John F. Kennedy Center Reauthorization Act of 2003

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill

(H.R. 3198) to amend the John F. Kennedy Center Act to authorize appropriations for the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, and for other purposes.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Mr. Speaker, H.R. 3198 reauthorizes the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts for 3 years, authorizing funding for its capital repair and maintenance, allows for the GAO review of ongoing construction projects, and creates a new mechanism to ensure effective project oversight.

This bill is the product of a thorough legislative process. The subcommittee held an oversight hearing that included the GAO and the Kennedy Center, reviewed their comprehensive building plan and capital program, and discussed options for improving upon their programs. This process resulted in the bipartisan legislation we are bringing to the floor this afternoon.

I would like to recognize and congratulate the subcommittee chairman, the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. LaTourette), and the ranking member, the gentlewoman from the District of Columbia (Ms. Norton), as well as full committee chairman, the gentleman from Alaska (Mr. Young), and the ranking member, the gentleman from Minnesota (Mr. Oberstar), for their hard work in developing this legislation.

Since its founding, the Kennedy Center has become one of the world's premier entertainment venues, featuring award-winning theater, opera, and symphony performances. The funds we are authorizing today will go solely towards the upkeep and maintenance of the facility, for such repairs as elevator upgrades, handicap accessibility, enhanced fire and life safety equipment, and improved security systems. These repairs are in line with a comprehensive building plan maintained by the Kennedy Center and created at the direction of Congress in 1994. This legislation also incorporates several provisions that ensure effective project oversight.

It is no secret that there are Federal construction projects that have gone beyond their original budget, beyond schedule, and well beyond their original scope. Oftentimes it is the lack of adequate project management and oversight that allow this type of growth. That was the finding of a GAO report requested by the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure on the Kennedy Center's garage expansion project.

The provision in this bill, including the creation of a project team, the requirement of a project director, and enhanced oversight by the GAO, should prevent such problems as the Kennedy Center goes forward with the construction of a new plaza and two new buildings. However, this reauthorization does not include any money for the plaza project. All of the funding authorized in this bill will be used for the existing structure and its surroundings. By supporting the regular maintenance and upkeep of the Kennedy Center, we will ensure that the center will continue to be a world-class venue well into the future. I support this legislation and urge my colleagues to do the same.

Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for time, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, reserving the right to object, I yield to the chairman of the subcommittee for an explanation of the measure before us.

Further reserving the right to object, Mr. Speaker, I compliment the chairman of the subcommittee for his diligent work in shepherding this bill through this historic moment.

He has been a dedicated and informed and forthright leader of the subcommittee and on the issues under its jurisdiction, particularly those relating to the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts.

For the last decade, as a member of the Board of Trustees, I have watched firsthand the center undertake major capital projects, renovating the theaters, creating state-of-the-art concert halls, the Opera House, replacing a badly deteriorated roof.

Throughout all these major capital maintenance renovation construction projects, the center opened every day of the year and welcomed over 5 million visitors and has stayed true to its mission as a national cultural arts center and a living memorial to our 35th President.

The chairman has described the principal features of the bill. What I want to emphasize, however, is the great difficulty of running this incredible living memorial and arts center while managing the major construction initiatives. The Kennedy Center, in doing so, and the chairman I know agrees with this position, must improve its construction management.

The General Accounting Office reviewed the Kennedy Center's operation and found that the Center needs, one, to develop policy and procedures to guide the plans and management of its construction projects; two, ensure that its construction contractors provide schedule and cost information in a timely fashion; and three, invest in the key human capital resources and the expertise to manage better its construction projects.

The Center has made progress. The chairman has held hearings on this matter, and we greatly appreciate those hearings. They reveal that the Center needs to do much better.

Just last month, GAO reported that the Center has not updated its building plan each year as the law requires. The building plan does not explain how the Kennedy Center prioritizes its capital projects. It fails to provide adequate information on project-specific status, updates and budgets so that we in the Congress and the board of trustees will have the information necessary to ensure that the Center's capital projects are well managed.

I think this legislation, by requiring further steps to strengthen the construction management process, will move the Kennedy Center forward in directions that we feel are important, and for that, I thank the chairman for his vigilance and greatly appreciate the partnership.

Mr. Speaker, I withdraw my reservation of objection.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to rise in support of H.R. 3198, a bill to authorize appropriations for the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts. Almost a decade ago, the Committee on Public Works, recognizing the inefficiency of years of divided responsibility for the operations, maintenance, and capital repairs of the Kennedy Center, passed H.R. 3567, which gave the board of trustees of the Kennedy Center centralized responsibilities for these matters.

In an effort to prevent continued deterioration of this landmark structure and Presidential memorial, the board asked for and received authority to maintain and improve the center. Former presidents Wolfensohn and Wilker, along with the current president, Michael Kaiser, continually worked to identify and put in place a capital improvement program to enhance the building. They believed it was of the utmost importance that the Kennedy Center management have the responsible and accountability for the building as well as its performing arts and education activities.

The Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure's interest then, as it is now, focuses on the use of appropriated funds for the capital improvement program and the repair and alteration of this Presidential memorial. To avoid the previous situation of unmet building needs and delayed repair, the center is now required to submit a 5-year capital plan to the committee. H.R. 3198 authorizes $53 million over 3 years for routine repair and alteration and $52 million for capital projects.

To address improved management for the plaza project, the bill authorizes the Secretary of Transportation, our former colleague, Norman Mineta, to establish a project team and appoint a

project director. The president of the Kennedy Center and the administrator of General Services will serve on the team. The plaza project, when completed, will change the face of Washington in the West End. It is a monumental project that will not only enhance our Nation's Capital, but also provide safer and easier access to the center for patrons, visitors, and tourists. The center, under the leadership of Michael Kaiser, is working diligently to address general management of the facility as well as unmet personal needs. I support H.R. 3198 and urge its passage.

Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for time, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to offer my strong support for H.R. 3198, ``The John F. Kennedy Center Reauthorization Act of 2003.''

The Kennedy Center serves an important role in our Nation. Not only is it one of the most active theaters in the world, hosting millions of patrons each year to its seven stages, but is also one of the most recognizable theater buildings.

The legislation we are considering this afternoon, which I have offered with my colleagues Mr. Oberstar, Mr. LaTourette, and Ms. Holmes-Norton, reauthorizes the Capital Infrastructure program of the Kennedy Center for an additional three years. The bill also makes a number of important changes that will improve the management of large construction projects at the Kennedy Center.

This legislation will help ensure that the Kennedy Center continues to have a world class facility to house world class entertainment, which includes everything from classical opera to cutting edge films.

In addition to authorizing funds for maintenance, repair, and security as well as other capital projects, this legislation puts into place important tools for improved project management.

The legislation creates a project team for the plaza project. This team will include the secretary of transportation, administrator of general services, and chairman of the board of trustees of The Kennedy Center. This team will be responsible for overseeing all aspects of the plaza project through a project director, who reports to the project team and is appointed by the Secretary of Transportation.

The legislation also provides for ongoing review by the General Accounting Office of the plaza project until its completion, with periodic reporting to the Congress. The GAO will be looking at the personnel, policies and procedures used to carry out the project.

I support The Kennedy Center Reauthorization and encourage my colleagues to do the same.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure be discharged from further consideration of the bill (H.R. 5294) to amend the John F. Kennedy Center Act to authorize appropriations for the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, and for other purposes, and ask for its immediate consideration in the House.

I thank the gentleman from Minnesota (Mr. Oberstar) for yielding under his reservation.

Mr. Speaker, H.R. 5294 is virtually identical to H.R. 3198, the John F. Kennedy Center Reauthorization Act of 2003, which passed the House of Representatives on November 17, 2003.

The legislation reauthorizes the programs of the Kennedy Center for 4 years. This is a bipartisan bill. I urge our colleagues to support the bill.

I want to thank the gentleman from Minnesota (Mr. Oberstar), the distinguished ranking member of the full Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, for his work; also the gentlewoman from the District of Columbia (Ms. Norton), the ranking member of our subcommittee, for the outstanding work on this bill and so many others during the 108th Congress.