[Congressional Record Volume 149, Number 36 (Thursday, March 6, 2003)]
[House]
[Pages H1644-H1649]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[[Page H1644]]
MUSEUM AND LIBRARY SERVICES ACT OF 2003
Mr. HOEKSTRA. Mr. Speaker, pursuant to the order of the House of
March 4, 2003, I call up the bill (H.R. 13) to reauthorize the Museum
and Library Services Act, and for other purposes, and ask for its
immediate consideration in the House.
The Clerk read the title of the bill.
The text of H.R. 13 is as follows:
H. Res. 13
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 ``Museum and Library Services
Act of 2003''.
TITLE I--GENERAL PROVISIONS
SEC. 101. GENERAL DEFINITIONS.
Section 202 of the Museum and Library Services Act (20
U.S.C. 9101) is amended--
(1) by amending paragraph (1) to read as follows:
``(1) Determined to be obscene.--The term `determined to be
obscene' means determined, in a final judgment of a court of
record and of competent jurisdiction in the United States, to
be obscene.'';
(2) by striking paragraph (4);
(3) by redesignating paragraph (3) as paragraph (5);
(4) by inserting after paragraph (2) the following:
``(3) Final judgment.--The term `final judgment' means a
judgment that is--
``(A) not reviewed by any other court that has authority to
review such judgment; or
``(B) is not reviewable by any other court.
``(4) Indian tribe.--The term `Indian tribe' means any
tribe, band, nation, or other organized group or community,
including any Alaska native village, regional corporation, or
village corporation (as defined in, or established pursuant
to, the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act (43 U.S.C. 1601
et seq.)), which is recognized by the Secretary of the
Interior as eligible for the special programs and services
provided by the United States to Indians because of their
status as Indians.''; and
(5) by adding after paragraph (5) (as so redesignated) the
following:
``(6) Museum and library services board.--The term `Museum
and Library Services Board' means the National Museum and
Library Services Board established under section 207.
``(7) Obscene.--The term `obscene' means, with respect to a
project, that--
``(A) the average person, applying contemporary community
standards, would find that such project, when taken as a
whole, appeals to the prurient interest;
``(B) such project depicts or describes sexual conduct in a
patently offensive way; and
``(C) such project, when taken as a whole, lacks serious
literary, artistic, political, or scientific value.''.
SEC. 102. INSTITUTE OF MUSEUM AND LIBRARY SERVICES.
Section 203 of the Museum and Library Services Act (20
U.S.C. 9102) is amended--
(1) in subsection (b), by striking the last sentence; and
(2) by adding at the end the following:
``(c) Museum and Library Services Board.--There shall be a
National Museum and Library Services Board within the
Institute, as provided under section 207.''.
SEC. 103. DIRECTOR OF THE INSTITUTE.
(a) Coordination of Activities.--Section 204(e) of the
Museum and Library Services Act (20 U.S.C. 9103(e)) is
amended by adding at the end the following: ``Where
appropriate, the Director shall ensure that activities under
subtitle B are coordinated with activities under section 1251
of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20
U.S.C. 6383).''.
(b) Regulatory Authority.--Section 204 of such Act (20
U.S.C. 9103) is amended by adding at the end the following:
``(f) Regulatory Authority.--The Director may promulgate
such rules and regulations as are necessary and appropriate
to implement the provisions of this title.
``(g) Application Procedures.--
``(1) In general.--In order to be eligible to receive
financial assistance under this title, a person or agency
shall submit an application in accordance with procedures
established by the Director by regulation.
``(2) Review and evaluation.--The Director shall establish
procedures for reviewing and evaluating such applications.
Such procedures shall not be subject to any review outside of
the Institute. In establishing such procedures, the Director
shall ensure that the criteria by which applications are
evaluated are consistent with the purposes of this title,
taking into consideration general standards of decency and
respect for the diverse beliefs and values of the American
public.
``(3) Treatment of projects determined to be obscene.--
``(A) In general.--The procedures described in paragraph
(2) shall include provisions that clearly specify that
obscenity is without literary, artistic, political, or
scientific merit, and is not protected speech.
``(B) Prohibition.--No financial assistance may be provided
under this title with respect to any project that is
determined to be obscene.
``(C) Treatment of application disapproval.--The
disapproval of an application by the Director shall not be
construed to mean, and shall not be considered as evidence
that, the project for which the applicant requested
financial assistance is or is not obscene.''.
SEC. 104. NATIONAL MUSEUM AND LIBRARY SERVICES BOARD.
The Museum and Library Services Act (20 U.S.C. 9101 et
seq.) is amended--
(1) by redesignating section 207 as section 208; and
(2) by inserting after section 206 the following:
``SEC. 207. NATIONAL MUSEUM AND LIBRARY SERVICES BOARD.
``(a) Establishment.--There is established in the Institute
a board to be known as the `National Museum and Library
Services Board'.
``(b) Membership.--
``(1) Number and appointment.--The Museum and Library
Services Board shall be composed of the following:
``(A) The Director.
``(B) The Deputy Director for the Office of Library
Services.
``(C) The Deputy Director for the Office of Museum
Services.
``(D) 10 members appointed by the President, by and with
the advice and consent of the Senate, from among individuals
who are citizens of the United States and who are specially
qualified in the area of library services by virtue of their
education, training, or experience.
``(E) 10 members appointed by the President, by and with
the advice and consent of the Senate, from among individuals
who are citizens of the United States and who are specially
qualified in the area of museum services by virtue of their
education, training, or experience.
``(2) Special qualifications.--
``(A) Library members.--Of the members of the Museum and
Library Services Board appointed under paragraph (1)(D)--
``(i) 5 shall be professional librarians or information
specialists, of whom--
``(I) at least 1 shall be knowledgeable about electronic
information and technical aspects of library and information
services and sciences; and
``(II) and at least 1 other shall be knowledgeable about
the library and information service needs of underserved
communities; and
``(ii) the remainder shall have special competence in, or
knowledge of, the needs for library and information services
in the United States.
``(B) Museum members.--Of the members of the Museum and
Library Services Board appointed under paragraph (1)(E)--
``(i) 5 shall be museum professionals who are or have been
affiliated with--
``(I) resources that, collectively, are broadly
representative of the curatorial, conservation, educational,
and cultural resources of the United States; or
``(II) museums that, collectively, are broadly
representative of various types of museums, including museums
relating to science, history, technology, art, zoos,
botanical gardens, and museums designed for children; and
``(ii) the remainder shall be individuals recognized for
their broad knowledge, expertise, or experience in museums or
commitment to museums.
``(3) Geographic and other representation.--Members of the
Museum and Library Services Board shall be appointed to
reflect persons from various geographic regions of the United
States. The Museum and Library Services Board may not
include, at any time, more than 3 appointive members from a
single State. In making such appointments, the President
shall give due regard to equitable representation of women,
minorities, and persons with disabilities who are involved
with museums and libraries.
``(4) Voting.--The Director, the Deputy Director of the
Office of Library Services, and the Deputy Director of the
Office of Museum Services shall be nonvoting members of the
Museum and Library Services Board.
``(c) Terms.--
``(1) In general.--Except as otherwise provided in this
subsection, each member of the Museum and Library Services
Board appointed under subparagraph (D) or (E) of subsection
(b)(1) shall serve for a term of 5 years.
``(2) Initial board appointments.--
``(A) Treatment of members serving on effective date.--
Notwithstanding subsection (b), each individual who is a
member of the National Museum Services Board on the date of
the enactment of the Museum and Library Services Act of 2003,
may, at the individual's election, complete the balance of
the individual's term as a member of the Museum and Library
Services Board.
``(B) First appointments.--Notwithstanding subsection (b),
any appointive vacancy in the initial membership of the
Museum and Library Services Board existing after the
application of subparagraph (A), and any vacancy in such
membership subsequently created by reason of the expiration
of the term of an individual described in subparagraph (A),
shall be filled by the appointment of a member described in
subsection (b)(1)(D). When the Museum and Library Services
Board consists of an equal number of individuals who are
specially qualified in the area of library services and
individuals who are specially qualified in the area of museum
services, this subparagraph shall cease to be effective and
the board shall be appointed in accordance with subsection
(b).
[[Page H1645]]
``(C) Authority to adjust terms.--The terms of the first
members appointed to the Museum and Library Service Board
shall be adjusted by the President as necessary to ensure
that the terms of not more than 4 members expire in the same
year. Such adjustments shall be carried out through
designation of the adjusted term at the time of appointment.
``(3) Vacancies.--Any member appointed to fill a vacancy
shall serve for the remainder of the term for which the
predecessor of the member was appointed.
``(4) Reappointment.--No appointive member of the Museum
and Library Services Board who has been a member for more
than 7 consecutive years shall be eligible for reappointment.
``(5) Service until successor takes office.--
Notwithstanding any other provision of this subsection, an
appointive member of the Museum and Library Services Board
shall serve after the expiration of the term of the member
until the successor to the member takes office.
``(d) Duties and Powers.--
``(1) In general.--The Museum and Library Services Board
shall advise the Director on general policies with respect to
the duties, powers, and authority of the Institute relating
to museum and library services, including financial
assistance awarded under this title.
``(2) National awards.--The Museum and Library Services
Board shall assist the Director in making awards under
section 209.
``(e) Chairperson.--The Director shall serve as Chairperson
of the Museum and Library Services Board.
``(f) Meetings.--
``(1) In general.--The Museum and Library Services Board
shall meet not less than 2 times each year and at the call of
the Director.
``(2) Vote.--All decisions by the Museum and Library
Services Board with respect to the exercise of its duties and
powers shall be made by a majority vote of the members of the
Board who are present and authorized to vote.
``(g) Quorum.--A majority of the voting members of the
Museum and Library Services Board shall constitute a quorum
for the conduct of business at official meetings, but a
lesser number of members may hold hearings.
``(h) Compensation and Travel Expenses.--
``(1) Compensation.--Each member of the Museum and Library
Services Board who is not an officer or employee of the
Federal Government may be compensated at a rate to be fixed
by the President, but not to exceed the daily equivalent of
the maximum annual rate of pay authorized for a position
above grade GS-15 of the General Schedule under section 5108
of title 5, United States Code, for each day (including
travel time) during which such member is engaged in the
performance of the duties of the Museum and Library Services
Board. Members of the Museum and Libraries Services Board who
are full-time officers or employees of the Federal Government
may not receive additional pay, allowances, or benefits by
reason of their service on the Board.
``(2) Travel expenses.--Each member of the Museum and
Library Services Board shall receive travel expenses,
including per diem in lieu of subsistence, in accordance with
applicable provisions under subchapter I of chapter 57 of
title 5, United States Code.
``(i) Coordination.--The Director, with the advice of the
Museum and Library Services Board, shall take steps to ensure
that the policies and activities of the Institute are
coordinated with other activities of the Federal
Government.''.
SEC. 105. AWARDS; ANALYSIS OF IMPACT OF SERVICES.
The Museum and Library Services Act (20 U.S.C. 9101 et
seq.) is amended by inserting after section 208 (as
redesignated by section 104 of this Act) the following:
``SEC. 209. AWARDS.
``The Director, with the advice of the Museum and Library
Services Board, may annually award National Awards for
Library Service and National Awards for Museum Service to
outstanding libraries and outstanding museums, respectively,
that have made significant contributions in service to their
communities.
``SEC. 210. ANALYSIS OF IMPACT OF MUSEUM AND LIBRARY
SERVICES.
``From amounts described in sections 214(c) and 275(b), the
Director shall carry out and publish analyses of the impact
of museum and library services. Such analyses--
``(1) shall be conducted in ongoing consultation with--
``(A) State library administrative agencies;
``(B) State, regional, and national library and museum
organizations; and
``(C) other relevant agencies and organizations;
``(2) shall identify national needs for, and trends of,
museum and library services provided with funds made
available under subtitles B and C;
``(3) shall report on the impact and effectiveness of
programs conducted with funds made available by the Institute
in addressing such needs; and
``(4) shall identify, and disseminate information on, the
best practices of such programs to the agencies and entities
described in paragraph (1).''.
TITLE II--LIBRARY SERVICES AND TECHNOLOGY
SEC. 201. PURPOSE.
Section 212 of the Library Services and Technology Act (20
U.S.C. 9121) is amended by striking paragraphs (2) through
(5) and inserting the following:
``(2) to promote improvement in library services in all
types of libraries in order to better serve the people of the
United States;
``(3) to facilitate access to resources in all types of
libraries for the purpose of cultivating an educated and
informed citizenry; and
``(4) to encourage resource sharing among all types of
libraries for the purpose of achieving economical and
efficient delivery of library services to the public.''.
SEC. 202. DEFINITIONS.
Section 213 of the Library Services and Technology Act (20
U.S.C. 9122) is amended--
(1) by striking paragraph (1); and
(2) by redesignating paragraphs (2) through (6) as
paragraphs (1) through (5), respectively.
SEC. 203. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.
Section 214 of the Library Services and Technology Act (20
U.S.C. 9123) is amended--
(1) by amending subsection (a) to read as follows:
``(a) In General.--There are authorized to be appropriated
to carry out this subtitle $210,000,000 for fiscal year 2004
and such sums as may be necessary for fiscal years 2005
through 2009.''; and
(2) in subsection (c), by striking ``3 percent'' and
inserting ``3.5 percent''.
SEC. 204. RESERVATIONS AND ALLOTMENTS.
Section 221(b)(3) of the Library Services and Technology
Act (20 U.S.C. 9131(b)(3)) is amended to read as follows:
``(3) Minimum allotments.--
``(A) In general.--For purposes of this subsection, the
minimum allotment for each State shall be $340,000, except
that the minimum allotment shall be $40,000 in the case of
the United States Virgin Islands, Guam, American Samoa, the
Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, the Republic of
the Marshall Islands, the Federated States of Micronesia, and
the Republic of Palau.
``(B) Ratable reductions.--Notwithstanding subparagraph
(A), if the sum appropriated under the authority of section
214 and not reserved under subsection (a) for any fiscal year
is insufficient to fully satisfy the requirement of
subparagraph (A), each of the minimum allotments under such
subparagraph shall be reduced ratably.
``(C) Exception.--
``(i) In general.--Notwithstanding subparagraph (A), if the
sum appropriated under the authority of section 214 and not
reserved under subsection (a) for any fiscal year exceeds the
aggregate of the allotments for all States under this
subsection for fiscal year 2003--
``(I) the minimum allotment for each State otherwise
receiving a minimum allotment of $340,000 under subparagraph
(A) shall be increased to $680,000; and
``(II) the minimum allotment for each State otherwise
receiving a minimum allotment of $40,000 under subparagraph
(A) shall be increased to $60,000.
``(ii) Insufficient funds to award alternative minimum.--If
the sum appropriated under the authority of section 214 and
not reserved under subsection (a) for any fiscal year exceeds
the aggregate of the allotments for all States under this
subsection for fiscal year 2003 yet is insufficient to fully
satisfy the requirement of clause (i), such excess amount
shall first be allotted among the States described in clause
(i)(I) so as to increase equally the minimum allotment for
each such State above $340,000. After the requirement of
clause (i)(I) is fully satisfied for any fiscal year, any
remainder of such excess amount shall be allotted among the
States described in clause (i)(II) so as to increase
equally the minimum allotment for each such State above
$40,000.
``(D) Special rule.--
``(i) In general.--Notwithstanding any other provision of
this subsection and using funds allotted for the Republic of
the Marshall Islands, the Federated States of Micronesia, and
the Republic of Palau under this subsection, the Director
shall award grants to the United States Virgin Islands, Guam,
American Samoa, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana
Islands, the Republic of the Marshall Islands, the Federated
States of Micronesia, or the Republic of Palau to carry out
activities described in this subtitle in accordance with the
provisions of this subtitle that the Director determines are
not inconsistent with this subparagraph.
``(ii) Award basis.--The Director shall award grants
pursuant to clause (i) on a competitive basis and pursuant to
recommendations from the Pacific Region Educational
Laboratory in Honolulu, Hawaii.
``(iii) Administrative costs.--The Director may provide not
more than 5 percent of the funds made available for grants
under this subparagraph to pay the administrative costs of
the Pacific Region Educational Laboratory regarding
activities assisted under this subparagraph.''.
SEC. 205. STATE PLANS.
Section 224 of the Library Services and Technology Act (20
U.S.C. 9134) is amended--
(1) in subsection (a)(1), by striking ``not later than
April 1, 1997.'' and inserting ``once every 5 years, as
determined by the Director.''; and
(2) in subsection (f)--
(A) by striking ``this Act'' each place such term appears
and inserting ``this subtitle'';
(B) in paragraph (1), by striking ``1934,'' and all that
follows through ``Act, may'' and inserting ``1934 (47 U.S.C.
254(h)(6)) may''; and
[[Page H1646]]
(C) in paragraph (7)--
(i) in the matter preceding subparagraph (A), by striking
``section:'' and inserting ``subsection:''; and
(ii) in subparagraph (D), by striking ``given'' and
inserting ``applicable to''.
SEC. 206. GRANTS TO STATES.
Section 231 of the Library Services and Technology Act (20
U.S.C. 9141) is amended--
(1) in subsection (a), by striking paragraphs (1) and (2)
and inserting the following:
``(1) expanding services for learning and access to
information and educational resources in a variety of
formats, in all types of libraries, for individuals of all
ages;
``(2) developing library services that provide all users
access to information through local, State, regional,
national, and international electronic networks;
``(3) providing electronic and other linkages among and
between all types of libraries;
``(4) developing public and private partnerships with other
agencies and community-based organizations;
``(5) targeting library services to individuals of diverse
geographic, cultural, and socioeconomic backgrounds, to
individuals with disabilities, and to individuals with
limited functional literacy or information skills; and
``(6) targeting library and information services to persons
having difficulty using a library and to underserved urban
and rural communities, including children (from birth through
age 17) from families with incomes below the poverty line (as
defined by the Office of Management and Budget and revised
annually in accordance with section 673(2) of the Community
Services Block Grant Act (42 U.S.C. 9902(2))) applicable to a
family of the size involved.''; and
(2) in subsection (b), by striking ``between the two
purposes described in paragraphs (1) and (2) of such
subsection,'' and inserting ``among such purposes,''.
SEC. 207. NATIONAL LEADERSHIP GRANTS, CONTRACTS, OR
COOPERATIVE AGREEMENTS.
Section 262(a)(1) of the Library Services and Technology
Act (20 U.S.C. 9162(a)(1)) is amended by striking ``education
and training'' and inserting ``education, recruitment, and
training''.
TITLE III--MUSEUM SERVICES
SEC. 301. PURPOSE.
Section 271 of the Museum and Library Services Act (20
U.S.C. 9171) is amended to read as follows:
``SEC. 271. PURPOSE.
``It is the purpose of this subtitle--
``(1) to encourage and support museums in carrying out
their public service role of connecting the whole of society
to the cultural, artistic, historical, natural, and
scientific understandings that constitute our heritage;
``(2) to encourage and support museums in carrying out
their educational role, as core providers of learning and in
conjunction with schools, families, and communities;
``(3) to encourage leadership, innovation, and applications
of the most current technologies and practices to enhance
museum services;
``(4) to assist, encourage, and support museums in carrying
out their stewardship responsibilities to achieve the highest
standards in conservation and care of the cultural, historic,
natural, and scientific heritage of the United States to
benefit future generations;
``(5) to assist, encourage, and support museums in
achieving the highest standards of management and service to
the public, and to ease the financial burden borne by museums
as a result of their increasing use by the public; and
``(6) to support resource sharing and partnerships among
museums, libraries, schools, and other community
organizations.''.
SEC. 302. DEFINITIONS.
Section 272(1) of the Museum and Library Services Act (20
U.S.C. 9172(1)) is amended by adding at the end the
following: ``Such term includes aquariums, arboretums,
botanical gardens, art museums, children's museums, general
museums, historic houses and sites, history museums, nature
centers, natural history and anthropology museums,
planetariums, science and technology centers, specialized
museums, and zoological parks.''.
SEC. 303. MUSEUM SERVICES ACTIVITIES.
Section 273 of the Museum and Library Services Act (20
U.S.C. 9173) is amended to read as follows:
``SEC. 273. MUSEUM SERVICES ACTIVITIES.
``(a) In General.--The Director, subject to the policy
advice of the Museum and Library Services Board, may enter
into arrangements, including grants, contracts, cooperative
agreements, and other forms of assistance to museums and
other entities as the Director considers appropriate, to pay
for the Federal share of the cost--
``(1) to support museums in providing learning and access
to collections, information, and educational resources in a
variety of formats (including exhibitions, programs,
publications, and websites) for individuals of all ages;
``(2) to support museums in building learning partnerships
with the Nation's schools and developing museum resources and
programs in support of State and local school curricula;
``(3) to support museums in assessing, conserving,
researching, maintaining, and exhibiting their collections,
and in providing educational programs to the public through
the use of their collections;
``(4) to stimulate greater collaboration among museums,
libraries, schools, and other community organizations in
order to share resources and strengthen communities;
``(5) to encourage the use of new technologies and
broadcast media to enhance access to museum collections,
programs, and services;
``(6) to support museums in providing services to people of
diverse geographic, cultural, and socioeconomic backgrounds
and to individuals with disabilities;
``(7) to support museums in developing and carrying out
specialized programs for specific segments of the public,
such as programs for urban neighborhoods, rural areas, Indian
reservations, and State institutions;
``(8) to support professional development and technical
assistance programs to enhance museum operations at all
levels, in order to ensure the highest standards in all
aspects of museum operations;
``(9) to support museums in research, program evaluation,
and the collection and dissemination of information to museum
professionals and the public; and
``(10) to encourage, support, and disseminate model
programs of museum and library collaboration.
``(b) Federal Share.--
``(1) 50 percent.--Except as provided in paragraph (2), the
Federal share described in subsection (a) shall be not more
than 50 percent.
``(2) Greater than 50 percent.--The Director may use not
more than 20 percent of the funds made available under this
subtitle for a fiscal year to enter into arrangements under
subsection (a) for which the Federal share may be greater
than 50 percent.
``(3) Operational expenses.--No funds for operational
expenses may be provided under this section to any entity
that is not a museum.
``(c) Review and Evaluation.--
``(1) In general.--The Director shall establish procedures
for reviewing and evaluating arrangements described in
subsection (a) entered into under this subtitle.
``(2) Applications for technical assistance.--
``(A) In general.--The Director may use up to 10 percent of
the funds appropriated to carry out this subtitle for
technical assistance awards.
``(B) Individual museums.--Individual museums may receive
not more than 3 technical assistance awards under
subparagraph (A), but subsequent awards for technical
assistance shall be subject to review outside the Institute.
``(d) Services for Native Americans.--From amounts
appropriated under section 275, the Director shall reserve
1.75 percent to award grants to, or enter into contracts or
cooperative agreements with, Indian tribes and organizations
that primarily serve and represent Native Hawaiians (as
defined in section 7207 of the Native Hawaiian Education Act
(20 U.S.C. 7517)), to enable such tribes and organizations
to carry out the activities described in subsection
(a).''.
SEC. 304. REPEALS.
Sections 274 and 275 of the Museum and Library Services Act
(20 U.S.C. 9174 and 9175) are repealed.
SEC. 305. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.
Section 276 of the Museum and Library Services Act (20
U.S.C. 9176)--
(1) is redesignated as section 275 of such Act; and
(2) is amended, in subsection (a), by striking
``$28,700,000 for the fiscal year 1997, and such sums as may
be necessary for each of the fiscal years 1998 through
2002.'' and inserting ``$35,000,000 for fiscal year 2004 and
such sums as may be necessary for fiscal years 2005 through
2009.''.
SEC. 306. SHORT TITLE.
Subtitle C of the Museum and Library Services Act (20
U.S.C. 9171 et seq.) is amended--
(1) by redesignating sections 271 through 273 as sections
272 through 274, respectively; and
(2) by inserting after the subtitle heading the following:
``SEC. 271. SHORT TITLE.
``This subtitle may be cited as the `Museum Services
Act'.''.
TITLE IV--TECHNICAL CORRECTIONS; REPEALS; EFFECTIVE DATE
SEC. 401. TECHNICAL CORRECTIONS.
(a) Title Heading.--The title heading for the Museum and
Library Services Act (20 U.S.C. 9101 et seq.) is amended to
read as follows:
``TITLE II--MUSEUM AND LIBRARY SERVICES''.
(b) Subtitle A Heading.--The subtitle heading for subtitle
A of the Museum and Library Services Act (20 U.S.C. 9101 et
seq.) is amended to read as follows:
``Subtitle A--General Provisions''.
(c) Subtitle B Heading.--The subtitle heading for subtitle
B of the Museum and Library Services Act (20 U.S.C. 9121 et
seq.) is amended to read as follows:
``Subtitle B--Library Services and Technology''.
(d) Subtitle C Heading.--The subtitle heading for subtitle
C of the Museum and Library Services Act (20 U.S.C. 9171 et
seq.) is amended to read as follows:
``Subtitle C--Museum Services''.
(e) Contributions.--Section 208 of the Museum and Library
Services Act (20 U.S.C. 9106) (as redesignated by section 104
of this
[[Page H1647]]
Act) is amended by striking ``property of services'' and
inserting ``property or services''.
(f) State Plan Contents.--Section 224(b)(5) of the Library
Services and Technology Act (20 U.S.C. 9134(b)(5)) is amended
by striking ``and'' at the end.
(g) National Leadership Grants, Contracts, or Cooperative
Agreements.--Section 262(b)(1) of the Library Services and
Technology Act (20 U.S.C. 9162(b)(1)) is amended by striking
``cooperative agreements, with,'' and inserting ``cooperative
agreements with,''.
SEC. 402. REPEALS.
(a) National Commission on Libraries and Information
Science Act.--Section 5 of the National Commission on
Libraries and Information Science Act (20 U.S.C. 1504) is
amended by striking subsections (b) and (c) and redesignating
subsections (d), (e), and (f) as subsections (b), (c), and
(d), respectively.
(b) Museum and Library Services Act of 1996.--Sections 704
through 707 of the Museum and Library Services Act of 1996
(20 U.S.C. 9102 note, 9103 note, and 9105 note) are repealed.
SEC. 403. EFFECTIVE DATE.
The amendments made by this Act shall take effect on the
date of the enactment of this Act, except that the amendments
made by sections 203, 204, and 305 shall take effect on
October 1, 2003.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the order of the House of
Tuesday, March 4, 2003, the gentleman from Michigan (Mr. Hoekstra) and
the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Hinojosa) each will control 30 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Michigan (Mr. Hoekstra).
General Leave
Mr. HOEKSTRA. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members
may have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their
remarks on H.R. 13.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the
gentleman from Michigan?
There was no objection.
Mr. HOEKSTRA. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, today the House will consider H.R. 13, the Museum and
Library Services Act of 2003, which authorizes Federal assistance to
museums and libraries through fiscal year 2009.
H.R. 13 maintains the modest, but essential, Federal support for
museums and libraries across the country. It authorizes funds for the
one Federal agency, the Institute of Museum and Library Services,
devoted exclusively to museums and libraries, and encourages model
cooperation between museums and libraries.
Last Congress, the Committee on Education and the Workforce reported
a bipartisan authorization bill that had 94 cosponsors. It was
supported by the administration and was endorsed by the American
Library Association, the chief officers of State library agencies, and
the American Association of Museums.
To complete our work from last Congress, I introduced H.R. 13, the
Museum and Library Services Act of 2003. H.R. 13 has 126 cosponsors,
makes several modifications to current law to streamline and strengthen
museum and library services, and will help build on the bipartisan
progress made by the committee during the 107th Congress.
Generally, this legislation authorizes the Federal Library and Museum
program under the Institute of Museum and Library Services. More
specifically, H.R. 13 requires the director of the Institute of Museum
and Library Services to establish procedural standards for making
grants available to museums and libraries which will prohibit projects
that are determined to be obscene from receiving funding, ensures that
library activities are coordinated with activities under the No Child
Left Behind Act of 2001, consolidates Museum and Library Advisory Board
activities under a single statute, authorizes the director of the
Institute of Museum and Library Services to present national awards for
library service and national awards for museum service, and ensures
that administrative funds are also used to conduct annual analyses of
the impact of museum and library services in order to evaluate and
identify needs and trends of services provided under IMLS-funded
programs.
I believe there is broad support for this reauthorization
legislation, because museums and libraries are a vital part of our
society. Attendance at America's museums is now at more than 865
million visits per year, and today's 21st century library is not merely
a provider of books. Instead, the typical library coordinates a
complete and comprehensive approach to community development and
services.
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 for 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 nowhere else.
The Museum and Library Services Act also supports museums in their
educational role and assists museums in modernizing their methods and
facilities so they are better able to conserve the cultural,
historical, and scientific heritage of the United States.
Museums play an important role in its education of people of all
ages. Specifically, most American museums provide K through 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.
The Museum and Library Services Act of 2003 makes commonsense reforms
to authorize museum and library activities, includes provisions
important to Members on both sides of the aisle, and reauthorizes a
program that should be supported by this Congress.
I would like to thank all those who participated in this process,
including the ranking Democrat on the committee, the gentleman from
California (Mr. George Miller), the Institute of Museum and Library
Services, the American Library Association, the chief officers of State
library agencies and the American Association of Museums. They deserve
a great deal of the credit for this bipartisan bill before us today.
I look forward to moving this legislation through the House and
working with the Senate to complete an authorization bill that
President Bush will support, 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.
I would also like to thank the staff that has worked on this bill.
I look forward to working with the gentleman from Texas (Mr.
Hinojosa) on other legislation that will come through the subcommittee.
We really did not work on this, we took a lot of what we did in the
last Congress on this bill, but I really appreciate starting off in
such a positive way on this bill, and also on the Child Abuse
Prevention and Treatment Act that the House will consider sometime in
the next couple of weeks.
I think it is a great start for this subcommittee. I look forward to
working with my colleague on other legislation that will come before
the subcommittee and am sure we will have the same kind of bipartisan
effort on that legislation, especially the Corporation for National
Community Service which our subcommittee will consider this year. I
think this is a great start.
Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. HINOJOSA. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of this legislation that means
so much to our Nation; and I, too, want to thank the gentleman from
Ohio (Chairman Boehner); our ranking member, the gentleman from
California (Mr. George Miller); and my good friend and colleague, the
gentleman from Michigan (Chairman Hoekstra), the chairman of the
subcommittee, for their work in bringing this bill to the floor today.
We have experienced an economic downturn over the past 2 years; and
as
[[Page H1648]]
a result, the continuing vitality of our museums is in question. Many
have had to close their doors to the public, staff has been laid off,
budgets for curriculum materials has been reduced, and the general
public wonders about our national priorities.
With our present economy, we have fewer contributions from
corporations in support of vital library and museum functions. I
support the reauthorization of the Museum and Library Services Act
because all of us realize the vital importance of these institutions
for our national fabric.
The bill provides modest, but essential, support for museums of all
sizes to help them continue their operations, ensure equity of access,
and foster culture and education for all our people.
In addition to operating expenses, the act elevates the role of these
institutes of lifelong learning. Libraries are essential to parents and
community organizations as they look for innovative ways to educate our
children, our youth, and adults. The business community also has a big
interest in excellent libraries, since the knowledge base for job
creation, training programs and business development is a significant
portion of library holdings.
In the past 5 years, libraries and museums have received hundreds of
millions of dollars under this act to address a wide range of needs,
including assessment of museum operations, conservation projects, staff
training, technology upgrades, electronic linkages, resource sharing,
and outreach programs.
I know that my own State of Texas has benefited from this act, and
there is a project in Weslaco in my congressional district which is
doing very good work with the resources provided by the Federal
Government.
As the need for lifelong learning becomes even greater in the coming
decades, this act will become increasingly vital. We have before us a
good example of Federal, State, and local partnerships that deserves
our continuing support.
I applaud the leadership for bringing this bill to the floor and urge
all of my colleagues to support H.R. 13.
I also want to say that I look forward to working with our
subcommittee chairman, the gentleman from Michigan (Mr. Hoekstra),
because there are many things on the Committee on Education and the
Workforce that we need to address. I hope we can work together in
calling hearings so that we can get the input from the community
nationwide as our States are facing big deficits in their respective
governments and legislatures. I know that access to higher education at
the community colleges and universities is going to be a serious
problem because of the cuts that they have to make.
Mr. Speaker, I look forward to looking at that, and many other issues
that are going to be very important to us here in our Nation's capital.
Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. HOEKSTRA. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from
Georgia (Mr. Burns), a new member of the subcommittee.
Mr. BURNS. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 13, the Museum and
Library Services Act of 2003.
Museums and libraries are a fundamental part of our society. They
remain an integral component of our education system. As has been
noted, attendance at American museums continues to grow, and today's
library offers critical community services for all of our citizens.
Charlotte Rogers, the director of the Jefferson County Library System
in the Twelfth Congressional District of Georgia, has contacted me in
support of this bill because the people of Jefferson County, the people
of the State of Georgia and the people of the twelfth district benefit
from the services provided by these excellent institutions.
With over a dozen higher-educational institutions in the twelfth
district, this bill will ensure continued support for a key component
of a balanced education.
H.R. 13 provides the essential Federal support for museums and
libraries across this country. As a new member of the Committee on
Education and the Workforce, I was pleased to support this bill during
its consideration. I look forward to voting for the passage of this
bill, and I urge my colleagues to join me in that effort.
{time} 1030
Mr. HINOJOSA. Mr. Speaker, I yield 5 minutes to the outstanding
gentleman from New York (Mr. Owens).
Mr. OWENS. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding time to
me.
Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank and congratulate my colleagues who
worked on this legislation. I also thank my colleagues in general for
appreciating the role of libraries and museums.
I also would like to issue a new, repeated challenge to the Members
of Congress to take a hard look at libraries and see that we have
certainly shortchanged them or overlooked their importance as an
institution that gives us the greatest bang for the buck. Our cost-
benefits ratio with libraries is probably greater than any institution
that we fund anywhere.
Mr. HOEKSTRA. Mr. Speaker, will the gentleman yield?
Mr. OWENS. I yield to the gentleman from Michigan.
Mr. HOEKSTRA. Mr. Speaker, excuse me for interrupting, but before the
gentleman continues with his remarks, I think it would be appropriate
that the House recognizes that the gentleman from New York (Mr. Owens)
is well-versed in this area, I believe being the only librarian,
professional librarian, as a Member of the House of Representatives.
I would like to congratulate the gentleman and make that reference
before the gentleman continues his remarks. I thank the gentleman for
being down here.
Mr. OWENS. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman very much. Now that my
objectivity has been established, I would like to say that we have been
slow to recognize it, but I hope that this bill will help to concretize
in our minds the value of libraries and museums to work together.
I happen to live across the street from one of the greatest museums
in America, the Brooklyn Museum of Art. I also live one block away from
one of the greatest public libraries, the Central Library of the
Brooklyn Public Library, where I worked for 8 years as a librarian. I
got a master's degree from the Atlanta University School of Library
Science, and was a librarian for 8 years before I went into another
line of work that led to politics.
But in the history of Federal funding of libraries, everything we
have done for libraries, of all the years there has been some kind of
Federal assistance it would not equal the price of one aircraft
carrier. I think that is unfortunate, because we do get a great deal of
cost-benefits ratio, a good cost-benefit ratio from libraries.
I am particularly interested in the library service as the technology
section of this bill. That section recognizes that libraries are moving
with the mainstream in terms of digitalized and computerized learning,
and that it is probably in the forefront. Long before other
institutions were utilizing computers, we had a cataloging system that
came out of Ohio where we could catalog any book in the Nation and put
it through a computer system, and that one cataloging process could
serve all the libraries throughout the Nation.
Cooperation among libraries of various kinds has gone on for a long,
long time. One of the reasons libraries were able to deliver so much
with so little is that they have always had those networks where they
cooperate among libraries in a given system, among libraries across
State borders, among local libraries and the Library of Congress. They
are models of cooperation and collaboration.
We should also realize that in times of recession when we have
difficult economic times, the libraries are used more than ever. This
is a pattern that started certainly in the Great Depression. It has not
changed.
I understand from my colleagues now in library service positions,
especially public libraries, the use of libraries has gone up as the
recession has set in. People go for very practical purposes: They are
looking for books that will deal with changes in their occupations, or
for various reasons; it is not recreational reading they go for when
times are hard. So we should bear that in mind also, that it is an
instrument by which people are able to change their own lives.
We also have had demonstrated over and over again, despite the fact
that people who make budget decisions at
[[Page H1649]]
the local level often cut libraries first, that surveys in several
cities and localities have established the fact that if the public is
given the choice, would you pay more taxes for a particular service,
libraries are right at the top in terms of individuals are willing to
pay more taxes in order to keep their libraries open and keep their
libraries operating at a quality level. That has been proven again and
again. So in our reluctance to fund libraries, we are running counter
to the perception of the public in terms of an institution where we get
our money's worth.
Museums, of course, now serve so many different kinds of purposes.
When we say ``museum,'' we are not necessarily talking about an art
museum. There are museums of all kinds. I have three grandchildren, and
my oldest grandson is 5 years old. He has dinosaur books, but when he
went to a library and saw an exhibit, he came back and wanted to be a
paleontologist. That big word certainly had meaning for him.
I hope that in the future we would be more generous and would be
willing to authorize higher sums for these institutions that have
proven their worth over and over again.
Mr. HOEKSTRA. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentlewoman from
New York (Mrs. Kelly).
Mrs. KELLY. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 13.
The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Hefley). The gentlewoman will suspend.
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