[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 156 (2010), Part 9]
[House]
[Pages 12845-12847]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




    EXTENDING AUTHORIZATION FOR NATIONAL GREAT BLACKS IN WAX MUSEUM

  Ms. BORDALLO. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the 
bill (H.R. 3967) to amend the National Great Black Americans 
Commemoration Act of 2004 to authorize appropriations through fiscal 
year 2015.
  The Clerk read the title of the bill.
  The text of the bill is as follows:

                               H.R. 3967

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

     SECTION 1. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS THROUGH FISCAL 
                   YEAR 2015.

       Section 3(c) of the National Great Black Americans 
     Commemoration Act of 2004 is amended by striking ``2009'' and 
     inserting ``2015''.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentlewoman from 
Guam (Ms. Bordallo) and the gentlewoman from Wyoming (Mrs. Lummis) each 
will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentlewoman from Guam.


                             General Leave

  Ms. BORDALLO. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members 
may have 5 legislative days in which 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 
gentlewoman from Guam?
  There was no objection.
  Ms. BORDALLO. I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, H.R. 3967, introduced in October of 2009 by our 
colleague Representative Elijah Cummings, helps tell the story of the 
African American struggle for equality.
  For the last quarter century, Doctors Joanne and Elmer Martin have 
worked tirelessly to create a safe, nurturing environment for 
Baltimore's youth. Through their work to build and fund the National 
Great Blacks in Wax Museum and the Justice Learning Center, they have 
created a unique opportunity to teach and connect with young people to 
tell the story of great African American leaders in the history of our 
United States of America.
  H.R. 3967 amends the National Great Black Americans Commemoration Act 
of 2004 to extend authorization for Federal grant funding. 
Representative Cummings is to be commended for his work on behalf of 
this outstanding education and outreach program.
  Mr. Speaker, we support this legislation.
  I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mrs. LUMMIS. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, H.R. 3967 renews the authority to spend appropriations 
for the Great Blacks in Wax Museum in Baltimore, Maryland. A 
legislative hearing was held on this bill, but, unfortunately, the 
National Park Service did not provide us with any information about 
this program or the necessity to fund it. What we did learn is that 
this program will be funded and overseen through the Department of 
Justice, leaving us with even more questions, not the least of which is 
why this bill went through a public lands committee.
  That being said, I am concerned that extending Federal spending at 
this time may not be appropriate until we can better understand how 
this program will be administered and what has been done in the last 6 
years since it was originally authorized.
  Finally, while I have no doubt that the Great Blacks in Wax Museum is 
a positive influence in the City of Baltimore, it is unclear why it is 
necessary to involve the Federal Government in the wax museum industry. 
This may be yet another highly illustrative example of why we are 
buried by overwhelming Federal debt.
  Ms. RICHARDSON. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 3967, 
which amends the National Great Black Americans Commemoration Act of 
2004 to authorize appropriations through 2015. This important measure 
will extend a program that, for the last six years, has helped educate 
the public about the contributions of major African American figures in 
American history.
  I thank Chairmen Rahall and Conyers for their leadership in bringing 
this bill to the floor. I also thank the sponsor of this legislation, 
Congressman Cummings, for recognizing the importance of continuing 
funding for this socially significant program that promotes cross-
cultural awareness and appreciation.
  Mr. Speaker, black Americans have served honorably in Congress, 
senior executive branch positions, the law, the judiciary, and many 
other fields. Black Americans have also had a massive and important 
impact on cultural life in the United States, from television and 
cinema to the performing and visual arts. Unfortunately, these 
contributions are not well known by many in the public and 
underrepresented in textbooks, history lessons, and, importantly, our 
nation's museums.
  The National Great Black Americans Commemoration Act of 2004 
authorized funds for the Great Blacks in Wax Museum, Inc., a museum 
based in Baltimore, Maryland that celebrates important black figures in 
American history through the medium of wax sculpture. With 
Congressional funding, the Great Blacks in Wax Museum has been able to 
further its

[[Page 12846]]

mission of bringing recognition to black Americans who have had lasting 
impacts on our nation. The museum showcases black Americans such as 
Rosa Parks, Colin Powell, Frederick Douglas, Harriet Tubman, Jesse 
Owens, Ida B. Wells, and many others.
  H.R. 3967 will allow this non-profit organization to continue 
educating the public about the importance of African Americans to the 
history of the United States and ensuring that American history does 
not favor one race or culture over another, but rather accurately 
reflects the intricate racial and cultural tapestry that defines 
American society. This mission is one that is, without question, worthy 
of our support.
  I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting H.R. 3967.
  Mr. JOHNSON of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 
3967, a bill to amend the National Great Black Americans Commemoration 
Act of 2004 to authorize appropriations through fiscal year 2015. The 
funds, approximately $5 million, would be used by the National Great 
Blacks in Wax Museum in order to build a Justice Learning Center. I 
would also like to commend my esteemed colleague, Representative Elijah 
Cummings, for his dedication to the preservation of Black American 
history.
  In 1983, Drs. Elmer and Joanne Martin opened the doors to the 
National Great Blacks in Wax Museum. It is the first wax museum of 
African-American history in the nation, and the first wax museum in 
Baltimore, Maryland. The facility was created to stimulate an interest 
in African-American history by revealing little-known and often 
neglected facts of history. The founders also sought to improve race 
relations by dispelling myths of racial inferiority and superiority, as 
well as use the figures of great leaders to inspire and uplift African 
Americans to reach their full potential.
  In 2004, the National Great Black Americans Commemoration Act of 2004 
was signed into law. The act directed the Attorney General to make 
grants available to the Great Blacks in Wax Museum, in part for 
building a Justice Learning Center, and also for carrying out programs 
relating to civil rights and juvenile justice. Though the legislation 
passed, no funds were distributed to the museum and the museum 
continues to operate on funding from private donors just as it has for 
the past 27 years. The Justice Learning Center will serve as another 
venue for the museum to educate and empower citizens with information 
relating to Black American history. H.R. 3967 gives this Congress an 
opportunity to support the museum in this project.
  Mr. Speaker, fellow colleagues, it is imperative that we support this 
bill. Should we fail to pass this legislation and appropriate funds to 
the Great Blacks in Wax Museum, great Georgians like Andrew Bryan, 
founder of the first American black Baptist church, in Savannah, GA, 
and Julian Bond, a former civil rights leader, United States 
Congressman, and recent chairman of the NAACP, would go unnoticed and 
overlooked along with other African-American leaders. In addition to 
all of the war funding, foreign aid, and domestic agendas we support, I 
believe our goal should also be to preserve and maintain our rich 
history for our children and generations yet to come. I urge my 
colleagues to stand with me and support this legislation.
  Ms. JACKSON LEE of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 
3976, an act that seeks to amend the National Great Black Americans 
Commemoration Act of 2004 to authorize more appropriations through the 
fiscal year of 2015. I also want to thank my colleague, Representative 
Elijah E. Cummings, for introducing this important legislation.
  Today we acknowledge the success and importance of the Great Blacks 
in Wax Museum, Inc., and seek to provide it with appropriations. This 
bill will amend the National Great Black Americans Commemoration Act of 
2004 to extend the authorization of appropriations for grants to the 
Great Blacks in Wax Museum, Inc., in Baltimore, Maryland, through 2015. 
This bill will also carry out programs related to civil rights and 
juvenile justice through the National Great Blacks in Wax Museum and 
Justice Learning Center.
  The National Great Black Americans Commemoration Act of 2004 (Public 
Law 108-238, 118 Stat. 670-672) directs the Attorney General to 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. To receive a grant, 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 such programs.
  The founders of the museum outlined four specific areas that they 
meant for the museum to cover. First, according to a mission statement 
they wrote, the founders of the museum wanted the Great Blacks in Wax 
Museum to stimulate an interest in African-American history by 
revealing the little-known, often-neglected facts of history. Second, 
the museum was intended to use great leaders as role models to motivate 
youth to achieve. Third, the museum should improve race relations by 
dispelling myths of racial inferiority and superiority. Lastly, the 
museum supports and works in conjunction with other nonprofit, 
charitable organizations to seek to improve the social and economic 
status of African Americans.
  The museum's goals are important to achieve in our society. It is 
important that we cherish and appreciate our history while looking to 
the future. In the process of this remembrance, we can work for a 
brighter future.
  For the foregoing reasons, I stand with Representative Elijah E. 
Cummings in support of this act.
  I urge my colleagues to support this bill.
  Mr. CUMMINGS. Mr. Speaker, I thank Chairman Rahall, Chairman Grijalva 
and the hardworking staff on the Subcommittee on National Parks for 
getting this legislation to the floor today.
  Mr. Speaker, originally enacted in June 2004, the National Great 
Black Americans Commemoration Act will help to expand and develop 
museum exhibits and educational programs honoring African Americans who 
have made significant contributions to the nation, but whose names, 
faces and achievements may not be well known to the average citizen.
  This recognition can and will be accomplished and preserved with the 
expansion of the Great Blacks in Wax Museum, a national treasure that 
is located in my district and hometown of Baltimore, Maryland.
  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 wax figures and exhibit materials around 
the country in their car.
  I am proud to report that 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 
well over 200,000 visitors per year--more than half of these visitors 
are school children.
  Several members of Congress and their staffs have visited the museum 
and relayed to me the awesome nature of their visit--how the figures 
and exhibits both moved and informed them, resulting in a truly 
enriching experience. Enactment of H.R. 3967 makes certain that the 
Museum can continue its mission to preserve a great part of our 
nation's history.
  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, and on the role 
of African Americans as lawmakers, attorneys and in the Judiciary.
  Federal dollars used will be spent efficiently and effectively. This 
is an issue that is critical to assess when we ask citizens for funding 
any program. This expansion will provide jobs, but it will also create 
a link for our children to a past that is so often forgotten.
  Learning is enhanced when all of the senses can be engaged. This 
museum will bring the past to life, not just in the minds of the 
students, but in front of their eyes. Funding this educational 
opportunity is another critical step in creating an appreciation and 
understanding of history in our young people.
  These gains are well worth the cost. This is simply a technical 
measure to reauthorize legislation that was enacted by Congress in 
2004.
  Again, I thank Chairmen Rahall and Grijalva for their support, and 
encourage my colleagues to join me in supporting the passage of this 
legislation.
  Mrs. LUMMIS. Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for time, and I 
yield back the balance of my time.
  Ms. BORDALLO. Mr. Speaker, I again urge Members to support this bill.
  I have no further requests for time, and I yield back the balance of 
my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentlewoman from Guam (Ms. Bordallo) that the House suspend the rules 
and pass the bill, H.R. 3967.
  The question was taken; and (two-thirds being in the affirmative) the 
rules were suspended and the bill was passed.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

[[Page 12847]]



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