Senate Proceeding 09-22-09 on Sep 22nd, 2009 :: 1:47:15 to 1:54:25
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1:47:03 to 1:47:24( Edit History Discussion )

Tom Harkin: quorum call: mr. harkin: mr. president? the pr senator from iowa. mr. harkin: i ask that further proceedings under the quorum call be the presiding officer: witut objection. mr. harkin: mr. president, i rise in opposition to the amendment offered by the senior senator from arizona. the amendment by mccain singles out one instance of congressionally directed funding that i had

1:47:15 to 1:54:25( Edit History Discussion )
Speech By: Tom Harkin

1:47:25 to 1:47:45( Edit History Discussion )

Tom Harkin: included now in the bill before us, the fiscal year interior appropriations bill. now, the senator claims that this ear hark, which provide provides $200,000 in funding for repair and renovation of the inappropriate and should be removed from the bill.

1:47:46 to 1:48:06( Edit History Discussion )

Tom Harkin: it comes as no surprise that i strenuously disagree. take issue with the premise underlying the senator's amendment. the idea that congress has no business directing the expenditure of federal moneys through earmarks. that there's something inherently wrong or evil in this traditional practice.

1:48:07 to 1:48:27( Edit History Discussion )

Tom Harkin: not only the executive branch should determine where federal moneys are spent. now, mr. president, i beg to differ. the constitution, article 1, section 9 expressly gives congress the power of the purse. the executive branch can't spend one nickel unless this congress gives them the authority to do

1:48:28 to 1:48:50( Edit History Discussion )

Tom Harkin: so. now, over the centuries, over the last couple of hundred years, we have given to the executive branch the authority to make budgets, spend money different things, to all of the different departments and agencies. but if congress wanted to we could take it all back.

1:48:51 to 1:49:11( Edit History Discussion )

Tom Harkin: we could take it all back. the constitution gives the sole power to spe now, what's more, compared to executive branch individuals, members of congress have a much better understanding of where and how federal funds spent most effectively in the respective

1:49:12 to 1:49:32( Edit History Discussion )

Tom Harkin: that's certainly the case with the earmark in question. i assume that the senator fro arizona really doesn't know a lot about the des moines art center. well, let me put it honor the record. the des of which have been listed on the

1:49:33 to 1:49:54( Edit History Discussion )

Tom Harkin: national register of historic places since 2004. one was by a and another by the world renown artist. these are architectural gems. they deterioration over the years. i secured the modest funding in this earmark, $200,000, for this

1:49:55 to 1:50:15( Edit History Discussion )

Tom Harkin: specific purpose of replacing windows that were inconsistent temperatures and high condensation, resulting in damage to the building's plter, wood paneling, and flooring. there's nothing in the least bit wasteful about these renovations. in fact, they'll create jobs for people to work.

1:50:16 to 1:50:38( Edit History Discussion )

Tom Harkin: mr. president, i would also point out that this funding is award thriewd an authorized program -- through an authorized program all to save america's treasures. this program was established at the national park service to protect and i quote -- "to protect america's threaned cultural treasures, including historic structures,

1:50:39 to 1:51:00( Edit History Discussion )

Tom Harkin: collections, works of art, maps and journals that document and illuminate history andulture of t end quote. money for the program is awa competitively through grants and congressionally designated funding. over the years the same america's -- save america's treasures program has protected

1:51:01 to 1:51:21( Edit History Discussion )

Tom Harkin: many buildings an artifacts across our country. there is no question that the des moines art center is worthy and in urgent need of this modest funding. the buildings of the center, as i said are architectural masterpieces. they contribute mightily to making iowa's capital city a

1:51:22 to 1:51:44( Edit History Discussion )

Tom Harkin: livable attractive urban center with a cultural scene. bear in mind that the des moines art center is a cultural institution in the state of iowa. drawing hundreds of thousands of visitors not only from iowa, but from around the u.s. and all over the world every year. in the last 12 months the center

1:51:45 to 1:52:06( Edit History Discussion )

Tom Harkin: has served nearly people. school kids from all over the state come in in buss from the countryside that come in and go to the art center to see these magnificent and wonderful works of art and the themselves. now, i want toam fa size in terms -- i want to emphasize in

1:52:07 to 1:52:27( Edit History Discussion )

Tom Harkin: terms of fundraising, the des moines art center and moines community are more than pulling their own weight. the center is in the middle of a a $34 million fundraising campaign. now, however, is for capital and building improvement. the remaining $25.6 million is

1:52:28 to 1:52:48( Edit History Discussion )

Tom Harkin: for the operating endowment. that allows the art center to be open free and open to the entire community all year long. moreover, the $200,000 in federal funds will leverag leverage $1.9 million in public and private challenge grants. not a bad leveraging of federal

1:52:49 to 1:53:09( Edit History Discussion )

Tom Harkin: dollars. the fact is that the demoirn art center is struggling to meet its fundraising targets including relatively modest increments. the center has received $275,000 from pope county. that's the county encompassing our capital city of des moines.

1:53:10 to 1:53:30( Edit History Discussion )

Tom Harkin: they received $25,000 from the city of des moines. and at this point the center has exhausted their private fundraising options. so the $200,000 grant from the federal government, along with the additional $1.9 million that it will leverage, is critical to meeting the center's goal of renovation. so, mr. president, i appreciate

1:53:31 to 1:53:52( Edit History Discussion )

Tom Harkin: this opportunity to share with our colleagues my reasons for including this earmark in the bill before us. i am proud of this congressionally directed funding. it would go to a worthy and urgent public purpose. the effort by senator mccain to remove this funding from t bill i believe is misguided and i urge my colleagues to vote

1:53:53 to 1:54:11( Edit History Discussion )

Tom Harkin: against the mccain amendment. mr. president, and note the absence of a quorum. the presiding office will call the roll.

1:54:19 to 1:54:24( Edit History Discussion )

Tom Harkin: quorum call: