Department Of The Interior, Environment, And Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2008

Floor Speech

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR, ENVIRONMENT, AND RELATED AGENCIES APPROPRIATIONS ACT, 2008 -- (House of Representatives - June 26, 2007)

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Mr. LUCAS. Madam Chairman, I move to strike the requisite number of words.

Madam Chairman, I wish to enter into a colloquy with the distinguished chairman of the subcommittee regarding the Indian Arts and Crafts Museum funding within the Department of Interior.

Chairman Dicks, I stand here today in support of the continued funding of the 2008 Interior appropriations bill for the three Regional Indian Arts and Crafts Museums that are currently operated by the Indian Arts and Crafts Board. Congress passed the Indian Arts and Crafts Act, which created and charged the Indian Arts and Crafts Board with promoting the Indian arts and crafts movement and with protecting the integrity of the art from nonIndian counterfeiters selling products advertised as ``Indian made.'' To aid in this mission, the board operates three regional museums including the Southern Plains Indian Museum in Anadarko, Oklahoma; the Museum of the Plains Indian in Browning, Montana; and the Sioux Indian Museum in Rapid City, South Dakota.

In 1935 Congress recognized, under the first Indian Arts and Crafts Act, the unique and culturally rich art of the American Indian is vital to the importance of the economic welfare of tribal communities. The production and sale of these items provide an entrepreneurial opportunity to one of the most economically challenged groups of our society. These three museums play an essential role in promoting the ideals set forth in the Indian Arts and Crafts Act by creating interest in the Native American heritage, helping Indian artisans gain access to an interested market, and bringing members of the Indian arts community together to celebrate and preserve this way of life.

The collections showcased by the museums are extensive in their display of American Indian artwork and artifacts. And to preserve the history and integrity of these priceless collections, the museums must stay intact and the collections under their roofs must stay in Federal control.

I stand today in full support of appropriations to support the mission of the Indian Arts and Crafts Board and insist that the funding and operation of the three Regional Indian Arts and Crafts Museums remain a continued, imperative part of this mission.

Mr. Chairman, it is the understanding of the committee that Congress charged the Indian Arts and Crafts Board with developing and expanding the market for the products of Indian art as well as protecting the integrity of such items through prohibiting and investigating instances of misrepresentation of ``Indian-made'' products.

Mr. DICKS. Madam Chairman, will the gentleman yield?

Mr. LUCAS. I yield to the gentleman from Washington.

Mr. DICKS. That is correct.

Mr. LUCAS. Mr. Chairman, it is the understanding of the committee that the funding and operation of the three Regional Indian Arts and Crafts Museums in their housing, preserving, and promoting Native American history, art, and culture is clearly an essential part of the mission that Congress charged the Indian Arts and Crafts Board with.

Mr. DICKS. That is correct.

Mr. LUCAS. Mr. Chairman, I want to clarify that that it is the intent of the committee that the money provided for the fiscal year 2008 Interior appropriations bill for the continued functions of the Arts and Crafts Board does include the operation of those three museums.

Mr. DICKS. The gentleman is correct. It is the intent of the committee to continue the operation of the three museums, and I appreciate the gentleman's interest in artwork on this important issue.

Mr. LUCAS. Madam Chairman, reclaiming my time, I thank the chairman and the ranking member and the committee for their very diligent work this year.

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