[Congressional Record Volume 152, Number 14 (Wednesday, February 8, 2006)]
[House]
[Pages H169-H171]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




       SUPPORTING THE GOALS AND IDEALS OF THE YEAR OF THE MUSEUM

  Ms. FOXX. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the 
resolution (H. Res. 389) supporting the goals and ideals of The Year of 
the Museum.
  The Clerk read as follows:

                              H. Res. 389

       Whereas museums are institutions of public service and 
     education that foster exploration, study, observation, 
     critical thinking, contemplation and dialogue to advance a 
     greater public knowledge, understanding, and appreciation of 
     history, science, the arts, and the natural world;
       Whereas Americans, according to survey data, view museums 
     as one of the most important resources for educating our 
     children; and museums have a long-standing tradition of 
     inspiring curiosity in our Nation's schoolchildren by 
     devoting more than $1 billion and more than 18 million 
     instructional hours annually for elementary and secondary 
     education programs in communities across America through 
     creative partnerships with schools; and by involving 
     professional development for teachers, bringing traveling 
     exhibits to local schools, digitizing materials for access 
     nationwide, creating electronic and printed educational 
     materials that use local and State curriculum standards; and 
     by and hosting interactive school field trips;
       Whereas museums serve as community landmarks that 
     contribute to the livability and economic vitality of 
     communities through expanding tourism; and that museums rank 
     in the top three family vacation destinations; revitalize 
     downtowns, often with signature buildings; attract relocating 
     businesses, by enhancing quality of life; provide shared 
     community experiences and meeting places; and serve as a 
     repository and resource for each community's unique history, 
     culture, achievements, and values;
       Whereas the Nation's more than 16,000 museums found in 9 
     out of every 10 counties in the United States receive 
     approximately 865,000,000 visits annually from people of all 
     ages and backgrounds, with attendance being free at more than 
     half of these museums;
       Whereas research indicates Americans view museums as one of 
     the most trustworthy sources of objective information and 
     believe that authentic artifacts in history museums and 
     historic sites are second only to their family in 
     significance to creating a strong connection to the past;
       Whereas museums enhance the public's ability to engage as 
     citizens, through developing a deeper sense of identity and a 
     broader judgment about the world, and by holding more than 
     750 million objects and living specimens in the public trust 
     to preserve and protect our cultural and natural heritage for 
     our current and future generations;
       Whereas museums are increasingly entering into new 
     partnerships with community educational institutions that 
     include schools, universities, libraries, public 
     broadcasting, and 21st Century Community Learning Centers, 
     which then, as partners, reach across community boundaries to 
     provide broader impact and synergy for their educational 
     programming;
       Whereas supporting the goals and ideals of The Year of the 
     Museum would give Americans the opportunity to celebrate the 
     contributions museums have made to American culture and life 
     over the past 100 years; and
       Whereas in 2006, American museums are celebrating 100 years 
     of cooperation as a profession and their collective 
     contribution to our communities: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved,  That the House of Representatives--
       (1) supports the goals and ideals of The Year of the 
     Museum; and
       (2) requests that the President issue a proclamation 
     calling upon the people of the United States to observe such 
     a year with appropriate programs and activities.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentlewoman from 
North Carolina (Ms. Foxx) and the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Davis) 
each will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentlewoman from North Carolina (Ms. Foxx).


                             General Leave

  Ms. FOXX. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may 
have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their remarks 
and include extraneous material on H. Res. 389, the resolution under 
consideration.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentlewoman from North Carolina?
  There was no objection.
  Ms. FOXX. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself as much time as I may consume.

[[Page H170]]

  Mr. Speaker, House Resolution 389 offered by the distinguished 
gentlewoman from New York (Ms. Slaughter) would support the goals and 
ideals of The Year of the Museum in 2006.
  America's museums, some of the Nation's premier cultural learning 
centers, have for decades educated both young and old on the history of 
our being. From artistic displays to archaeological artifacts, to 
science and the natural earth, museums help preserve the past and help 
us to understand our roles in the modern world.
  Museums play a very important supplemental educational role, which is 
central to their service to the public. People of all ages and 
backgrounds have traditionally gathered to learn from their exhibits 
and programs. A recent national survey shows that Americans view 
museums as one of the most important resources for education and one of 
the most trusted sources for objective information.
  Along with the educational benefits, museums continue to influence 
travel and tourism. They provide a common experience that families can 
share and experience across generations. In fact, museums rank in the 
top three family vacation destinations. American families from all 
income and education ranges visit museums each year. According to the 
American Association of Museums, there are 2.3 million museum visits a 
day, adding up to 865 million visits per year in the United States.
  In conclusion, I urge all Members to come together in support of this 
important and timely resolution.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I 
might consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H. Res. 389 and join with my fellow 
colleagues in celebrating the more than 11,000 museums located in 
communities across this country.
  Museums inspire us to dream, to examine the world around us and 
beyond, and to discover new and exciting things. Museums enable us, and 
especially our children, to explore everything from the smallest form 
to the infinite, from microscopic plants to the vast expanses of the 
universe.
  Museums foster our most basic desire to understand what, where, when, 
why, and how. They also are a great educational resource that enrich 
our children's learning by complementing what they experience in 
school. Children learn best when inspired to think abstractly and 
creatively, and there is no better place outside of our schools for 
that to occur.
  Museum staffs go to great lengths to consult State educational 
curricula and guidelines when designing exhibits, thereby further 
enhancing the quality and relevance of the museum experience. Each 
year, museums spend over $1 billion to create and stage educational 
exhibits and special programs.
  Those of us here in Washington, D.C., are lucky enough to be close to 
the Smithsonian Institution, which is comprised of some of the best 
museums in the world. In the blocks between the Capitol and the 
Washington Monument, anybody with a desire to learn or explore can 
visit a tropical rain forest, step back to the time of the Civil War, 
see art from different cultures and periods, examine spacecraft that 
have been launched into space, touch a Moon rock, and learn about 
prehistoric animals.
  So I rise in support of this bill because museums are an 
indispensable part of our education system and nurture our desire to 
discover what we do not yet know.
  I live in a museum-rich environment. My congressional district has 
the Alder Planetarium and Astronomy Museum, the Chicago Center for 
Black Music Research Library, Chicago Children's Museum, the Chicago 
Historical Society, the Ernest Hemingway Museum, the Field Museum of 
Natural History, the Frank Lloyd Wright Home and Studio, the Garfield 
Park Conservatory, the Hellenic Museum and Cultural Center, the Hull 
House Jane Addams Museum, the Illinois Labor History Society, the 
Museum of Broadcast Communications, Museum of Contemporary Art, Museum 
of Contemporary Photography, National Vietnam Veterans Art Museum, the 
Peace Museum, the John G. Shedd Aquarium, the Spertus Museum, the Terra 
Museum of American Art, and the Ukrainian National Museum of Chicago.
  So my colleagues can see, Mr. Speaker, there is no way that I could 
not be supportive of museums.
  Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

                              {time}  1515

  Ms. FOXX. Mr. Speaker, I yield as much time as he may consume to my 
distinguished colleague from the State of Connecticut (Mr. Shays).
  Mr. SHAYS. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentlewoman for yielding me time.
  Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to join with my colleague and cochairman of 
the bipartisan Congressional Arts Caucus, the gentlewoman from New York 
(Ms. Slaughter) in cosponsoring House Resolution 389 to recognize 2006 
as The Year of the Museum.
  Today on the occasion of the 100th anniversary of the American 
Association of Museums, we recognize the importance of museums, which 
have been serving the American public since 1773, encouraging curiosity 
and providing a source of enjoyment and education for every generation.
  Our resolution recognizes The Year of the Museum as a celebration of 
great American culture, history and traditions. Having grown up in an 
arts family, my mom and dad met in the theater and had a lifelong 
commitment to the arts. I was fortunate to have the opportunity to 
experience the value of the arts and humanities throughout my 
childhood.
  Today, families in southwest Connecticut enjoy a wide range of 
institutions like the Barnum Museum, the Discovery Museum and Museum of 
Art in Bridgeport, the Bruce Museum of Arts and Science in Greenwich, 
and the Aldrich Museum of Contemporary Art in Ridgefield, to name some.
  Nearly all of us in the House of Representatives are fortunate enough 
to have at least one museum, obviously many more in our district. Think 
of the impact museums have across our country, providing environments 
for learning and sharing where children, their parents and their 
grandparents can work together to connect ideas and experiences in 
direct, vivid and meaningful ways.
  Museums teach the stories of the struggles and accomplishments of 
different cultures and unfamiliar people and achieve a deeper 
understanding of their own families, neighborhoods, the country in 
which they live, and the world at large.
  I obviously urge my colleagues to join us in recognizing the vast 
public service provided by the museums in their own communities by 
supporting The Year of the Museum Resolution.
  Ms. FOXX. Mr. Speaker, I urge all Members to support the adoption of 
H. Res. 389.
  Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H. Res. 
389, supporting the goals and ideals of the Year of the Museum.
  Museums are one of the most important educational tools that our 
society has to offer. Museums can teach us about history, art, science, 
literature, and any number of other subjects. From the great 
Smithsonian museums of Washington, DC, to the Houston Children's Museum 
or the Houston Fire Museum, these institutions enrich our society by 
enhancing our knowledge about the world in a way that is more personal 
and more affecting than one can find in a book.
  The Year of the Museum will help to reinforce to all Americans how 
important museums are to our culture. It will introduce people to 
museums they did not even know existed, and hopefully, it will 
encourage people to go back to a museum they have not visited in many 
years.
  Education can be the silver bullet in our society. Study after study 
has proven that the more education a person has, the less likely that 
person is to lead a life of crime, or do drugs, or go on welfare.
  Museums will help to improve the educational system in this country 
by increasing our knowledge of our world and of our culture. There are 
more than 30 museums in the city of Houston, and I would encourage my 
fellow Houstonians to go and visit all of them.
  Mr. Speaker, the Year of the Museum is long overdue, and I appreciate 
the Distinguished Lady from New York for introducing this excellent 
piece of legislation.
  I strongly support H. Res. 389, and I encourage my colleagues to do 
the same.
  Ms. SLAUGHTER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H. Res. 389, a 
resolution celebrating the Year of the Museum. This resolution 
recognizes the importance of museums which have served the American 
public since this country was founded and include every type of 
institution from A, art to Z, zoo. From arboretums, botanical gardens, 
zoos, historic

[[Page H171]]

presidential homes and libraries to science centers and art and 
children's museums, they encourage curiosity, they provide a source of 
enjoyment as well as education, and they preserve our country's great 
history for every generation.
  I'm sure there is not a person among us who does not have a cherished 
memory of a visit to a museum. Museums are unique places in our 
communities. They come in every variety and size. Their collections and 
the ideas they share cover the broad spectrum of human endeavors--
science, history, nature and art. There is a museum to satisfy and peak 
the interests of everyone of us.
  Museums are public forums. They provide an environment rich with 
opportunity for intergenerational learning and sharing among children, 
parents, and grandparents. Museum visitors can come to know the 
struggles and accomplishments of different cultures and achieve a 
deeper understanding of their own family's, community's and country's 
history. But most importantly, museums are fun places to visit.
  I have always loved museums and have been fortunate to have a number 
of world-renowned museums in my own district: the Buffalo Museum of 
Science, the Martin House Restoration Corporation, the Italian Heritage 
Museum & Cultural Center of Western NY, the Baker-Cederberg Museum and 
Archives, the George Eastman House, Landmark Society of Western New 
York, the Memorial Art Gallery at the University of Rochester, 
Rochester Historical Society, Rochester Museum & Science Center, the 
Strong Museum and the Susan B. Anthony House. These museums are so 
diverse; clearly any person could find the perfect museum in which to 
explore a unique interest.
  But it is not just my constituents that have benefited from the 
presence of museums. All Americans do, because there are museums in 
nearly every Congressional District across this country. And they help 
our economy. Museums play an important role in promoting travel and 
tourism and driving economic development. They bring heightened local 
and national visibility to communities and their artists, scientists, 
and educators, and they spend $5.2 billion a year serving the American 
public. Most museums operate as small or mid-sized community 
institutions, offer free or reduced admissions at least one day a week, 
work with local schools to enhance curriculum and education of students 
and families, and employ paid staff and dedicated volunteers.
  In addition to educating and entertaining, museums undertake the 
immense task of preserving and protecting the more than 750 million 
objects in their collections, ensuring that they are publicly available 
to our citizens for this and future generations.
  H. Res. 389 recognizes ``The Year of the Museum'' as a celebration of 
great American cultural, history and traditions. I urge my colleagues 
to join me in recognizing the vast public service provided by the 
museums in their own communities by supporting this resolution.
  Mr. HOLT. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to support H. Res. 389, 
supporting the goals and ideals of the Year of the Museum. This year 
marks the centennial of the American Association of Museums, and in 
turn we celebrate the museums throughout our nation that educate, 
entertain, and enrich local communities. I am proud to say I am a 
cosponsor of this resolution.
  There are more than 16,000 museums in the United States that protect 
and share our cultural heritage. Museums help us understand who we are 
and where we came from. They preserve our history, our artifacts, and 
our art, and they display it in ways that increase our understanding of 
familiar and foreign cultures and of the universe itself.
  History comes to life for the millions of children who visit museums 
every year. 11,000 American museums have educational programs for 
schoolchildren of all ages. Museums annually spend more than $1 billion 
and 18 million hours to educate children through school programs such 
as guided field trips, traveling exhibits, and professional development 
for teachers.
  The 12th District of New Jersey is home many diverse museums, 
including the New Jersey State Museum in Trenton. In addition to 
exhibits on local history, the State Museum offers a wide array of 
educational opportunities to children, including family oriented 
educational workshops and a planetarium. From the vast fine arts 
collection of the Princeton University Art Museum, to the learning 
opportunities available at the Vietnam Era Educational Center, I am 
proud of the benefits that all of the 12th District's museums provide 
to our community.
  I support the goals of the Year of the Museum and I am proud to join 
my colleagues in supporting this resolution.
  Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Gutknecht). The question is on the 
motion offered by the gentlewoman from North Carolina (Ms. Foxx) that 
the House suspend the rules and agree to the resolution, H. Res. 389.
  The question was taken; and (two-thirds having voted in favor 
thereof) the rules were suspended and the resolution was agreed to.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

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