[Congressional Record Volume 172, Number 104 (Monday, June 22, 2026)]
[Senate]
[Pages S2981-S2982]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
THEODORE ROOSEVELT PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY MUSEUM ARTIFACTS ACT
Mr. HOEVEN. Madam President, notwithstanding rule XXII, I ask
unanimous consent that the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources be
discharged from further consideration of S. 675 and the Senate proceed
to its immediate consideration.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will report the bill by title.
The bill clerk read as follows:
A bill (S. 675) to contribute funds and artifacts to the
Theodore Roosevelt Presidential Library in Medora, North
Dakota.
There being no objection, the committee was discharged, and the
Senate proceeded to consider the bill.
Mr. HOEVEN. Madam President, I ask unanimous consent that the
substitute amendment, which is at the desk, be considered and agreed
to; that the bill, as amended, be considered read a third time and
passed and that the motion to reconsider be considered made and laid
upon the table.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
The amendment (No. 5897), in the nature of a substitute, was agreed
to as follows:
(Purpose: In the nature of a substitute)
Strike all after the enacting clause and insert the
following
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Theodore Roosevelt
Presidential Library Act''.
SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS.
In this Act:
(1) Foundation.--The term ``Foundation'' means the Theodore
Roosevelt Presidential Library Foundation.
[[Page S2982]]
(2) Library.--The term ``Library'' means the Theodore
Roosevelt Presidential Library to be located in Medora, North
Dakota.
(3) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary
of the Interior.
SEC. 3. FEDERAL CONTRIBUTIONS TOWARD ESTABLISHMENT OF THE
THEODORE ROOSEVELT PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY.
(a) Grants.--
(1) Authorization.--To the extent provided in advance in
appropriations Acts and subject to paragraphs (2) through
(4), the Secretary may provide to the Foundation grants in an
amount not to exceed a total of $50,000,000 for the
establishment of the Library--
(A) to preserve and make available to the public materials
relating to the life of President Theodore Roosevelt; and
(B) to provide interpretive and educational services that
communicate the meaning of the life of Theodore Roosevelt.
(2) Matching requirement.--The Secretary may not provide a
grant under paragraph (1) until the date on which the
Foundation certifies to the Secretary that the Foundation has
received an amount equal to not less than $100,000,000 from
funds for the Library--
(A) contributed by the State of North Dakota; or
(B) raised from non-Federal sources during the period
beginning on the date on which the Foundation was established
and ending on the date of the certification.
(3) Prohibition on use of funds.--Grant funds provided
under this subsection may not be used for the maintenance or
operation of the Library.
(4) Effect.--Nothing in this subsection requires an
increase in the applicable suballocation made pursuant to
section 302(b) of the Congressional Budget Act of 1974 (2
U.S.C. 633(b)).
(b) Federal Artifacts and Objects Relating to Theodore
Roosevelt.--Not later than 180 days after the date of
enactment of this Act, the Secretary may enter into 1 or more
agreements with the Foundation to provide for a loan to the
Foundation from Federal agencies under the administrative
jurisdiction of the Secretary (including the National Park
Service and the United States Fish and Wildlife Service) of
historic, educational, artistic, natural, and other museum
artifacts and objects, particularly artifacts and objects
that are not on display to the public, without monetary
consideration, subject to such terms and conditions as the
Secretary determines to be necessary for the preservation and
exhibition of the artifacts and objects loaned to the
Foundation.
(c) Non-Federal Operation.--The Secretary or any other
Federal entity shall have no involvement in the operation of
the Library, except at the request of the non-Federal entity
responsible for the operation of the Library in accordance
with applicable laws (including regulations).
The bill (S. 675), as amended, was ordered to be engrossed for a
third reading, was read the third time, and passed.
Mr. HOEVEN. Madam President, I would like to thank my colleagues for
joining me just now in--well, I had hoped he would be here.
Unfortunately, I guess he is running a little late. So I have to say I
just have to thank my colleague for joining me in passing this
legislation.
S. 675 authorizes Federal funding in the use of artifacts and
materials for the Theodore Roosevelt Presidential Library in Medora,
ND.
I want to thank Senator Blumenthal and also Senator Cramer for
cosponsoring the legislation with me.
Our legislation will help ensure that current and future generations
of Americans can learn from and be inspired by one of our Nation's most
consequential Presidents--Theodore Roosevelt. It builds upon our
yearslong effort to establish a library.
In 2020, Congress approved our legislation, enabling the Theodore
Roosevelt Presidential Library Foundation to purchase 93 acres of
Forest Service land at fair market value for the library. We worked to
secure rancher support to preserve local control and consultation on
the project.
Also, we worked to protect the availability of acres for grazing,
including a commitment from the Forest Service to reaffirm the existing
Medora Grazing Association agreement for a full 10-year period.
In just days, the Theodore Roosevelt Presidential Library is
scheduled to open. As Americans prepare to celebrate our Nation's 250th
anniversary, visitors from across the country and around the world will
soon be able to experience a library dedicated to the life, leadership,
and conservation ethic of our Nation's 26th President.
Few places influenced Theodore Roosevelt more than North Dakota. As
President Roosevelt proudly claimed, he would never have become
President had it not been for his time in the Dakota Territory.
President Roosevelt first traveled to the North Dakota Badlands in 1883
to hunt bison. He returned the following year during one of the most
difficult periods of his life, grieving the loss of both his wife and
his mother on the same day--February 14, 1884.
The 3 formative years he spent embracing ranching and the ``strenuous
life'' helped shape the perspective and character of a leader who would
go on to become President, a champion for conservation, and one of the
most influential figures in our Nation's history.
It is only fitting that the Theodore Roosevelt Presidential Library
is being built adjacent to another national treasure named in his
honor: Theodore Roosevelt National Park.
Our legislation provides a commonsense framework to support this
nationally significant institution. It authorizes up to $50 million in
Federal funding but only after the Theodore Roosevelt Presidential
Library Foundation raises twice that amount from non-Federal sources.
It also authorizes the library foundation to enter into agreements to
allow for the display of federally held artifacts and objects relating
to Theodore Roosevelt to be displayed and shared with the public.
This legislation is consistent with similar support provided by
Congress for the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum in
Springfield, IL. Congress recognized then that preserving the history
and legacy of President Lincoln was a national priority, and the same
is true today for President Roosevelt.
The central values of Theodore Roosevelt's life--leadership,
citizenship, and conservation--continue to inspire Americans today. His
life reminds us that challenges can be transformed into opportunities
and that places and people often shape great leaders around them.
As the Theodore Roosevelt Presidential Library prepares to welcome
its first visitors, we have the opportunity today to reaffirm our
commitment to preserving that legacy for generations to come.
With that, I again thank my colleagues for agreeing to pass this
legislation today.
I yield the floor.
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