[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 142 (Monday, September 24, 2007)]
[House]
[Pages H10716-H10718]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
WOODROW WILSON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AUTHORIZATION ACT
Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and
pass the bill (H.R. 1664) to authorize grants for contributions toward
the establishment of the Woodrow Wilson Presidential Library.
[[Page H10717]]
The Clerk read the title of the bill.
The text of the bill is as follows:
H.R. 1664
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of
the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. GRANTS FOR ESTABLISHMENT OF THE WOODROW WILSON
PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY.
(a) Grants Authorized.--Subject to subsections (b), (c),
and (d), the Archivist of the National Archives and Records
Administration may make grants to contribute funds for the
establishment in Staunton, Virginia, of a library to preserve
and make available materials related to the life of President
Woodrow Wilson and to provide interpretive and educational
services that communicate the meaning of the life of Woodrow
Wilson.
(b) Limitation.--A grant may be made under subsection (a)
only from funds appropriated to the Archivist specifically
for that purpose.
(c) Conditions on Grants.--
(1) Matching requirement.--A grant under subsection (a) may
not be made until such time as the entity selected to receive
the grant certifies to the Archivist that funds have been
raised from non-Federal sources for use to establish the
library in an amount equal to at least double the amount of
the grant.
(2) Relation to other woodrow wilson sites and museums.--
The Archivist shall further condition a grant under
subsection (a) on the agreement of the grant recipient to
operate the resulting library in cooperation with other
Federal and non-Federal historic sites, parks, and museums
that represent significant locations or events in the life of
Woodrow Wilson. Cooperative efforts to promote and interpret
the life of Woodrow Wilson may include the use of cooperative
agreements, cross references, cross promotion, and shared
exhibits.
(d) Prohibition of Contribution of Operating Funds.--Grant
amounts may not be used for the maintenance or operation of
the library.
(e) Non-Federal Operation.--The Archivist shall have no
involvement in the actual operation of the library, except at
the request of the non-Federal entity responsible for the
operation of the library.
(f) Authority Through Fiscal Year 2011.--The Archivist may
not use the authority provided under subsection (a) after
September 30, 2011.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from
Illinois (Mr. Davis) and the gentlewoman from Illinois (Mrs. Biggert)
each will control 20 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Illinois.
General Leave
Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all
Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their
remarks.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the
gentleman from Illinois?
There was no objection.
Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I
might consume.
Mr. Speaker, as a member of the House Committee on Oversight and
Government Reform, I am pleased to join my colleague in the
consideration of H.R. 1664, a bill to authorize grants for
contributions toward the establishment of the Woodrow Wilson
Presidential Library. H.R. 1664 was introduced by Representative Bob
Goodlatte on March 23, 2007. This legislation was reported from the
Oversight Committee on July 19, 2007, by voice vote.
Mr. Speaker, as a statesman, scholar and President, Woodrow Wilson
faced an economic crisis and a world war while serving the country as
Commander in Chief. Historians believe that World War I and President
Wilson's leadership radically altered the role of diplomacy as a tool
of foreign policy, a policy that established a new path for America's
role in promoting democracies throughout the world. His vision helped
shape the powers and responsibilities of the executive branch in times
of war.
H.R. 1664, the Woodrow Wilson Presidential Library Authorization Act,
will allow the National Archives to provide grants for the
establishment of a Presidential library to provide educational services
to honor the life of former President Woodrow Wilson.
Mr. Speaker, I commend my colleague, Representative Bob Goodlatte,
for introducing this legislation, and urge swift passage.
Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mrs. BIGGERT. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the
distinguished gentleman from Virginia (Mr. Goodlatte), the sponsor of
this bill.
Mr. GOODLATTE. Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank the gentleman from
Illinois and the gentlewoman from Illinois for their assistance with
this legislation, as well as Mr. Waxman, the chairman of the Government
Reform Committee, and my colleague from Virginia, Congressman Tom
Davis, all of whom have been a great help in moving this legislation
forward.
I rise in support of H.R. 1664, the Woodrow Wilson Presidential
Library Authorization Act, which will authorize grants from the
National Archives for the establishment of a Presidential library to
provide educational and interpretive service to honor the life of
Woodrow Wilson.
As a statesman, scholar and President, Woodrow Wilson faced economic
crisis, democratic decay and a world war. Presidential historians agree
that World War I and President Wilson's leadership radically altered
the role of diplomacy as a tool of foreign policy, a policy that
established a new path for America's role in promoting democracies
throughout the world. So, too, did Wilson's high-minded ideals craft a
legacy that shaped the powers and responsibilities of the executive
branch in times of war.
Mr. Speaker, as a professor and president of Princeton University,
Wilson created a more selective and accountable system for higher
education. By instituting curriculum reform, Wilson revolutionized the
roles of teachers and students and quickly made Princeton one of the
most renowned universities in the world. Due to Wilson's legacy at
Princeton, I am pleased to have the support of current Princeton
President Shirley Tilghman as we establish this library.
H.R. 1664 gives the National Archives the authority to make pass-
through grants for the establishment of the Presidential library in
Stanton, Virginia, Woodrow Wilson's birthplace, and does not create a
new program. In addition, to ensure that this is a public-private
partnership, this legislation mandates that no grant shall be available
for the establishment of this library until a private entity has raised
at least twice the amount to be allocated by the Archives. Quite
frankly, more Federal public-private programs should operate in this
manner.
Finally, and to ensure that the Woodrow Wilson Presidential Library
is not part of the Presidential Library System, this legislation states
that the Federal Government shall have no role or responsibility for
the operation of the library.
I am also pleased to have the support of several other presidential
sites throughout the Commonwealth of Virginia, known as the birthplace
of Presidents, including Monticello, Poplar Forest, Montpelier, Ash
Lawn, and Mount Vernon.
Mr. Speaker, in order to increase the awareness and understanding of
the life, principles and accomplishments of the 28th President of the
United States, I ask that you join me in supporting this legislation. I
want to thank House leadership for scheduling this bill today. The
cosponsors include the entire Virginia delegation. I am also grateful
to the staff of the Government Reform Committee and the Office of
Legislative Counsel for their assistance in crafting this bill.
As a reminder to my colleagues, this legislation is identical to a
bill the House passed by a voice vote in the 109th Congress but was not
considered in the Senate. At this time, I urge my colleagues to support
this legislation.
Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I continue to reserve.
Mrs. BIGGERT. I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, during President Franklin D. Roosevelt's second term of
office, he decided there should be a way to preserve and maintain
official records and artifacts from his Presidency and the Presidency
of future generations. Until his Presidency, many historic documents
had been damaged, ruined or unaccounted for over the years.
{time} 1530
President Roosevelt realized the need for preserving these valuable
pieces of history and sought a way to make them available to the
public.
There are currently 12 Presidential libraries, including the Nixon
Presidential Materials. Each is funded through private donations, and
upon
[[Page H10718]]
completion of the library is turned over to the National Archives.
These libraries are essentially museums and centers for learning about
these Presidents and their terms in office. H.R. 1664 authorizes
funding for the establishment of a Woodrow Wilson Presidential Library
in his birthplace of Staunton, Virginia. It also states the National
Archives and Records Administration will provide a matching grant
towards the establishment of the library. The library will coordinate
its efforts with other Woodrow Wilson museums to share exhibits and
educational services.
The Presidency of Woodrow Wilson is known for many achievements,
among them are establishing the Federal Trade Commission and the
Federal Reserve. He served his second term during World War I and
worked with European nations on peace negotiations, including the
Treaty of Versailles and the creation of the League of Nations.
It is critical we preserve the Presidential papers, historical
records, and other artifacts of Woodrow Wilson's Presidency as we do
with the previous 11 Presidents. These libraries offer citizens the
opportunity to learn, study and appreciate an important period of
American history. I urge my colleagues to support the passage. I
applaud the gentleman from Virginia (Mr. Goodlatte) for introducing
this bill and urge passage.
Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, if my history serves me right,
President Woodrow Wilson did not hold an elected public office prior to
becoming President of the United States of America, which I think is
indeed a feat in and of itself. So I want to commend the gentleman from
Virginia for his introduction of this legislation, and urge its
support.
Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the
gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Davis) that the House suspend the rules
and pass the bill, H.R. 1664.
The question was taken; and (two-thirds being in the affirmative) the
rules were suspended and the bill was passed.
A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.
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