[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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