[Congressional Record Volume 149, Number 167 (Tuesday, November 18, 2003)]
[House]
[Pages H11487-H11493]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
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NATIONAL MUSEUM OF AFRICAN AMERICAN HISTORY AND CULTURE ACT
Mr. NEY. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill
(H.R. 3491) to establish within the Smithsonian Institution the
National Museum of African American History and Culture, and for other
purposes.
The Clerk read as follows:
H.R. 3491
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 ``National Museum of African
American History and Culture Act''.
SEC. 2. FINDINGS.
Congress finds that--
(1) since its founding, the United States has grown into a
symbol of democracy and freedom around the world, and the
legacy of African Americans is rooted in the very fabric of
the democracy and freedom of the United States;
(2) there exists no national museum within the Smithsonian
Institution that--
(A) is devoted to the documentation of African American
life, art, history, and culture; and
(B) encompasses, on a national level--
(i) the period of slavery;
(ii) the era of Reconstruction;
(iii) the Harlem renaissance;
(iv) the civil rights movement; and
(v) other periods associated with African American life,
art, history, and culture; and
(3) a National Museum of African American History and
Culture would be dedicated to the collection, preservation,
research, and exhibition of African American historical and
cultural material reflecting the breadth and depth of the
experiences of individuals of African descent living in the
United States.
SEC. 3. DEFINITIONS.
In this Act:
(1) Board of regents.--The term ``Board of Regents'' means
the Board of Regents of the Smithsonian Institution.
(2) Council.--The term ``Council'' means the National
Museum of African American History and Culture Council
established by section 5.
(3) Museum.--The term ``Museum'' means the National Museum
of African American History and Culture established by
section 4.
(4) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary
of the Smithsonian Institution.
SEC. 4. ESTABLISHMENT OF MUSEUM.
(a) Establishment.--There is established within the
Smithsonian Institution a museum to be known as the
``National Museum of African American History and Culture''.
(b) Purpose.--The purpose of the Museum shall be to provide
for--
(1) the collection, study, and establishment of programs
relating to African American life, art, history, and culture
that encompass--
(A) the period of slavery;
(B) the era of Reconstruction;
(C) the Harlem renaissance;
[[Page H11488]]
(D) the civil rights movement; and
(E) other periods of the African American diaspora;
(2) the creation and maintenance of permanent and temporary
exhibits documenting the history of slavery in America and
African American life, art, history, and culture during the
periods referred to in paragraph (1);
(3) the collection and study of artifacts and documents
relating to African American life, art, history, and culture;
and
(4) collaboration between the Museum and other museums,
historically black colleges and universities, historical
societies, educational institutions, and other organizations
that promote the study or appreciation of African American
life, art, history, or culture, including collaboration
concerning--
(A) development of cooperative programs and exhibitions;
(B) identification, management, and care of collections;
and
(C) training of museum professionals.
SEC. 5. COUNCIL.
(a) Establishment.--There is established within the
Smithsonian Institution a council to be known as the
``National Museum of African American History and Culture
Council''.
(b) Duties.--
(1) In general.--The Council shall--
(A) make recommendations to the Board of Regents concerning
the planning, design, and construction of the Museum;
(B) advise and assist the Board of Regents on all matters
relating to the administration, operation, maintenance, and
preservation of the Museum;
(C) recommend annual operating budgets for the Museum to
the Board of Regents;
(D) report annually to the Board of Regents on the
acquisition, disposition, and display of objects relating to
African American life, art, history, and culture; and
(E) adopt bylaws for the operation of the Council.
(2) Principal responsibilities.--The Council, subject to
the general policies of the Board of Regents, shall have sole
authority to--
(A) purchase, accept, borrow, and otherwise acquire
artifacts for addition to the collections of the Museum;
(B) loan, exchange, sell, and otherwise dispose of any part
of the collections of the Museum, but only if the funds
generated by that disposition are used for additions to the
collections of the Museum; or
(C) specify criteria with respect to the use of the
collections and resources of the Museum, including policies
on programming, education, exhibitions, and research with
respect to--
(i) the life, art, history, and culture of African
Americans;
(ii) the role of African Americans in the history of the
United States from the period of slavery to the present; and
(iii) the contributions of African Americans to society.
(3) Other responsibilities.--The Council, subject to the
general policies of the Board of Regents, shall have
authority--
(A) to provide for preservation, restoration, and
maintenance of the collections of the Museum; and
(B) to solicit, accept, use, and dispose of gifts,
bequests, and devises of personal property for the purpose of
aiding and facilitating the work of the Museum.
(c) Composition and Appointment.--
(1) In general.--The Council shall be composed of 19 voting
members as provided under paragraph (2).
(2) Voting members.--The Council shall include the
following voting members:
(A) The Secretary of the Smithsonian Institution.
(B) 1 member of the Board of Regents, appointed by the
Board of Regents.
(C) 17 individuals appointed by the Board of Regents--
(i) taking into consideration individuals recommended by
organizations and entities that are committed to the
advancement of knowledge of African American life, art,
history, and culture; and
(ii) taking into consideration individuals recommended by
the members of the Council.
(3) Initial appointments.--The Board of Regents shall make
initial appointments to the Council under paragraph (2) not
later than 180 days after the date of enactment of this Act.
(d) Terms.--
(1) In general.--Except as provided in this subsection,
each appointed member of the Council shall be appointed for a
term of 3 years.
(2) Initial appointees.--As designated by the Board of
Regents at the time of appointment, of the voting members
first appointed under subparagraph (C) of subsection (c)(2)--
(A) 6 members shall be appointed for a term of 1 year;
(B) 6 members shall be appointed for a term of 2 years; and
(C) 5 members shall be appointed for a term of 3 years.
(3) Reappointment.--A member of the Council may be
reappointed, except that no individual may serve on the
Council for a total of more than 2 terms. For purposes of
this paragraph, the number of terms an individual serves on
the Council shall not include any portion of a term for which
an individual is appointed to fill a vacancy under paragraph
(4)(B).
(4) Vacancies.--
(A) In general.--A vacancy on the Council--
(i) shall not affect the powers of the Council; and
(ii) shall be filled in the same manner as the original
appointment was made.
(B) Term.--Any member of the Council appointed to fill a
vacancy occurring before the expiration of the term for which
the member's predecessor was appointed shall be appointed for
the remainder of that term.
(e) Compensation.--
(1) In general.--Except as provided in paragraph (2), a
member of the Council shall serve without pay.
(2) Travel expenses.--A member of the Council shall be
allowed travel expenses, including per diem in lieu of
subsistence, at rates authorized for an employee of an agency
under subchapter I of chapter 57 of title 5, United States
Code, while away from the home or regular place of business
of the member in the performance of the duties of the
Council.
(f) Chairperson.--By a majority vote of its voting members,
the Council shall elect a chairperson from its members.
(g) Meetings.--
(1) In general.--The Council shall meet at the call of the
chairperson or on the written request of a majority of the
voting members of the Council, but not fewer than twice each
year.
(2) Initial meetings.--During the 1-year period beginning
on the date of the first meeting of the Council, the Council
shall meet not fewer than 4 times for the purpose of carrying
out the duties of the Council under this Act.
(h) Quorum.--A majority of the voting members of the
Council holding office shall constitute a quorum for the
purpose of conducting business, but a lesser number may
receive information on behalf of the Council.
SEC. 6. DIRECTOR AND STAFF OF THE MUSEUM.
(a) Director.--
(1) In general.--The Museum shall have a Director who shall
be appointed by the Secretary, taking into consideration
individuals recommended by the Council.
(2) Duties.--The Director shall manage the Museum subject
to the policies of the Board of Regents.
(b) Staff.--The Secretary may appoint 2 additional
employees to serve under the Director, except that such
additional employees may be appointed without regard to the
provisions of title 5, United States Code, governing
appointments in the competitive service.
(c) Pay.--The employees appointed by the Secretary under
subsection (b) may be paid without regard to the provisions
of chapter 51 and subchapter III of chapter 53 of title 5,
United States Code, relating to classification of positions
and General Schedule pay rates.
SEC. 7. EDUCATIONAL AND LIAISON PROGRAMS.
(a) In General.--
(1) Programs authorized.--The Director of the Museum may
carry out educational and liaison programs in support of the
goals of the Museum.
(2) Specific activities described.--In carrying out this
section, the Director shall--
(A) carry out educational programs relating to African
American life, art, history, and culture, including--
(i) programs using digital, electronic, and interactive
technologies; and
(ii) programs carried out in collaboration with elementary
schools, secondary schools, and postsecondary schools; and
(B) consult with the Director of the Institute of Museum
and Library Services concerning the grant and scholarship
programs carried out under subsection (b).
(b) Grant and Scholarship Programs.--
(1) In general.--In consultation with the Council and the
Director of the Museum, the Director of the Institute of
Museum and Library Services shall establish--
(A) a grant program with the purpose of improving
operations, care of collections, and development of
professional management at African American museums;
(B) a grant program with the purpose of providing
internship and fellowship opportunities at African American
museums;
(C) a scholarship program with the purpose of assisting
individuals who are pursuing careers or carrying out studies
in the arts, humanities, and sciences in the study of African
American life, art, history, and culture;
(D) in cooperation with other museums, historical
societies, and educational institutions, a grant program with
the purpose of promoting the understanding of modern-day
practices of slavery throughout the world; and
(E) a grant program under which an African-American museum
(including a nonprofit education organization the primary
mission of which is to promote the study of African-American
diaspora) may use the funds provided under the grant to
increase an endowment fund established by the museum (or
organization) as of May 1, 2003, for the purposes of--
(i) enhancing educational programming; and
(ii) maintaining and operating traveling educational
exhibits.
(2) Authorization of appropriations.--There are authorized
to be appropriated to the Director of the Institute of Museum
and Library Services to carry out this subsection--
(A) $15,000,000 for fiscal year 2004; and
(B) such sums as are necessary for each fiscal year
thereafter.
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SEC. 8. BUILDING FOR THE NATIONAL MUSEUM OF AFRICAN AMERICAN
HISTORY AND CULTURE.
(a) In General.--
(1) Location.--
(A) In general.--Not later than 12 months after the date of
the enactment of this Act, the Board of Regents shall
designate a site for the Museum.
(B) Sites for consideration.--In designating a site under
subparagraph (A), the Board of Regents shall select from
among the following sites in the District of Columbia:
(i) The Arts and Industries Building of the Smithsonian
Institution, located on the National Mall at 900 Jefferson
Drive, Southwest, Washington, District of Columbia.
(ii) The area bounded by Constitution Avenue, Madison
Drive, and 14th and 15th Streets, Northwest.
(iii) The site known as the ``Liberty Loan site'', located
on 14th Street Southwest at the foot of the 14th Street
Bridge.
(iv) The site known as the ``Banneker Overlook site'',
located on 10th Street Southwest at the foot of the L'Enfant
Plaza Promenade.
(C) Availability of site.--
(i) In general.--A site described in subparagraph (B) shall
remain available until the date on which the Board of Regents
designates a site for the Museum under subparagraph (A).
(ii) Transfer to smithsonian institution.--Except with
respect to a site described in clause (i) of subparagraph
(B), if the site designated for the Museum is in an area that
is under the administrative jurisdiction of a Federal agency,
as soon as practicable after the date on which the
designation is made, the head of the Federal agency shall
transfer to the Smithsonian Institution administrative
jurisdiction over the area.
(D) Consultation.--The Board of Regents shall carry out its
duties under this paragraph in consultation with the
following:
(i) The Chair of the National Capital Planning Commission.
(ii) The Chair of the Commission on Fine Arts.
(iii) The Chair and Vice Chair of the Presidential
Commission referred to in section 10.
(iv) The Chair of the Building and Site Subcommittee of the
Presidential Commission referred to in section 10.
(v) The Chair and ranking minority member of each of the
following Committees:
(I) The Committee on Rules and Administration of the
Senate.
(II) The Committee on House Administration of the House of
Representatives.
(III) The Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure of
the House of Representatives.
(IV) The Committee on Appropriations of the House of
Representatives.
(V) The Committee on Appropriations of the Senate.
(2) Construction of building.--The Board of Regents, in
consultation with the Council, may plan, design, and
construct a building for the Museum, which shall be located
at the site designated by the Board of Regents under this
paragraph.
(3) Nonapplicability of provisions relating to monuments
and commemorative works.--Chapter 89 of title 40, United
States Code, shall not apply with respect to the Museum.
(b) Cost Sharing.--The Board of Regents shall pay--
(1) 50 percent of the costs of carrying out this section
from Federal funds; and
(2) 50 percent of the costs of carrying out this section
from non-Federal sources.
(c) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized
to be appropriated such sums as are necessary to carry out
this section.
SEC. 9. CONGRESSIONAL BUDGET ACT COMPLIANCE.
Authority under this Act to enter into contracts or to make
payments shall be effective in any fiscal year only to the
extent provided in advance in an appropriations Act, except
as provided under section 11(b).
SEC. 10. CONSIDERATION OF RECOMMENDATIONS OF PRESIDENTIAL
COMMISSION.
In carrying out their duties under this Act, the Council
and the Board of Regents shall take into consideration the
reports and plans submitted by the National Museum of African
American History and Culture Plan for Action Presidential
Commission under the National Museum of African American
History and Culture Plan for Action Presidential Commission
Act of 2001 (Public Law 107-106).
SEC. 11. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.
(a) In General.--There are authorized to be appropriated to
the Smithsonian Institution to carry out this Act, other than
sections 7(b) and 8--
(1) $17,000,000 for fiscal year 2004; and
(2) such sums as are necessary for each fiscal year
thereafter.
(b) Availability.--Amounts made available under subsection
(a) shall remain available until expended.
(c) Use of Funds for Fundraising.--Amounts appropriated
pursuant to the authorization under this section may be used
to conduct fundraising in support of the Museum from private
sources.
The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Pearce). Pursuant to the rule, the
gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Ney) and the gentleman from Connecticut (Mr.
Larson) each will control 20 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Ney).
Mr. NEY. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, H.R. 3491 establishes the National Museum of African
American History and Culture within the Smithsonian Institution. This
is a long, long overdue bill. This is a proud night for the House and a
proud night for all in the United States, for citizens of all races,
all ethnic backgrounds, and people of all income levels and all walks
of life here in our great country. I am very proud that this Congress,
the 108th Congress, has stepped up to the plate to pass this bill. This
concept for such a museum has been around for quite some time, but it
has never been this close to reality as tonight. The credit for
bringing us to where we are tonight rests with the gentleman from
Georgia (Mr. Lewis), who has worked tirelessly, endlessly on this
legislation since 1988. The gentleman from Georgia (Mr. Lewis) has
paired up with the gentleman from Georgia (Mr. Kingston), another
fellow Georgian in this Congress, and together they have worked in a
bipartisan manner with many of our colleagues to address any concerns
and surmount any barriers in the way of this bill. I also want to thank
the gentleman from Connecticut (Mr. Larson), our ranking member, and
the members of the Committee on House Administration who have worked, I
believe, in a very quick and diligent manner to have this bill again
come to a vote on the floor of the U.S. House.
Credit also should be given to the gentleman from Ohio (Mr.
LaTourette) and the gentlewoman from the District of Columbia (Ms.
Norton) whose subcommittee has jurisdiction over the construction
portion of the museum. Without the help of these Members, Mr. Speaker,
and their staff, reaching a consensus would not have been possible
within the time frame in which it was achieved.
The establishment of this museum will go a long way in educating our
future generations and recognizing the many contributions of African
Americans throughout our Nation's history. The proposed museum would
take a step in acknowledging many, and I repeat, many of the sacrifices
that have been made and provide a comprehensive history about
significant events and individuals.
Several years ago Congress agreed that in order to take the next step
towards this museum, any remaining questions or issues had to be
resolved. In December of 2001, President Bush signed Public Law 107-
106, which created a Presidential Commission to research and evaluate
issues related to the establishment of the proposed African American
Museum and to develop a plan for action to bring this vision to
reality.
This Presidential Commission should also be applauded for their
diligent work and research on the proposed museum. Their hard work
provided us with many answers to questions related to site location,
potential costs for museum, the fund-raising ability of the private
sector, and the potential for exhibits and artifacts for this museum.
The proposed museum will reside within the structure of the
Smithsonian Institution. As the Nation's keeper of history and culture,
the Smithsonian is an ideal body of inclusion for just such a museum.
This bill authorizes the Smithsonian to identify a site for the museum
from a list of recommended sites provided to Congress from the
Presidential Commission. Once a site has been selected, the legislation
authorizes the Smithsonian's governing Board of Regents to plan,
design, and construct a building for the museum that will be paid for
through a public/private partnership which would be split 50 percent
Federal funds and 50 percent private funding, and I have no doubt
tonight, and I talked with the gentleman from Georgia (Mr. Lewis) about
this and our ranking member and other Members, and I have no doubt,
again I want to stress, that the private funding will be there. Support
for this will come from not only the United States, but I believe from
around the world of citizens realizing this great museum and its
tremendous worth to all people in the United States.
This legislation authorizes an initial amount of $17 million for
fiscal year 2004 for carrying out this act, and it further authorizes
an initial amount of
[[Page H11490]]
$15 million for fiscal year 2004 that will be used for education and
liaison programs that will be used to carry out the goals of this
museum.
Langston Hughes, a great African American author and poet, said
``Dream your dreams but be willing to pay the sacrifice to make them
come true.'' African Americans have paid many sacrifices in this
country, and tonight the gentleman from Georgia (Mr. Lewis) and the
other Members that are supporting this have had a dream and they have
surely paid the sacrifice of their time, their efforts, and all the
promotion of this museum, which is going to be such a positive force
for our country.
This proposed museum has broad bipartisan support from both Houses of
Congress, the administration, and the Smithsonian Institution. It is a
worthwhile project that will have a very positive and lasting influence
on our country for today and also tomorrow's generations. And I urge my
colleagues to support this bill.
Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. LARSON of Connecticut. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I
may consume.
I rise in strong support of H.R. 3491 on this historic day and to
congratulate the gentleman from Georgia (Mr. Lewis), a living legacy on
the culmination of 17 years of work in this House to create this
national museum within the Smithsonian. His effort has been part of a
broader campaign spanning nearly 90 years to obtain recognition for the
contributions of African Americans to our Nation's history and culture.
The chairman has said it well. This is a proud day for all Americans
and indeed for our country and for this great Chamber. This gentleman
of vision will rise later and address this issue.
I also want to congratulate the gentlewoman from the District of
Columbia (Ms. Norton), member of the Committee on Transportation and
Infrastructure, as the chairman mentioned, along with the gentleman
from Ohio (Mr. LaTourette), who has jurisdiction over the project. She
vigorously presented the views of the citizens of our Nation's capital
who live in the shadow of many museums, monuments, and other historic
structures representing America's living history. She is, as we all
know, the First Lady of Washington, D.C.
I would especially like to thank the gentleman from Ohio (Chairman
Ney) and especially for the sensitivity and his deep appreciation for
the historic significance and importance of this issue to his fellow
colleagues and to this Nation we are all pledged to serve. He not only
expedited the hearings, but he also brought this bill to the floor in a
timely manner, so that to paraphrase Martin Luther King, we might be
able to say here at last, here at last, thank God Almighty, this bill
is here at last.
In addition, I want to thank the majority staff members, Paul
Vinovich, who is here today, and George Hadijski. Their efforts, as
people on this committee know, in order to move this bill forward were
so critical, and again their great sensitivity and concern and outreach
to all parties, I think, is testimony to how this committee works and
certainly a tribute to the chairman of this committee, and I cannot
thank them enough for what they have done this evening. It brings great
pride to African Americans, Americans in general, and it makes it an
honor for all of us to be a part of it.
I would be remiss if I did not commend the minority committee staff
as well, Susan Brita of the Committee on Transportation and
Infrastructure, and of course the irrepressible and irresistible Matt
Pinkus for his great contribution to the Committee on House
Administration and for their work on this bill and previous Congresses
on behalf of the two House committees of primary jurisdiction.
We are also here today due to the work of the National Museum of
African American History and Culture Plan for Action Presidential
Commission, created by Public Law 107-106, which presented this report
and recommendations to us on April 2, 2003. In addition to the
Commission, the Board of Regents of the Smithsonian has consistently
supported the museum while helping us create a new entity that can be
appropriately managed within the traditional Smithsonian framework of
governance.
I am equally proud of the fact that the AMISTAD America not only
supports this, but will be a key part of this museum. I had the great
honor to bring many of the members of the Congressional Black Caucus to
Connecticut when we christened the Amistad, and indeed that was a
highlight for me and so many of my colleagues to come to Connecticut
and see the christening of this historic boat, and what a historic
journey that has been as well.
Mr. Speaker, I yield 7 minutes to the distinguished gentleman from
Georgia (Mr. Lewis), who was responsible for this bill being on the
floor.
Mr. LEWIS of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I want to thank the gentleman from
Connecticut (Mr. Larson), the ranking member, for yielding me this
time.
Mr. Speaker, I rise tonight in support of H.R. 3491, the National
African American Museum History and Culture Act. First I would like to
thank all of my colleagues who have labored long days, weeks, months,
and even years to help realize a dream deferred for nearly 100 years,
the establishment of a national museum that documents the significant
contributions of African Americans.
It has been my honor and pleasure to work with the gentleman from the
State of Georgia (Mr. Kingston), my dear friend, but tonight in
addition to thanking the gentleman from Georgia (Mr. Kingston), I also
want to thank the gentleman from Ohio (Chairman Ney) for not giving up,
for not giving in, for not giving out. And I thank the gentleman from
Connecticut (Mr. Larson), ranking member, for his commitment to making
the National African American Museum a reality. I want to commend the
gentleman from Ohio (Chairman LaTourette) and the gentlewoman from the
District of Columbia (Ms. Norton), ranking member, for all of their
help. It is important to thank Senator Brownback and Senator Dodd for
championing this legislation in the other body. Tonight I also want to
thank our former colleague, Congressman J.C. Watts for his effort on
this bill.
The effort to create a National African American Museum has not been
easy. It has been a long, hard, and tedious journey. We are here today
because Members, staff, and many supporters really never gave up. They
did not give out. They did not give in. I want to thank my staff, Tammy
Boyd and others, who worked so hard.
When we began this journey, we often said that we must pace ourselves
for the long haul and we must keep the faith. We paced ourselves for
the journey. We diligently planted our seeds and tilled a sometimes
hardened soil. And now the many supporters of the African American
Museum can and will finally see the fruit of their labor.
The passage of this legislation will send a powerful message to
supporters of the museum that we must organize and mobilize our effort
to raise the necessary money to build a National African American
Museum.
During every session of the Congress for the past 15 years, I have
introduced legislation to establish a National African American Museum.
This bill was passed in the Senate but not in the House in 1992, and
another bill was passed in the House but not in the Senate in 1994.
Today the bill will pass both Houses of Congress. This bill will be
signed by the President of the United States into law, and we will
build the National African American Museum.
The African American story must be told, and a National African
American Museum in Washington, D.C. is critical to telling that story.
African American history is the story of hundreds, thousands, and
millions of ordinary men, women, and children struggling to survive in
a land where they were denied the fundamental rights, dignity, and
respect that belong to all human beings. This is the story that we must
tell.
We have come a long way in our quest to become one Nation and one
people. We have made such tremendous strides that the young people
today cannot imagine living in a country where they could not eat where
they wanted to eat or sit where they wanted to sit.
{time} 2130
They cannot imagine a country where they could be beaten, shot, or
even lynched because of the color of
[[Page H11491]]
their skin. Yet, this was the country that I grew up in, and this is
the history that we must tell.
The time is long overdue to recognize the contribution of one of the
members of our American family. Mr. Speaker, the time is always right
to reright, the cause is just, and the time is now. Let it be done on
our watch. Let us create a National Museum of African American history
and Culture. Again, I thank the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Ney), the
chairman, the gentleman from Connecticut (Mr. Larson), the ranking
member, and all of the staff for bringing us to this point.
I urge all of my colleagues to support H.R. 3491, a National African
American Museum.
Mr. NEY. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. LARSON of Connecticut. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the
distinguished gentlewoman from California (Ms. Millender-McDonald), who
is an outstanding member of our committee.
Ms. MILLENDER-McDONALD. Mr. Speaker, let me first thank my chairman
and ranking member, the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Ney), and the
gentleman from Connecticut (Mr. Larson) for their constant sensitivity
on issues that are critical to many members and all Members of this
House. I am so happy and honored to serve on the committee with both of
these giants who share so much of their leadership and reflect their
leadership in the work that they do.
Mr. Speaker, I would also like to thank the gentleman from Georgia
(Mr. Lewis) and the former Congressman J.C. Watts for their initiation
of this well-deserved project and for their great leadership and
sensitivity in bringing this to the House.
Throughout United States history, African Americans have made
significant contributions in terms of building up the cultural,
business, academic, and civic institutions of this Nation. Without the
input of African Americans into the moral, spiritual and political
aspects of American life, this country would be a much different place.
In that spirit, I am here to offer my wholehearted support as a
cosponsor of H.R. 3491, calling for the creation of a museum devoted to
celebrating the history of African Americans in this Nation. The intent
of this museum will be to feature the many highlights of African
American life in this country from the time of slavery through the era
of Reconstruction, the Harlem Renaissance, the Civil Rights Movement,
to present-day events.
Our young people of all backgrounds, as well as those most recently
arrived in the United States from other parts of the world, must be
made aware of the rich traditions added by African Americans to all
facets of American life. There are multitalented individuals of African
American and other ancestries waiting for approval of this museum's
construction to start so that they can begin to shape the content of
the museum's offering for the public to enjoy.
There has been much discussion regarding the potential location of
the museum. I have the utmost faith that we as a Congress can pass this
long-overdue legislation and agree upon a site that will most ably
honor the legacy of African Americans while providing the best possible
option in terms of a location.
For 15 years, the gentleman from Georgia (Mr. Lewis) has continuously
pushed for the construction of a museum recognizing the extraordinary
history and achievements of African Americans. Let us reward his
perseverance by passing this bill, H.R. 3491, so the business of
building this museum can get underway.
I also want to commend the gentlewoman from the District of Columbia
(Ms. Norton), the gentleman from Georgia (Mr. Kingston), the gentleman
from Mississippi (Mr. Wicker), and the gentleman from Ohio (Mr.
LaTourette), along with Senators Brownback and Dodd, as well as many
others for the leadership and vision they have shown in working to make
this African American museum a reality.
It is time now, Mr. Speaker, that we move forward with the approval
of this legislation and allow the African American museum to be witness
in the honor of all African Americans past, present, and those
generations yet unborn.
Mr. NEY. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. LARSON of Connecticut. Mr. Speaker, I yield 5 minutes to the
gentlewoman from the District of Columbia (Ms. Norton), the first lady
of the District, who is the ranking member on the Committee on
Transportation and Infrastructure that the chairman duly noted in his
remarks who was so instrumental in bringing this legislation before us.
(Ms. NORTON asked and was given permission to revise and extend her
remarks.)
Ms. NORTON. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from Connecticut (Mr.
Larson) for his graciousness and for yielding to me. I want to first
offer my gratitude to the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Ney) and the
gentleman from Connecticut (Mr. Larson) who had to get us all together
and work very closely with us so that we could achieve agreement on
this bill, agreement that would be accepted by the other body as well.
That took some skill.
I need to compliment and thank my good friend, the gentleman from
Ohio (Mr. LaTourette), the chair of the Transportation subcommittee
which has jurisdiction over this bill, the Subcommittee on Economic
Development, Public Buildings and Emergency Management, because his
patience and graciousness were important here, as well as in not
insisting that we have yet another hearing on the bill but move forward
rapidly so that the bill could be approved during this session.
But, of course, no one deserves more credit for what we do tonight
than my good friend and colleague, the gentleman from Georgia (Mr.
Lewis), whom I knew as a colleague in another life, a colleague in a
life in which he was held in just the high esteem that he is held in
this body, and that says something. So it is perfectly fitting that the
major sponsor of this bill would be the gentleman from Georgia (Mr.
Lewis). Who would have thought 40 years ago that he or I would be here
or that there would ever be such a bill.
It is a great tribute to the gentleman from Georgia (Mr. Lewis) that
when he first came to the Congress and was a part of the Committee on
Transportation and the subcommittee that has jurisdiction that this is
one of the first bills that he authored. So for him, this is a stellar
moment. In a real sense what we do tonight is to pick up the baton. It
has been dropped over and over again for 100 years. There have been
many tries in both Houses. And what is important about what we do
tonight is that we brought both Houses together.
I remember being on the committee when we passed the bill, guided it
to the floor, thought we had the work done. Tonight, we know we have
the work done because we know both Houses approved this bill.
Why an African American museum? I do want to say a word about that.
Because there might be museums, perhaps should be museums for many,
many kinds of people who have come to our shores. And I take nothing
from them when I say that I hope that they attain some such recognition
in our city. But no one can doubt that there is no American story
without telling the story of African Americans in this country who came
to this country as it was being founded, as it was being born, before
it was a Nation.
We cannot understand the greatness of our Nation without
understanding what our country has overcome. We can know that we can do
anything if we come to grips with where we were, understand it, and see
where we have come to. We are a Nation who started with original sin,
with slavery, and then progressed only to discrimination under law.
And what makes this story so important for us, and for Americans of
every background, is to look at the history and where it has brought
us. If we start even in this city, the city of my birth, and see the
end of slavery, the establishment of the Freeman's Bureau and Howard
University named for a Civil War general, but then look at the sad
history of this city, the Capital of the United States, where I went to
segregated schools and had public accommodations that were segregated.
But then look to the poor people's campaign and the march on Washington
and the triumph of true Americanism,
[[Page H11492]]
this story needs to be told. Because when we get discouraged about not
being all we want to be, we need to go to an African American museum
and see from whence we came.
Finally, let me say that my own constituents, the people of the
District of Columbia, this majority African American city have been in
true Thanksgiving that we would get to this day. I commend the
Presidential commission consisting of many citizens from across the
Nation, including citizens of this town that have worked single-
handedly for this bill. But for the people who live here, who consider
themselves the guardians of the city's museums and monuments, this is a
very special day. We promise to indeed be a guardian of this museum, to
work closely with my good friends the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Ney) and
the gentleman from Connecticut (Mr. Larson), with all of those who have
supported us on this bill, so we can raise the funds now that we have
an obligation in writing, in this bill, from our country to, in fact,
realize this bill so that we can all be at the groundbreaking. I thank
both gentlemen again for their leadership on this bill.
Mr. Speaker, I am proud to be cosponsor of H.R. 3491, a bill to
establish within the Smithsonian complex the National Museum of African
American History and Culture. The most important new national museum in
decades as we take this giant step to making the museum a reality,
praise and thanks must be extended to Congressman John Lewis, my friend
who introduced this bill when he was first elected to Congress and
before I was elected to Congress.
My strong support for this bill has several sources. I have been a
cosponsor of the museum bill since my first term in Congress in 1991. I
have been a member of the Transportation Subcommittee that often
considered the museum bill during the several years when the museum was
repeatedly debated and voted. The House passed the museum bill during
the 103rd Congress only to have Senator Jesse Helms stop it in the
Senate. I represent the District of Columbia whose residents consider
themselves the guardians of our memorials, a city with a majority
African-American population that has watched and waited from the front
row for the promised museum. I am a fourth generation Washingtonian
with what I must admit is a personal stake that I trace to my great
grandfather, Richard Holmes, who walked away from slavery in Virginia
long before the Civil War to start a new life and a family in the
District, where my family has long awaited the museum. Finally, I am an
African-American who joins millions of blacks and people of every color
and background that have asked for the promise of an African American
museum to be kept.
This bill is a good bill. It lists four sites for the location of the
museum. I am pleased to see the working relationships between the
Smithsonian and the National Capitol Planning Commission (NCPC) are
preserved. The bill provides that the Board of Regents will consult
with not only the NCPC and the Commission on Fine Arts, but also the
Chair and Vice Chair of the Presidential Commission, and further the
Chair of the Commission's Site Subcommittee. The appropriate
Congressional Committees will also be consulted regarding the final
site selection. The bill also provides for a 50/50 split in cost
sharing for the museum, 50% of the cost to be paid by the federal
government and 50% to come from the private sector. Finally, the bill
authorizes $17m in FY04 for the Smithsonian to carry out its duties
under the Act and such sums as are necessary for each fiscal year
thereafter.
This bill is especially appreciated, considering that in one form or
another this subject has been before Congress for nearly 100 years.
Civil War veterans first raised the idea of a memorial as they sought
recognition for their service to their country in all its wars and for
their ancestors because the country's large population of slaves, free
blacks and their descendants were instrumental in building our nation.
Colonel Charles Young, the highest ranking African American officer and
the third black graduate of West Point asked Congress in 1919 for ``a
memorial to the Negro dead and that that memorial be the thing for
which these Negroes gave their lives--liberty, justice, equal
opportunities and educational facilities, the suppression of lynching
by making it a federal crime [and] the abolition of jimcrow [sic]
cars.'' No one can doubt that the case for the museum has long ago been
made. It was accepted and recognized by Congress as a worthy project,
including a $50,000 appropriation even in 1929, at a time when racial
segregation was the law of the land.
Much work has been done, and much work lies ahead of us, but passage
of this bill will be a giant step forward to placing African American
history in its appropriate place in our Nation's story. Mr. Speaker I
would like to quote from the museum's mission statement:
``The National Museum of African American History and Culture will
give voice to the centrality of the African American experience and
will make it possible for all people to understand the depth,
complexity, and promise of the American experience. The museum will
serve as a national forum for collaboration with educational and
cultural institutions in the continuing quest for freedom, truth, and
human dignity.''
H.R. 3491 is a historic bill. I urge my colleagues to join me in
supporting this bill.
Mr. NEY. Mr. Speaker, at this time I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman
from Georgia (Mr. Gingrey).
Mr. GINGREY. Mr. Speaker, I thank the chairman, the gentleman from
Ohio (Mr. Ney) for yielding. I stand tonight to support the gentleman
from Georgia (Mr. Lewis), my colleague, the honorable and distinguished
Representative from the 5th District. I want to say how proud I am to,
as a freshman Member, to be able to support what he has been working on
for these past 15 years and supporting H.R. 3491, the creation of a
National Museum of African Culture and History. And I thank the
gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Ney) and the gentleman from Connecticut
(Ranking Member Larson), and the gentlewoman from the District of
Columbia (Ms. Norton) for their support in trying to bring this long-
term effort of this great Member of Congress to fruition.
And I just want to tell the gentleman how much I appreciate what he
has done and how much respect I have for him. When we go back and talk
to our spouses sometimes at the end of the week about what the
experience was up here, I have said often to her that the gentleman
from Georgia (Mr. Lewis) has been one of the nicest and kindest Members
of this body to me, a freshman, reaching out on many occasions to make
me feel warm and accepted. So I do take great pleasure in standing here
tonight and supporting this.
I hope some day that I will be able to bring my grandchildren through
that museum, and I hope he is there to explain to them some of the
history that he knows so well, better than so many people, because he
has experienced it, and he has brought more to racial healing than
hardly anybody I can think of in this country. I commend him for it. I
wholeheartedly support this bill.
Mr. LARSON of Connecticut. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I
may consume.
Mr. Speaker, let me close by saying what great pride I have this
evening, especially to stand with two colleagues who will definitely be
in that museum, to be here with two outstanding Members of Congress who
are a living legacy, the gentleman from Georgia (Mr. Lewis) and the
gentlewoman from the District of Columbia (Ms. Norton). Their deeds
speak so highly of their commitment.
This week we will celebrate or look back on the passing of President
Kennedy. President Kennedy was fond of saying that communities reveal
an awful lot about themselves in memorials, monuments that they create.
What a great and lasting tribute my colleagues are leaving through
their great efforts with the establishment and creation of this museum.
Mr. Speaker, I look forward to seeing this project through to its
fruition.
Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
{time} 2145
Mr. NEY. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Let
me close by thanking the gentleman from Georgia (Mr. Lewis), the
gentleman from Georgia (Mr. Kingston), the primary authors of this
bill, our colleagues Senator Dodd and Senator Brownback, our ranking
member, members of House Administration.
I noted earlier that this was going to be for future generations. I
need to note also that this is for the memory of all past generations.
I urge all Members to support the bill.
Mr. CUMMINGS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of the National
Museum of African-American History and Culture Act of 2003, H.R. 3491.
This important piece of legislation will establish a national African-
American museum within the Smithsonian Institution, a preeminent
position on our national mall.
Since the arrival of the first Africans at Jamestown, Virginia in
1619, African-Americans have played an integral role in the overall
development of this great nation. We have endured the cruelties and
degradation of the Middle Passage, slavery, lynchings, Jim-
[[Page H11493]]
Crowism, social injustice, segregation, and discrimination. However,
our strong faith and belief in the promise of America has enabled us to
persevere in the face of adversity.
In all areas of life, African Americans have made an important
contribution. In music, from jazz to hip-hop, African Americans
continue to have a strong influence upon our nation's musical heritage.
From Langston Hughes and Richard Wright, to Maya Angelou and Toni
Morrison, African Americans have enriched this country's literary
heritage. We have excelled in film, sports, and business and continue
to sow into the life of this nation.
African American scientists, inventors, educators, and physicians,
such as Dr. Charles Drew and Dr. Ben Carson to name a few, have and
continue to enrich the daily lives of all Americans--from developing
blood transfusion and blood bank procedures to learning the path of the
mind to perform delicate brain surgery. Inventors, such as Garrett
Morris and Granville T. Woods to name just a few, have developed
everything from the stoplight and gas mask to critical railway
switching technology.
Additionally, we have proudly served our nation with distinction in
every war--from the Revolutionary War to today in Operation Iraqi
Freedom. The struggle for freedom, equality, and civil rights has
always been a struggle for the full realization of true democracy in
America. Our legacy is firmly ingrained in the very fabric of this
democracy. However, in spite of our triumphs and accomplishments, there
does not exist a national museum located in Washington D.C. on or near
the National Mall dedicated to the documentation of African American
history. This bill creates such a museum.
The National Museum of African American History and Culture would
properly collect, preserve, exhibit, and honor, on a national level,
the period of slavery, Reconstruction, the Harlem Renaissance, and
other periods associated with African American life, art, history, and
culture. Not only will this national repository of the Black experience
in America be viewed by millions of tourists who flock to the nation's
capital each year, but will be accessible to students and scholars
alike. It will also demonstrate to our youth that they can take pride
in their rich cultural heritage.
Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to lend their support to this
important piece of legislation. I would just like to take this
opportunity to thank my distinguished colleague, Representative John
Lewis, for his tireless dedication and leadership. Mr. Lewis has
committed more than 10 years of his life to the vision of a national
monument celebrating the legacy of African Americans on the national
mall. We are now on the verge of making that dream a reality. Please
support this bipartisan bill.
I also extend my sincere appreciation to Representatives Jack
Kingston and Roger Wicker, and Senators Sam Brownback and Christopher
Dodd for their leadership.
Mr. NEY. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Pearce). The question is on the motion
offered by the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Ney) that the House suspend the
rules and pass the bill, H.R. 3491.
The question was taken.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. In the opinion of the Chair, two-thirds of
those present have voted in the affirmative.
Mr. LEWIS of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and
nays.
The yeas and nays were ordered.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to clause 8 of rule XX and the
Chair's prior announcement, further proceedings on this motion will be
postponed.
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