[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 150 (2004), Part 8]
[House]
[Pages 11080-11083]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




        NATIONAL GREAT BLACK AMERICANS COMMEMORATION ACT OF 2004

  Mr. GIBBONS. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the 
Senate bill (S. 1233) to authorize assistance for the National Great 
Blacks in Wax Museum and Justice Learning Center, as amended.
  The Clerk read as follows:

                                S. 1233

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

[[Page 11081]]



     SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

       This Act may be cited as the ``National Great Black 
     Americans Commemoration Act of 2004''.

     SEC. 2. FINDINGS.

       Congress finds the following:
       (1) Black Americans have served honorably in Congress, in 
     senior executive branch positions, in the law, the judiciary, 
     and other fields, yet their record of service is not well 
     known by the public, is not included in school history 
     lessons, and is not adequately presented in the Nation's 
     museums.
       (2) The Great Blacks in Wax Museum, Inc. in Baltimore, 
     Maryland, a nonprofit organization, is the Nation's first wax 
     museum presenting the history of great Black Americans, 
     including those who have served in Congress, in senior 
     executive branch positions, in the law, the judiciary, and 
     other fields, as well as others who have made significant 
     contributions to benefit the Nation.
       (3) The Great Blacks in Wax Museum, Inc. plans to expand 
     its existing facilities to establish the National Great 
     Blacks in Wax Museum and Justice Learning Center, which is 
     intended to serve as a national museum and center for 
     presentation of wax figures and related interactive 
     educational exhibits portraying the history of great Black 
     Americans.
       (4) The wax medium has long been recognized as a unique and 
     artistic means to record human history through preservation 
     of the faces and personages of people of prominence, and 
     historically, wax exhibits were used to commemorate noted 
     figures in ancient Egypt, Babylon, Greece, and Rome, in 
     medieval Europe, and in the art of the Italian renaissance.
       (5) The Great Blacks in Wax Museum, Inc. was founded in 
     1983 by Drs. Elmer and Joanne Martin, 2 Baltimore educators 
     who used their personal savings to purchase wax figures, 
     which they displayed in schools, churches, shopping malls, 
     and festivals in the mid-Atlantic region.
       (6) The goal of the Martins was to test public reaction to 
     the idea of a Black history wax museum and so positive was 
     the response over time that the museum has been heralded by 
     the public and the media as a national treasure.
       (7) The museum has been the subject of feature stories by 
     CNN, the Wall Street Journal, the Baltimore Sun, the 
     Washington Post, the New York Times, the Chicago Sun Times, 
     the Dallas Morning News, the Los Angeles Times, USA Today, 
     the Afro American Newspaper, Crisis, Essence Magazine, and 
     others.
       (8) More than 300,000 people from across the Nation visit 
     the museum annually.
       (9) The new museum will carry on the time honored artistic 
     tradition of the wax medium; in particular, it will recognize 
     the significant value of this medium to commemorate and 
     appreciate great Black Americans whose faces and personages 
     are not widely recognized.
       (10) The museum will employ the most skilled artisans in 
     the wax medium, use state-of-the-art interactive exhibition 
     technologies, and consult with museum professionals 
     throughout the Nation, and its exhibits will feature the 
     following:
       (A) Blacks who have served in the Senate and House of 
     Representatives of the United States, including those who 
     represented constituencies in Alabama, Florida, Georgia, 
     Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, and 
     Virginia during the 19th century.
       (B) Blacks who have served in the judiciary, in the 
     Department of Justice, as prominent attorneys, in law 
     enforcement, and in the struggle for equal rights under the 
     law.
       (C) Black veterans of various military engagements, 
     including the Buffalo Soldiers and Tuskegee Airmen, and the 
     role of Blacks in the settlement of the western United 
     States.
       (D) Blacks who have served in senior executive branch 
     positions, including members of Presidents' Cabinets, 
     Assistant Secretaries and Deputy Secretaries of Federal 
     agencies, and Presidential advisers.
       (E) Other Blacks whose accomplishments and contributions to 
     human history during the last millennium and to the Nation 
     through more than 400 years are exemplary, including Black 
     educators, authors, scientists, inventors, athletes, clergy, 
     and civil rights leaders.
       (11) The museum plans to develop collaborative programs 
     with other museums, serve as a clearinghouse for training, 
     technical assistance, and other resources involving use of 
     the wax medium, and sponsor traveling exhibits to provide 
     enriching museum experiences for communities throughout the 
     Nation.
       (12) The museum has been recognized by the State of 
     Maryland and the city of Baltimore as a preeminent facility 
     for presenting and interpreting Black history, using the wax 
     medium in its highest artistic form.
       (13) The museum is located in the heart of an area 
     designated as an empowerment zone, and is considered to be a 
     catalyst for economic and cultural improvements in this 
     economically disadvantaged area.

     SEC. 3. ASSISTANCE FOR NATIONAL GREAT BLACKS IN WAX MUSEUM 
                   AND JUSTICE LEARNING CENTER.

       (a) Assistance for Museum.--Subject to subsection (b), the 
     Attorney General, acting through the Office of Justice 
     Programs of the Department of Justice, shall, from amounts 
     made available under subsection (c), make a grant to the 
     Great Blacks in Wax Museum, Inc. in Baltimore, Maryland, to 
     be used only for carrying out programs relating to civil 
     rights and juvenile justice through the National Great Blacks 
     in Wax Museum and Justice Learning Center.
       (b) Grant Requirements.--To receive a grant under 
     subsection (a), the Great Blacks in Wax Museum, Inc. shall 
     submit to the Attorney General a proposal for the use of the 
     grant, which shall include detailed plans for the programs 
     referred to in subsection (a).
       (c) Authorization of Appropriations.--There is authorized 
     to be appropriated to carry out this section $5,000,000, to 
     remain available through the end of fiscal year 2009.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from 
Nevada (Mr. Gibbons) and the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Rodriguez) each 
will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Nevada (Mr. Gibbons).


                             General Leave

  Mr. GIBBONS. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members 
may have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their 
remarks and include extraneous material on S. 1233, the Senate bill 
under consideration.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from Nevada?
  There was no objection.

                              {time}  1600

  Mr. GIBBONS. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, Senate Bill 1233, introduced by Senator Barbara Mikulski 
of Maryland and amended by the Committee on the Judiciary, authorizes 
assistance for the National Great Blacks in Wax Museum and Justice 
Learning Center located in Baltimore, Maryland.
  Mr. Speaker, the Great Blacks in Wax Museum was founded in 1983 by 
Doctors Elmer and Joanne Martin, two Baltimore educators who used their 
personal savings to purchase wax figures which they displayed in 
schools, churches, shopping malls, and festivals in the mid-Atlantic 
region. The goal of the Martins was to test public reaction to the idea 
of a black history wax museum. So positive was the response over time 
that the museum has been heralded by the public and the media as a 
national treasure.
  As part of a proposed expansion of the museum, which is to occur over 
the next several years, S. 1233 would allow the museum to receive 
grants from the U.S. Department of Justice to establish programs 
relating to civil rights and juvenile justice.
  Mr. Speaker, S. 1233, as amended, is supported by the majority and 
minority of the Committee on Resources, and I submit for the Record 
letters from the Chairman of the Committee on Resources and the 
Chairman of the Committee on the Judiciary regarding this bill.

                                         House of Representatives,


                                   Committee on the Judiciary,

                                   Washington, DC, March 25, 2004.
     Hon. Richard Pombo,
     Chairman, Committee on Resources, House of Representatives, 
         Washington, DC.
       Dear Chairman Pombo: I am writing regarding S. 1233, the 
     ``National Great Black Americans Commemoration Act of 2003'' 
     which was referred primarily to the Committee on Resources 
     and secondarily to the Committee on the Judiciary. The 
     Committee on Resources reported the bill favorably on 
     November 17, 2003. H. Rept. No. 108-372, Part I. The 
     Committee on the Judiciary's secondary referral is currently 
     scheduled to expire on April 2, 2004.
       The spending authorized by S. 1233 would come from funds 
     appropriated to the Office of Justice Programs within the 
     Department of Justice. For that reason, I had concerns about 
     the bill as reported by your Committee. My staff has had 
     discussions with staff for the sponsor of the companion House 
     measure, Rep. Cummings, and we have reached a mutually 
     agreeable compromise to resolve these concerns. A copy of the 
     compromise language is attached.
       I understand that through staff discussions you have 
     indicated your willingness to take the bill to the floor 
     under suspension of the rules and use the attached compromise 
     language as the manager's amendment when you do so. I also 
     understand that you will use your best efforts to get the 
     bill scheduled for floor consideration as soon as you are 
     reasonably able to schedule it with the House leadership.
       Based on your willingness to follow this course, I am 
     willing to waive further consideration of the bill in the 
     Committee on the

[[Page 11082]]

     Judiciary so that the bill may proceed expeditiously to the 
     floor. The Committee on the Judiciary takes this action with 
     the understanding that the Committee's jurisdiction over the 
     bill is in no way diminished or altered. I would appreciate 
     your including this letter and your response in the 
     Congressional Record during consideration of the legislation 
     on the House floor.
       I appreciate your cooperation in this matter.
           Sincerely,
                                      F. James Sensenbrenner, Jr.,
     Chairman.
                                  ____

                                         House of Representatives,


                                       Committee on Resources,

                                   Washington, DC, March 25, 2004.
     Hon. F. James Sensenbrenner, Jr.,
     Chairman, Committee on the Judiciary, Washington, DC.
       Dear Mr. Chairman: Thank you for your letter regarding S. 
     1233, a bill to authorize assistance for the National Great 
     Blacks in Wax Museum and Justice Learning Center. I am 
     delighted that you were able to negotiate a suitable source 
     and amount of funds for the project.
       The Committee on Resources will be pleased to take up your 
     negotiated text on the Floor when S. 1233 is considered by 
     the full House of Representatives. I also agree that I will 
     place your letter and this response in the Congressional 
     Record to memorialize this agreement. Finally, I agree that 
     by allowing the Committee on the Judiciary to be discharged 
     from further consideration of the measure, you have not 
     waived or otherwise compromised your jurisdiction over the 
     subject matter of S. 1233.
       Thank you for your cooperation on this bill and for the 
     good work of Joseph Gibson of your staff. I look forward to 
     other mutually beneficial dealings in the future.
           Sincerely,
                                                 Richard W. Pombo,
                                                         Chairman.

  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. RODRIGUEZ. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may 
consume.
  Mr. Speaker, the Great Blacks in Wax Museum is a unique education 
facility, well-deserving of the enormous support that it receives. The 
gentleman from Maryland (Mr. Cummings), chairman of the Congressional 
Black Caucus, a sponsor of the companion legislation here in the House, 
and Senator Mikulski are to be congratulated for their tireless efforts 
on behalf of this facility and this important piece of legislation.
  The museum expansion plans are ambitious, and I urge my colleagues to 
support S. 1233 to help them on their way.
  Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for time, and I yield back 
the balance of my time.
  Mr. GIBBONS. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume 
to urge an ``aye'' vote on this very positive bill.
  Mr. RANGEL. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of the National Great 
Black Americans Commemoration Act, an important measure put forth by 
Hon. Elijah Cummings which gives long overdue commemoration to the many 
Black Americans who have served honorably in this Nation.
  By expanding the Great Blacks in Wax Museum, Inc., in Baltimore, 
Maryland, to establish the National Great Blacks in Wax Museum and 
Justice Learning Center, Congress is acknowledging the monumental 
contributions of African Americans who have served in the Senate and 
House of Representatives; the judiciary and the field of law; various 
military engagements, including the Buffalo Soldiers and Tuskegee 
Airmen; senior executive branch positions; and numerous other 
occupations which have advanced the goals and causes of the United 
States over the more than 400 year history of people of African descent 
in America. The museum, which is currently visited by more than 300,000 
people annually, will employ the most skilled artisans in the wax 
medium to accurately and honorably portray those Black Americans who, 
with ability and perseverance, have worked tirelessly for justice, 
equal rights, peace, and rule of law in our great Nation.
  The National Great Black Americans Commemoration Act is certainly 
worthy of support by this body, particularly as it is a key complement 
to the National Museum of African American History and Culture Act, 
championed by Hon. John Lewis and signed into law December 16, 2003. 
However, these gestures are but first steps in the directions of 
endowing esteemed Black Americans with the veneration that they 
deserve. More efforts like this Act are needed if proper homage is to 
be paid to those great Black pioneers who truly laid the foundation 
upon which this Nation has been built.
  Mr. CUMMINGS. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of passage of the 
National Great Black Americans Commemoration Act of 2003, H.R. 2424 and 
S. 1233, companion legislation that I introduced along with my friend 
Senator Mukulski. This bill has received bipartisan support in both 
committees of jurisdiction in the House, as well as bicameral support 
where it passed quickly to the floor out of the Senate Judiciary 
Committee. I urge all of my colleagues to vote in support of this 
measure and I urge the President to sign this important bill into law 
when it reaches his desk.
  With valued input from Drs. Elmer and Joanne Martin, founders of the 
Great Blacks in Wax Museum. I introduced this bill to help bring long 
overdue recognition of African Americans who have served our Nation 
with great distinction, but who names, faces and achievements may not 
be well-known by the average citizen. Rest assured that this 
recognition can and will be accomplished and preserved through 
expansion of the Great Blacks in Wax Museum--a national treasure 
located in my district in Baltimore, Maryland.
  In addition to the 200 existing figures at the museum, I am pleased 
to inform my colleagues that a priority will be placed on exhibits 
presenting the twenty-two Black Americans who served in Congress during 
the 19th century. Several of these 22 were born into slavery. All of 
these Americans proudly served their constituents and their Nation. 
Other members from the 1990s such as Senator Edward Brooke, 
Representatives Julian Dixon (D-CA), Oscar Stanton De Priest (R-IL), 
Louis Stokes (D-OH), Parren J. Mitchell (D-MD), J.C. Watts, Jr. (R-OK) 
and others will also receive special recognition. Some of the existing 
distinguished figures depict Collin Powell, Harriet Tubman, Martin 
Luther King, Jr., Mary McLeod Bethune and former Representatives Mickey 
Leland of Texas as well as Shirley Chisholm and Adam Clayton Powell of 
New York.
  The expanded museum will focus on Black military veterans of various 
military engagements, including the Buffalo Soldiers and Tuskegee 
Airmen; on Black judges and prominent attorneys; and the role of Blacks 
in the discovery and settlement of America. It will also showcase 
Blacks who served in senior civilian Executive Branch positions, such 
as Ralph Bunche (FDR administration), E. Frederic Morrow (Eisenhower 
administration), Robert Weaver (Johnson administration), William 
Coleman (Ford administration), Patricia Harris (Carter administration), 
Louis Sullivan (George H.W. Bush administration), and others who have 
not received appropriate recognition.,
  Lastly, this legislation authorizes assistance in establishing a 
Justice Learning Center as a component of the expanded Museum complex. 
The Justice Learning Center will include state-of-the art facilities 
and resources to educate the public, especially at-risk youth about the 
role of African Americans in our Nation's judicial system. It will 
include a special focus on the civil rights movement, on the role of 
African Americans as lawmakers, attorneys and in the Judiciary.
  Mr. Speaker, the Great Blacks in Wax Museum was founded in 1983 by 
Dr. Elmer Martin and Dr. Joanne Martin, who started the museum with 
their own funds carrying a few figures and exhibit materials around the 
country in their car. The museum currently occupies part of a city 
block in East Baltimore, and includes more than 200 wax figures. It is 
America's first wax museum of Black history. The museum now receives 
over 200,000 visitors a year; over half of these visitors are school 
children. I also will mention that several members of Congress and 
their staff have visited and relayed to me the awesome nature of their 
visit--how the figures and exhibits both moved and informed. Passage of 
this bill will ensure that the Museum can continue its mission to 
preserve a great part of our Nation's history.
  I would be remiss if I did not relay to you how important and 
inspiring this Museum is to its East Baltimore community. The Great 
Blacks in Wax Museum functions as more than just a museum. It is a 
stalwart in its community. The Martins established the Museum with the 
primary motivation ``to use education, history and example to help 
mainly disadvantaged youth overcome feelings of alienation, defeatism 
and despair.'' It provides a safe-haven for at-risk youth and offers 
opportunities for young people in the community to take part in 
employment, intern and volunteer programs. The Museum has enrichment 
programs for individuals, families, daycare centers, churches, schools 
and other non-profit organizations. In keeping with its commitment to 
community involvement, the Museum's many programs serve as a means for 
taking learning and cultural enrichment beyond the school walls. The 
Justice Learning Center will extend the outreach efforts of the Museum 
to homeless shelters, halfway houses, adult day care, domestic

[[Page 11083]]

violence centers, youth residential facilities and other places to 
reach disadvantaged and/or at-risk youth and families.
  Mr. Speaker, passage of this bill will be seen as a testament to the 
Martins' persistence and vision. Passage will also mean that the 
National Great Blacks in Wax Museum--a national treasure will receive 
needed Federal support to ensure that generations yet unborn will be 
told the story of these great Americans. The Museum will ensure that 
history never forgets this legacy.
  Finally, I want to thank Representative Sensenbrenner and his 
staffers Joseph Gibson and Katy Crooks, Representative Conyers and his 
staffer Lillian German, as well as Representatives Pombo and Rahall and 
their staffers, Frank Vitello, Richard Healy and David Watkins for all 
of their hard work in moving this legislation through their respective 
Committees. I would especially like to thank my staff, Kimberly Ross in 
seeing this legislation through to its successful end.
  Mr. GIBBONS. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Murphy). The question is on the motion 
offered by the gentleman from Nevada (Mr. Gibbons) that the House 
suspend the rules and pass the Senate bill, S. 1233, as amended.
  The question was taken; and (two-thirds having voted in favor 
thereof) the rules were suspended and the Senate bill, as amended, was 
passed.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

                          ____________________