November 18, 2004: Headlines: COS - Colombia: Congress: Legislation: The Sacramento Union: The U.S. House of Representatives approved a bill that would funnel $10 million to the California Missions. Sponsored by Democrat Barbara Boxer in the Senate and Rep. Sam Farr, D-Carmel, in the House, the act will go to repair, restore and renovate the state’s 21 missions, the religious buildings founded by Spanish colonists in the seventeenth century.
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November 18, 2004: Headlines: COS - Colombia: Congress: Legislation: The Sacramento Union: The U.S. House of Representatives approved a bill that would funnel $10 million to the California Missions. Sponsored by Democrat Barbara Boxer in the Senate and Rep. Sam Farr, D-Carmel, in the House, the act will go to repair, restore and renovate the state’s 21 missions, the religious buildings founded by Spanish colonists in the seventeenth century.
The U.S. House of Representatives approved a bill that would funnel $10 million to the California Missions. Sponsored by Democrat Barbara Boxer in the Senate and Rep. Sam Farr, D-Carmel, in the House, the act will go to repair, restore and renovate the state’s 21 missions, the religious buildings founded by Spanish colonists in the seventeenth century.
The U.S. House of Representatives approved a bill that would funnel $10 million to the California Missions. Sponsored by Democrat Barbara Boxer in the Senate and Rep. Sam Farr, D-Carmel, in the House, the act will go to repair, restore and renovate the state’s 21 missions, the religious buildings founded by Spanish colonists in the seventeenth century.
California Missions Foundation gets $10 million in Matching Funds
By Ryan Rose
Published: November 18, 2004
In a lame duck session of Congress, the U.S. House of Representatives approved a bill that would funnel $10 million to the California Missions. The Senate unanimously approved the bill in October.
The bill will now go to President George W. Bush for his signature. If authorized, the California Missions Preservation Act would permit the interior secretary to direct monies to the California Missions Foundation, a secular non-profit organization. The government would distribute the funds on a match basis; for every dollar raised by the foundation for renovation projects, one will come from the federal treasury.
Members of both parties supported the bill, including Republican Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger and all the Democratic legislators in Congress.
Sponsored by Democrat Barbara Boxer in the Senate and Rep. Sam Farr, D-Carmel, in the House, the act will go to repair, restore and renovate the state’s 21 missions, the religious buildings founded by Spanish colonists in the seventeenth century.
“This is a tremendous victory for the state of California,” Boxer said. “Once on the verge of being lost, California’s missions now have a chance for restoration and revitalization. Congress’s commitment to restoring these historical treasures will help preserve them for future generations to enjoy.”
Farr also applauded Congress’s decision to approve the act.
“Our missions are an intrinsic part of our state’s history, and the history of the West,” Farr said. “Sadly, many of these national treasures are crumbling before our eyes—plagued by crumbling foundations, cracked tiles and dangerously old electrical systems. We’ve had to fight for this bill, but California’s missions are worth it.”
Knox Mellon, executive director of the California Missions Foundation, said the bill would likely inspire others to donate, helping the foundation reach its goal of $50 million.
“The Foundation is indebted to Congressman Farr and Senator Boxer for the incredible amount of work they both did on behalf of this bill,” said Mellon. “The Mission Preservation bill will be a catalyst for the foundation to finally begin making a difference in preserving the California Missions.”
While the California Missions Foundation welcomes the arrangement and is eager to obtain funds to preserve the buildings, a civil liberties group is asking the president to reject the bill because of contradictions with the First Amendment.
Americans United for Separation of Church and State claim the act would defy the U.S. Constitution if the federal government appropriates public funds to aid structures still owned and operated by an organized religion. Of the 21 California missions, Roman Catholic friars own 19 and 18 conduct religious services.
In a letter to Congress, the organization said, “Although we recognize that preservation of these historic buildings is important, we strongly believe that the preservation of America’s constitutional rights is vital.”
Barry Lynn, executive director of Americans United, testified against the bill in March before the Senate Subcommittee on National Parks.
Representatives of Boxer said an overwhelming majority of citizens consider the buildings as historical landmarks and not places of worship. Mellon said that of the 5.5 million people that visit the missions annually, only a fraction are parishioners.
“[The missions] are the second largest tourist industry in California, second only to Disneyland. Only a tiny fraction of the five million visitors to the missions go for religious services,” Mellon said. “I think that is another factor to keep in mind.”
David Sandretti, Boxer’s press secretary, said that the senator highly regards the missions’ importance to California history. Sandretti said the state legislators acknowledged the historical importance of the missions when they authorized a mandate demanding California fourth graders learn of the structures.
“Senator Boxer feels this legislation is important because…[the missions] are critical to our cultural, historic and architectural heritage in the state of California,” Sandretti said.
Americans United said public monies going to a religious site breaks the First Amendment, no matter what the historical significance. Atty. Gen. John Ashcroft believes no constitutional contradiction exists. Federal legislators have charged the California Mission Foundation with ensuring taxpayers’ dollar go only to renovations and not to religious programs.
Supporters of the bill expect President Bush, who enacted the “Save America’s Treasures” program and has authorized funds to preserve other religious, to sign the act into law.
The California Missions Foundation accepts donations at its Web site, http://www.missionsofcalifornia.org. Americans United for Separation of Church and State are taking signatures at their Web site, http://www.au.org, for a letter to President Bush asking members to deny the act.
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Story Source: The Sacramento Union
This story has been posted in the following forums: : Headlines; COS - Colombia; Congress; Legislation
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