[Congressional Record Volume 149, Number 94 (Tuesday, June 24, 2003)]
[Senate]
[Page S8434]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




      NATIONAL MUSEUM OF AFRICAN AMERICAN HISTORY AND CULTURE ACT

  Mr. KENNEDY. Mr. President, I strongly support S. 1157, the National 
Museum of African American History and Culture Act. The story of 
African Americans is a major part of the story of the United States. 
From the dark times of slavery, civil war, and reconstruction, to the 
extraordinary accomplishments of the civil rights movement of the past 
half century, it is essential for all Americans to know and understand 
that story in all its aspects, and this new museum in the Nation's 
Capital will be an especially valuable resource in achieving that goal. 
It will be a valuable cultural and educational experience for every 
visitor to Washington and for every student of American history in 
communities across the country.
  Our Nation was founded on a promise of equality and opportunity for 
all, and for more than two centuries, we have struggled to fulfill that 
great promise. The struggle goes on today, on critical issues, such as 
guaranteeing that all our citizens are free from hate crimes and racial 
profiling, and are free to go to the polls and vote without 
intimidation or attempts to suppress their votes.
  We know that civil rights is still the great unfinished business of 
America. As Robert Kennedy told the students at the University of Cape 
Town, at a time when the specter of apartheid hung heavily over South 
Africa:

       We must recognize the full human equality of all our 
     people--before God, before the law, and in the councils of 
     governments. We must do this, not because it is economically 
     advantageous--although it is; not because the laws of God and 
     man command it--although they do command it; not because 
     people in other lands wish it to. We must do it for the 
     single and fundamental reason that it is the right thing to 
     do.

  It is especially appropriate that this new museum dedicated to 
African-American history and culture will be part of the Smithsonian 
Institution in Washington. It is long overdue, and this legislation 
will help advance the cause.
  This museum will be renowned as a source of African-American history 
throughout the United States. In cooperation with other museums, with 
historically black colleges, and with many other historical, cultural, 
and educational institutions, it will make this part of the Nation's 
history as widely available as possible. And millions of visitors who 
come here from throughout the world will be inspired by what they see 
and learn.
  It is an honor to be a sponsor of this legislation, and I urge my 
colleagues to support it.

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