John Cornyn: “Thank you to the senior Senator from Kansas for his leadership over the years and his attention to this bill. I also…”

“Thank you to the senior Senator from Kansas for his leadership over the years and his attention to this bill. I also thank the chairman for holding a hearing and passing this important bill out of his committee. I know some of our colleagues have concerns about the museum location, and I can assure them, Congress will have a voice in the site of the museum. Before construction can begin, congressional committees will be consulted on site selection, as detailed in the bill. The Smithsonian board of regents, which will select the site, is chaired by Supreme Court Chief Justice Roberts and comprises multiple members of Congress, including three sitting Senators, as well as the Vice President. Congress will also need to appropriate funds, a de facto ratification or rejection of the site selected by the Smithsonian board of regents. I intend there will be open lines of communication between members of Congress and the Smithsonian board of regents as they undertake this significant project. It has been estimated if we pass this bill today, the doors to a new museum would not open for at least a decade and more likely not until 2034--so I am eager to get the process moving.”