American engineers are HBCUs. 42 percent of all the PhDs earned each 
year by African-Americans are earned by graduates of HBCUs.

[[Page S5456]]

  Despite playing such a central role in our economy, society, and 
culture, HBCUs have been physically eroding for years. In 1998, the 
National Trust for Historic Preservation reported that most of the 
HBCUs in the United States are showing serious signs of neglect. The 
Trust said that campus landmarks are decaying and college grounds are 
badly in need of attention. And a 1998 General Accounting Office report 
estimated that in HBCUs nationwide, there were more than 700 historic 
buildings in states of disrepair.
  That's why I am proudly sponsoring Representative Clyburn's bill to 
provide more restoration funding for historic sites at Historically 
Black Colleges and Universities throughout the Nation.
  These beautiful, architecturally significant structures are in most 
cases over a hundred years old, and were often built using the help of 
the students themselves. Their architectural beauty is a sign of 
something deeper, the fact that they have served as critical portals of 
opportunity for African-Americans throughout our history. That's why 
they deserve our strong protection and sensitive preservation.
  I saw this firsthand. When I visited Allen University in South 
Carolina in April of this year, I went to Arnett Hall, a building that 
had been transformed from an eyesore into a beautiful and stately 
facility with the help of Federal funds, thanks to Representative 
Clyburn. In the past, students and faculty would walk into the hall and 
get the message that we as a Nation were neglecting these historic 
treasures. Now, they absorb the message that we consider historically 
black colleges and universities central to our history and to our 
future.
  Thanks in no small part to these institutions, the overarching 
history of African-Americans in this country has been not a tragedy, as 
it once was, but a brilliant movement toward dignity, inclusion, 
freedom, and opportunity. That's the right message for African-
Americans and all Americans.
  I ask unanimous consent that the text of the bill be printed in the 
Record.
  There being no objection, the bill was ordered to be printed in the 
Record, as follows:

                                S. 2613

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

     SECTION 1. DECREASED MATCHING REQUIREMENT; AUTHORIZATION OF 
                   APPROPRIATIONS.

       (a) Decreased Matching Requirement.--Section 507(c) of the 
     Omnibus Parks and Public Lands Management Act of 1996 (16 
     U.S.C. 470a note) is amended--
       (1) by striking ``(1) Except'' and inserting the following:
       ``(1) In general.--Except'';
       (2) by striking ``paragraph (2)'' and inserting 
     ``paragraphs (2) and (3)'';
       (3) by striking ``(2) The Secretary'' and inserting the 
     following:
       ``(2) Waiver.--The Secretary'';
       (4) by striking ``paragraph (1)'' and inserting 
     ``paragraphs (1) and (3)''; and
       (5) by adding at the end the following new paragraph:
       ``(3) Exception.--The Secretary may obligate funds made 
     available under subsection (d)(2) for a grant with respect to 
     a building or structure listed on, or eligible for listing 
     on, the National Register of Historic Places only if the 
     grantee agrees to provide, from funds derived from non-
     Federal sources, an amount that is equal to 30 percent of the 
     total cost of the project for which the grant is provided.''.
       (b) Authorization of Appropriation.--Section 507(d) of the 
     Omnibus Parks and Public Lands Management Act of 1996 (16 
     U.S.C. 470a note) is amended--
       (1) by striking ``Pursuant to'' and inserting the 
     following:
       ``(1) 1996 authorization.--Pursuant to''; and
       (2) by adding at the end the following new paragraph:
       ``(2) Additional authorization.--In addition to amounts 
     made available under paragraph (1), pursuant to section 108 
     of the National Historic Preservation Act, there are 
     authorized to be appropriated such sums as are necessary to 
     carry out the purposes of this section.''.
                                 ______