[Congressional Record Volume 156, Number 167 (Thursday, December 16, 2010)]
[Senate]
[Pages S10400-S10401]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                    MUSEUM AND LIBRARY SERVICES ACT

  Mr. REED. Mr. President, this week, with little fanfare, we completed 
work on an important bill, through a bipartisan process, by passage of 
S. 3984, the Museum and Library Services Act of 2010.
  This bill updates museum and library services funded through the 
Institute for Museum and Library Services, IMLS, to better meet the 
needs of Americans of all ages and in all types of locations.
  The Museum and Library Services Act represents our national 
commitment to the institutions that are essential to building strong 
and vibrant communities. Through a relatively modest federal 
investment, this law helps build capacity to support and expand access 
to library and museum services at the State and local level.
  We were able to complete this legislation because we worked 
together--across the aisle and across the Capitol, and with the input 
of the museum and library community.
  I would like to take a moment to recognize and thank our HELP 
Committee Chairman Tom Harkin, Ranking Member Mike Enzi, and Senator 
Richard Burr for working with me to craft this bipartisan legislation. 
I would also like to recognize our cosponsors, Senators Cochran, 
Collins, and Tester. In addition, I would like to express my 
appreciation to House Education and Labor Committee Chairman George 
Miller and Ranking Member John Kline for quickly guiding this bill 
through the House.
  No piece of legislation can be enacted without the diligent work of 
dedicated staff. I would like to thank Kristin Romero and Margaret 
Bomba of the office of legislative counsel who worked with us to draft 
the bill. I would also like to recognize the efforts of staff: Thomas 
Showalter, Pam Smith, and Bethany Little with Chairman Harkin; Beth 
Buehlmann and Kelly Hastings with Senator Enzi; Celia Sims with Senator 
Burr; Lory Yudin with the HELP Committee; and in my office, Elyse 
Wasch, Moira Lenehan-Razzuri, Andrew Odgren, and Jason Kanter.
  Additionally, all of us who worked on this bill appreciate the 
technical assistance and feedback we received from the staff of IMLS. 
Finally, I would like

[[Page S10401]]

to commend the American Library Association and the American 
Association of Museums for developing thoughtful recommendations and 
working with us to improve museum and library services across the 
Nation. I especially appreciate the wisdom and input I have received 
from the vibrant library and museum community in Rhode Island.
  I look forward to this legislation being swiftly signed into law.

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