[Congressional Record Volume 149, Number 164 (Wednesday, November 12, 2003)]
[Senate]
[Page S14808]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

      By Mr. SPECTER (for himself and Mr. SANTORUM):
  S. 1852. A bill to provide financial assistance for the 
rehabilitation of the Benjamin Franklin National Memorial in 
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and the development of an exhibit to 
commemorate the 300th anniversary of the birth of Benjamin Franklin; to 
the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
  Mr. SPECTER. Mr. President, I have sought recognition today to 
introduce a bill to authorize Federal funding for the rehabilitation of 
the Benjamin Franklin National Memorial. This memorial, an attraction 
for some 1 million visitors annually, is truly a national treasure and 
it has come under significant deterioration--threatening its very 
existence. I, along with my distinguished colleague from Pennsylvania, 
Senator Santorum, are introducing this bill to ensure that Federal 
funding is made available to preserve and protect our Nation's memorial 
to Benjamin Franklin, America's distinguished scientist, statesman, 
inventor, and diplomat.
  Unveiled in 1938, the memorial is located in the Memorial Hall of the 
Franklin Institute Science Museum of Philadelphia, PA--one of the 
Nation's premier science and technology museums. The Institute became 
custodian of the memorial in 1972 when Public Law 92-511 designated the 
Memorial Hall as the Benjamin Franklin National Memorial. In 1973, a 
Memorandum of Agreement was executed by the U.S. Department of the 
Interior and the Franklin Institute and directed the Department to 
cooperate with the Institute in ``all appropriate and mutually 
agreeable ways in the preservation and presentation of the Benjamin 
Franklin National Memorial Hall as a national memorial.'' To date, the 
Department has not provided any Federal funding to the Franklin 
Institute other than $300,000, which Senator Santorum and I secured 
from the ``Save America's Treasures'' program in the Fiscal Year 2000 
Interior Appropriations Act to help improve accessibility to the 
memorial.
  Unlike other national memorials, the Benjamin Franklin National 
Memorial does not receive an annual allocation of Federal funds that 
provides for preventative maintenance or other important activities. 
The significant burden of maintaining this national memorial has become 
a challenge to the Franklin Institute. For example, under the terms of 
the 1973 Agreement, the Institute is required to admit the public to 
Memorial Hall free of charge. Accordingly, the Institute--a non-profit 
organization--has absorbed the sole responsibility for providing the 
funds necessary to preserve and maintain the memorial.
  The legislation that Senator Santorum and I are introducing today 
finally provides the Franklin Institute with the Federal support 
necessary to ease the financial burden of maintaining a national 
memorial--enabling the Institute to continue its duties as its 
custodian. The bill authorizes up to $10 million in Federal funds to 
provide needed rehabilitation and to help enhance the experience at the 
memorial through the addition of exhibition space for the proper 
display of the finest existing collection of Franklin artifacts.
  The Benjamin Franklin National Memorial at the Franklin Institute 
serves as the Nation's primary location honoring Franklin's life, 
legacy, and ideals. This was further solidified in July 2002, when 
President George W. Bush signed into law House Resolution 2362, which 
created the Benjamin Franklin Tercentenary Commission.
  This commission, which I chair, is charged with studying and 
recommending activities appropriate for the 300th anniversary of 
Franklin's birth in 2006. As we expect visitors to the memorial from 
throughout the world for this celebration, it is important that the 
Franklin Institute, as custodian of the memorial, begin the meticulous 
restoration and enhancement of it promptly. I urge my colleagues to 
support this legislation to preserve this national tribute to Benjamin 
Franklin for years to come.
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