Congressional Record, Volume 149 Issue 169 (Thursday, November 20, 2003)

[Congressional Record Volume 149, Number 169 (Thursday, November 20, 2003)]
[Senate]
[Pages S15303-S15306]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

ESTABLISHING THE NATIONAL MUSEUM OF AFRICAN AMERICAN HISTORY AND
CULTURE

Mr. FRIST. I ask unanimous consent that the Senate now proceed to the
immediate consideration of H.R. 3491, which is at the desk.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will report the bill by title.
The legislative clerk read as follows:

A bill (H.R. 3491) to establish within the Smithsonian
Institution the National Museum of African American History
and Culture, and for other purposes.

There being no objection, the Senate proceeded to consider the bill.
Mr. BROWNBACK. Mr. President, 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 that 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, I am proud to stand here with my colleagues, from both the
House and the Senate, and announce the passage of the National Museum
of African-American History and Culture Act. After over 70 years, we
have finally created a museum to honor--nationally--the contributions
and sacrifice of African Americans in this country.
I would specifically like to thank Senator Dodd, who was committed to
honoring this history and has worked hard to get us to this point
today.
I would also like to thank Senator Trent Lott for his unwavering
support to move this bill through the Committee of Jurisdiction. As
well as Senator Ted Stevens for his leadership and commitment to this
project.
Additionally, I would like to recognize Senator Santorum for his
continued unwavering commitment to this bill as well as the majority
leader of the Senate, Senator Bill Frist. It means a great deal to have
such widespread support and I am grateful.
Perhaps most important, I would like to thank Representative John
Lewis for championing this bill for over 15 years. It has been a
pleasure for me to work with you, John, on this bill.
With the creation of this museum, we will celebrate a rich and
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

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stand here today with my colleagues and celebrate the passage of this
wonderful bill.
Perhaps most important, I believe that this museum will be a catalyst
for needed racial reconciliation in this country. There will be many
tears shed at this museum--tears that cleanse the soul and that
transcend race, creed, and color.
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 there waiting for a home--a
national home and today we have ensured that there will indeed be a
home for such artifacts.

Specifically, this bill creates 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.
The legislation outlines a museum that 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 instructs the director of the museum to create
and oversee an education and program liaison section designed to work
with educational institutions and museums across the country in order
to promote African-American history.
Finally, the bill sets fourth a federal-private partnership for
funding the museum and creates a council for the museum, which will be
comprised from a mixture of leading African Americans from the museum,
historical, and business communities.
I do not pretend that this museum is a panacea for racial
reconciliation. It is, however, a productive step in recognizing the
important contributions African Americans have made to this country.
Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. once expressed his desire for this
Nation, ``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 today--God bless.
Mr. DODD. Mr. President, today is a truly historic day. After nearly
three-quarters of a century of trying, a national museum dedicated to
telling the story of the African American struggle and contribution to
the founding and development of this country is about to be realized
with passage of H.R. 3491, legislation to create a National Museum of
African American History and Culture.
Many individuals are to be congratulated and thanked for their
efforts to bring this dream to fruition. In the Senate, my
distinguished colleague and author of legislation this Congress to
authorize the African American Museum, Senator Sam Brownback, has been
a champion of this effort for the past two Congresses. I was pleased to
be his coauthor on this measure.
As chairman of the Senate Rules Committee last Congress, it was my
great honor to work with him to produce legislation to create the
Presidential Commission, whose report underpinned the legislation we
introduced earlier this year. We would not be voting on this matter
today but for the continuing efforts of Senator Brownback.
In the House, my good friend, Congressman Bob Ney, and my friend and
colleague from Connecticut, Congressman John Larson, worked with us to
find a compromise that could be supported in the House and shepherded
this legislation to passage on the House suspension calendar on
Wednesday by an overwhelming vote of 409 to 9. Their diligence and
dedication to this effort was tireless.
But no one deserves more credit for helping to realize this dream
than does my dear friend from Georgia, Congressman John Lewis. This
bill is truly his dream, his inspiration, his vision, his mission.
For nearly 12 years John Lewis has made creation of this museum his
personal crusade. It has been a labor of love and while the road has
been long and filled with bumps, the victory today is his victory. I
salute John Lewis for his courage and tireless dedication to this
cause.
But the ultimate winner today is not just a handful of Members, it is
our Nation as a whole. For today, Congress has acted to heal old wounds
of the past and formally acknowledge that the stories and contributions
of African Americans to the birth and growth of this great Nation must
be told to complete our history.
Since 1929, efforts have been made to recognize the contributions and
unique history of Americans of African descent. It is past time that we
publicly acknowledge and incorporate the African American experience
into our collective identity.
This legislation will help ensure that the compelling stories and
invaluable contributions of African Americans to our national fabric
will no longer be ignored, but shared with all Americans, indeed, all
peoples of the world.
With the creation of the National Museum of African American History
and Culture, Americans of all races, ethnic backgrounds, and personal
histories can come together to celebrate the contributions of all
Americans to the rich heritage and culture that is the American melting
pot.
That is the essence of this legislation--the completion of the
American story of our quest for freedom and truth through the public
incorporation of the experiences and contributions of African Americans
to that struggle. This Museum offers the promise and hope that all
Americans can come to understand the full story of how this nation was
formed.
The House bill before us is virtually identical to the bill Senator
Brownback and I introduced in May of this year, S. 1157, which the
Senate passed on June 23rd.
This legislation directs the Smithsonian Institution to establish a
museum known as the National Museum of African American History and
Culture. Within 12 months of enactment, the Smithsonian Board of
Regents will choose a site for this Museum from among four sites listed
in the bill.
With regard to the sites available for selection, the House bill
deletes the Capitol grounds site contained in the Senate-passed bill
and substitutes a fourth site, known as the ``Banneker Overlook site''
located on 10th Street Southwest at the foot of the L'Enfant Plaza
promenade on axis with the Smithsonian Castle.
The bill directs that, prior to the selection of the site, the Board
of Regents will consult with the chair of the National Capital Planning
Commission and the chair of the Commission on Fine Arts, as well as the
chairman of the Presidential Commission, Congressional oversight
committees and others.
In the meantime, the Smithsonian Board of Regents will appoint a 19
member council, comprised of leaders within the African American
community and others, to advise the Regents on the development, design
and construction of the Museum.
With regard to the selection of these council members, I was
disappointed that the House deleted a provision in the Senate-passed
bill which would have required that at least 9 members of the council
be of African American descent.
This important provision in the Senate-passed bill was modeled on
provisions of the act which created the National Museum of the American
Indian. As in the case of that Museum, this language was intended to
ensure that the sensitivities and perspectives of those individuals
whose stories this Museum will tell are properly considered and
portrayed.

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Although I regret that the House deleted this provision, the bill
still requires that, in appointing 17 of the 19 members of the council,
the Board of Regents take into consideration individuals recommended by
organizations and entities that are committed to the advancement of
knowledge of African American life, art, history, and culture.
Although this change weakens the Senate version of this bill some,
the Smithsonian Institution can still ensure the integrity of the
content of this museum by appointing members to the council in keeping
with the Senate's original intent. As the ranking member of the Rules
Committee which has oversight jurisdiction over the Smithsonian, I look
forward to working with the Smithsonian to see that this happens.
This Museum will include exhibits and programs relating to all
aspects of African American life, art, history, and culture from the
time of slavery through present day and will provide leadership to
other museums and will collaborate with historically Black colleges and
universities and educational organizations to ensure the integrity of
the exhibits and programming and to broaden the reach of its story and
mission.
The House compromise also retains provisions of the Senate-passed
bill which authorizes a grant program within the National Institute of
Museum and Library Services. This program is intended to support
organizations dedicated to expanding the knowledge of the African
American experience and slavery by providing support for improving
operations, care of collections, and intern and scholarship programs.
Equally important is a provision which will provide grants to
nonprofit organizations whose primary purpose is to promote the study
of the African American diaspora. Such grants can be used to increase
existing endowment funds for the purpose of enhancing education
programs and maintaining and operating traveling exhibits.
In Connecticut, we are fortunate to have such an organization in
Amistad America, Inc. Amistad America is a national, non-profit
educational organization dedicated to promoting the legacies of the
Amistad incident of 1839 through the traveling exhibit of the freedom
schooner Amistad.
The Amistad is literally a floating classroom which celebrates and
teaches the historic lessons of perseverance, leadership, cooperation,
justice, and freedom inherent in the Amistad Incident. Although its
home port is New Haven, CT, the freedom schooner Amistad travels to
both national and international ports to bring the story of our
collective history and the continuing struggle for equality and human
rights to school children and adults around the globe.
It is through the efforts of such organizations as Amistad America,
with the support of the new Museum of African American History and
Culture and the National Institute of Museum and Library Services, that
we can ensure that the lessons of the past are not lost on current or
future generations.
In short, this legislation offers the hope that through knowledge and
education, the history of the struggles for freedom and equality of
some Americans becomes the interwoven history of all Americans and
ensures that future generations will not have to repeat such struggles.
I was honored to be the lead Democratic sponsor of this legislation
in the Senate, and I am honored to stand before the Senate today to
urge my colleagues to adopt this compromise which the House has passed
and send this measure to the President for his signature.
We would not be at this point today without the dedication and
assistance of many people, including the staff who labor many hours and
late into the night to facilitate the legislative process. At the risk
of leaving someone off the list, I want to recognize those staff for
their considerable contributions to this measure, including LaRochelle
Young of Senator Brownback's staff; Michael Collins and Tammy Boyd of
Congressman John Lewis's staff; Paul Vinovich and George Hagijski of
Congressman Bob Ney's House Administration Committee staff; George
Shevlin and Matt Pinkus of Congressman John Larson's House
Administration Committee staff; Susan Brita of Congressman James
Oberstar's House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee staff; Dan
Mathews of Congressman Steven LaTourette's Transportation and
Infrastructure Committee staff; Bill Johnson of Congressman Jack
Kingston's staff; and Kennie Gill of my Rules Committee staff.
The action we take today is historic not only in its ability to unify
this nation, but in its message to the world that we recognize and
cherish the contributions of all Americans to the creation of this
great democracy.
Mr. FRIST. I ask unanimous consent that the bill be read the third
time and passed, the motion to reconsider be laid upon the table, and
any statements relating to the bill be printed in the Record.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
The bill (H.R. 3491) was read the third time and passed.
Mr. FRIST. I want to take just one moment and comment on the
unanimous consent agreement and the establishment within the
Smithsonian Institution of the National Museum of African American
History and Culture, which we just approved.
This has been a fairly long journey, to come to the point of the
establishment of this African American History and Culture Museum. It
really goes back to the time of African-American history, when it began
in 1619 in Jamestown, VA. It was there a Dutch slave trader exchanged
his cargo of Africans for food. Over the next 400 years, the
descendants of men and women brought to America in chains would seek
and find freedom. They would transform the American consciousness. They
would permanently revolutionize American culture, American music,
American art, and American literature.
We are on the cusp of really a momentous event, and that is the
enshrining of these events in a national museum devoted to African-
American history and culture. With this, visitors from around the world
will learn about 400 years of struggle and progress.
The museum will house priceless artifacts, it will house documents,
it will house recordings--all commemorating that 400-year history. It
will serve as a wellspring of inspiration and scholarship. With the
action of just a few moments ago, we will be sending the President a
bill to fulfill this vision.
What the African American Museum of History and Culture Act does is
establish this museum within the Smithsonian. It is a Federal-private
partnership. It authorizes $17 million for the first year in order to
launch this museum.
The Board of Regents will have 12 months to designate a site and the
legislation lays out four possibilities for that site. Once that site
is selected, the Board will set to work raising up this new national
institution. America will finally have a museum worthy of the
generations of men and women who have sacrificed so much and given so
deeply to the cause of freedom.
I do commend my colleagues, Senator Brownback, Senator Dodd, Senator
Lott, Senator Santorum, Senator Stevens, and on the House side
especially Representative John Lewis of Georgia and Representative J.C.
Watts for their hard work and their leadership in coming to this point.
Indeed, the African-American journey is America's journey and tonight
we take another major step forward.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Nevada.
Mr. REID. If the Senator has finished his comment on the passage of
this important legislation, I would like to briefly say John Lewis's
name was mentioned, and rightfully so. Everyone the distinguished
majority leader mentioned has played a significant role in this
legislation before us, but when John Lewis came to Washington, this
became a personal crusade of his.
John Lewis is one of my heroes. I have such great admiration and
respect for him. I think this is the culmination of a dream he started
many years ago. I want the record to be clear as to how much this means
to him, the people of Georgia, and this country.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. The majority leader.
Mr. FRIST. I, again, want to second that. When this bill passed the
House of Representatives--I think it was 2 nights ago--I immediately
called Representative Lewis the next morning for exactly the same
reason.

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I have not been around Washington quite as long to be able to build
upon the shoulders of somebody like Representative Lewis, who had this
vision of a museum, but we are now taking that major step forward. As
museums are approved and money is put forward, it takes a while, but to
see that dream really becoming concrete, I want to tell him thank you
for me, for this body, for America, and for all the millions of people
who will benefit from that vision he had.

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