[Congressional Bills 109th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 5057 Reported in House (RH)]
Union Calendar No. 334
109th CONGRESS
2d Session
H. R. 5057
[Report No. 109-582]
To authorize the Marion Park Project and Committee of the Palmetto
Conservation Foundation to establish a commemorative work on Federal
land in the District of Columbia, and its environs to honor Brigadier
General Francis Marion.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
March 30, 2006
Mr. Wilson of South Carolina (for himself, Mr. Clyburn, Mr. Brown of
South Carolina, Mr. Inglis of South Carolina, Mr. Spratt, and Mr.
Barrett of South Carolina) introduced the following bill; which was
referred to the Committee on Resources
July 20, 2006
Additional sponsor: Mr. Fortuno
July 20, 2006
Reported with amendments, committed to the Committee of the Whole House
on the State of the Union, and ordered to be printed
[Strike out all after the enacting clause and insert the part printed
in italic]
[For text of introduced bill, see copy of bill as introduced on March
30, 2006]
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To authorize the Marion Park Project and Committee of the Palmetto
Conservation Foundation to establish a commemorative work on Federal
land in the District of Columbia, and its environs to honor Brigadier
General Francis Marion.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. COMMEMORATIVE WORK TO HONOR BRIGADIER GENERAL FRANCIS MARION
AND HIS FAMILY.
(a) Findings.--The Congress finds that:
(1) Francis Marion was born in 1732 in St. John's Parish,
Berkeley County, South Carolina. He married Mary Esther Videau
on April 20th, 1786. Francis and Mary Esther Marion had no
children, but raised a son of a relative as their own, and gave
the child Francis Marion's name.
(2) Brigadier General Marion commanded the Williamsburg
Militia Revolutionary force in South Carolina and was
instrumental in delaying the advance of British forces by
leading his troops in disrupting supply lines.
(3) Brigadier General Marion's tactics, which were unheard
of in rules of warfare at the time, included lightning raids on
British convoys, after which he and his forces would retreat
into the swamps to avoid capture. British Lieutenant Colonel
Tarleton stated that ``as for this damned old swamp fox, the
devil himself could not catch him''. Thus, the legend of the
``Swamp Fox'' was born.
(4) His victory at the Battle of Eutaw Springs in September
of 1781 was officially recognized by Congress.
(5) Brigadier General Marion's troops are believed to be
the first racially integrated force fighting for the United
States, as his band was a mix of Whites, Blacks, both free and
slave, and Native Americans.
(6) As a statesman, he represented his parish in the South
Carolina senate as well as his State at the Constitutional
Convention.
(7) Although the Congress has authorized the establishment
of commemorative works on Federal lands in the District of
Columbia honoring such celebrated Americans as George
Washington, Thomas Jefferson, and Abraham Lincoln, the National
Capital has no comparable memorial to Brigadier General Francis
Marion for his bravery and leadership during the Revolutionary
War, without which the United States would not exist.
(8) Brigadier General Marion's legacy must live on. At
present, and since 1878, United States Reservation 18 has been
officially referred to as Marion Park. Located between 4th and
6th Streets, S.E., at the intersection of E Street and South
Carolina Avenue, S.E., in Washington, DC, the park lacks a
formal commemoration to this South Carolina hero who was
important to the initiation of the Nation's heritage.
(9) The time has come to correct this oversight so that
future generations of Americans will know and understand the
preeminent historical and lasting significance to the Nation of
Brigadier General Marion's contributions. Such a South Carolina
hero deserves to be given the proper recognition.
(b) Authority to Establish Commemorative Work.--The Marion Park
Project, a committee of the Palmetto Conservation Foundation, may
establish a commemorative work on Federal land in the District of
Columbia and its environs to honor Brigadier General Francis Marion and
his service.
(c) Compliance With Standards for Commemorative Works.--The
commemorative work authorized by subsection (b) shall be established in
accordance with chapter 89 of title 40, United States Code (commonly
known as the Commemorative Works Act).
(d) Use of Federal Funds Prohibited.--Federal funds may not be used
to pay any expense of the establishment of the commemorative work
authorized by subsection (b). The Marion Park Project, a committee of
the Palmetto Conservation Foundation, shall be solely responsible for
acceptance of contributions for, and payment of the expenses of, the
establishment of that commemorative work.
(e) Deposit of Excess Funds.--If, upon payment of all expenses of
the establishment of the commemorative work authorized by subsection
(b) (including the maintenance and preservation amount provided for in
section 8906(b) of title 40, United States Code), or upon expiration of
the authority for the commemorative work under chapter 89 of title 40,
United States Code, there remains a balance of funds received for the
establishment of that commemorative work, the Marion Park Project, a
committee of the Palmetto Conservation Foundation, shall transmit the
amount of the balance to the Secretary of the Treasury for deposit in
the account provided for in section 8906(b)(1) of such title.
(f) Definitions.--For the purposes of this section, the terms
``commemorative work'' and ``the District of Columbia and its
environs'' have the meanings given to such terms in section 8902(a) of
title 40, United States Code.
Amend the title so as to read: ``A bill to authorize the
Marion Park Project, a committee of the Palmetto Conservation
Foundation, to establish a commemorative work on Federal land
in the District of Columbia, and its environs to honor
Brigadier General Francis Marion.''.
Union Calendar No. 334
109th CONGRESS
2d Session
H. R. 5057
[Report No. 109-582]
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To authorize the Marion Park Project and Committee of the Palmetto
Conservation Foundation to establish a commemorative work on Federal
land in the District of Columbia, and its environs to honor Brigadier
General Francis Marion.
_______________________________________________________________________
July 20, 2006
Reported with amendments, committed to the Committee of the Whole House
on the State of the Union, and ordered to be printed