[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 137 (Tuesday, October 25, 2005)]
[Senate]
[Page S11828]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION 60--DESIGNATING THE NEGRO LEAGUES BASEBALL 
 MUSEUM IN KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI, AS AMERICA'S NATIONAL NEGRO LEAGUES 
                            BASEBALL MUSEUM

  Mr. TALENT submitted the following concurrent resolution, which was 
referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources:

                            S. Con. Res. 60

       Whereas the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum in Kansas City, 
     Missouri, was founded in 1990, in honor of those individuals 
     who played in the Negro Baseball Leagues as a result of 
     segregation in America;
       Whereas the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum is the only 
     public museum in the Nation that exists for the exclusive 
     purpose of interpreting the experiences of the players in the 
     Negro Leagues from 1920 through 1970;
       Whereas the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum project began in 
     the 1980s, through a large scale, grass roots, civic and 
     fundraising effort by citizens and baseball fans in the 
     Kansas City metropolitan area;
       Whereas the first Negro Leagues Baseball Museum was located 
     at 1615 East 18th Street in the historic ``18th and Vine 
     District'', which was designated by the city of Kansas City, 
     Missouri, in 1988, as historic in nature and the birthplace 
     of the Negro Leagues;
       Whereas the current Negro Leagues Baseball Museum was 
     opened at 1616 East 18th Street in 1997, with a dramatic 
     expansion of core exhibition and gallery space and over 
     10,000 square feet of new interpretive and educational 
     exhibits;
       Whereas the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum continues to 
     receive strong support from the residents of the Kansas City 
     metropolitan area and annually entertains over 60,000 
     visitors from all 50 States, and numerous foreign countries;
       Whereas there remains a need to preserve the evidence of 
     honor, courage, sacrifice, and triumph in the face of 
     segregation of those African Americans who played in the 
     Negro Leagues;
       Whereas the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum seeks to educate 
     a diverse audience through its comprehensive collection of 
     historical materials, important artifacts, and oral histories 
     of the participants in the Negro Leagues and the impact that 
     segregation played in the lives of these individuals and 
     their fans; and
       Whereas a great opportunity exists to use the invaluable 
     resources of the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum to teach the 
     Nation's school children, through on-site visits, traveling 
     exhibits, classroom curriculum, distance learning, and other 
     educational initiatives: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved by the Senate (the House of Representatives 
     concurring), That Congress--
       (1) designates the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum in Kansas 
     City, Missouri, including the museums future and expanded 
     exhibits, collections library, archives, artifacts and 
     education programs as ``America's National Negro Leagues 
     Baseball Museum'';
       (2) supports the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum in their 
     efforts to recognize and preserve the history of the Negro 
     Leagues and the impact of segregation on our Nation;
       (3) recognizes that the continued collection, preservation, 
     and interpretation of the historical objects and other 
     historical materials held by the Negro Leagues Baseball 
     Museum enhances our knowledge and understanding of the 
     experience of African Americans during legal segregation;
       (4) commends the ongoing development and visibility of the 
     ``Power Alley'' educational outreach program for teachers and 
     students throughout the Nation sponsored by the Negro Leagues 
     Baseball Museum;
       (5) asks all Americans to join in celebrating the Negro 
     Leagues Baseball Museum and its mission of preserving and 
     interpreting the legacy of the Negro Leagues; and
       (6) encourages present and future generations to understand 
     the sensitive issues surrounding the Negro Leagues, how they 
     helped shape our Nation and Major League Baseball, and how 
     the sacrifices made by Negro League players helped make 
     baseball America's national pastime.

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