[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 153 (2007), Part 5]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 7565]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                  WOODROW WILSON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY

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                           HON. BOB GOODLATTE

                              of virginia

                    in the house of representatives

                         Friday, March 23, 2007

  Mr. GOODLATTE. Madam Speaker, I rise today to introduce legislation 
that will establish the Woodrow Wilson Presidential Library in 
Staunton, Virginia. In studying the life and times of the 28th 
President, we see how Woodrow Wilson affected and continues to 
influence how the United States responds to national and international 
crises. This bill is identical to legislation that passed on the House 
floor by Voice Vote in the 109th Congress September 28, 2006.
  As a statesman, scholar, and President, Woodrow Wilson faced economic 
crisis, democratic decay, and a world war. Presidential historians 
agree that World War I, and President Wilson's leadership, radically 
altered the role of diplomacy as a tool of foreign policy--a policy 
that established a new path for America's role in promoting democracies 
throughout the world. So too did Wilson's high-minded ideals craft a 
legacy that shaped the powers and responsibilities of the executive 
branch in times of war.
  As a professor and president of Princeton University, Wilson created 
a more selective and accountable system for higher education. By 
instituting curriculum reform, Wilson revolutionized the roles of 
teachers and students and quickly made Princeton one of the most 
renowned universities in the world. Due to Wilson's legacy at 
Princeton, I am pleased to have the support of the current president, 
Shirley Tilghman, as we seek to establish a Presidential library and 
museum at Wilson's birthplace in Virginia.
  On April 2, 1917, President Woodrow Wilson went before a joint 
session of Congress to seek a declaration of war against Germany, for 
``The world must be safe for democracy.'' Ninety years later, we 
continue to champion that right of mankind.
  Specifically, this legislation will make grants from the National 
Archives and Records Administration for the establishment of a 
Presidential library to provide educational and interpretive services 
to honor the life of Woodrow Wilson. To ensure that a public-private 
partnership exists, my legislation also mandates that no grant shall be 
available for the establishment of this library until a private entity 
has raised at least twice the amount to be allocated by the Congress. 
Finally, once the library is complete, this legislation states that the 
Federal Government shall have no role or responsibility for the 
operation of the library.

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