Sheila Jackson Lee: “Let me thank the chair and the ranking member of this appropriations process for the Interior and Environment for their…”

“Let me thank the chair and the ranking member of this appropriations process for the Interior and Environment for their indulgence and their understanding of how much a part of the lives of Americans this legislation is from my amendment dealing with the culture and history of this Nation to that of clean water, clean air, our Federal parks, our forestry. This is a vital piece of the livelihood and the life of America. Among other agencies that the legislation funds is the Smithsonian Institution, which operates our national museums, including the Air and Space Museum, the Museum of African Art, the American Art Museum, and the National Portrait Gallery. It also operates the national treasure, the National Zoo. My amendment is simple. It sends a very important message from the Congress of the United States to infuse into the people cultural and appreciation for the respect and holding of wild animals, for the forests, for the number of assets that we should hold very dear, and it increases the Smithsonian Institution by $1.5 million. Mr. Chairman, the Smithsonian's outreach programs bring scholars in art, history, and science out of the Nation's attic and into their own backyard. Each year, millions of Americans visit the Smithsonian.…”