[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 132 (Friday, September 7, 2007)]
[Senate]
[Pages S11279-S11280]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




     ESTABLISHMENT OF A MUSEUM OF THE HISTORY OF AMERICAN DIPLOMACY

  Mr. BROWN. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate 
proceed to the immediate consideration of Calendar No. 243, S. Res. 
253.

[[Page S11280]]

  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will report the resolution by title.
  The legislative clerk read as follows:

       A resolution (S. Res. 253) expressing the sense of the 
     Senate that the establishment of a Museum of the History of 
     American Diplomacy through private donations is a worthy 
     endeavor.

  There being no objection, the Senate proceeded to consider the 
resolution.
  Mr. BROWN. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the resolution 
be agreed to, the preamble be agreed to, the motions to reconsider be 
laid upon the table, and that any statements relating thereto be 
printed in the Record, without further intervening action or debate.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  The resolution (S. Res. 253) was agreed to.
  The preamble was agreed to.
  The resolution, with its preamble, reads as follows:

                              S. Res. 253

       Whereas the role of diplomacy in the foreign policy of the 
     United States deserves recognition;
       Whereas the day-to-day efforts of American diplomats 
     serving in overseas embassies and in the United States also 
     deserve recognition;
       Whereas, in 1998, the Department of State began to explore 
     the feasibility of establishing a Museum of the History of 
     American Diplomacy (in this resolution referred to as the 
     ``Museum'');
       Whereas the Foreign Affairs Museum Council (in this 
     resolution referred to as the ``Council''), a 501(c)(3) 
     charitable foundation, was created subsequently to raise 
     funds for the Museum through donations from private sector 
     organizations, former diplomats, and concerned citizens;
       Whereas no taxpayer funds will be used for the 
     establishment of the Museum;
       Whereas former Secretaries of State Henry Kissinger, 
     Alexander Haig, George Schultz, James Baker III, Lawrence 
     Eagleburger, Warren Christopher, Madeleine Albright, and 
     Colin Powell serve as Honorary Directors of the Council;
       Whereas experienced and noteworthy diplomats and foreign 
     policy experts, including Elizabeth Bagley, Keith Brown, 
     Frank Carlucci, Elinor Constable, Leslie Gelb, William 
     Harrop, Arthur Hartman, Herbert Hansell, Stephen Low, Thomas 
     Pickering, Richard Solomon, and Terence Todman, serve on the 
     Board of Directors of the Council;
       Whereas former members of the Senate, including the 
     Honorable Paul Sarbanes, and of the House of Representatives, 
     including the Honorable Lee Hamilton, also serve on the Board 
     of Directors of the Council;
       Whereas the Honorable Charles ``Mac'' Mathias, a former 
     Senator and member of the Committee on Foreign Relations of 
     the Senate, is the Chairperson of the Board of Directors of 
     the Council;
       Whereas the Council has already raised over $1,300,000 
     through private donations; and
       Whereas $300,000 has been spent to complete an initial 
     concept design for the Museum: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, That it is the sense of the Senate that--
       (1) the diplomats of the United States serving overseas and 
     in the United States are in many cases the front line of our 
     national security policy;
       (2) the people of the United States deserve a better 
     understanding of the efforts of these brave men and women;
       (3) talented young people and their families should be 
     encouraged to consider careers in foreign affairs as an 
     important contribution to their country;
       (4) the establishment of a Museum of the History of 
     American Diplomacy that highlights the work of these men and 
     women throughout the history of the United States is a worthy 
     endeavor; and
       (5) the current plan of the Foreign Affairs Museum Council 
     to fund the museum through private donations is appropriate 
     and deserves the support of the Department of State.

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