[Congressional Record Volume 164, Number 57 (Tuesday, April 10, 2018)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E413]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




             125TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE ARIZONA STATE MUSEUM

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                         HON. RAUL M. GRIJALVA

                               of arizona

                    in the house of representatives

                        Tuesday, April 10, 2018

  Mr. GRIJALVA. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate the Arizona 
State Museum on its 125th year anniversary. For 125 years, the Arizona 
State Museum has demonstrated an unwavering commitment to educating the 
public through guarding, preserving, and studying the State of 
Arizona's archaeological resources.
  Founded in 1893, the Arizona State Museum was one of the nation's 
three original university-based museums of archaeology established in 
the late 19th century. The museum's researchers are leaders in the 
field of Southwest archaeology and are sought after internationally for 
their expertise and groundbreaking research. This gives our desert 
community a unique opportunity to gain insight about the diverse 
cultural heritage of Arizona and have meaningful experiences. The 
Arizona State Museum has been a leading voice advocating for the 
preservation of cultural artifacts not just in Arizona, but at the 
national level as well. In July of 1990, Dr. Raymond H. Thompson, 
former Director of the Arizona State Museum, testified before the 
United States Congress as the American Association of Museum's 
representative in support of the proposed Native American Graves 
Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA). NAGPRA was adopted in 
November 1990, and continues to be a significant piece of legislation 
to preserve Native American cultural items.
  I am especially grateful for the Museum's dedication to gathering a 
comprehensive collection that represents the diverse cultural heritage 
of the Southwest, including the region's Native American roots. The 
Arizona State Museum holds the world's largest and most comprehensive 
collections of Southwest Tribal cultures from 13,000 years ago to 
present, and is home to two large collections of Native American 
pottery and basketry that are federally designated American Treasures.
  I congratulate the Arizona State Museum on their 125th anniversary 
and look forward to supporting their continued efforts to preserve and 
document the cultural artifacts of our great State of Arizona.

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