[Congressional Record Volume 149, Number 78 (Friday, May 23, 2003)]
[Senate]
[Page S7124]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




             AFRICAN AMERICAN MUSEUM OF HISTORY AND CULTURE

  Mr. STEVENS. Mr. President, I am pleased to join Senators Brownback 
and Dodd to introduce legislation authorizing the establishment of the 
National Museum of African American History and Culture within the 
Smithsonian Institution.
  The effort to construct a museum dedicated to African American 
history and culture began in the early 1900's by an association working 
to commemorate the valor and deed of Negro soldiers and sailors who 
fought in American wars and contributions of African Americans in 
science, art, literature, business and other endeavors.
  I have conferred with African American constituents in Alaska 
regarding the significance of this bill--the late JP Jones, Bill Sykes, 
and James Hayes to name a few.
  Today, we are taking an important step toward bringing this overdue 
effort closer to a reality.
  The provisions of the bill direct the Smithsonian Institution Board 
of Regents to consult with the Commission on Fine Arts, the National 
Capitol Planning Commission, and three members of President Bush's 
Commission on the National Museum of African American History and 
Culture when selecting the museum site. The legislation directs the 
Board of Regents to complete this work within 18 months.
  The legislation authorizes $17 million in federal funds for the 
museum in fiscal year 2004. The funding for the museum will be fifty 
percent federal funding and the remaining fifty percent will come from 
non-federal sources.
  I look forward to working with my colleagues as this bill moves 
through the legislative process.

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