[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 146 (2000), Part 17]
[House]
[Pages 25739-25742]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]



    CONGRESSIONAL RECOGNITION FOR EXCELLENCE IN ARTS EDUCATION BOARD

  Mr. McKEON. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the 
Senate bill (S. 2789) to amend the Congressional Award Act to establish 
a Congressional Recognition for Excellence in Arts Education Board.
  The Clerk read as follows:

                                S. 2789

       Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of 
     the United States of America in Congress assembled,

     SECTION 1. CONGRESSIONAL RECOGNITION FOR EXCELLENCE IN ARTS 
                   EDUCATION.

       (a) In General.--The Congressional Award Act (2 U.S.C. 801-
     808) is amended by adding at the end the following:

 ``TITLE II--CONGRESSIONAL RECOGNITION FOR EXCELLENCE IN ARTS EDUCATION

     ``SEC. 201. SHORT TITLE.

       ``This title may be cited as the `Congressional Recognition 
     for Excellence in Arts Education Act'.

     ``SEC. 202. FINDINGS.

       ``Congress makes the following findings:
       ``(1) Arts literacy is a fundamental purpose of schooling 
     for all students.
       ``(2) Arts education stimulates, develops, and refines many 
     cognitive and creative skills, critical thinking and 
     nimbleness in judgment, creativity and imagination, 
     cooperative decisionmaking, leadership, high-level literacy 
     and communication, and the capacity for problem-posing and 
     problem-solving.
       ``(3) Arts education contributes significantly to the 
     creation of flexible, adaptable, and knowledgeable workers 
     who will be needed in the 21st century economy.
       ``(4) Arts education improves teaching and learning.
       ``(5) Where parents and families, artists, arts 
     organizations, businesses, local civic and cultural leaders, 
     and institutions are actively engaged in instructional 
     programs, arts education is more successful.
       ``(6) Effective teachers of the arts should be encouraged 
     to continue to learn and grow in mastery of their art form as 
     well as in their teaching competence.
       ``(7) The 1999 study, entitled `Gaining the Arts Advantage: 
     Lessons from School Districts that Value Arts Education', 
     found that the literacy, education, programs, learning and 
     growth described in paragraphs (1) through (6) contribute to 
     successful districtwide arts education.
       ``(8) Despite all of the literacy, education, programs, 
     learning and growth findings described in paragraphs (1) 
     through (6), the 1997 National Assessment of Educational 
     Progress reported that students lack sufficient opportunity 
     for participatory learning in the arts.
       ``(9) The Arts Education Partnership, a coalition of 
     national and State education, arts, business, and civic 
     groups, is an excellent example of one organization that has 
     demonstrated its effectiveness in addressing the purposes 
     described in section 205(a) and the capacity and credibility 
     to administer arts education programs of national 
     significance.

     ``SEC. 203. DEFINITIONS.

       ``In this title:
       ``(1) Arts education partnership.--The term `Arts Education 
     Partnership' means a private, nonprofit coalition of 
     education, arts, business, philanthropic, and government 
     organizations that demonstrates and promotes the essential 
     role of arts education in enabling all students to succeed in 
     school, life, and work, and was formed in 1995.
       ``(2) Board.--The term `Board' means the Congressional 
     Recognition for Excellence in Arts Education Awards Board 
     established under section 204.
       ``(3) Elementary school; secondary school.--The terms 
     `elementary school' and `secondary school' mean--
       ``(A) a public or private elementary school or secondary 
     school (as the case may be), as defined in section 14101 of 
     the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 
     8801); or
       ``(B) a bureau funded school as defined in section 1146 of 
     the Education Amendments of 1978 (25 U.S.C. 2026).
       ``(4) State.--The term `State' means each of the several 
     States of the United States, the District of Columbia, the 
     Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, Guam, American Samoa, the United 
     States Virgin Islands, the Commonwealth of the Northern 
     Mariana Islands, the Republic of the Marshall Islands, the 
     Federated States of Micronesia, and the Republic of Palau.

     ``SEC. 204. ESTABLISHMENT OF BOARD.

       ``There is established within the legislative branch of the 
     Federal Government a Congressional Recognition for Excellence 
     in Arts Education Awards Board. The Board shall be 
     responsible for administering the awards program described in 
     section 205.

     ``SEC. 205. BOARD DUTIES.

       ``(a) Awards Program Established.--The Board shall 
     establish and administer an awards program to be known as the 
     `Congressional Recognition for Excellence in Arts Education 
     Awards Program'. The purpose of the program shall be to--
       ``(1) celebrate the positive impact and public benefits of 
     the arts;
       ``(2) encourage all elementary schools and secondary 
     schools to integrate the arts into the school curriculum;
       ``(3) spotlight the most compelling evidence of the 
     relationship between the arts and student learning;
       ``(4) demonstrate how community involvement in the creation 
     and implementation of arts policies enriches the schools;
       ``(5) recognize school administrators and faculty who 
     provide quality arts education to students;
       ``(6) acknowledge schools that provide professional 
     development opportunities for their teachers;
       ``(7) create opportunities for students to experience the 
     relationship between early participation in the arts and 
     developing the life skills necessary for future personal and 
     professional success;
       ``(8) increase, encourage, and ensure comprehensive, 
     sequential arts learning for all students; and
       ``(9) expand student access to arts education in schools in 
     every community.
       ``(b) Duties.--
       ``(1) School awards.--The Board shall--
       ``(A) make annual awards to elementary schools and 
     secondary schools in the States in accordance with criteria 
     established under subparagraph (B), which awards--
       ``(i) shall be of such design and materials as the Board 
     may determine, including a well-designed certificate or a 
     work of art, designed for the awards event by an appropriate 
     artist; and
       ``(ii) shall be reflective of the dignity of Congress;
       ``(B) establish criteria required for a school to receive 
     the award, and establish such procedures as may be necessary 
     to verify that the school meets the criteria, which criteria 
     shall include criteria requiring--
       ``(i) that the school--

       ``(I) provides comprehensive, sequential arts learning; and
       ``(II) integrates the arts throughout the curriculum in 
     subjects other than the arts; and

       ``(ii) 3 of the following:

[[Page 25740]]

       ``(I) that the community serving the school is actively 
     involved in shaping and implementing the arts policies and 
     programs of the school;
       ``(II) that the school principal supports the policy of 
     arts education for all students;
       ``(III) that arts teachers in the school are encouraged to 
     learn and grow in mastery of their art form as well as in 
     their teaching competence;
       ``(IV) that the school actively encourages the use of arts 
     assessment techniques for improving student, teacher, and 
     administrative performance; and
       ``(V) that school leaders engage the total school community 
     in arts activities that create a climate of support for arts 
     education; and

       ``(C) include, in the procedures necessary for verification 
     that a school meets the criteria described in subparagraph 
     (B), written evidence of the specific criteria, and 
     supporting documentation, that includes--
       ``(i) 3 letters of support for the school from community 
     members, which may include a letter from--

       ``(I) the school's Parent Teacher Association (PTA);
       ``(II) community leaders, such as elected or appointed 
     officials; and
       ``(III) arts organizations or institutions in the community 
     that partner with the school; and

       ``(ii) the completed application for the award signed by 
     the principal or other education leader such as a school 
     district arts coordinator, school board member, or school 
     superintendent;
       ``(D) determine appropriate methods for disseminating 
     information about the program and make application forms 
     available to schools;
       ``(E) delineate such roles as the Board considers to be 
     appropriate for the Director in administering the program, 
     and set forth in the bylaws of the Board the duties, salary, 
     and benefits of the Director;
       ``(F) raise funds for the operation of the program;
       ``(G) determine, and inform Congress regarding, the 
     national readiness for interdisciplinary individual student 
     awards described in paragraph (2), on the basis of the 
     framework established in the 1997 National Assessment of 
     Educational Progress and such other criteria as the Board 
     determines appropriate; and
       ``(H) take such other actions as may be appropriate for the 
     administration of the Congressional Recognition for 
     Excellence in Arts Education Awards Program.
       ``(2) Student awards.--
       ``(A) In general.--At such time as the Board determines 
     appropriate, the Board--
       ``(i) shall make annual awards to elementary school and 
     secondary school students for individual interdisciplinary 
     arts achievement; and
       ``(ii) establish criteria for the making of the awards.
       ``(B) Award model.--The Board may use as a model for the 
     awards the Congressional Award Program and the President's 
     Physical Fitness Award Program.
       ``(c) Presentation.--The Board shall arrange for the 
     presentation of awards under this section to the recipients 
     and shall provide for participation by Members of Congress in 
     such presentation, when appropriate.
       ``(d) Date of Announcement.--The Board shall determine an 
     appropriate date or dates for announcement of the awards 
     under this section, which date shall coincide with a National 
     Arts Education Month or a similarly designated day, week or 
     month, if such designation exists.
       ``(e) Report.--
       ``(1) In general.--The Board shall prepare and submit an 
     annual report to Congress not later than March 1 of each year 
     summarizing the activities of the Congressional Recognition 
     for Excellence in Arts Education Awards Program during the 
     previous year and making appropriate recommendations for the 
     program. Any minority views and recommendations of members of 
     the Board shall be included in such reports.
       ``(2) Contents.--The annual report shall contain the 
     following:
       ``(A) Specific information regarding the methods used to 
     raise funds for the Congressional Recognition for Excellence 
     in Arts Education Awards Program and a list of the sources of 
     all money raised by the Board.
       ``(B) Detailed information regarding the expenditures made 
     by the Board, including the percentage of funds that are used 
     for administrative expenses.
       ``(C) A description of the programs formulated by the 
     Director under section 207(b)(1), including an explanation of 
     the operation of such programs and a list of the sponsors of 
     the programs.
       ``(D) A detailed list of the administrative expenditures 
     made by the Board, including the amounts expended for 
     salaries, travel expenses, and reimbursed expenses.
       ``(E) A list of schools given awards under the program, and 
     the city, town, or county, and State in which the school is 
     located.
       ``(F) An evaluation of the state of arts education in 
     schools, which may include anecdotal evidence of the effect 
     of the Congressional Recognition for Excellence in Arts 
     Education Awards Program on individual school curriculum.
       ``(G) On the basis of the findings described in section 202 
     and the purposes of the Congressional Recognition for 
     Excellence in Arts Education Awards Program described in 
     section 205(a), a recommendation regarding the national 
     readiness to make individual student awards under subsection 
     (b)(2).

     ``SEC. 206. COMPOSITION OF BOARD; ADVISORY BOARD.

       ``(a) Composition.--
       ``(1) In general.--The Board shall consist of 9 members as 
     follows:
       ``(A) 2 Members of the Senate appointed by the Majority 
     Leader of the Senate.
       ``(B) 2 Members of the Senate appointed by the Minority 
     Leader of the Senate.
       ``(C) 2 Members of the House of Representatives appointed 
     by the Speaker of the House of Representatives.
       ``(D) 2 Members of the House of Representatives appointed 
     by the Minority Leader of the House of Representatives.
       ``(E) The Director of the Board, who shall serve as a 
     nonvoting member.
       ``(2) Advisory board.--There is established an Advisory 
     Board to assist and advise the Board with respect to its 
     duties under this title, that shall consist of 15 members 
     appointed--
       ``(A) in the case of the initial such members of the 
     Advisory Board, by the leaders of the Senate and House of 
     Representatives making the appointments under paragraph (1), 
     from recommendations received from organizations and entities 
     involved in the arts such as businesses, civic and cultural 
     organizations, and the Arts Education Partnership steering 
     committee; and
       ``(B) in the case of any other such members of the Advisory 
     Board, by the Board.
       ``(3) Special rule for advisory board.--In making 
     appointments to the Advisory Board, the individuals and 
     entity making the appointments under paragraph (2) shall 
     consider recommendations submitted by any interested party, 
     including any member of the Board.
       ``(4) Interest.--
       ``(A) In general.--Members of Congress appointed to the 
     Board shall have an interest in 1 of the purposes described 
     in section 205(a).
       ``(B) Diversity.--The membership of the Advisory Board 
     shall represent a balance of artistic and education 
     professionals, including at least 1 representative who 
     teaches in each of the following disciplines:
       ``(i) Music.
       ``(ii) Theater.
       ``(iii) Visual Arts.
       ``(iv) Dance.
       ``(b) Terms.--
       ``(1) Board.--Members of the Board shall serve for terms of 
     6 years, except that of the members first appointed--
       ``(A) 1 Member of the House of Representatives and 1 Member 
     of the Senate shall serve for terms of 2 years;
       ``(B) 1 Member of the House of Representatives and 1 Member 
     of the Senate shall serve for terms of 4 years; and
       ``(C) 2 Members of the House of Representatives and 2 
     Members of the Senate shall serve for terms of 6 years,

     as determined by lot when all such members have been 
     appointed.
       ``(2) Advisory board.--Members of the Advisory Board shall 
     serve for terms of 6 years, except that of the members first 
     appointed, 3 shall serve for terms of 2 years, 4 shall serve 
     for terms of 4 years, and 8 shall serve for terms of 6 years, 
     as determined by lot when all such members have been 
     appointed.
       ``(c) Vacancy.--
       ``(1) In general.--Any vacancy in the membership of the 
     Board or Advisory Board shall be filled in the same manner in 
     which the original appointment was made.
       ``(2) Term.--Any member appointed to fill a vacancy 
     occurring before the expiration of the term for which the 
     member's predecessor was appointed shall be appointed only 
     for the remainder of such term.
       ``(3) Extension.--Any appointed member of the Board or 
     Advisory Board may continue to serve after the expiration of 
     the member's term until the member's successor has taken 
     office.
       ``(4) Special rule.--Vacancies in the membership of the 
     Board shall not affect the Board's power to function if there 
     remain sufficient members of the Board to constitute a quorum 
     under subsection (d).
       ``(d) Quorum.--A majority of the members of the Board shall 
     constitute a quorum.
       ``(e) Compensation.--Members of the Board and Advisory 
     Board shall serve without pay but may be compensated, from 
     amounts in the trust fund, for reasonable travel expenses 
     incurred by the members in the performance of their duties as 
     members of the Board.
       ``(f) Meetings.--The Board shall meet annually at the call 
     of the Chairperson and at such other times as the Chairperson 
     may determine to be appropriate. The Chairperson shall call a 
     meeting of the Board whenever \1/3\ of the members of the 
     Board submit written requests for such a meeting.
       ``(g) Officers.--The Chairperson and the Vice Chairperson 
     of the Board shall be elected from among the members of the 
     Board, by a majority vote of the members of the Board, for 
     such terms as the Board determines. The Vice Chairperson 
     shall perform the duties of the Chairperson in the absence of 
     the Chairperson.

[[Page 25741]]

       ``(h) Committees.--
       ``(1) In general.--The Board may appoint such committees, 
     and assign to the committees such functions, as may be 
     appropriate to assist the Board in carrying out its duties 
     under this title. Members of such committees may include the 
     members of the Board or the Advisory Board.
       ``(2) Special rule.--Any employee or officer of the Federal 
     Government may serve as a member of a committee created by 
     the Board, but may not receive compensation for services 
     performed for such a committee.
       ``(i) Bylaws and Other Requirements.--The Board shall 
     establish such bylaws and other requirements as may be 
     appropriate to enable the Board to carry out the Board's 
     duties under this title.

     ``SEC. 207. ADMINISTRATION.

       ``(a) In General.--In the administration of the 
     Congressional Recognition for Excellence in Arts Education 
     Awards Program, the Board shall be assisted by a Director, 
     who shall be the principal executive of the program and who 
     shall supervise the affairs of the Board. The Director shall 
     be appointed by a majority vote of the Board.
       ``(b) Director's Responsibilities.--The Director shall, in 
     consultation with the Board--
       ``(1) formulate programs to carry out the policies of the 
     Congressional Recognition for Excellence in Arts Education 
     Awards Program;
       ``(2) establish such divisions within the Congressional 
     Recognition for Excellence in Arts Education Awards Program 
     as may be appropriate; and
       ``(3) employ and provide for the compensation of such 
     personnel as may be necessary to carry out the Congressional 
     Recognition for Excellence in Arts Education Awards Program, 
     subject to such policies as the Board shall prescribe under 
     its bylaws.
       ``(c) Application.--Each school or student desiring an 
     award under this title shall submit an application to the 
     Board at such time, in such manner and accompanied by such 
     information as the Board may require.

     ``SEC. 208. LIMITATIONS.

       ``(a) In General.--Subject to such limitations as may be 
     provided for under this section, the Board may take such 
     actions and make such expenditures as may be necessary to 
     carry out the Congressional Recognition for Excellence in 
     Arts Education Awards Program, except that the Board shall 
     carry out its functions and make expenditures with only such 
     resources as are available to the Board from the 
     Congressional Recognition for Excellence in Arts Education 
     Awards Trust Fund under section 211.
       ``(b) Contracts.--The Board may enter into such contracts 
     as may be appropriate to carry out the business of the Board, 
     but the Board may not enter into any contract which will 
     obligate the Board to expend an amount greater than the 
     amount available to the Board for the purpose of such 
     contract during the fiscal year in which the expenditure is 
     made.
       ``(c) Gifts.--The Board may seek and accept, from sources 
     other than the Federal Government, funds and other resources 
     to carry out the Board's activities. The Board may not accept 
     any funds or other resources that are--
       ``(1) donated with a restriction on their use unless such 
     restriction merely provides that such funds or other 
     resources be used in furtherance of the Congressional 
     Recognition for Excellence in Arts Education Awards Program; 
     or
       ``(2) donated subject to the condition that the identity of 
     the donor of the funds or resources shall remain anonymous.
       ``(d) Volunteers.--The Board may accept and utilize the 
     services of voluntary, uncompensated personnel.
       ``(e) Real or Personal Property.--The Board may lease (or 
     otherwise hold), acquire, or dispose of real or personal 
     property necessary for, or relating to, the duties of the 
     Board.
       ``(f) Prohibitions.--The Board shall have no power--
       ``(1) to issue bonds, notes, debentures, or other similar 
     obligations creating long-term indebtedness;
       ``(2) to issue any share of stock or to declare or pay any 
     dividends; or
       ``(3) to provide for any part of the income or assets of 
     the Board to inure to the benefit of any director, officer, 
     or employee of the Board except as reasonable compensation 
     for services or reimbursement for expenses.

     ``SEC. 209. AUDITS.

       ``The financial records of the Board may be audited by the 
     Comptroller General of the United States at such times as the 
     Comptroller General may determine to be appropriate. The 
     Comptroller General, or any duly authorized representative of 
     the Comptroller General, shall have access for the purpose of 
     audit to any books, documents, papers, and records of the 
     Board (or any agent of the Board) which, in the opinion of 
     the Comptroller General, may be pertinent to the 
     Congressional Recognition for Excellence in Arts Education 
     Awards Program.

     ``SEC. 210. TERMINATION.

       ``The Board shall terminate 6 years after the date of 
     enactment of this title. The Board shall set forth, in its 
     bylaws, the procedures for dissolution to be followed by the 
     Board.

     ``SEC. 211. TRUST FUND.

       ``(a) Establishment of Fund.--There shall be established in 
     the Treasury of the United States a trust fund which shall be 
     known as the ``Congressional Recognition for Excellence in 
     Arts Education Awards Trust Fund''. The fund shall be 
     administered by the Board, and shall consist of amounts 
     donated to the Board under section 208(c) and amounts 
     credited to the fund under subsection (d).
       ``(b) Investment.--
       ``(1) In general.--It shall be the duty of the Secretary of 
     the Treasury to invest, at the direction of the Director of 
     the Board, such portion of the fund that is not, in the 
     judgment of the Director of the Board, required to meet the 
     current needs of the fund.
       ``(2) Authorized investments.--Such investments shall be in 
     public debt obligations with maturities suitable to the needs 
     of the fund, as determined by the Director of the Board. 
     Investments in public debt obligations shall bear interest at 
     rates determined by the Secretary of the Treasury taking into 
     consideration the current market yield on outstanding 
     marketable obligations of the United States of comparable 
     maturity.
       ``(c) Authority To Sell Obligations.--Any obligation 
     acquired by the fund may be sold by the Secretary of the 
     Treasury at the market price.
       ``(d) Proceeds From Certain Transactions Credited to 
     Fund.--The interest on, and the proceeds from the sale or 
     redemption of, any obligations held in the fund shall be 
     credited to and form a part of the fund.''.
       (b) Conforming Amendments.--The Congressional Award Act (2 
     U.S.C. 801-808) is amended--
       (1) by inserting after section 1 the following:

               ``TITLE I--CONGRESSIONAL AWARD PROGRAM'',

       (2) by redesignating sections 2 through 9 as sections 101 
     through 108, respectively,
       (3) in section 101 (as so redesignated)--
       (A) by striking ``Act'' and inserting ``title'', and
       (B) by striking ``section 3'' and inserting ``section 
     102'',
       (4) in section 102(e) (as so redesignated)--
       (A) by striking ``section 5(g)(1)'' and inserting ``section 
     104(g)(1)'', and
       (B) by striking ``section 7(g)(1)'' and inserting ``section 
     106(g)(1)'', and
       (5) in section 103(i), by striking ``section 7'' and 
     inserting ``section 106''.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from 
California (Mr. McKeon) and the gentleman from Michigan (Mr. Kildee) 
each will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from California (Mr. McKeon).


                             General Leave

  Mr. McKEON. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may 
have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their remarks 
on S. 2789.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from California?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. McKEON. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of S. 2789, a bill to establish 
the Congressional Recognition for Excellence in Arts, or ``Create,'' 
awards.
  Mr. Speaker, S. 2789 passed the Senate on Saturday by unanimous 
consent. The Senate bill, S. 2789, establishes awards for schools that 
include the arts in their regular curriculum and is identical to a bill 
I introduced, H.R. 5554.
  Many studies have shown that there is a strong relationship between 
arts education to brain development, student achievement, career 
potential, and other quality-of-life issues.
  For example, arts activity has been shown to lower the likelihood of 
delinquent behavior. The National Dropout Prevention Center reported 
that school arts classes and activities encourage attendance and 
achievement of at-risk high school students.
  S. 2789 establishes within the current Congressional Award Act a 
Congressional Recognition for Excellence in Arts and Education awards 
board, made up of nine members, four members from the House of 
Representatives, and four from the Senate, plus the director of the 
board who shall serve as a nonvoting member.
  Additionally, an advisory board shall be established to assist and 
advise the congressional board with respect to its duties and shall 
consist of 15 members from among recommendations received from outside 
arts organizations.
  Membership on the advisory board shall represent a balance of 
artistic and education professionals and must

[[Page 25742]]

include at least one representative who teaches in each of the four 
disciplines of music, theater, visual arts, and dance.
  By recognizing the importance of arts instruction and granting them 
an award from this body, it is our hope that arts classes in schools 
will be as common as English or math.
  Finally, I am pleased that Senator Cochran worked with me on 
strengthening the role of arts educators on the advisory board. Their 
strong participation is vital for this program.
  In conclusion, I urge my colleagues to join the other body and 
support this important piece of legislation.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. KILDEE. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  First of all, it is great to be defending a bill with the gentleman 
from California (Mr. McKeon), my good friend, as we did 2 years ago 
with the higher education bill. It is a pleasure to be working with 
him. He is one who I number among my friends.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of S. 2789, the Congressional 
Recognition for Excellence in Arts Education Act. This legislation was 
introduced by Senator Cochran and passed the Senate on October 27 by 
unanimous consent. This bill amends the Congressional Award Act, which 
is authorized until fiscal year 2005, to establish a board towards 
schools and students for excellence in the arts and in arts education.
  The legislation would also set up a trust fund and allow board 
members to seek and accept from sources other than the Federal 
Government funds to carry out activities for the award program. This 
would be done at little, if any, direct expense to the taxpayers.
  This bill supports arts education for our most important population, 
our children. Studies have shown that arts education stimulates, 
develops, and refines many cognitive and creative skills in children 
and young adults. Emphasizing high-quality art and art curriculum 
through this award will further these worthwhile objectives.
  Mr. Speaker, I urge Members to support this legislation.
  Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. McKEON. Mr. Speaker, I want to thank the gentleman from Michigan 
(Mr. Kildee), my good friend, and tell him that I also appreciate the 
opportunity of working together on this bill with him.
  Mr. Speaker, I have no more speakers; but I do have some thanks I 
would like to give at this time, to Karen Weiss, my legislative 
director; Jo Marie St. Martin, our legal counsel; Rich Stombres with 
the majority staff; Alex Nock with the minority staff; and Kirk Boyle 
with the majority leader's office, for their great help in bringing 
this bill to this point.
  Mr. GILMAN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of S. 2789, the 
Congressional Recognition for Excellence in Arts Education Act and I 
commend the House Speaker, the gentleman from California, Mr. McKeon.
  Over the past 30 years, our quality of life has been improved by the 
arts. Support for the arts illustrates our Nation's commitment to 
freedom of expression, one of the basic principles on which our Nation 
is founded.
  We must understand and appreciate the importance of the arts on our 
Nation's children. Whether it is music or drama or dance, children are 
drawn to the arts. By giving children something to be proud of and 
passionate about, they can make good choices and avoid following the 
crowd down dark paths.
  S. 2789 establishes the sense of Congress that arts literacy is a 
fundamental purpose of schooling for all students. Arts education 
stimulates, develops, and refines many cognitive and creative skills, 
critical thinking and nimbleness in judgment, creativity and 
imagination, cooperative decisionmaking, leadership, high-level 
literacy, and communication, and the capacity for problem-posing and 
problem-solving.
  As chairman of the International Relations Committee, I recognize the 
importance of the arts on an international level, as they help foster a 
common appreciation of history and culture that are so essential to our 
humanity.
  Accordingly, I urge all my colleagues to support this measure, to 
recognize the importance of arts literacy in our Nation's schools.
  Mr. McKEON. Mr. Speaker, 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 
gentleman from California (Mr. McKeon) that the House suspend the rules 
and pass the Senate bill, S. 2789.
  The question was taken; and (two-thirds having voted in favor 
thereof) the rules were suspended and the Senate bill was passed.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

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