Pete Domenici: “I want to bring due attention to the Smithsonian Institution's newest museum on the National Mall in Washington. The…”

“I want to bring due attention to the Smithsonian Institution's newest museum on the National Mall in Washington. The National Museum of the American Indian celebrates its grand opening tomorrow. This new museum is a wonderful place, and its collection has been a long time coming. It is a beautiful and suitable home for honoring centuries of American Indian history and their contributions to our Nation today. Never before has such an American Indian exhibit been done on this scale. Congress passed the Smithsonian National Museum of the American Indian charter in 1989, but for such a grand endeavor, much planning, coordination, and attention to detail is most appropriate. All who have collaborated on this project have done so in an effort to promote and celebrate a deeper understanding of the diversity of the American Indian people and to celebrate their rich culture and storied history. The exhibits will include ancient artifacts and will eloquently display the talented work of modern Indian artists in a skillfully assembled setting.”