[Congressional Record Volume 149, Number 81 (Wednesday, June 4, 2003)]
[Senate]
[Pages S7274-S7275]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




        NATIONAL MUSEUM OF AFRICAN AMERICAN HISTORY AND CULTURE

  Mr. BROWNBACK. Mr. President, I rise to join several colleagues who 
have already made presentations here today about the introduction of a 
bill for a National Museum of African American History and Culture. We 
currently have 48 cosponsors of this bill. I hope after today we will 
have a strong and clear majority sponsoring this legislation.
  I want to particularly thank Senator Dodd, who is the lead Democrat 
sponsor of this bill, and Senator Lott, who chairs the Rules Committee 
through which it will go, both of whom are cosponsors of the bill, 
along with the majority leader and the Democratic leader who are also 
cosponsors of the bill, for pushing this issue, making it go forward.
  I cannot go forward without recognizing Congressman John Lewis from 
Georgia, who has been the lead sponsor in the House, along with J.C. 
Watts, before he left that body, being the inspirational leader behind 
moving this issue forward.
  Over 200 years ago, there was a dream that was America for a group of 
individuals who were brought to our shores in shackles, a dream so 
powerful it compelled a race of people to fight for the liberty of 
others when they were in bondage themselves, a dream that not only 
served as a catalyst for physical liberation in the African-American 
community but removed societal shackles from our culture and enabled us 
to realize the ideals set before us in the Constitution--that all men 
are created equal under God.
  Today, we celebrate this magnificent history, a history of a people's 
quest for freedom that shaped this Nation into a symbol of freedom and 
democracy around the world. I am proud to stand here today with my 
colleagues and introduce once again to this body a bill that will 
create the National Museum of African American History and Culture.
  I would specifically like to mention Senator Dodd, Senator Stevens, 
Senator Lott, Senator Santorum, and the other 48 cosponsors who are 
pushing this museum forward.
  The National Museum of African-American History and Culture 
Presidential Commission--signed into law by President Bush--stated that 
the time is now. Indeed the time is now to honor this incredible 
history that has shaped this great Nation.
  I thank the Presidential Commission for their hard work and effort in 
recommending to Congress that we should build this museum, and that 
there is sufficient interest in the philanthropic community to 
financially support this museum, and that there are sufficient 
artifacts to fill this museum.
  So many Americans will be able to share in the celebration of this 
museum--a uniquely American museum, one that we can celebrate. I 
remember when I met with the Dean of the Afro-American Studies at 
Howard University. He told me of a story about his grandfather who 
finished a bowl the day the Emancipation Proclamation was authorized. 
His grandfather decided to keep the bowl because it no longer was the 
property of a slave master but the man who made it--his grandfather.
  The dean has this bowl in his home--an incredible piece of history, 
and I am sure there are many more pieces out their waiting for a home, 
a national home.
  Today, we are not just introducing a bill; we are completing a piece 
of American history by introducing the National Museum of African-
American History and Culture, which will create a museum to honor 
African-American contributions to this Nation--which is an 
extraordinary story of sacrifice and triumph.
  This bill will create this museum within the Smithsonian 
Institution--America's premier museum complex. We have worked very hard 
with the Smithsonian Institution to craft a bill that will compliment 
their programs. And, indeed, we have done just that.
  This bill is very similar to the American-Indian Museum, slated to 
open next year. And I know that the Smithsonian Institution will create 
another national treasure--one that tells the story of African-
Americans in this country--a proud history, a rich history.
  This bill charges the Board of Regents of the Smithsonian 
Institution, along with the Council of the National Museum to plan, 
build, and construct a museum dedicated to celebrating nationally 
African-American history--which is American history.
  In addition, this bill charges the board of regents with choosing a 
site on or adjacent to the National Mall for the location of the 
museum.
  Additionally, the bill establishes an education and program liaison 
section designed to work with educational institutions and museums 
across the

[[Page S7275]]

country in order to promote African-American history.
  Finally, the bill sets forth a Federal-private partnership for 
funding the museum, and authorizes $17 million for the first year in 
order to begin implementation of the museum council, which will be 
comprised from a mixture of leading African-Americans from the museum, 
historical, and business communities.
  It has been well over 70 years since the first commission was formed 
to seek ways to honor nationally the contributions of African-
Americans--70 years. It is about time that we move forward with it.
  It has always been my hope that this museum will not only showcase 
nationally the accomplishments of African-Americans--which are great--
but will also serve as a catalyst for racial reconciliation in our 
Nation. Indeed we have triumphed over our difficulties in this area, 
but we must continue to do more.
  I can see a number of people going through this museum with a lot of 
tears coming out as they see the progression of people coming to this 
continent in shackles and moving forward in triumph. There are going to 
be a lot of tears along that trail. The beautiful thing about tears is 
that they don't have color; they just cleanse. I think they will be 
tears of cleansing.
  I do not pretend that this museum is a panacea for racial 
reconciliation, which this country desperately needs. It is, however, a 
productive step in recognizing the important contributions and the debt 
all Americans owe to African Americans.
  I close my comments with a quote from Dr. Martin Luther King, a 
prophet in his time and now a prophet to us. He said this that could 
have been said about the museum in this time we are in:

       That the dark clouds of [misconceptions] will soon pass 
     away and the deep fog of misunderstanding will be lifted from 
     our fear-drenched communities and in some not too distant 
     tomorrow the radiant stars of love and brotherhood will shine 
     over our great Nation with all their scintillating beauty.

  We are one step closer to that today.
  I thank the Chair. I yield the floor.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Texas.
  Mr. CORNYN. Madam President, are we currently in morning business?
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator is correct.

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