[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 150 (2004), Part 17]
[Senate]
[Page 23373]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




           JOHN F. KENNEDY CENTER REAUTHORIZATION ACT OF 2004

  Mr. INHOFE. Mr. President, I rise in support of the passage of HR 
5294--the ``John F. Kennedy Center Reauthorization Act of 2004.'' As 
Chairman of the Senate Committee with jurisdiction over the John F. 
Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, I am pleased that, working 
closely with the Kennedy Center, we were able to reach an agreement 
with the House of Representatives. This legislation authorizes funding 
for the maintenance, repair and security, as well as capital projects 
through Fiscal Year 2007. Additionally, the legislation revises the 
John F. Kennedy Center Plaza Authorization Act of 2002 to direct the 
Secretary of Transportation to establish a Center Plaza Project Team 
consisting of the Secretary, the Administrator of General Services, the 
Chairman of the Board of Trustees, or their designees, and other 
individuals the Project Team considers appropriate. The Board is 
required to consult with the Project Team on specified matters, 
including construction of buildings.
  I wish to recognize Marty Hall and Andrew Wheeler of my Committee 
staff for their work on this legislation. I also wish thank Michael 
Kaiser, President of the Kennedy Center for his support for this bill. 
Mr. Kaiser has done an outstanding job of making the Kennedy Center a 
world class operation and center for the performing arts. Mr. Kaiser is 
responsible not only for the artistic programming, he is also the 
person charged with ensuring its financial health. By any measure, he 
has been very successful in both ventures. I would also like to express 
my appreciation to Kennedy Center staff, specifically Jared Barlage and 
Ann Stock, who have worked very closely with my staff in developing 
this legislation.
  From its very beginnings, the Kennedy Center has represented a unique 
public/private partnership. Because the Center is the Nation's living 
memorial to President Kennedy, it receives federal funding each year to 
pay for maintenance and operation of the building, a federal facility. 
However, the Center's artistic programs and education and outreach 
initiatives are paid for almost entirely through ticket sales and gifts 
from individuals, corporations, and private foundations. I am pleased 
that we can send this legislation to President Bush and continue the 
good work of this valued institution.

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