[Congressional Record Volume 152, Number 43 (Thursday, April 6, 2006)]
[Senate]
[Pages S3345-S3346]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                           YEAR OF THE MUSEUM

  Mr. FRIST. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate 
proceed to the immediate consideration of S. Res. 437, which was 
submitted earlier today.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will report the resolution by title.
  The assistant legislative clerk read as follows:

       A resolution (S. Res. 437) supporting the goals and ideals 
     of the Year of the Museum.

  There being no objection, the Senate proceeded to consider the 
resolution.
  Mr. ENZI. Mr. President, I rise to support a resolution supporting 
the goals and ideals of the Year of the Museum. I am pleased to be 
joined by Senator Kennedy and other members of the Cultural Caucus in 
sponsoring this resolution recognizing the vital role museums play in 
the fabric of our American culture.
  On the occasion of the 100th anniversary of the American Association 
of Museums, we treasure the more than 16,000 museums in the United 
States that house many of our greatest treasures. Museums inspire 
curiosity in students of all ages and foster a greater understanding of 
the world around us. Museums help us connect to the past and envision 
the future. Today, we celebrate their contribution to the vitality of 
our communities and our culture over the past 100 years.
  I urge my colleagues to support this resolution.
  Mr. COBURN. Mr. President, today the Senate considers The Year of the 
Museum resolution which asks for Congress to support the goals and 
ideals of the Year of the Museum and asks the President to call upon 
Americans to observe this year with appropriate programs and 
activities.
  I encourage citizens to utilize and support their local museums which 
serve as a wonderful resource for communities. There is great value for 
citizens in the arts, historic collections and museums. They are a 
reflection of our culture and people, and are important to our history 
and national identity. Children and young learners benefit tremendously 
from art programs in the schools. These activities make for well 
rounded citizens, tomorrow's leaders. Museums play an important role in 
our lives.
  The Subcommittee on Federal Financial Management, which I chair, held 
a hearing on Federal funding of museums this week and found that 
Federal support of the arts and humanities, which includes museums, has 
increased 25 percent in the last 5 years. During a time of tremendous 
financial challenge, we must exercise thrift and frugality with 
taxpayer money.
  Why not hold museum and arts funding steady at current levels? I 
believe that budget increases for nonessential activities during a time 
of great challenge to our Nation are indefensible. It is Congress that 
holds the purse strings and, frankly, we have been unwilling to make 
the tough decisions today for the future well-being of our 
grandchildren.
  As a government we have spent over $7 billion on such programs and 
institutions since 2001, but where in the Constitution does it allow 
the Federal Government support museums and the arts by taxing citizens 
to pay for museums in other cities and States? Essentially taxpayers 
are being forced to subsidize museums they do not attend. Museums spend 
$21 for every visitor while only earning $5.50 in revenue per visitor 
according to the American Association of Museums.
  I remind my colleagues that the current fiscal environment of war, 
Katrina and Social Security and Medicare insolvency is a very serious 
situation. One criticism of the President I have is that he has not 
asked the American people to sacrifice during wartime. We cannot, as a 
government, do everything we would like to do. I think the American 
people would be very forgiving and willing to make sacrifices if only 
asked. During a time of war Presidents Roosevelt and Truman slashed 
nondefense spending by over 20 percent. It can be done.
  There are several opportunities for Federal funding of museums 
through competitive grants administered by the Institute for Museum and 
Library Services and the National Science Foundation which are peer 
reviewed and grantees are held accountable and must meet financial 
management requirements as well as other conditions.
  Museum earmarks, however, proliferate, especially in the home States 
of members of the powerful Appropriations Committee. This year 69 
percent of museum earmarks went to their home States. These museums get 
to cut in line and skip the competitive application. Favored projects 
receive money without having to compete with the other museums. These 
projects have not had to demonstrate their merit or worth to a 
community, but get a cash award nonetheless. There is something wrong 
with this system. What's more, several museums split their earmark 
requests across bills in the same year to hide the true cost. The same 
museums request earmarks every year, and get them. Since 2001, over 860 
earmarks have been handed out to museums.
  I support the ideals of the Year of the Museum, but I ask my 
colleagues to exercise fiscal restraint and stop focusing on political 
expediency and start thinking about future generations.
  Given the local nature of most of the grants and earmarks, it is 
difficult to defend the expenditure of taxpayer dollars to benefit a 
small group of people in Muskogee, St. Louis, or Anchorage. If a 
community truly wanted such an institution or program, they would and 
should find a way to pay for it with local and State money, or through 
admission fees.
  Mr. FRIST. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the resolution 
be agreed to, the preamble be agreed to, and the motion to reconsider 
be laid upon the table.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  The resolution (S. Res. 437) was agreed to.

[[Page S3346]]

  The preamble was agreed to.
  The resolution, with its preamble, reads as follows:

                              S. Res. 437

       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, according to survey data, the people of the United 
     States view museums as one of the most important resources 
     for educating children;
       Whereas museums have a long-standing tradition of inspiring 
     curiosity in schoolchildren that is a result of investments 
     of more than $1,000,000,000 and more than 18,000,000 
     instructional hours annually for elementary and secondary 
     education programs in communities across the United States, 
     creative partnerships with schools, professional development 
     for teachers, traveling exhibits to local schools, 
     digitization of materials for access nationwide, creation of 
     electronic and printed educational materials that use local 
     and State curriculum standards, and the hosting of 
     interactive school field trips;
       Whereas museums serve as community landmarks that 
     contribute to the livability and economic vitality of 
     communities through expanding tourism;
       Whereas museums rank in the top 3 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 there are more than 16,000 museums in the United 
     States and admission is free at more than half of these 
     museums;
       Whereas approximately 865,000,000 people visit museums 
     annually and these people come from all ages, groups, and 
     backgrounds;
       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 families in 
     significance in creating a strong connection with 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 
     750,000,000 objects and living specimens in the public trust 
     to preserve and protect the cultural and natural heritage of 
     the United States for 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, 
     and these partnerships reach across community boundaries to 
     provide broader impact and synergy for their community 
     educational programs;
       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, museums of the United States are 
     celebrating 100 years of collective contribution to our 
     communities: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the Senate supports the goals and ideals of 
     the Year of the Museum.

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