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“GRANTING CONSENT OF CONGRESS TO KANSAS AND MISSOURI METROPOLITAN CULTURE DISTRICT COMPACT” mentioning the U.S. Dept of State was published in the House of Representatives section on pages H6737-H6745 on July 24, 2000.
The publication is reproduced in full below:
GRANTING CONSENT OF CONGRESS TO KANSAS AND MISSOURI METROPOLITAN
CULTURE DISTRICT COMPACT
Mr. HUTCHINSON. Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 4700) to grant the consent of the Congress to the Kansas and Missouri Metropolitan Culture District Compact.
The Clerk read as follows:
H.R. 4700
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. CONSENT TO COMPACT.
The Congress consents to the Kansas and Missouri Metropolitan Culture District Compact entered into between the State of Kansas and the State of Missouri. The compact reads substantially as follows:
``KANSAS AND MISSOURI METROPOLITAN CULTURE DISTRICT COMPACT
``ARTICLE I. AGREEMENT AND PLEDGE
``The states of Kansas and Missouri agree to and pledge, each to the other, faithful cooperation in the future planning and development of the metropolitan culture district, holding in high trust for the benefit of this people and of the nation, the special blessings and natural advantages thereof.
``ARTICLE II. POLICY AND PURPOSE
``The party states, desiring by common action to fully utilize and improve their cultural facilities, coordinate the services of their cultural organizations, enhance the cultural activities of their citizens, and achieve solid financial support for such cultural facilities, organizations and activities, declare that it is the policy of each state to realize such desires on a basis of cooperation with one another, thereby serving the best interests of their citizenry and effecting economies in capital expenditures and operational costs. The purpose of this compact is to provide for the creation of a metropolitan culture district as the means to implementation of the policy herein declared with the most beneficial and economical use of human and material resources.
``ARTICLE III. DEFINITIONS
``As used in this compact, unless the context clearly requires otherwise:
``(a) `Metropolitan culture district' means a political subdivision of the states of Kansas and Missouri which is created under and pursuant to the provisions of this compact and which is composed of the counties in the states of Kansas and Missouri which act to create or to become a part of the district in accordance with the provisions of Article IV.
``(b) `Commission' means the governing body of the metropolitan culture district.
``(c) `Cultural activities' means sports or activities which contribute to or enhance the aesthetic, artistic, historical, intellectual or social development or appreciation of members of the general public.
``(d) `Cultural organizations' means nonprofit and tax exempt social, civic or community organizations and associations which are dedicated to the development, provision, operation, supervision, promotion or support of cultural activities in which members of the general public may engage or participate.
``(e) `Cultural facilities' means facilities operated or used for sports or participation or engagement in cultural activities by members of the general public.
``ARTICLE IV. THE DISTRICT
``(a) The counties in Kansas and Missouri eligible to create and initially compose the metropolitan culture district shall be those counties which meet one or more of the following criteria:
``(1) The county has a population in excess of 300,000, and is adjacent to the state line;
``(2) The county contains a part of a city with a population according to the most recent federal census of at least 400,000; or
``(3) The county is contiguous to any county described in provisions (1) or (2) of this subpart (a). The counties of Johnson in Kansas and Jackson in Missouri shall be sine qua non to the creation and initial composition of the district. Additional counties in Kansas and Missouri shall be eligible to become a part of the metropolitan culture district if such counties are contiguous to any one or more of the counties which compose the district and within 60 miles of the counties that are required by this article to establish the district;
``(b)(1) Whenever the governing body of any county which is eligible to create or become a part of the metropolitan culture district shall determine that creation of or participation in the district is in the best interests of the citizens of the county and that the levy of a tax to provide on a cooperative basis with another county or other counties for financial support of the district would be economically practical and cost beneficial to the citizens of the county, the governing body may adopt by majority vote a resolution authorizing the same.
``(2) Wherever a petition, signed by not less than the number of qualified electors of an eligible county equal to 5% of the number of ballots cast and counted at the last preceding gubernatorial election held in the county and requesting adoption of a resolution authorizing creation of or participation in the metropolitan culture district and the levy of a tax for the purpose of contributing to the financial support of the district, is filed with the governing body of the county, the governing body shall adopt such a resolution.
``(3) Implementation of a resolution adopted under this subpart (b) shall be conditioned upon approval of the resolution by a majority of the qualified electors of the county voting at an election conducted for such purpose.
``(c)(1) Upon adoption of a resolution pursuant to subpart
(b)(1) or subpart (b)(2), the governing body of the county shall request, within 36 months after adoption of the resolution, the county election officer to submit to the qualified electors of the county the question of whether the governing body shall be authorized to implement the resolution. The resolution shall be printed on the ballot and in the notice of election. The question shall be submitted to the electors of the county at the primary or general election next following the date of the request filed with the county election officer. If a majority of the qualified electors are opposed to implementation of the resolution authorizing creation of, or participation in, the district and the levy of a tax for financial support thereof, the same shall not be implemented. The governing body of the county may review procedures for authorization to create or become a part of the district and to levy a tax for financial support thereof at any time following rejection of the question.
``(2) The ballot for the proposition in any county shall be in substantially the following form:
``Shall a retail sales tax of ____________ (insert amount, not to exceed \1/4\ cent) be levied and collected in Kansas and Missouri metropolitan culture district consisting of the county(ies) of ____________ (insert name of counties) for the support of cultural facilities and organizations within the district?
YES NO
The governing body of the county may place additional language on the ballot to describe the use or allocation of the funds.
``(d)(1) The metropolitan culture district shall be created when implementation of a resolution authorizing the creation of the district and the levy of a tax for contribution to the financial support thereof is approved by respective majorities of the qualified electors of at least Johnson County, Kansas, and Jackson County, Missouri.
``(2) When implementation of a resolution authorizing participation in the metropolitan culture district and the levy of a tax for contribution to the financial support thereof is approved by a majority of the qualified electors of any county eligible to become a part of the district, the governing body of the county shall proceed with the performance of all things necessary and incidental to participation in the district.
``(3) Any question for the levy of a tax submitted after July 1, 2000, may be submitted to the electors of the county at the primary or general election next following the date of the request filed with the county election officer; at a special election called and held as otherwise provided by law; at an election called and held on the first Tuesday after the first Monday in February, except in Presidential election years; at an election called and held on the first Tuesday after the first Monday in March, June, August, or November; or at an election called and held on the first Tuesday in April, except that no question for a tax levy may be submitted to the electors prior to January 1, 2002.
``(4) No question shall be submitted to the electors authorizing the levy of a tax the proceeds of which will be exclusively dedicated to sports or sports facilities.
``(e) Any of the counties composing the metropolitan culture district may withdraw from the district by adoption of a resolution and approval of the resolution by a majority of the qualified electors of the county, all in the same manner provided in this Article IV for creating or becoming a part of the metropolitan culture district. The governing body of a withdrawing county shall provide for the sending of formal written notice of withdrawal from the district to the governing body of the other county or each of the other counties comprising the district. Actual withdrawal shall not take effect until 90 days after notice has been sent. A withdrawing county shall not be relieved from any obligation which such county may have assumed or incurred by reason of being a part of the district, including, but not limited to, the retirement of any outstanding bonded indebtedness of the district.
``ARTICLE V. THE COMMISSION
``(a) The metropolitan culture district shall be governed by the metropolitan culture commission which shall be a body corporate and politic and which shall be composed of resident electors of the states of Kansas and Missouri, respectively, as follows:
``(1) A member of the governing body of each county which is a part of the district, who shall be appointed by majority vote of such governing body;
``(2) A member of the governing body of each city, with a population according to the most recent federal census of at least 50,000, located in whole or in part within each county which is a part of the district, who shall be appointed by majority vote of such governing body;
``(3) Two members of the governing body of a county with a consolidated or unified county government and city of the first class which is a part of the district, who shall be appointed by majority vote of such governing body;
``(4) A member of the arts commission of Kansas or the Kansas commission for the humanities, who shall be appointed by the governor of Kansas; and
``(5) A member of the arts commission of Missouri or the Missouri humanities council, who shall be appointed by the governor of Missouri.
To the extent possible, the gubernatorial appointees to the commission shall be residents of the district. The term of each commissioner initially appointed by a county governing body shall expire concurrently with such commissioner's tenure as a county officer or three years after the date of appointment as a commissioner, whichever occurs sooner. The term of each commissioner succeeding a commissioner initially appointed by a county governing body shall expire concurrently with such successor commissioner's tenure as a county officer or four years after the date of appointment as a commissioner, whichever occurs sooner. The term of each commissioner initially appointed by a city governing body shall expire concurrently with such commissioner's tenure as a city officer or two years after the date of appointment as a commissioner, whichever occurs sooner. The term of each commissioner succeeding a commissioner initially appointed by a city governing body shall expire concurrently with such successor commissioner's tenure as a city officer or four years after the date of appointment as a commissioner, whichever occurs sooner. The term of each commissioner appointed by the governor of Kansas or the governor of Missouri shall expire concurrently with the term of the appointing governor, the commissioner's tenure as a state officer, or four years after the date of appointment as a commissioner of the district, whichever occurs sooner. Any vacancy occurring in a commissioner position for reasons other than expiration of terms of office shall be filled for the unexpired term by appointment in the same manner that the original appointment was made. Any commissioner may be removed for cause by the appointing authority of the commissioner.
``(b) The commission shall select annually, from its membership, a chairperson, a vice chairperson, and a treasurer. The treasurer shall be bonded in such amounts as the commission may require.
``(c) The commission may appoint such officers, agents and employees as it may require for the performance of its duties, and shall determine the qualifications and duties and fix the compensation of such officers, agents and employees.
``(d) The commission shall fix the time and place at which its meetings shall be held. Meetings shall be held within the district and shall be open to the public. Public notice shall be given of all meetings.
``(e) A majority of the commissioners from each state shall constitute, in the aggregate, a quorum for the transaction of business. No action of the commission shall be binding unless taken at a meeting at which at least a quorum is present, and unless a majority of the commissioners from each state, present at such meeting, shall vote in favor thereof. No action of the commission taken at a meeting thereof shall be binding unless the subject of such action is included in a written agenda for such meeting, the agenda and notice of meeting having been mailed to each commissioner by postage paid first-class mail at least 14 calendar days prior to the meeting.
``(f) The commissioners from each state shall be subject to the provisions of the laws of the states of Kansas and Missouri, respectively, which relate to conflicts of interest of public officers and employees. If any commissioner has a direct or indirect financial interest in any cultural facility, organization or activity supported by the district or commission or in any other business transaction of the district or commission, the commissioner shall disclose such interest in writing to the other commissioners and shall abstain from voting on any matter relating to such facility, organization or activity or to such business transaction.
``(g) If any action at law or equity, or other legal proceeding, shall be brought against any commissioner for any act or omission arising out of the performance of duties as a commissioner, the commissioner shall be indemnified in whole and held harmless by the commission for any judgment or decree entered against the commissioner and, further, shall be defended at the cost and expense of the commission in any such proceeding.
``ARTICLE VI. POWERS AND DUTIES OF THE COMMISSION
``(a) The commission shall adopt a seal and suitable bylaws governing its management and procedure.
``(b) The commission has the power to contract and to be contracted with, and to sue and to be sued.
``(c) The commission may receive for any of its purposes and functions any contributions or moneys appropriated by counties or cities and may solicit and receive any and all donations, and grants of money, equipment, supplies, materials and services from any state or the United States or any agency thereof, or from any institution, foundation, organization, person, firm or corporation, and may utilize and dispose of the same.
``(d) Upon receipt of recommendations from the advisory committee provided in subsection (g), the commission may provide donations, contributions and grants or other support, financial or otherwise, or in aid of cultural organizations, facilities or activities in counties which are part of the district. In determining whether to provide any such support the commission shall consider the following factors:
``(1) economic impact upon the district;
``(2) cultural benefit to citizens of the district and to the general public;
``(3) contribution to the quality of life and popular image of the district;
``(4) contribution to the geographical balance of cultural facilities and activities within and outside the district;
``(5) the breadth of popular appeal within and outside the district;
``(6) the needs of the community as identified in an objective cultural needs assessment study of the metropolitan area; and
``(7) any other factor deemed appropriate by the commission.
``(e) The commission may own and acquire by gift, purchase, lease or devise cultural facilities within the territory of the district. The commission may plan, construct, operate and maintain and contract for the operation and maintenance of cultural facilities within the territory of the district. The commission may sell, lease, or otherwise dispose of cultural facilities within the territory of the district.
``(f) At any time following five years from and after the creation of the metropolitan cultural district as provided in paragraph (1) of subsection (d) of article IV, the commission may borrow moneys for the planning, construction, equipping, operation, maintenance, repair, extension, expansion, or improvement of any cultural facility and, in that regard, the commission at such time may:
``(1) issue notes, bonds or other instruments in writing of the commission in evidence of the sum or sums to be borrowed. No notes, bonds or other instruments in writing shall be issued pursuant to this subsection until the issuance of such notes, bonds or instruments has been submitted to and approved by a majority of the qualified electors of the district voting at an election called and held thereon. Such election shall be called and held in the manner provided by law;
``(2) issue refunding notes, bonds or other instruments in writing for the purpose of refunding, extending or unifying the whole or any part of its outstanding indebtedness from time to time whether evidenced by notes, bonds or other instruments in writing. Such refunding notes, bonds or other instruments in writing shall not exceed in amount the principal of the outstanding indebtedness to be refunded and the accrued interest thereon to the date of such refunding;
``(3) provide that all notes, bonds and other instruments in writing issued hereunder shall or may be payable, both as to principal and interest, from sales tax revenues authorized under this compact and disbursed to the district by counties comprising the district, admissions and other revenues collected from the use of any cultural facility or facilities constructed hereunder, or from any other resources of the commission, and further may be secured by a mortgage or deed of trust upon any property interest of the commission; and
``(4) prescribe the details of all notes, bonds or other instruments in writing, and of the issuance and sale thereof. The commission shall have the power to enter into covenants with the holders of such notes, bonds or other instruments in writing, not inconsistent with the powers granted herein, without further legislative authority.
``(g) The commission shall appoint an advisory committee composed of members of the general public consisting of an equal number of persons from both the states of Kansas and Missouri who have demonstrated interest, expertise, knowledge or experience in cultural organizations or activities. The advisory committee shall make recommendations annually to the commission regarding donations, contributions and grants or other support, financial or otherwise, for or in aid of cultural organizations, facilities and activities in counties which are part of the district.
``(h) The commission may provide for actual and necessary expenses of commissioners and advisory committee members incurred in the performance of their official duties.
``(i) The commission shall cause to be prepared annually a report on the operations and transactions conducted by the commission during the preceding year. The report shall be submitted to the legislatures and governors of the compacting states, to the governing bodies of the counties comprising the district, and to the governing body of each city that appoints a commissioner. The commission shall publish the annual report in the official county newspaper of each of the counties comprising the district.
``(j) The commission has the power to apply to the congress of the United States for its consent and approval of the compact. In the absence of the consent of congress and until consent is secured, the compact is binding upon the states of Kansas and Missouri in all respects permitted by law for the two states, without the consent of congress, for the purposes enumerated and in the manner provided in the compact.
``(k) The commission has the power to perform all other necessary and incidental functions and duties and to exercise all other necessary and appropriate powers not inconsistent with the constitution or laws of the United States or of either of the states of Kansas or Missouri to effectuate the same.
``ARTICLE VII. FINANCE
``(a) The moneys necessary to finance the operation of the metropolitan culture district and the execution of the powers, duties and responsibilities of the commission shall be appropriated to the commission by the counties comprising the district. The moneys to be appropriated to the commission shall be raised by the governing bodies of the respective counties by the levy of taxes as authorized by the legislatures of the respective party states.
``(b) The commission shall not incur any indebtedness or obligation of any kind; nor shall the commission pledge the credit of either or any of the counties comprising the district or either of the states party to this compact, except as authorized in article VI. The budget of the district shall be prepared, adopted and published as provided by law for other political subdivisions of the party states. No budget shall be adopted by the commission until it has been submitted to and reviewed by the governing bodies of the counties comprising the district and the governing body of each city represented on the commission.
``(c) The commission shall keep accurate accounts of all receipts and disbursements. The receipts and disbursements of the commission shall be audited yearly by a certified or licensed public accountant and the report of the audit shall be included in and become a part of the annual report of the commission.
``(d) The accounts of the commission shall be open at any reasonable time for inspection by duly authorized representatives of the compacting states, the counties comprising the district, the cities that appoint a commissioner, and other persons authorized by the commission.
``ARTICLE VIII. ENTRY INTO FORCE
``(a) This compact shall enter into force and become effective and binding upon the states of Kansas and Missouri when it has been entered into law by the legislatures of the respective states.
``(b) Amendments to the compact shall become effective upon enactment by the legislatures of the respective states.
``ARTICLE IX. TERMINATION
``This compact shall continue in force and remain binding upon a party state until its legislature shall have enacted a statute repealing the same and providing for the sending of formal written notice of enactment of such statute to the legislature of the other party state. Upon enactment of such a statute by the legislature of either party state, the sending of notice thereof to the other party state, and payment of any obligations which the metropolitan culture district commission may have incurred prior to the effective date of such statute, including, but not limited to, the retirement of any outstanding bonded indebtedness of the district, the agreement of the party states embodied in the compact shall be deemed fully executed, the compact shall be null and void and of no further force or effect, the metropolitan culture district shall be dissolved, and the metropolitan culture district commission shall be abolished.
``ARTICLE X. CONSTRUCTION AND SEVERABILITY
``The provisions of this compact shall be liberally construed and shall be severable. If any phrase, clause, sentence or provision of this compact is declared to be contrary to the constitution of either of the party states or of the United States or the applicability thereof to any government, agency, person or circumstance is held invalid, the validity of the remainder of this compact and the applicability thereof to any government, agency, person or circumstance shall not be affected thereby. If this compact shall be held contrary to the constitution of either of the states party thereto, the compact shall thereby be nullified and voided and of no further force or effect.
``(a) The board of county commissioners of any county which has been authorized by a majority of the electors of the county to create or to become a part of the metropolitan culture district and to levy and collect a tax for the purpose of contributing to the financial support of the district shall adopt a resolution imposing a countywide retailers' sales tax and pledging the revenues received therefrom for such purpose. The rate of such tax shall be fixed in an amount of not more than .25%. Any county levying a retailers' sales tax under authority of this section is hereby prohibited from administering or collecting such tax locally, but shall utilize the services of the state department of revenue to administer, enforce and collect such tax. The sales tax shall be administered, enforced and collected in the same manner and by the same procedure as other countywide retailers' sales taxes are levied and collected and shall be in addition to any other sales tax authorized by law. Upon receipt of a certified copy of a resolution authorizing the levy of a countywide retailers' sales tax pursuant to this section, the state director of taxation shall cause such tax to be collected within and outside the boundaries of such county at the same time and in the same manner provided for the collection of the state retailers' sales tax. All moneys collected by the director of taxation under the provisions of this section shall be credited to the metropolitan culture district retailers' sales tax fund which fund is hereby established in the state treasury. Any refund due on any countywide retailers' sales tax collected pursuant to this section shall be paid out of the sales tax refund fund and reimbursed by the director of taxation from retailers' sales tax revenue collected pursuant to this section. All countywide retailers' sales tax revenue collected within any county pursuant to this section shall be remitted at least quarterly by the state treasurer, on instruction from the director of taxation, to the treasurer of such county.
``(b) All revenue received by any county treasurer from a countywide retailers' sales tax imposed pursuant to this section shall be appropriated by the county to the metropolitan culture district commission within 60 days of receipt of the funds by the county for expenditure by the commission pursuant to and in accordance with the provisions of the Kansas and Missouri metropolitan culture district compact. If any such revenue remains upon nullification and voidance of the Kansas and Missouri metropolitan culture district compact, the county treasurer shall deposit such revenue to the credit of the general fund of the county.
``(c) Any countywide retailers' sales tax imposed pursuant to this section shall expire upon the date of actual withdrawal of the county from the metropolitan culture district or at any time the Kansas and Missouri metropolitan culture district compact becomes null and void and of no further force or effect. If any moneys remain in the metropolitan culture district retailers' sales tax fund upon nullification and voidance of the Kansas and Missouri metropolitan culture district compact, the state treasurer shall transfer such moneys to the county and city retailers' sales tax fund to be apportioned and remitted at the same time and in the same manner as other countywide retailers' sales tax revenues are apportioned and remitted.''.
SEC. 2. RESERVATION OF RIGHTS.
The Congress expressly deserves the right to alter, amend, or repeal this Act.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from Arkansas (Mr. Hutchinson) and the gentleman from Virginia (Mr. Scott) each will control 20 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Arkansas (Mr. Hutchinson).
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from Arkansas (Mr. Hutchinson) and the gentleman from Virginia (Mr. Scott) each will control 20 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Arkansas (Mr. Hutchinson).
General Leave
Mr. HUTCHINSON. Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their remarks and to include extraneous material on H.R. 4700, the bill now under consideration.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the gentleman from Arkansas?
There was no objection.
Mr. HUTCHINSON. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Madam Speaker, on behalf of the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Gekas), I would like to address this particular bill, H.R. 4700.
This bill grants the consent of Congress to the Kansas and Missouri Metropolitan Culture District to facilitate cultural development in the greater Kansas City metropolitan area.
The compact being considered is uniquely designed to encourage cross-
state cultural and intellectual development. Like the original Kansas and Missouri Metropolitan Culture Compact, approved by Congress in 1994, the compact proposed by H.R. 4700 allows voters from both States to jointly support cultural activities benefiting the bistate region.
While nearly identical to the culture compact approved by Congress in 1994, the culture compact proposed by this bill expands the definition of cultural programs to cover sport activities and facilities. It also changes the composition of the culture commission to maintain balanced representation from both States.
Finally, like its predecessor, the Congressional Budget Office has estimated that implementation of the compact would have no fiscal impact on the U.S. Treasury, and I will include the letter from the CBO for the Record.
Passage of the 1994 Kansas and Missouri Culture Compact has brought cultural and aesthetic renewal to residents of the Kansas City metropolitan region, while obtaining a broad measure of bipartisanship in the member States and in the Congress. With our help, Kansas and Missouri will continue the cultural invigoration of the greater Kansas City area, and I urge support of the bill.
U.S. Congress,
Congressional Budget Office,
Washington, DC July 20, 2000.Hon. Henry J. Hyde,Chairman, Committee on the Judiciary, U.S. House of
Representatives, Washington, DC.
Dear Mr. Chairman: The Congressional Budget Office has prepared the enclosed cost estimate for H.R. 4700, a bill to grant the consent of the Congress to the Kansas and Missouri Metropolitan Culture District Compact.
If you wish further details on this estimate, we will be pleased to provide them. The CBO staff contact is Lanette J. Keith.
Sincerely,
Barry B. Anderson,
(For Dan L. Crippen).
Enclosure.H.R. 4700.--A bill to grant the consent of the Congress to the Kansas and Missouri Metropolitan Culture District
Compact
H.R. 4700 would give Congressional consent to the Kansas and Missouri Metropolitan Culture District Compact entered into by Kansas and Missouri. A similar agreement was approved by the Congress in 1994 but that agreement will end in 2001. Enacting H.R. 4700 would enable certain counties in the two states to continue to apply a local sales tax to fund historical preservation activities within the district. Enacting the resolution would result in no cost to the federal government. Because enactment of H.R. 4700 would not affect direct spending or receipts, pay-as-you-go procedures would not apply. The bill contains no intergovernmental or private-sector mandates as defined in the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act and would impose no costs on state, local, or tribal governments.
The CBO staff contact for this estimate is Lanette J. Keith. This estimate was approved by Peter H. Fontaine, Deputy Assistant Director for Budget Analysis.
Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. SCOTT. Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that the gentlewoman from Missouri (Ms. McCarthy), who has done so much work on this important issue affecting her district, be allowed to control the time on this side.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Without objection, the gentlewoman from Missouri (Ms. McCarthy) is recognized for 20 minutes.
There was no objection.
Ms. McCARTHY of Missouri. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume, and I thank the gentleman from Virginia (Mr. Scott) very much for that gracious introduction. I would also like to thank the gentleman from Arkansas (Mr. Hutchinson), who so eloquently described this very positive and special bill.
I would also like to take a moment, Madam Speaker, to thank the chairman of the Committee on the Judiciary, the gentleman from Illinois
(Mr. Hyde); and the ranking member, the gentleman from Michigan (Mr. Conyers); as well as the chairman of the Subcommittee on Commercial and Administrative Law, the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Gekas); and the subcommittee ranking member, the gentleman from New York (Mr. Nadler), for expediting this very important effort for my community.
Last Tuesday, the bill was heard in the subcommittee and marked up; last Wednesday in the full committee and marked up; and here we are on Monday, Madam Speaker, back to the floor for a vote by the full membership on consideration of the renewal of this important bistate compact.
In the 1980s, when I served in the Missouri legislature in the House and chaired the Ways and Means Committee there, I and others of like mind, who realized that the uniqueness of Kansas City, with its State line dividing both a Kansas community and a Missouri community with common interests, might require some creative taxing mechanism in order to restore and to secure the very beautiful landmarks that we have there, both in culture, the arts, and also in our heritage, and yet not any one community could do it alone, so we created this bistate cultural compact that needed the approval by the people of greater Kansas City, which is, of course, home to 1.7 million supporters.
We initially proposed this in the Kansas and Missouri legislatures, I happened to handle it in the Missouri House, and gained the approval of those two bodies in 1987, when we introduced it, and then again as we revised it. In 1994, when we finally agreed to it and passed it and it was signed into law by both governors, I came here as a State legislator to advocate for it before the Committee on the Judiciary and was very pleased for its passage in the House then.
It is being renewed now because it needs to have some changes made to it. We sunset it, quite appropriately then, to make sure it would work successfully, and it has. Now we want to take it back to the community with the changes that the gentleman from Arkansas described in order for the voters to approve its continuance.
The major success story of this effort, this rather unique effort, has been the restoration of our Union Station, a very important structure to both communities, located on the Missouri side. It is second in the Nation in size and history to Grand Central Station. It had fallen into great disrepair and deterioration, was looking for some current use, and this bistate cultural tax raised almost half the money needed to restore the building. It has been turned into a wonderful science center and museum and is a great gathering place for many, many cultural events in the community.
It has been such a great bringing together of people on both sides of the State line, rallying around the importance of maintaining this important structure, that we want to go back now and let the commission discuss future use that might include comprehensive projects to support the arts for school-aged children and renovation or rehabilitation of arts facilities on both sides of the State line. Youth athletic facilities projects are desperately needed and seriously contemplated by the commission. And of course maintenance on existing athletic facilities will be included under new language in the compact.
So I am very, very pleased today to be here in support of this effort, and I would like again to thank the members of the committee for their bipartisan effort in making this a priority and moving so expeditiously.
Madam Speaker, I am providing for the Record some letters of support from individuals and organizations involved in this back home in Kansas and Missouri.
Greater Kansas City
Chamber of Commerce,
Kansas City, MO, July 17, 2000.Hon. Karen McCarthy,Longworth House Office BuildingWashington, DC.
Dear Representative McCarthy: The Greater Kansas City Chamber of Commerce has been a strong supporter of the Kansas and Missouri Metropolitan Culture District Compact since it was first proposed more than 10 years ago by a civic task force organized by Kansas City Consensus. From the very beginning, the concept of a multijurisdiction tax for common purposes in a bistate region like Greater Kansas City has had great appeal.
The Chamber was a principal player in the passage of the bistate tax to restore Kansas City's Union Station and establish Science City at the station. The success of that project has naturally led to speculation about other regional needs that might be met through this innovative approach.
Consequently, The Chamber was a leader in the effort to expand the eligible use of bistate tax revenues through legislation in Kansas and Missouri to include sports and sports facilities as well as the cultural arts.
The Chamber continues to be an enthusiastic supporters of the bistate tax concept and urges appropriate action by the Congress to facilitate the further use of this creative multijurisdictional initiative for regional purposes.
Sincerely,
Peter S. Levi,President.
____
Kansas City
Area Development Council,
Kansas City, MO, July 17, 2000.Hon. Karen McCarthy,U.S. Representative,Kansas City, MO.
Dear Congresswoman McCarthy: I'm writing to let you know the support of the Kansas City Area Development Council
(KCADC) for HR 4700 granting congressional approval for the bistate compact that would authorize the creation of the Metropolitan Cultural District in the Kansas City area.
KCADC, from its inception in 1976, has been a bistate organization. As you know, we serve 15 counties in both Kansas and Missouri. We approach business attraction and the growth of the economy from a bistate perspective because our community is truly one community that simply happens to be joined by a state line. Nothing could be more important to us than the approval of this legislation. The furtherance of regional cooperation and funding key cultural assets assuming voter approval is critical to the ongoing development of our community. The fact that the legislation has received support in the legislatures of both Kansas and Missouri and would only be enacted upon a vote of the people, provides both evidence of broad support and all necessary safeguards.
We are appreciative of your leadership in this effort and ask that you will do all that is possible to encourage the approval of this legislation initially by the House Judiciary Committee and then by the full House and Senate.
Best regards,
Robert J. Marcusse,President and CEO.
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Mid-America Regional Council,
Kansas City, MO, July 17, 2000.Hon. Karen McCarthy,U.S. Representative,Kansas City, MO.
Dear Congresswoman McCarthy: This letter is to convey the support of the Mid-America Regional Council for HR 4700 to grant congressional approval for the bistate compact authorizing creation of the Metropolitan Culture District in the Kansas City area.
As the council of governments and metropolitan planning group for Greater Kansas City, MARC has keen interest in seeing the continuance of this important mechanism to allow for voter-approved regional cooperation in funding key cultural assets. MARC has played an active role in supporting this initiative over the years, and we are eager to see this tool continue to serve our regional community. The proposed changes to the bistate compact enjoy broad public support and have already been approved by the legislatures of both Kansas and Missouri.
We appreciate your leadership in ensuring continuation of this issue so important to our metropolitan progress.
Sincerely,
David A. Warm,Executive Director.
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Overland Park
Chamber of Commerce,
Overland Park, KS, July 17, 2000.Hon. Henry J. Hyde,Chairman, Committee on Judiciary, House of Representatives,
Washington, DC.
Dear Mr. Chairman: On behalf of the Overland Park Chamber of Commerce and its 1,100 members, I want to thank you for granting a timely hearing on HR 4700.
The Overland Park business community wishes to declare its support for the passage of HR 4700. Its passage will complete a legislative process that provides increased flexibility and expanded options for the Kansas City metropolitan area in future bi-state efforts.
Citizens and businesses in both Kansas and Missouri, with the Union Station bi-state success, have demonstrated an ability to reach consensus and support for important projects. This bill, supported by both state legislatures, enhances that unique relationship.
We appreciate your support in addressing this important community issue.
Sincerely,
Mary Birch CCE,President.
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January 4, 2000.To: Johnson County Commission.From: Johnson County Chambers Presidents Council, Linda
Leeper, Chairman.Re: Bi-State Efforts.
As strong supporters of the bi-state initiative to renovate Union Station and construct Science City, the chambers of commerce in Johnson County wish to commend the voters of the four counties, the Bi-State Commission, the Union Station Assistance Corporation, the Union Station Project Council and civic leaders for a job well done. This phenomenal project will serve as an excellent first effort toward future partnerships that identify, pursue and support other bi-state efforts.
At this time, the Johnson County Chambers Presidents Council has discussed future bi-state efforts and would like to convey the following concepts to be considered as developments and ideas proceed.
We believe:
1. The current \1/8\ cent bi-state sales tax for Union Station/Science City should sunset (end) as promised to the voters.
2. The bi-state tax should be used to enhance quality-of-life components that are not traditionally funded by government, such as the arts, and to preserve major community institutions.
3. The bi-state tax cannot and should not be seen or used as ``the'' solution for all the problems of the metro-plex.
4. If there is a second bi-state effort, it should include both the arts as was originally intended and consideration of efforts in Kansas. Serious consideration should be given to the renovation or construction of a building in Johnson County for an arts venue.
5. Also, consideration should be given to including sports facilities as a beneficiary of the next bi-state effort. There is no doubt that Kansas City's professional sports teams are a significant economic development component for the entire metropolitan area. The bi-state component, however, similar to Union Station, should be only one part of a larger multi-source funded effort.
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Labor-Management Council
of Greater Kansas City,
Kansas City, MO, July 17, 2000.U.S. Rep. Karen McCarthy,E. 9th St., Suite 9350,Kansas City, MO.
Dear Rep. McCarthy: The Labor-Management Council of Greater Kansas City urges support from the U.S. Congress for ``Bi-State II'' legislation. We supported passage of the revised bi-state approach in both the Missouri and Kansas legislatures, and we thank you for your support for the successful first bi-state project as well as for this effort.
As an organization comprised of more than 80 businesses, unions, nonprofits and governments from throughout the Kansas City area, the Labor-Management Council focuses on efforts that enhance the entire metropolitan community. Bi-State II will allow us the opportunity to explore and possibly implement public improvement projects that benefit citizens in both states.
The Labor-Management Council requires a unanimous vote of its Board of Directors to take a public issue position. Bi-State II's achievement of such unanimous support from our diverse leadership demonstrates its strong appeal to labor and to management, to Missourians and to Kansas, to Democrats and to Republicans, to urban and to suburban residents.
We are very pleased that Congress is appropriately considering this legislation to help address our community's needs that cross state, county and municipal lines. Passage of Bi-State II by Congress would allow us to continue our work to benefit the entire metropolitan community.
Please feel free to share our position with your colleagues, and to contact me with any questions.
Sincerely,
Bob Jacobi, Jr.,Executive Director.
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Jackson County Executive,
Kansas City, MO, July 17, 2000.Hon. Karen McCarthy,U.S. Representative,Kansas City, MO.
Dear Congresswoman McCarthy: I am writing to express my support for HR 4700, which would grant congressional approval for the bi-state compact authorizing creation of the Metropolitan Culture District in the Kansas City area.
Jackson County is proud of its role in the development and implementation of the successful initiative at Kansas City's Liberty Memorial, and looks forward to the opportunity to extend a bi-state solution into other long term capital needs of the entire Kansas City metropolitan area.
We appreciate your efforts in ensuring the continuation and expansion of this cooperative effort among local governments across our region.
Sincerely,
Katheryn J. Shields,County Executive.
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State of Kansas,
Office of the Governor,
Topeka, KS.
Communications Office Fax
From: Don Brown, Communications Director.
Governor Graves made the following comments shortly before signing the Bi-State II legislation:
``I am extremely pleased with the success of our first Bi-State project. The Science City at Union Station, quite frankly, would not exist as we know it today without the funding from this arts and culture initiative. I am pleased to be able to sign the Bi-State II legislation into Kansas Law. This is just one step in the process, of course. I'm confident the government leaders and voters in the respective counties in and around Kansas City will make good choices as they explore another phase of this cooperative effort.''
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Carnahan Signs Bill To Expand Metropolitan Culture District
Gov. Mel Carnahan gave final approval today to a new law that expands the Kansas and Missouri Metropolitan Culture District to include sports facilities and events.
Carnahan signed the legislation (Senate Bill 719) at Union Station, which reopened last year after being restored through the efforts of the Culture District--a four-county area encompassing Kansas City.
``Bringing Union Station back to life is a testimony to the tremendous success the Culture District has experienced,'' Carnahan said. ``This legislation will allow the district to build upon that success by including sports facilities and events.''
The new legislation will allow sporting events and sports facilities to qualify as approved projects for the Culture District. This will enable voters in the district to approve funding for sports-related activities in addition to other cultural facilities and events.
The legislation also adds two members to the Culture District Commission, the district's governing body. That provision was necessary due to the consolidation of Kansas City, Kan., and Wyandotte County governments. The additional two members will ensure equal representation from Kansas and Missouri on the commission.
``Many Kansas Citians from both sides of the state line are proud of the accomplishments that have been achieved through the bistate Culture District,'' Carnahan said. ``The work of the district and its commission is proof that great things can be done when the spirit of cooperation is a prominent force.''
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Donors Praise Union Station
(By Brian Burnes)
Union Station's opening week continued Sunday as about 1,200 benefactors who had contributed $1,000 or more to the renovation project gathered for an early look at the landmark.
The reviews were good.
``I think it's wonderful. It's fabulous,'' said Betty Shouse of Kansas City as she stood in the old North Waiting Room, now Festival Plaza.
``I'm in awe of the ceiling,'' said Carson Ross, a Missouri state representative from Blue Springs, referring to the restored and repainted ceiling in the Grand Hall.
Shouse and Ross also offered praise for the bistate cooperation that led to $118 million in taxpayer contributions to the renovation from a one-eight-cent sales tax passed in Jackson, Johnson, Clay and Plate counties in 1996.
``I'm so glad that we were able to have that kind of cooperation among the various parts of Kansas City,'' Shouse said.
``Being, able to bring both states together for this was historic,'' Ross said. ``I tell people from other states about this and they can't believe it.''
As the late afternoon sun poured through the west windows, most visitors could be seen looking up at the ceiling or at the huge clock hanging from it.
``What's fun about this is that each person who comes through feels that they had a piece of the project, so it's exciting for them to see it all come together now,'' said Bill Musgrave, a vice president of the Kansas City Museum, which is developing Science City inside the station.
Renovation officials said Sunday's crowd--much smaller than the crowd of approximately 3,700 who jammed in Friday night--had its virtues.
``Friday night was elbow to elbow,'' said John Patrick Burnett, a member of the project's Bistate Commission, which oversaw the spending of taxpayer money. ``But this was very nice today, and you could actually see some of the exhibits of Science City.''
Within Science City, benefactors mingled with some of the approximately 25 ``interactors,'' or costumed performers who will visit with Science City guests in front of some of the approximately 50 ``environments.''
Interspersed with the interactors were construction workers, some of whom continued working on the Festival Plaza fountain as the party went on around them. The stations opening week continues Tuesday with a preview for volunteers scheduled for 5 to 9 pm.
The grand opening of Science City at Union Station is scheduled for 10 a.m. Wednesday on the station's south plaza.
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Hope Rides on the $250 Million Makeover of Kansas City's Union Station
(By Steve Paul)
Kansas City, MO.--Kansas citizens have been waiting decades for life to return to the 1914 Union Station, once among the nation's busiest monuments to rail travel. Now the wait is over. Science City, a so-called edutainment complex appended to the newly restored station, has its grand opening on Nov. 10.
A private-public partnership partly funded by taxpayers in two states spurred the ambitious project with a price tag of
$250 million, so there's an extraordinary amount of breath holding. Can the enormous building again become the city's premier gathering place? If revelers return to the station's cavernous spaces this New Year's Eve, the turn of the millennium may be less meaningful than the emotional reconnection to a cherished monument the public didn't know what to do with.
Preservation purists are hoping Science City's idiosyncrasies won't undermine the reception given to restoration of the decayed station itself, second in size only to Grand Central Terminal in Manhattan. Still, the ultimate test of success will be whether tourist dollars can underwrite local pride and any sense that such gathering place is needed.
Andy Scott, executive director of the Union Station Assistance Corp., the building's private, nonprofit owner since 1994, hopes the restoration will redefine downtown. Ever optimistic, Scott is already envisioning more redevelopment. A new pedestrian bridge, designed by Siah Armajani, has been proposed to link the station with the Crossroads district across the rail yards to the north. A lively renaissance of art galleries, restaurants, and residential lofts is under way in that neighborhood of converted warehouses and industrial buildings.
Scott's optimism also stems from the statute of the station itself, designed by Chicago architect Jarvis Hunt in a restrained Beaux-Arts style with well-proportioned columns, windows, and entablature. With all the personal interaction that took place within, Scott says, Union Station means a lot to people in the metropolitan area of 1.7 million. ``This building,'' he says, ``was built with such vision and care and love of beauty and architecture that it can inspire people.''
Union Station was nearly comatose long before it closed more than a decade ago. In the '80s it suffered a kick in the architectural groin when an office building was crammed into a corner of its T-shaped plan.
That building remains, but the reflections in its mirror-glass reds and blues outlined by cream trim and gold-hued plaster foliage. It also suspends a trio of respected 3,000-pound chandeliers from ornate rosettes.
Science City, a project of the Kansas City Museum, will occupy a new glass-topped annex abutting the station's former North Waiting Room. Responding to focus groups who said they wanted to have fun, the museum made something akin to an amusement park involving science as adventure.
``It's not a museum, it's not a science center, it's not a themes park, it's not theater,'' says Science City President David A. Ucko. ``The phrase I've been using is `recreational learning.' ''
The station's North Waiting Room, more than 100 yards long, serves as the entry to the multilevel maze of Science City. Visitors will be deposited into a series of environments--a hospital, a crime scene, a cave--with actors conducting learning experiences.
There will be a historical streetscape providing a memory lane of pop culture: old televisions showing period programs in an appliance-store window, for instance. A live stage will present science and historical shows. A large-screen Iwerks theater is being installed for science and nature films in 2-D and 3-D formats. And a planetarium will put a laser-show spin on sky gazing lessons.
Nighttime activities are crucial to the return of a constant flow of people--and their dollars--to the station. So the theaters will do double duty, showing Science City films by day and general-interest, date-inducing movies by night. The North Waiting Room, available for special events, can accommodate as many as 1,200 diners. Several restaurants are opening in and off the cavernous Grand Hall.
For the multitudes who passed through there, Union Station is something like a memory bank. Emotional departures and returns were plentiful for several generations before passenger-train traffic and the station itself began to began to decline after World War II. ``In many ways,'' says Dave Boutras of the Western Historical Manuscript Collection in Kansas City, ``it is about the only public place that represents the metro area.''
The feeling of a shared history--and the vision of a shared future--helped persuade taxpayers in Johnson County, Kan., an affluent Kansas City suburb, to contribute to the project through a one-eighth-cent bistate sales tax. They joined voters in the three Missouri countries through which Kansas City sprawls to pony up $118 million in tax money. The rest of the construction funding came from more than $30 million in federal grants and $100 million in private donations.
Significant participation ($20 million) came from Hallmark Cards, Inc., and the Hall Family Foundation. Hallmark's headquarters and Crown Center, a complex with two hotels, restaurants, a shopping mall, and an updated bus waiting area, will be linked to the station by an elevated, glass-enclosed walkway.
An important aspect of the redevelopment is Union Station's revival as a transportation center. Local buses, tourist trolleys, and planned commuter-rail line from Johnson County will stop there, as will a light-rail line in Kansas City, if it ever gets built. Amtrak service may return to the building after its long exile on the bottom level of an underground parking garage.
Long a prominent symbol of inner-city deterioration and dis-investment as it sat rotting, Union Station is ready to be embraced with the pride and excitement it was born to 85 years ago.
In Kansas City, Few Trains, But New Life in the Station
(By Shirley Christian)
Kansas City, MO, Nov. 14--It required new laws in two states, sales-tax elections in five counties and an act of Congress, as well as a major corporate giving campaign, but Kansas City's monumental Union Station has finally been restored to the grandeur it once enjoyed as a centerpiece of the nation's passenger rail network.
Even as construction crews raced to finish the $250 million restoration and expansion of the station, the completed portions opened to the public last week after a spate of events toasting large donors and volunteers.
Very few passenger trains pass through Kansas City now, so the station's restored Grand Hall, with its 95-foot ceiling and three 3,000-pound chandeliers, is to serve as a public space, surrounded by new restaurants, shops and offices. The station, second in size in this country only to Grand Central Terminal in Manhattan, is envisioned as a vast indoor plaza, a gathering place intended to help draw people back to the center of the city.
The station opened in 1914 with nearly one million square feet of space. It has been expanded in this new incarnation with a 300,000-square-foot wing on the west side to house Science City, described by its creators as a place of
``recreational learning.'' Science City is projected to draw a million paying visitors a year.
``We are creating an educational attraction for all ages,'' said David A. Ucko, president of Science City and the Kansas City Museum, which will manage it. ``There will a high degree of emotional engagement, and everything will be contextual, nothing abstract. There will be a lot of humor. This won't be a deadly serious place.''
Those who planned, argued and campaigned for years to put together the complicated financing package for Union Station are so pleased with the results that even before the reopening they were talking of returning to the voters and asking them to extend the culture sales tax, which made the restoration possible. The idea would be to use the tax to finance a wider array of cultural offerings. Supporters said the rebirth of the station, whose architectural features are similar to those of Grand Central and Union Station in Washington, has brought a new sense of metropolitan spirit on both sides of the Missouri-Kansas line, a border across which some of the vilest actions of the Civil War occurred.
Civil leaders are daring to dream of what else might be financed by extending the eighth-of-a-cent culture tax beyond 2002, when the station restoration will be paid off. Possibilities include creation of a publicly financed arts endowment, which could benefit museums like the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art, performance groups like the Lyric Opera and the Kansas City Symphony, and smaller organizations.
Other noncultural possibilities include up-dating the stadiums in which the football Chiefs and baseball Royals play and improving the very limited public transportation system, which serves one of the most sprawled metropolitan areas in the country.
The new Arts Council of Metropolitan Kansas City was formed partly to look at how a culture tax or other public money might be sought for the arts.
``Kansas City is in the top quartile of cities for private funding of the arts,'' said Jan Kreamer, president of the Greater Kansas City Community Foundation and an organizer of the arts council. ``But we are near the bottom of public funding.''
Two regional neighbors, Denver and St. Louis, have adopted taxes for cultural purposes, she said. But she added that no specific proposals would be formulated here until public surveys on the issue are completed. Joan Israelite, president of the Arts Council, said its creation was part of a great expansion of arts and cultural activity. ``We're on the verge of a cultural renaissance,'' she said.
The financing of the area's cultural and other needs has grown increasingly complicated as development has spread into the five counties in Kansas and Missouri that make up the metropolitan region, and into a second tier of surrounding counties in both states as well. More than 100 municipal and other governmental entities are involved, and the principal city, Kansas City, Mo., has become a smaller piece of the whole even though its population is growing slightly.
Unlike most other metropolitan areas that reach across state lines, this region's population of 1.7 million is fairly evenly divided between the two states, as are business and industry, and people here seem to view the state line as the de facto heart of the city. Booming Johnson County, Kan., with 20-some suburban cities, rivals Kansas City proper in size and economic clout, Kansas City, Kan., much smaller and poorer than Kansas City, Mo., or Johnson County, maintains a strong industrial base.
A century and a half ago civic leaders of the two Kansas Cities laid out their principal arteries within walking distance of the other state; Union Station was built just blocks east of the state line.
``The fact is that we function as an economic city-state,'' said Jack Holland, an investment banker who began working on the bistate financing concept 15 years ago.
He was part of a group called Kansas City Consensus, which formed in the early 1980's to look at how Kansas City could continue to pay for cultural and recreational offerings while much of the core city's economic power was being lost to the suburbs. From that group the idea of the bistate tax emerged in 1985.
The group recommended a sales tax instead of a property tax because a sales tax could be applied uniformly throughout the metropolitan area. By contrast, assessed valuation for a similar piece of property might vary from country to county and state to state.
Supporters of the bistate tax said they found many examples around the country of culture taxes and of metropolitan area taxes that crossed county lines, but no examples of a tax that crossed a state line.
After passage of the enabling legislation in Kansas and Missouri in 1993, representatives from each state decided what projects to propose to voters. Although arts and other culture groups had been the driving force behind passage of the legislation, they had trouble agreeing on a package of programs and institutions to support.
In the end everybody could agree only on raising money to restore Union Station. Its beauty, even in its abandoned and unmaintained state, and the emotional attachment felt by people across the area made the station ``the perfect candidate for election,'' said Jack Craft, a lawyer who led the culture-tax campaign in Missouri. ``It's handsome, and it doesn't talk.''
Next, advocates of the tax had to deal with the almost legendary distrust that Kansans have of the politicians in Kansas City, Mo. ``So a lot of safeguards were built into the Union Station operating agreement,'' said State Rose, a suburban newspaper publisher who ran the culture-tax campaign in Kansas.
A separate legal entity was created to own and operate the station, and an agreement was drawn up that, if the restoration project should fail at some point, ownership of Union Station would pass not to the city of Kansas City, Mo., but to he community foundation headed by headed by Ms. Kreamer. Still nervous about the outcome of the voting, the advocates of the tax mounted what Mr. Craft said was the most expensive political campaign ever conducted in the Kansas City region, costing slightly more than $1 million. Some advertising and public relations concerns donated services.
On Nov. 5, 1996, the culture tax went before the voters in the five counties. It passed with more than 60 percent of the vote in four, losing only in Wyandotte County, site of Kansas City. Kan., the poorest county in the metropolitan area.
The tax is raising $118 million of the cost of restoring and expanding the station. An additional $100 million was raised from private contributors; the rest is coming from federal money.
Forty million dollars of the estimated $250 million price tag was set aside as an endowment whose income will pay part of the operating costs for Science City and Union Station. The rest of the $18 million operating budget is to come from paying visitors to Science City and from leasing the office and commercial space.
Mr. CONYERS. Madam Speaker, I am pleased to rise in support of H.R. 4700, to grant the consent of the Congress to the Kansas and Missouri Metropolitan Culture District Compact. This bipartisan legislation would allow the metropolitan area of Kansas City, Kansas, and Wyandotte County to continue the progress of successful arts and cultural initiatives.
Extending the present compact, which is set to expire in 2001, would include sports facilities in the cultural definition. It would also correct the inequity created by the consolidation of the governments of the City of Kansas City, Kansas and Wyandotte County, Kansas which gave Missouri and advantage of two votes over Kansas. Finally, the extension would give states the authority to continue local revenue stream of a
.125% sales tax used to support cultural activities in the bi-state region.
I commend Representative McCarthy from Missouri for her hard work and dedication to moving this legislation through the legislative process. This an excellent example of a bi-state, private-public, local-federal partnership which works well. The continuation of the compact will allow the metropolitan area to further this productive alignment for successful arts and cultural initiatives in the bi-state region and I strongly support the effort.
Mr. GEKAS. Madam Speaker, H.R. 4700 grants the consent of Congress to the Kansas and Missouri Metropolitan Culture District to facilitate cultural development in the greater Kansas City metropolitan area. The Compact being considered is uniquely designed to encourage cross-state cultural and intellectual development. Like the original Kansas-
Missouri Metropolitan Culture Compact approved by Congress in 1994, the Compact proposed by H.R. 4700 allows voters from both states to jointly support cultural activities benefiting the bistate region.
While nearly identical to the Culture Compact approved by Congress in 1994, the Culture Compact proposed by H.R. 4700 expands the definition of cultural programs to cover sport activities and facilities. It also changes the composition of the Culture Commission to maintain balanced representation from both states. Finally, like its predecessor, the Congressional Budget Office has estimated that implementation of the Compact would have no fiscal impact on the U.S. Treasury.
Passage of the 1994 Kansas and Missouri Culture Compact has brought cultural and aesthetic renewal to residents of the Kansas City metropolitan region while obtaining a broad measure of bipartisanship in the member states and in the Congress. With our help, Kansas and Missouri will continue the cultural invigoration of the greater Kansas City area and I urge your support of the bill.
Mr. MOORE. Madam Speaker, I rise to share my support for H.R. 4700, which would grant the consent of Congress to the Kansas and Missouri Metropolitan Cultural District Compact. I like to start by thanking my friend and colleague, Congresswoman Karen McCarthy, for her leadership on this issue. Her tireless work for the Fifth District of Missouri and the people of the Kansas City metropolitan area should be commended.
Over the past four years, we have enjoyed the successes of the original bi-state compact that was passed by Congress in 1994, that continues to receive tremendous support from individuals and organizations on both sides of the state line. This agreement is essential to a unique city with a state line running through the middle of town. Many residents work on one side of state line and reside on the other. The economy and culture of the region are vitally important to all residents of the Kansas City metropolitan area.
This compact made possible the restoration of Union Station and the completion of Science City, now one of the Kansas City metropolitan area's most important cultural and education facilities. Union Station is a remarkable example of what can be accomplished when federal, state, and local governments work with private and public contributors to improve our communities.
As the existing compact is scheduled to conclude at the end of 2001, it is our responsibility to see to it that a new compact is approved to continue this successful venture. Furthermore, it is important to take this opportunity to correct the advantage of two votes that Missouri currently holds on the Bi-State Board, due to the consolidation of the governments of the Kansas City, Kansas, and Wyandotte County, Kansas, into the new Unified Government. This inequity should be resolved to preserve the balance and harmony of the Compact.
As we move into the twenty-first century, it is even more important to take steps to preserve our common history and strengthen our great community. The Bi-State Compact will enable us to take on cultural initiatives, improve education, develop transportation proposals, and improve the lives of those in the Kansas City metropolitan area.
I support this legislation, which I have cosponsored, because I believe the residents of the metropolitan area should be able to decide for themselves if they want to participate in this project. I can think of no better way to decide the issue than to give the authority directly to voters on both sides of the state line.
Madam Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this legislation.
Mr. DREIER. Madam Speaker, I am pleased to rise in support of H.R. 4700, which gives Congressional approval to the Kansas and Missouri Metropolitan Cultural District Compact.
One of the hallmarks of this Republican Congress has been its commitment to empowering state and local governments to address local and regional challenges. This legislation is a great example of that commitment. H.R. 4700 imposes no federal mandates on the states of Kansas and Missouri, or on the local governments which have endorsed the compact. It does not call for the use of federal dollars. It does not require that the Compact be extended into the future. Instead, it simply gives the necessary Congressional approval to the Kansas and Missouri Metropolitan Cultural District Compact.
The Compact is a unique effort to provide a secure source of local funding for metropolitan cooperation across state lines to restore historic structures and cultural facilities. Since it was established a few years ago, local leaders have worked through the Compact to restore Kansas City's Union State, one of the Midwest's important historic landmarks. It has also led to the addition of the Kansas City Museum's Science City Project. When the Compact was initially created in 1994, sanctioning legislation sped through both the House and Senate by voice votes in just a few months.
As other advocates of H.R. 4700 have noted, the breadth of support for the Compact is overwhelming. It is supported by the legislatures of both Kansas and Missouri, the Governors of both states, and by both Republican and Democratic elected officials. I commend the gentlelady from Kansas City for bringing this measure forward, and I encourage all my colleagues to join me in voting for it.
Ms. McCARTHY of Missouri. Madam Speaker, I have no further requests for time, and I yield back the balance of my time.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Without objection, the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Gekas) is recognized to control the time of the gentleman from Arkansas (Mr. Hutchinson).
There was no objection.
Mr. GEKAS. Madam Speaker, I have no further requests for time, and I yield back the balance of my time.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the gentleman from Arkansas (Mr. Hutchinson) that the House suspend the rules and pass the bill, H.R. 4700.
The question was taken.
Mr. GEKAS. Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.
The yeas and nays were ordered.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to clause 8 of rule XX and the Chair's prior announcement, further proceedings on this motion will be postponed.
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