[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 152 (2006), Part 11]
[House]
[Pages 15483-15485]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




DESIGNATING THE NEGRO LEAGUES BASEBALL MUSEUM IN KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI, 
          AS AMERICA'S NATIONAL NEGRO LEAGUES BASEBALL MUSEUM

  Mr. WALDEN of Oregon. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and 
concur in the Senate concurrent resolution (S. Con. Res. 60) 
designating the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum in Kansas City, Missouri, 
as America's National Negro Leagues Baseball Museum.
  The Clerk read as follows:

                            S. Con. Res. 60

       Whereas the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum in Kansas City, 
     Missouri, was founded in 1990, in honor of those individuals 
     who played in the Negro Baseball Leagues as a result of 
     segregation in America;
       Whereas the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum is the only 
     public museum in the Nation that exists for the exclusive 
     purpose of interpreting the experiences of the players in the 
     Negro Leagues from 1920 through 1970;

[[Page 15484]]

       Whereas the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum project began in 
     the 1980s, through a large scale, grass roots, civic and 
     fundraising effort by citizens and baseball fans in the 
     Kansas City metropolitan area;
       Whereas the first Negro Leagues Baseball Museum was located 
     at 1615 East 18th Street in the historic ``18th and Vine 
     District'', which was designated by the city of Kansas City, 
     Missouri, in 1988 as historic in nature and the birthplace of 
     the Negro Leagues;
       Whereas the current Negro Leagues Baseball Museum was 
     opened at 1616 East 18th Street in 1997, with a dramatic 
     expansion of core exhibition and gallery space and over 
     10,000 square feet of new interpretive and educational 
     exhibits;
       Whereas the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum continues to 
     receive strong support from the residents of the Kansas City 
     metropolitan area and annually entertains over 60,000 
     visitors from all 50 States, and numerous foreign countries;
       Whereas there remains a need to preserve the evidence of 
     honor, courage, sacrifice, and triumph in the face of 
     segregation of those African Americans who played in the 
     Negro Leagues;
       Whereas the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum seeks to educate 
     a diverse audience through its comprehensive collection of 
     historical materials, important artifacts, and oral histories 
     of the participants in the Negro Leagues and the impact that 
     segregation played in the lives of these individuals and 
     their fans; and
       Whereas a great opportunity exists to use the invaluable 
     resources of the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum to teach the 
     Nation's school children, through on-site visits, traveling 
     exhibits, classroom curriculum, distance learning, and other 
     educational initiatives: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved by the Senate (the House of Representatives 
     concurring), That Congress--
       (1) designates the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum in Kansas 
     City, Missouri, including the museums future and expanded 
     exhibits, collections library, archives, artifacts and 
     education programs as ``America's National Negro Leagues 
     Baseball Museum'';
       (2) supports the efforts of the Negro Leagues Baseball 
     Museum to recognize and preserve the history of the Negro 
     Leagues and the impact of segregation on our Nation;
       (3) recognizes that the continued collection, preservation, 
     and interpretation of the historical objects and other 
     historical materials held by the Negro Leagues Baseball 
     Museum enhances our knowledge and understanding of the 
     experience of African Americans during legal segregation;
       (4) commends the ongoing development and visibility of the 
     ``Power Alley'' educational outreach program for teachers and 
     students throughout the Nation sponsored by the Negro Leagues 
     Baseball Museum;
       (5) asks all Americans to join in celebrating the Negro 
     Leagues Baseball Museum and its mission of preserving and 
     interpreting the legacy of the Negro Leagues; and
       (6) encourages present and future generations to understand 
     the sensitive issues surrounding the Negro Leagues, how they 
     helped shape our Nation and Major League Baseball, and how 
     the sacrifices made by Negro League players helped make 
     baseball America's national pastime.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from 
Oregon (Mr. Walden) and the gentlewoman from Guam (Ms. Bordallo) each 
will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Oregon.


                             General Leave

  Mr. WALDEN of Oregon. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all 
Members may have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks 
and include extraneous material on the bill under consideration.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from Oregon?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. WALDEN of Oregon. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may 
consume.
  Senate Concurrent Resolution 60, introduced by Senator Talent, would 
designate the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum in Kansas City, Missouri, 
as America's National Negro Leagues Baseball Museum.
  Because of racism and segregation laws that barred African Americans 
from playing baseball on major league teams in the first half of the 
20th century, black baseball players were forced to form their own 
teams and the first Negro baseball league. Between 1920 and 1955, more 
than 70 teams played in these leagues. However, by the early 1960s, 
attendance dropped at Negro league games, and the last of the Negro 
league teams went out of business. Then, in 1990, the Negro Leagues 
Baseball Museum was established in Kansas City, Missouri, to preserve 
and interpret the history of the Negro leagues.
  Although the National Baseball Hall of Fame recognizes the 
achievements of baseball's greatest players of all races, the Negro 
Leagues Museum tells the story of the black athletes who built a 
successful baseball league.
  I urge adoption of the resolution.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Ms. BORDALLO. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, the fact that the Negro Leagues ever existed in this 
country is a painful reminder of the dark days of legalized racism 
through segregation. However, the success of those leagues, the 
innovations begun in those leagues and the stars who played in those 
leagues are sources of great pride and inspiration.
  National recognition for the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum in Kansas 
City, Missouri, is a fitting tribute to those who were involved in the 
Negro leagues and to the great work the museum is doing to preserve 
this important chapter in the story of America.
  Furthermore, Mr. Speaker, Representative Emanuel Cleaver is to be 
commended as the sponsor of the House companion to this resolution. 
Representative Cleaver's tireless efforts on behalf of this legislation 
were crucial in bringing this measure before the House today.
  We support passage of Senate Concurrent Resolution 60.
  Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. GRAVES. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to speak about Senate 
Concurrent Resolution 60, a resolution sponsored by my friend Senator 
Talent, and agreed to by this body yesterday, that designates the Negro 
Leagues Baseball Museum in Kansas City as America's National Negro 
Leagues Baseball Museum. It was my pleasure to work with Chairman Pombo 
and the Resources Committee to bring this important resolution to the 
floor, and I thank the Chairman for his help and friendship.
  Those of us familiar with the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum already 
think of it as America's museum, but the passage of this resolution 
makes that distinction official.
  The Negro Leagues Baseball Museum was founded in 1990, and for its 
first four years of existence operated out of a one room office in the 
historic 18th and Vine District of Kansas City. Today it is a 10,000 
square foot Museum, filled with historic memorabilia, sculptures, 
photographs, and other exhibits that pay tribute to some of baseball's 
greatest pioneers.
  It is fitting that the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum is in Kansas 
City, Missouri, Mr. Speaker, because the Negro Leagues were officially 
organized in Kansas City during a meeting in 1920. Kansas City was also 
the home of the Negro Leagues' longest-running franchise--the Kansas 
City Monarchs--which sent more Negro Leagues players to Major League 
Baseball than any other Negro Leagues franchise.
  From 1920 until the closure of the last teams in the early 1960s, 
countless greats excelled at America's pastime in the Negro Leagues, 
including Satchel Paige, Josh Gibson, James ``Cool Papa'' Bell, Ernie 
Banks, Hank Aaron, Jackie Robinson, and of course Mr. Speaker, John 
Jordan ``Buck'' O'Neil.
  Mr. O'Neil is the current Chairman of the Board of the Negro Leagues 
Baseball Museum, and continues to work tirelessly at age 94. He has 
enjoyed an unparalleled career as a player, scout, manager, coach, and 
ambassador for baseball since 1937, and Buck O'Neil also selflessly 
interrupted his stellar professional baseball career to serve our 
country during World War II in the United States Navy.
  It is ironic that this resolution came before the House for 
consideration a few days before Hall of Fame weekend in Cooperstown, 
New York. Several Negro Leagues players will be inducted into the Hall 
of Fame this weekend, but Buck O'Neil is tragically not among them. Mr. 
Speaker, I can think of no one more qualified for induction into the 
Hall of Fame than Buck O'Neil, but sadly that will not happen this 
weekend.
  So, we must console ourselves in the knowledge that Buck O'Neil's 
passion--the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum--is granted official 
recognition by our nation with yesterday's passage of this concurrent 
resolution. I thank my colleagues for supporting this important 
measure, and I urge them to come to Kansas City and visit America's 
National Negro Leagues Baseball Museum.

[[Page 15485]]


  Mr. WALDEN of Oregon. Mr. Speaker, I encourage that our Members 
support this legislation, and I yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentleman from Oregon (Mr. Walden) that the House suspend the rules and 
concur in the Senate concurrent resolution, S. Con. Res. 60.
  The question was taken; and (two-thirds having voted in favor 
thereof) the rules were suspended and the Senate concurrent resolution 
was concurred in.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

                          ____________________