Date: 2001-12-11
Speaker: TOM DAVIS (republican)
Chamber: H
State: Virginia

Mr. Speaker. I rise today to support a bill that has been more than 3 years in the making. It was almost a year ago to the day that I was on this floor giving a very similar speech to a very similar Wolf Trap. The Wolf Trap Foundation bill. But. whatever the process may be. is a 501(c)(3) notforprofit organizaI am pleased today the House is now - tion. It handles all the ticket sales. the considering the bill that will allow the publicity. the education programs. and Wolf Trap Farm Park to become Wolf does a wonderful job. The National Trap National Park for the Performing Park Service is responsible for mainArts. taining the grounds and the buildings. Despite the relative straightforward- They also provide technical assistance ness of this bill. it has taken -years of for the performing arts centers. careful negotiation and innumerable Now. in addition to the performances drafts to reach a consensus between we see on the stage. there are any numthe Park Service. the Department of ber of educational programs that are Interior.. the Wolf Trap Foundation. offered. not just locally. but also naand the Committee on Resources. I am tionwide. Its premier education proextremely pleased to say that as the gram. the Wolf Trap Institute for Early first session of the 107th draws to a Learning Through the Arts. places proclose. that consensus has been reached. fessional performing artists in preAs many of my colleagues undoubt- school classrooms all across the counedly know. Wolf Trap is one of the pre- try. mier venues for the performing arts 0 1815 anywhere in the world. Nestled in a beautifully wooded site just outside of So the mission of Wolf Trap has been Vienna. Virginia. Wolf Trap plays host consistent with that of the National to every conceivable type of per- Park Service. It is the promotion of forming arts. It is the home to all the and access to appreciation of all of our cultural diversity found in our great natural resources and. in this case. our Nation. human resources as well and the perWhile I am disappointed it has taken forming arts. But because of this this long to elevate Wolf Trap to the unique status within the national park level of Federal recognition it deserves. system. we need to change the name I am very pleased that one of the final from Wolf Trap Farm Park to Wolf acts of this session will accomplish Trap National Park. It is not going to that goal. affect the legal status or the Federal I would also like to thank my fellow funding levels. it is not going to do Virginians. the gentleman from Vir- anything but to alleviate- confusion -ginia and the gentleman about this national parks mission. and from Virginia for their it will assist the foundation in private tireless efforts in this endeavor. I am fundraising efforts. very grateful to the Members and staff So it is the right thing to do. From of the Committee on Resources. With- now on. we ought to call it Wolf Trap out their support. I am confident we National Park. and I trust that all of would be revisiting this again in the my colleagues understand its national next session. So. my thanks to all. I importance. significance. and accessiurge its adoption. bility for all of their constituents.