Norman D. Dicks: “I thank the gentleman from Florida for yielding. I just wanted to have the American people understand why we are…”

“I thank the gentleman from Florida for yielding. I just wanted to have the American people understand why we are opposing this amendment. ``The United States Botanic Garden is rooted in the Nation's heritage. During the late 18th century, George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, and James Madison shared the dream of a national botanic garden and were instrumental in establishing one on the National Mall in 1820. ``In continuous operation and open to the public since 1850, the Botanic Garden moved to its present location in 1933, a complex located along the north and south sides of Independence Avenue bordered by First Street and Third Street. The garden includes the Conservatory; the National Garden, which opened in 2006; and Bartholdi Park, which was created in 1932. A plant production and support facility opened in Anacostia in 1933 includes greenhouse bays and maintenance shops.'' This is a very important thing to the American people when they come here from all over the country. They want to see the garden, the Botanic Garden, and I just feel that we have to figure a way to fund this and to take care of the facility. This was a dream of the Founders of this Republic, and I think we should honor that dream and we should defeat both of these amendments and do the work that's necessary to keep it in a first-class condition for the American people.”