[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 153 (2007), Part 10]
[House]
[Pages 14565-14566]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




 EXPRESSING SENSE OF CONGRESS THAT NATIONAL MUSEUM OF WILDLIFE ART BE 
 DESIGNATED AS ``NATIONAL MUSEUM OF WILDLIFE ART OF THE UNITED STATES''

  Mrs. CHRISTENSEN. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree 
to the concurrent resolution (H. Con. Res. 116) expressing the sense of 
Congress that the National Museum of Wildlife Art, located in Jackson, 
Wyoming, shall be designated as the ``National Museum of Wildlife Art 
of the United States''.
  The Clerk read the title of the concurrent resolution.
  The text of the concurrent resolution is as follows:

                            H. Con. Res. 116

       Whereas the National Museum of Wildlife Art in Jackson, 
     Wyoming, is devoted to inspiring global recognition of fine 
     art related to nature and wildlife;
       Whereas the National Museum of Wildlife Art is an excellent 
     example of a thematic museum that strives to unify the 
     humanities and sciences into a coherent body of knowledge 
     through art;
       Whereas the National Museum of Wildlife Art, which was 
     founded in 1987 with a private gift of a collection of art, 
     has grown in stature and importance and is recognized today 
     as the world's premier museum of wildlife art;
       Whereas the National Museum of Wildlife Art is the only 
     public museum in the United States with the mission of 
     enriching and inspiring public appreciation and knowledge of 
     fine art, while exploring the relationship between humanity 
     and nature by collecting fine art focused on wildlife;

[[Page 14566]]

       Whereas the National Museum of Wildlife Art is housed in an 
     architecturally significant and award-winning 51,000-square 
     foot facility that overlooks the 28,000-acre National Elk 
     Refuge and is adjacent to the Grand Teton National Park;
       Whereas the National Museum of Wildlife Art is accredited 
     with the American Association of Museums, continues to grow 
     in national recognition and importance with members from 
     every State, and has a Board of Trustees and a National 
     Advisory Board composed of major benefactors and leaders in 
     the arts and sciences from throughout the United States;
       Whereas the permanent collection of the National Museum of 
     Wildlife Art has grown to more than 3,000 works by important 
     historic American artists including Edward Hicks, Anna Hyatt 
     Huntington, Charles M. Russell, William Merritt Chase, and 
     Alexander Calder, and contemporary American artists, 
     including Steve Kestrel, Bart Walter, Nancy Howe, John Nieto, 
     and Jamie Wyeth;
       Whereas the National Museum of Wildlife Art is a 
     destination attraction in the Western United States with 
     annual attendance of 92,000 visitors from all over the world 
     and an award-winning website that receives more than 10,000 
     visits per week;
       Whereas the National Museum of Wildlife Art seeks to 
     educate a diverse audience through collecting fine art 
     focused on wildlife, presenting exceptional exhibitions, 
     providing community, regional, national, and international 
     outreach, and presenting extensive educational programming 
     for adults and children; and
       Whereas a great opportunity exists to use the invaluable 
     resources of the National Museum of Wildlife Art to teach the 
     schoolchildren of the United States, through onsite visits, 
     traveling exhibits, classroom curriculum, online distance 
     learning, and other educational initiatives: Now, therefore, 
     be it
       Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate 
     concurring),  That it is the sense of Congress that the 
     National Museum of Wildlife Art, located at 2820 Rungius 
     Road, Jackson, Wyoming, shall be designated as the ``National 
     Museum of Wildlife Art of the United States''.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentlewoman from 
the Virgin Islands (Mrs. Christensen) and the gentleman from Utah (Mr. 
Cannon) each will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentlewoman from the Virgin Islands.


                             General Leave

  Mrs. CHRISTENSEN. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all 
Members have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and 
include extraneous material on the measure under consideration.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentlewoman from the Virgin Islands?
  There was no objection.
  Mrs. CHRISTENSEN. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may 
consume.
  House Concurrent Resolution 116, introduced by the gentlewoman from 
Wyoming (Mrs. Cubin), expresses the sense of Congress that the National 
Museum of Wildlife Art located in Jackson, Wyoming, shall be designated 
as the National Museum of Wildlife Art of the United States.
  The National Museum of Wildlife Art is a private museum located on 
non-Federal land. The museum is housed at a facility that overlooks the 
25,000 acre National Elk Refuge and is adjacent to Grand Teton National 
Park.
  The National Museum of Wildlife Art was founded in 1987 with a 
private gift of a collection of art. Today, the museum features a 
collection of over 2,000 pieces of art portraying wildlife dating back 
to 2000 B.C.
  Mr. Speaker, H. Con. Res. 116 will help the National Museum of 
Wildlife Art receive greater public awareness. I commend Representative 
Cubin for her work on this matter. We support the concurrent resolution 
and urge its adoption by the House today.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

                              {time}  1420

  Mr. CANNON. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of House Concurrent 
Resolution 116, and yield myself as much time as I may consume.
  House Concurrent Resolution 116 has been adequately explained by the 
majority. The only thing I would add is I would like to commend 
Congresswoman Cubin for her work on this resolution to designate the 
National Museum of Wildlife Art of the United States in Jackson, 
Wyoming. This designation places the National Museum of Wildlife Art of 
the United States in a prestigious class of less than 20 museums to 
earn such a designation.
  I urge adoption of the resolution.
  Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mrs. CHRISTENSEN. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentlewoman from the Virgin Islands (Mrs. Christensen) that the House 
suspend the rules and agree to the concurrent resolution, H. Con. Res. 
116.
  The question was taken; and (two-thirds being in the affirmative) the 
rules were suspended and the concurrent resolution was agreed to.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

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