[Congressional Record Volume 156, Number 103 (Tuesday, July 13, 2010)]
[House]
[Pages H5507-H5508]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
EXTENDING AUTHORIZATION FOR NATIONAL GREAT BLACKS IN WAX MUSEUM
Ms. BORDALLO. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the
bill (H.R. 3967) to amend the National Great Black Americans
Commemoration Act of 2004 to authorize appropriations through fiscal
year 2015.
The Clerk read the title of the bill.
The text of the bill is as follows:
H.R. 3967
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of
the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS THROUGH FISCAL
YEAR 2015.
Section 3(c) of the National Great Black Americans
Commemoration Act of 2004 is amended by striking ``2009'' and
inserting ``2015''.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentlewoman from
Guam (Ms. Bordallo) and the gentlewoman from Wyoming (Mrs. Lummis) each
will control 20 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentlewoman from Guam.
General Leave
Ms. BORDALLO. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members
may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks
and include extraneous material on the bill under consideration.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the
gentlewoman from Guam?
There was no objection.
Ms. BORDALLO. I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, H.R. 3967, introduced in October of 2009 by our
colleague Representative Elijah Cummings, helps tell the story of the
African American struggle for equality.
For the last quarter century, Doctors Joanne and Elmer Martin have
worked tirelessly to create a safe, nurturing environment for
Baltimore's youth. Through their work to build and fund the National
Great Blacks in Wax Museum and the Justice Learning Center, they have
created a unique opportunity to teach and connect with young people to
tell the story of great African American leaders in the history of our
United States of America.
H.R. 3967 amends the National Great Black Americans Commemoration Act
of 2004 to extend authorization for Federal grant funding.
Representative Cummings is to be commended for his work on behalf of
this outstanding education and outreach program.
Mr. Speaker, we support this legislation.
I reserve the balance of my time.
Mrs. LUMMIS. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, H.R. 3967 renews the authority to spend appropriations
for the Great Blacks in Wax Museum in Baltimore, Maryland. A
legislative hearing was held on this bill, but, unfortunately, the
National Park Service did not provide us with any information about
this program or the necessity to fund it. What we did learn is that
this program will be funded and overseen through the Department of
Justice, leaving us with even more questions, not the least of which is
why this bill went through a public lands committee.
That being said, I am concerned that extending Federal spending at
this time may not be appropriate until we can better understand how
this program will be administered and what has been done in the last 6
years since it was originally authorized.
Finally, while I have no doubt that the Great Blacks in Wax Museum is
a positive influence in the City of Baltimore, it is unclear why it is
necessary to involve the Federal Government in the wax museum industry.
This may be yet another highly illustrative example of why we are
buried by overwhelming Federal debt.
Ms. RICHARDSON. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 3967,
which amends the National Great Black Americans Commemoration Act of
2004 to authorize appropriations through 2015. This important measure
will extend a program that, for the last six
[[Page H5508]]
years, has helped educate the public about the contributions of major
African American figures in American history.
I thank Chairmen Rahall and Conyers for their leadership in bringing
this bill to the floor. I also thank the sponsor of this legislation,
Congressman Cummings, for recognizing the importance of continuing
funding for this socially significant program that promotes cross-
cultural awareness and appreciation.
Mr. Speaker, black Americans have served honorably in Congress,
senior executive branch positions, the law, the judiciary, and many
other fields. Black Americans have also had a massive and important
impact on cultural life in the United States, from television and
cinema to the performing and visual arts. Unfortunately, these
contributions are not well known by many in the public and
underrepresented in textbooks, history lessons, and, importantly, our
nation's museums.
The National Great Black Americans Commemoration Act of 2004
authorized funds for the Great Blacks in Wax Museum, Inc., a museum
based in Baltimore, Maryland that celebrates important black figures in
American history through the medium of wax sculpture. With
Congressional funding, the Great Blacks in Wax Museum has been able to
further its mission of bringing recognition to black Americans who have
had lasting impacts on our nation. The museum showcases black Americans
such as Rosa Parks, Colin Powell, Frederick Douglas, Harriet Tubman,
Jesse Owens, Ida B. Wells, and many others.
H.R. 3967 will allow this non-profit organization to continue
educating the public about the importance of African Americans to the
history of the United States and ensuring that American history does
not favor one race or culture over another, but rather accurately
reflects the intricate racial and cultural tapestry that defines
American society. This mission is one that is, without question, worthy
of our support.
I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting H.R. 3967.
Mr. JOHNSON of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R.
3967, a bill to amend the National Great Black Americans Commemoration
Act of 2004 to authorize appropriations through fiscal year 2015. The
funds, approximately $5 million, would be used by the National Great
Blacks in Wax Museum in order to build a Justice Learning Center. I
would also like to commend my esteemed colleague, Representative Elijah
Cummings, for his dedication to the preservation of Black American
history.
In 1983, Drs. Elmer and Joanne Martin opened the doors to the
National Great Blacks in Wax Museum. It is the first wax museum of
African-American history in the nation, and the first wax museum in
Baltimore, Maryland. The facility was created to stimulate an interest
in African-American history by revealing little-known and often
neglected facts of history. The founders also sought to improve race
relations by dispelling myths of racial inferiority and superiority, as
well as use the figures of great leaders to inspire and uplift African
Americans to reach their full potential.
In 2004, the National Great Black Americans Commemoration Act of 2004
was signed into law. The act directed the Attorney General to make
grants available to the Great Blacks in Wax Museum, in part for
building a Justice Learning Center, and also for carrying out programs
relating to civil rights and juvenile justice. Though the legislation
passed, no funds were distributed to the museum and the museum
continues to operate on funding from private donors just as it has for
the past 27 years. The Justice Learning Center will serve as another
venue for the museum to educate and empower citizens with information
relating to Black American history. H.R. 3967 gives this Congress an
opportunity to support the museum in this project.
Mr. Speaker, fellow colleagues, it is imperative that we support this
bill. Should we fail to pass this legislation and appropriate funds to
the Great Blacks in Wax Museum, great Georgians like Andrew Bryan,
founder of the first American black Baptist church, in Savannah, GA,
and Julian Bond, a former civil rights leader, United States
Congressman, and recent chairman of the NAACP, would go unnoticed and
overlooked along with other African-American leaders. In addition to
all of the war funding, foreign aid, and domestic agendas we support, I
believe our goal should also be to preserve and maintain our rich
history for our children and generations yet to come. I urge my
colleagues to stand with me and support this legislation.
Ms. JACKSON LEE of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R.
3976, an act that seeks to amend the National Great Black Americans
Commemoration Act of 2004 to authorize more appropriations through the
fiscal year of 2015. I also want to thank my colleague, Representative
Elijah E. Cummings, for introducing this important legislation.
Today we acknowledge the success and importance of the Great Blacks
in Wax Museum, Inc., and seek to provide it with appropriations. This
bill will amend the National Great Black Americans Commemoration Act of
2004 to extend the authorization of appropriations for grants to the
Great Blacks in Wax Museum, Inc., in Baltimore, Maryland, through 2015.
This bill will also carry out programs related to civil rights and
juvenile justice through the National Great Blacks in Wax Museum and
Justice Learning Center.
The National Great Black Americans Commemoration Act of 2004 (Public
Law 108-238, 118 Stat. 670-672) directs the Attorney General to make a
grant to the Great Blacks in Wax Museum, Inc., in Baltimore, Maryland,
to be used only for carrying out programs relating to civil rights and
juvenile justice through the National Great Blacks in Wax Museum and
Justice Learning Center. To receive a grant, the Great Blacks in Wax
Museum, Inc., shall submit to the Attorney General a proposal for the
use of the grant, which shall include detailed plans for such programs.
The founders of the museum outlined four specific areas that they
meant for the museum to cover. First, according to a mission statement
they wrote, the founders of the museum wanted the Great Blacks in Wax
Museum to stimulate an interest in African-American history by
revealing the little-known, often-neglected facts of history. Second,
the museum was intended to use great leaders as role models to motivate
youth to achieve. Third, the museum should improve race relations by
dispelling myths of racial inferiority and superiority. Lastly, the
museum supports and works in conjunction with other nonprofit,
charitable organizations to seek to improve the social and economic
status of African Americans.
The museum's goals are important to achieve in our society. It is
important that we cherish and appreciate our history while looking to
the future. In the process of this remembrance, we can work for a
brighter future.
For the foregoing reasons, I stand with Representative Elijah E.
Cummings in support of this act.
I urge my colleagues to support this bill.
Mrs. LUMMIS. Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for time, and I
yield back the balance of my time.
Ms. BORDALLO. Mr. Speaker, I again urge Members to support this bill.
I have no further requests for time, and I yield back the balance of
my time.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the
gentlewoman from Guam (Ms. Bordallo) that the House suspend the rules
and pass the bill, H.R. 3967.
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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