[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 128 (Tuesday, September 23, 1997)]
[House]
[Pages H7642-H7646]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




              OKLAHOMA CITY NATIONAL MEMORIAL ACT OF 1997

  Mr. HANSEN. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the 
Senate bill (S. 871) to establish the Oklahoma City National Memorial 
as a unit of the National Park System; to designate the Oklahoma City 
Memorial Trust, and for other purposes, as amended.
  The Clerk read as follows:

                                 S. 871

       Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of 
     the United States of America in Congress assembled,

     SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

       This Act may be cited as the ``Oklahoma City National 
     Memorial Act of 1997''.

     SEC. 2 FINDINGS AND PURPOSES.

       (a) Findings.--Congress finds that--
       (1) few events in the past quarter-century have rocked 
     Americans' perception of themselves and their institutions, 
     and brought together the people of our Nation with greater 
     intensity than the April 19, 1995, bombing of the Alfred P. 
     Murrah Federal Building in downtown Oklahoma City;
       (2) the resulting deaths of 168 people, some of whom were 
     children, immediately touched thousands of family members 
     whose lives will forever bear scars of having those precious 
     to them taken away so brutally;
       (3) suffering with such families are countless survivors, 
     including children, who struggle not only with the suffering 
     around them, but their own physical and emotional injuries 
     and with shaping a life beyond April 19;
       (4) such losses and struggles are personal and, since they 
     resulted from so public an attack, they are also shared with 
     a community, a nation, and the world; and,
       (5) the story of the bombing does not stop with the attack 
     itself or with the many losses it caused. The responses of 
     Oklahoma's public servants and private citizens, and those 
     from throughout the nation, remain as a testament to the 
     sense of unity, compassion, even heroism, that characterized 
     the rescue and recovery following the bombing.
       (6) During the days immediately following the Oklahoma City 
     bombing, Americans and people from around the world of all 
     races, political philosophies, religions and walks of life 
     responded with unprecedented solidarity and selflessness; and
       (7) Given the national and international impact and 
     reaction, the federal character of the site of the bombing, 
     and the significant percentage of the victims and survivors 
     who were federal employees the Oklahoma City Memorial will be 
     established, designed, managed and maintained to educate 
     present and future generations, through a public/private 
     partnership, to work together efficiently and respectfully in 
     developing a National Memorial relating to all aspects of the 
     April 19, 1995, bombing in Oklahoma City.

     SEC. 3. DEFINITIONS.

       In this Act:
       (1) Memorial.--The term ``Memorial'' means the Oklahoma 
     City National Memorial designated under section 4(a).
       (2) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary 
     of the Interior.
       (3) Trust.--The term ``Trust'' means the Oklahoma City 
     National Memorial Trust designated under section 5(a).

     SEC. 4. OKLAHOMA CITY NATIONAL MEMORIAL.

       (a) Establishment.--In order to preserve for the benefit 
     and inspiration of the people of the United States and the 
     World, as a National Memorial certain lands located in 
     Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, there is established as a unit of 
     the National Park System the Oklahoma City National Memorial. 
     The Memorial shall be administered by the Trust in 
     cooperation with the Secretary and in accordance with the 
     provisions of this Act, the Act of August 25, 1916 (39 Stat. 
     535; 16 U.S.C. 1 et. seq.), and the Act of August 21, 1935 
     (49 Stat 666; 16 U.S.C. 461-467).
       (b) The Memorial area shall be comprised of the lands, 
     facilities and structures generally depicted on the map 
     entitled ``Oklahoma City National Memorial'', numbered OCNM 
     001, and dated May 1997 (hereinafter referred to in this Act 
     as the ``map''):
       (1) Such map shall be on file and available for public 
     inspection in the appropriate offices of the National Park 
     Service and the Trust.
       (2) After advising the Committee on Energy and Natural 
     Resources of the Senate and the Committee on Resources of the 
     House of Representatives, in writing, the Trust, as 
     established by section 5 of this Act, in consultation with 
     the Secretary, may make minor revisions of the boundaries of 
     the Memorial when necessary by publication of a revised 
     drawing or other boundary description in the Federal 
     Register.

     SEC. 5. OKLAHOMA CITY NATIONAL MEMORIAL TRUST.

       (a) Establishment.--There is established a wholly owned 
     government corporation to be known as the Oklahoma City 
     National Memorial Trust.
       (b) Board of Directors.--
       (1) In general.--The powers and management of the Trust 
     shall be vested in a board of Directors (hereinafter referred 
     to as the ``Board'') consisting of the following 9 members:
       (A) The Secretary or the Secretary's designee.
       (B) Eight individuals, appointed by the President, from a 
     list of recommendations submitted by the Governor of the 
     State of Oklahoma; and a list of recommendations submitted by 
     the Mayor of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma; and a list of 
     recommendations submitted by the United States Senators from 
     Oklahoma; and, a list of recommendations submitted by United 
     States Representatives from Oklahoma. The President shall 
     make the appointments referred to in this subparagraph within 
     90 days after the enactment of this Act.
       (2) Terms.--Members of the Board appointed under paragraph 
     (1)(B) shall each serve for a term of 4 years, except that of 
     the members first appointed, 2 shall serve for a term of 3 
     years; and 2 shall serve a term of 2 years. Any vacancy in 
     the Board shall be filled in the same manner in which the 
     original appointment was made, and any member appointed to 
     fill a vacancy shall serve for the remainder of that term for 
     which his or her predecessor was appointed. No appointed 
     member may serve more than 8 years in consecutive terms.
       (3) Quorum.--Five members of the Board shall constitute a 
     quorum for the conduct of business by the Board.
       (4) Organization and compensation.--The Board shall 
     organize itself in such a manner as it deems most appropriate 
     to effectively carry out the authorized activities of the 
     Trust. Board members shall serve without pay, but may be 
     reimbursed for the actual and necessary travel and 
     subsistence expenses incurred by them in the performance of 
     the duties of the Trust.
       (5) Liability of directors.--Members of the Board of 
     Directors shall not be considered Federal employees by virtue 
     of their membership on the Board, except for purposes of the 
     Federal Tort Claims Act and the Ethics in Government Act, and 
     the provisions of chapter 11 of title 18, United States Code.
       (6) Meetings.--The Board shall meet at least three times 
     per year in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma and at least two of those 
     meetings shall be opened to the public. Upon a majority vote, 
     the Board may close any other meetings to the public. The 
     Board shall establish procedures for providing public 
     information and opportunities for public comment regarding 
     operations maintenance and management of the Memorial; as 
     well as, policy, planning and design issues.
       (7) Staff.--
       (A) Non-national park service staff.--The Trust is 
     authorized to appoint and fix the compensation and duties of 
     an executive director and such other officers and employees 
     as it deems necessary without regard to the provisions of 
     title 5, United States Code, governing appointments in the 
     competitive service, and may pay them without regard to the 
     provisions of chapter 51, and subchapter III of chapter 53, 
     title 5, United States Code, relating to classification and 
     General Schedule pay rates.
       (B) Interim park service staff.--At the request of the 
     Trust, the Secretary shall provide for a period not to exceed 
     2 years, such personnel and technical expertise, as 
     necessary, to provide assistance in the implementation of the 
     provisions of this Act.
       (C) Park service staff.--At the request of the Trust, the 
     Secretary shall provide such uniformed personnel, on a 
     reimbursable basis, to carry out day to day visitor service 
     programs.
       (D) Other federal employees.--At the request of the Trust, 
     the Director of any other Federal agency may provide such 
     personnel, on a reimbursable basis, to carry out day to day 
     visitor service programs.
       (8) Necessary powers.--The Trust shall have all necessary 
     and proper powers for the exercise of the authorities vested 
     in it.
       (9) Taxes.--The Trust and all properties administered by 
     the Trust shall be exempt from all taxes and special 
     assessments of every kind by the State of Oklahoma, and its 
     political subdivisions including the county of Oklahoma and 
     the city of Oklahoma City.
       (10) Government corporation.--
       (A) The Trust shall be treated as a wholly owned Government 
     corporation subject to chapter 91 of title 31, United States 
     Code (commonly referred to as the Government Corporation 
     Control Act). Financial statements of the Trust shall be 
     audited annually

[[Page H7643]]

     in accordance with section 9105 of title 31 of the United 
     States Code.
       (B) At the end of each calendar year, the Trust shall 
     submit to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources of 
     the United States Senate and the Committee on Resources of 
     the House of Representatives a comprehensive and detailed 
     report of its operations, activities, and accomplishments for 
     the prior fiscal year. The report also shall include a 
     section that describes in general terms the Trust's goals for 
     the current fiscal year.

     SEC. 6. DUTIES AND AUTHORITIES OF THE TRUST.

       (a) Overall Requirements of the Trust.--The Trust shall 
     administer the operation, maintenance, management and 
     interpretation of the Memorial including, but not limited to, 
     leasing, rehabilitation, repair and improvement of property 
     within the Memorial under its administrative jurisdiction 
     using the authorities provided in this section, which shall 
     be exercised in accordance with--
       (1) the provisions of law generally applicable to units of 
     the National Park Service, including: ``An Act to establish a 
     National Park Service, and for other purposes'' approved 
     August 25, 1916 (39 Stat. 535; 16 U.S.C. 1, 2-4);
       (2) the Act of August 21, 1935 (49 Stat. 666; U.S.C. 461-
     467;
       (3) the general objectives of the ``Memorial Mission 
     Statement'', adopted March 26, 1996, by the Oklahoma City 
     Memorial Foundation;
       (4) the ``Oklahoma City Memorial Foundation 
     Intergovernmental Letter of Understanding'', dated, October 
     28, 1996; and
       (5) the Cooperative Agreement to be entered into between 
     the Trust and the Secretary pursuant to this Act.
       (b) Authorities.--
       (1) The Trust may participate in the development of 
     programs and activities at the properties designated by the 
     map, and the Trust shall have the authority to negotiate and 
     enter into such agreements, leases, contracts and other 
     arrangements with any person, firm, association, 
     organization, corporation or governmental entity, including, 
     without limitation, entities of Federal, State and local 
     governments as are necessary and appropriate to carry out its 
     authorized activities. Any such agreements may be entered 
     into without regard to section 321 of the Act of June 30, 
     1932 (40 U.S.C. 303b).
       (2) The Trust shall establish procedures for lease 
     agreements and other agreements for use and occupancy of 
     Memorial facilities, including a requirement that in entering 
     into such agreements the Trust shall obtain reasonable 
     competition.
       (3) The Trust may not dispose of or convey fee title to any 
     real property transferred to it under this Act.
       (4) Federal laws and regulations governing procurement by 
     Federal Agencies shall not apply to the Trust, with the 
     exception of laws and regulations related to Federal 
     Government contracts governing working conditions, and any 
     civil rights provisions otherwise applicable thereto.
       (5) The Trust, in consultation with the Administrator of 
     Federal Procurement Policy, shall establish and promulgate 
     procedures applicable to the Trust's procurement of goods and 
     services including, but not limited to, the award of 
     contracts on the basis of contractor qualifications, price, 
     commercially reasonable buying practices, and reasonable 
     competition.
       (c) Management Program.--Within one year after the 
     enactment of this Act, the Trust, in consultation with the 
     Secretary, shall develop a cooperative agreement for 
     management of those lands, operations and facilities within 
     the Memorial established by this Act. In furtherance of the 
     general purposes of this Act, the Secretary and the Trust 
     shall enter into a Cooperative Agreement pursuant to which 
     the Secretary shall provide technical assistance for the 
     planning, preservation, maintenance, management, and 
     interpretation of the Memorial. The Secretary also shall 
     provide such maintenance, interpretation, curatorial 
     management, and general management as mutually agreed to by 
     the Secretary and the Trust.
       (d) Donations.--The Trust may solicit and accept donations 
     of funds, property, supplies, or services from individuals, 
     foundations, corporations, and other private or public 
     entities for the purposes of carrying out its duties.
       (e) Proceeds.--Notwithstanding section 1341 of title 31 of 
     the United States Code, all proceeds received by the Trust 
     shall be retained by the Trust, and such proceeds shall be 
     available, without further appropriation, for the 
     administration, operation, preservation, restoration, 
     operation and maintenance, improvement, repair and related 
     expenses incurred with respect to Memorial properties under 
     its administrative jurisdiction. The Secretary of the 
     Treasury, at the option of the Trust shall invest excess 
     monies of the Trust in public debt securities which shall 
     bear interest at rates determined by the Secretary of the 
     Treasury taking into consideration the current average market 
     yield on outstanding marketable obligations of the United 
     States of comparable maturity.
       (f) Suits.--The Trust may sue and be sued in its own name 
     to the same extent as the Federal Government. Litigation 
     arising out of the activities of the Trust shall be conducted 
     by the Attorney General; except that the Trust may retain 
     private attorneys to provide advice and counsel. The District 
     Court for the Western District of Oklahoma shall have 
     exclusive jurisdiction over any suit filed against the Trust.
       (g) Bylaws, Rules and Regulations.--The Trust may adopt, 
     amend, repeal, and enforce bylaws, rules and regulations 
     governing the manner in which its business may be conducted 
     and the powers vested in it may be exercised. The Trust is 
     authorized, in consultation with the Secretary, to adopt and 
     to enforce those rules and regulations that are applicable to 
     the operation of the National Park System and that may be 
     necessary and appropriate to carry out its duties and 
     responsibilities under this Act. The Trust shall give notice 
     of the adoption of such rules and regulations by publication 
     in the Federal Register.
       (h) Insurance.--The Trust shall require that all 
     leaseholders and contractors procure proper insurance against 
     any loss in connection with properties under lease or 
     contract, or the authorized activities granted in such lease 
     or contract, as is reasonable and customary.

     SEC. 7. LIMITATIONS ON FUNDING.

       (a) Authorization of Appropriations.--
       (1) In general.--In furtherance of the purposes of this 
     Act, there is hereby authorized the sum of $5,000,000, to 
     remain available until expended.
       (2) Matching requirement.--Amounts appropriated in any 
     fiscal year to carry out the provisions of this Act may only 
     be expended on a matching basis in a ratio of at least one 
     non-Federal dollar to every Federal Dollar. For the purposes 
     of this provision, each non-Federal dollar donated to the 
     Trust or to the Oklahoma City Memorial Foundation for the 
     creation, maintenance, or operation of the Memorial shall 
     satisfy the matching dollar requirement without regard to the 
     fiscal year in which such donation is made.

     SEC. 8. ALFRED P. MURRAH FEDERAL BUILDING.

       (a) Prior to the construction of the Memorial the 
     Administrator of General Services shall, among other actions, 
     exchange, sell, lease, donate, or otherwise dispose of the 
     site of the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building, or a portion 
     thereof, to the Trust. Any such disposal shall not be subject 
     to--
       (1) the Public Buildings Act of 1959 (40 U.S.C. 601 et 
     seq.);
       (2) the Federal Property and Administrative Services Act of 
     1949 (40 U.S.C. et seq.); or
       (3) any other Federal law establishing requirements or 
     procedures for the disposal of Federal property.

     SEC. 9. GENERAL ACCOUNTING OFFICE STUDY.

       (a) Six years after the first meeting of the Board of 
     Directors of the Trust, the General Accounting Office shall 
     conduct an interim study of the activities of the Trust and 
     shall report the results of the study to the Committee on 
     Energy and Natural Resources and the Committee on 
     Appropriations of the United States Senate, and the Committee 
     on Resources and Committee on Appropriations of the House of 
     Representatives. The study shall include, but shall not be 
     limited to, details of how the Trust is meeting its 
     obligations under this Act.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from 
Utah [Mr. Hansen] and the gentleman from Guam [Mr. Underwood] each will 
control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Utah [Mr. Hansen].
  Mr. HANSEN. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, H.R. 1849 was introduced on June 10, 1997, by the 
gentleman from Oklahoma [Mr. Lucas]. The purpose of the bill is to 
establish the Oklahoma City National Memorial as a unit of the National 
Park System, to designate the Oklahoma City Memorial Trust, and for 
other purposes.
  H.R. 1849 focuses on the terrorist bombing at the Alfred P. Murrah 
Federal Building in Oklahoma City, OK, on April 19, 1995. The purposes 
and findings refer to the death of 168 men, women, and children, the 
heroic rescue efforts that followed in the aftermath, and the national 
and international impact of this event.
  H.R. 1849 establishes the Oklahoma City National Memorial as a unit 
of the National Park System. The concept is to have an interactive 
learning museum, an institute dedicated to the prevention of terrorism 
and violence, and, finally, a landscape memorial consisting of the 
formal Federal building site and surrounding area.
  H.R. 1849 designates a wholly-owned governmental corporation, the 
Oklahoma City Memorial Trust, to design, construct, interpret, operate, 
and maintain the memorial under a cooperative agreement with the 
National Park Service. The Trust will raise $14 million or more from 
donations to carry out the provisions of this bill. The bill requires 
that expenditures will be on a matching basis in a ratio of at least 
one non-Federal dollar for each Federal dollar.
  Mr. Speaker, the gentleman from Oklahoma [Mr. Lucas] should be 
commended for the introduction of H.R. 1849. This is truly a unique 
approach to the establishment of a unit of the National Park Service. 
This is an extremely innovative initiative from citizens to local 
government, to the State

[[Page H7644]]

government, and, finally, to the Federal Government, forming a 
partnership that is coordinated with the private sector and citizen 
involvement. This broad-based local and State approach to addressing 
the national issue is what we in Congress should have been talking 
about for years. The citizens of Oklahoma have presented a truly world 
class memorial to the Congress to support.
  Mr. Speaker, I encourage all my colleagues to support this worthy 
legislation.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. UNDERWOOD. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may 
consume.
  (Mr. UNDERWOOD asked and was given permission to revise and extend 
his remarks.)
  Mr. UNDERWOOD. Mr. Speaker, along with the rest of the world, I stood 
in shock and silence on April 19, 1995, as I watched the TV news 
accounts of the bombing of the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building in 
Oklahoma City.
  My thoughts went immediately to the people who worked inside the 
building. I wanted to believe that maybe the building was empty or 
maybe the children in the daycare center were at a city park far away. 
But seeing the destruction, I knew of the carnage that would be. The 
building was filled with people, and 168 innocent victims lost their 
lives.
  Then, just as we were trying to grasp the tragedy before us, we were 
forced to face the realization that this horrendous act was carried out 
by an American and the victims selected solely because they worked for 
the Federal Government.
  Mr. Speaker, my thoughts were then and continue to be with the 
families and friends of those killed or wounded in the blast. To lose a 
loved one under any circumstances is painful, but to have it happen 
through such a random and cowardly act must be almost unbearable. It 
is, therefore, extremely appropriate that a memorial be established at 
the scene of the attack and supported by the Federal Government.
  I agree with the recommended themes developed by the Memorial Task 
Force, which spent a year talking and listening to people about a 
fitting memorial site. As recommended, this site should be a place of 
remembrance of both victims and survivors as individuals.
  It should bring peace to the visitor, along with spirituality and 
hope. The cherished children need their own place within the memorial 
designed for their size and their ability to learn. Further, the 
memorial should be a comfort to any visitor, and provide recognition 
for all those who responded to help those in need.
  Finally, the memorial needs to be a place of learning for all those 
who visit, so the tragedy is never to be forgotten.
  This legislation establishes the Oklahoma City National Memorial as a 
unit of the National Park System. The memorial will be managed by the 
Oklahoma City National Memorial Trust through a cooperative agreement 
with the National Park Service. Working together, I am sure the Trust 
and the National Park Service will provide a fitting memorial to a 
tragic day in American history.
  I ask all Members to support this legislation.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. HANSEN. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the 
distinguished gentleman from Oklahoma [Mr. Lucas], the sponsor of this 
legislation.
  Mr. LUCAS of Oklahoma. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of S. 
871, the Oklahoma City National Memorial Act of 1997. I am a sponsor of 
the companion language, H.R. 1849, which was reported out of the 
Committee on Resources by unanimous vote on Wednesday, September 17. An 
amendment in the nature of a substitute was offered by the gentleman 
from Colorado [Mr. Hefley]. The language in the substitute amendment 
was agreed upon by all parties involved.
  Mr. Speaker, I commend Chairman Hansen's Subcommittee on National 
Parks and Public Lands and their staff for their hard work they have 
done on this legislation.
  I would also like to thank the gentleman from Alaska, Chairman Young, 
and the ranking member, the gentleman from California, Mr. Miller, of 
the Committee on Resources for their support and efforts to move this 
legislation as expeditiously as is possible.
  This historic legislation is a huge step in the healing process for 
the people of my State and the entire Nation. When a massive bomb 
exploded in front of the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building on April 19, 
1995, it shook Oklahoma City's foundations and shocked the Nation. Few 
events in history have rocked America's perception of themselves and 
their institutions and brought together the people of our great Nation 
with the intensity equal to this devastating crime.

                              {time}  1715

  Although those losses and struggles are personal, they resulted from 
a public attack and are shared by my heartland community, the Nation, 
and the world.
  One of my district offices is less than a block and a half away from 
that ill-fated building. When I saw the damage to my office, so near to 
ground zero, the disbelief that I shared with my staff will never be 
forgotten.
  As my colleagues can well imagine, there is no legislative road map 
to follow in the wake of this tragic event. It is both gratifying and a 
bit disheartening to realize that much of my legislative agenda in my 
short career in the House has been shaped by such an evil act.
  Over the past years, I have had the privilege and opportunity to help 
ease the burden on Oklahoma City that it has borne as a result of this 
devastating tragedy, and this is what brings me here today. Given the 
national and international impact and reaction, the Federal character 
of the site of the bombing and the significant percentage of victims 
and survivors who were Federal employees, a national memorial 
designation is highly appropriate. This legislation heralds the spirit, 
determination and hopes of Oklahomans and all Americans who have 
persevered in the wake of such a tragic event.
  This memorial will be established, designed, managed, and maintained 
to educate present and future generations. Through a comprehensive 
cooperative agreement, the Oklahoma City Memorial Trust will work 
together efficiently and respectfully with the National Park Service in 
developing a national memorial relating to all aspects of the April 19, 
1995 bombing. Mr. Speaker, I wholeheartedly believe this memorial 
deserves to be designated a national memorial.
  So as to not further burden the Federal Government and the National 
Park Service, this legislation is unique in its approach toward 
establishing a unit of the National Park System. The memorial will be a 
local, State and Federal Government partnership, with coordination with 
private sector and public donations. It will consist of three distinct 
components: an interactive learning museum, an institute dedicated to 
the prevention of crime and violence, and a remembrance component. The 
memorial's remembrance component design was unanimously chosen through 
an extensive international design competition, which drew entries from 
all 50 States and 23 countries.
  The love and respect Oklahoma City has received since being thrust 
into the national spotlight was most evident in the vast participation 
and outpouring during the international design competition. The winning 
design will be a fabulous beacon drawing mankind to a site that will 
remind us of our Nation's greatness. This Nation, as has been proven 
many times in the past, will not be defeated by forces that seek to 
divide us. On August 13, President Clinton put his seal of support on 
this memorial and embraced the design in a Rose Garden ceremony.
  S. 871 provides for establishment of a unit of the National Park 
Service and authorizes a wholly-owned government corporation, the 
Oklahoma City National Memorial Trust. As the entity responsible, 
through a cooperative agreement with the Park Service for the 
administration, operation, maintenance, management and interpretation 
of the site, the cooperative agreement, as provided by this 
legislation, states that the Secretary of the Interior will provide 
technical assistance for planning, preservation, maintenance, curator 
management and the interpretation

[[Page H7645]]

of the site as mutually agreed to with the Trust.
  What has been most gratifying to me during this process is the good 
character of Oklahomans that continue to be on display in their asking 
the Federal Government for financial assistance for this meaningful 
project. The memorial trust is refusing to accept a dollar of Federal 
funding unless it is matched dollar for dollar by private donations.
  Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this worthwhile 
legislation.
  Mr. UNDERWOOD. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to 
the gentleman from Minnesota [Mr. Vento].
  Mr. VENTO. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of the measure, and I want 
to commend my colleagues from Oklahoma who have worked on this, as well 
as the staff from the Committee on Resources and the gentleman from 
Utah [Mr. Hansen], the chairman of the subcommittee; and the gentleman 
from Alaska [Mr. Young], chairman of the full committee; and others 
that were interested and instrumental in bringing this bill forward.
  It is an unusual designation of a national park site in this 
legislation in that the principal responsibilities will reside with the 
local community and the State of Oklahoma. There is, as my colleagues 
are well aware, a great enthusiasm for our National Park System, and 
many would like to have the park arrow or the bison added to their 
brochures or to their materials in terms of indicating that they are 
associated with the National Park System, and that is as it should be. 
Candidly, when we add a Park Service designation or designate a 
national park unit, such as we are doing in this legislation today, 
with it I think inherently is the understanding that the 
responsibilities to protect that resource and to interpret it properly 
have to also meet those national standards.
  This legislation attempts to do that in an unusual way. First of all, 
it references the 1916 Organic Act and prescribes that as a program to 
be followed by the entity that is managing this resource, plus the 1935 
Historic Preservation Act.
  Furthermore, of course, on page 12 of the legislation, as we passed 
it out of committee and as I know has been changed, the Senate measure 
has been changed, we provide for mutual consent in the implementation 
of a cooperative agreement which must be addressed by the Department of 
the Interior and by the Park Service, that that cooperative agreement 
would deal with most of the specifics. The Secretary shall provide such 
technical assistance, but then must mutually agree to most of the 
precepts in this legislation. Hopefully, this model will accomplish the 
goals of making certain that our national parks have consistent 
standards, that they are consistently maintained, in fact, when we have 
the designation that it achieves the objective.
  This, I think, will bear close scrutiny. I do not suspect that there 
are problems with this, but there is the potential for issues to arise 
and misunderstandings to occur with regards to this. So I will be 
closely watching this, as I am certain will the Members of Congress, to 
see that this is executed properly and that it does attain those high 
standards.
  People around the world, frankly, have come to expect a certain 
degree of excellence from our National Park Service, a system and an 
organization, I think, which most of us are very proud of, and we hope 
that this model, these amendments that were added to it, after some 
discussion in the House, will accomplish the objective of keeping that 
quality intact in this particular park unit and across the 375 units 
that comprise the National Park System today.
  Mr. UNDERWOOD. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. HANSEN. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the 
gentleman from Oklahoma [Mr. Istook].
  Mr. ISTOOK. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of this legislation 
regarding the Oklahoma City memorial. I commend my friend, the 
gentleman from Oklahoma [Mr. Lucas], for shepherding this through the 
legislative process, as, of course, in the Senate, Senator Nickles has 
done likewise.
  Mr. Speaker, I think this is a unique arrangement for this particular 
memorial because of the unique manner in which things occurred in 
Oklahoma City. The Federal money to be expended on this memorial 
ultimately will be outweighed by four to five times as much additional 
money that will come from other sources, from private sources, perhaps 
someone from State and local government sources as well. So even though 
it will be a national memorial, actually, the Federal Government will 
only bear one-fourth or one-fifth of the cost.
  Mr. Speaker, that is the way that it should be, because the terrorist 
act in Oklahoma City, taking the lives of 168 persons, was not just 
something that influenced Oklahoma. We all know about the people who 
came to Oklahoma City as rescue workers to assist, and we know that the 
assistance in building this memorial will come from places around the 
country, too. But more than anything else, just like the participation 
in the rescue efforts, just as the outreach to the rescue workers, to 
make them know how appreciated they were, came from Oklahomans, so too 
most of the resources for this memorial will come from Oklahomans. It 
will be a memorial that is designed by people acting under the 
community's guidance, under the guidance of the people who are 
survivors, under the guidance of those who had loved ones and family 
members who were killed or severely injured or otherwise impacted in 
the explosion at the Murrah Building.
  People came from across the country, and the donations for this will 
come from businesses, from individuals, from housewives, from school 
children, from family and friends, and it is going to remind me, Mr. 
Speaker, of the phenomena that we saw. There are a lot of people who 
were doing rescue work in Oklahoma, and they would take a dollar bill 
out of their pocket and they would say, that is an Oklahoma dollar, 
because when I was with one of the rescue teams that came to Oklahoma, 
they would say, I tried when I had time away to buy a meal or to pay 
for something, but as soon as somebody knew that I had come to help, 
they would not let me spend my money. Everything was given to me, was 
provided, by the good people of this State, and that is the same spirit 
in which this memorial is being created.
  Now, to some, they say, well, this ought to be like any other 
national monument. After all, these people were Federal workers that 
were killed; it was a Federal building that was bombed, and that was 
the reason that it was singled out by terrorists as a target. Mr. 
Speaker, to some people, perhaps, they were just Federal workers, they 
were people that worked with Social Security or General Services or the 
Secret Service, but to folks in Oklahoma City, these are the neighbors 
who coached the Little League teams and the soccer teams; they are the 
ones who drove the carpools, who attended the parent-teacher 
conferences, who taught Sunday school, who we saw when we bought 
gasoline and groceries, who played the piano, and ordered pizza, and 
sang in choirs and took their kids to the zoo. They were not just 
Federal workers, they were Mom and Dad, and children and grandparents, 
and friends and neighbors.
  I believe that this memorial is in the highest example and the 
highest manner of personal involvement, because Oklahoma has taken the 
lead in this. Despite the Federal contribution, most of the effort will 
come from the people who saw the victims not as Federal workers, but as 
friends and neighbors and family and want to be responsible for taking 
care of our own. For in Oklahoma, Mr. Speaker, we do believe, and we 
will always believe, that we are our brother's keeper.
  I certainly urge adoption of this act, and I appreciate the support 
of my colleagues
  Mr. UNDERWOOD. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as she may consume to 
the gentlewoman from Texas [Ms. Jackson-Lee].
  (Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas asked and was given permission to revise 
and extend her remarks.)
  Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I do want to acknowledge the 
good work of the gentleman from Oklahoma [Mr. Lucas]. I rose to the 
floor in particular because we are neighbors, and I am very proud to 
say that many Houstonians, including the Houston

[[Page H7646]]

Fire Department, joined the people of Oklahoma and Oklahoma City.
  I certainly thank the subcommittee chair and ranking member, but I do 
want to focus on the gentleman from Oklahoma [Mr. Lucas] and his 
district, because I want it to be mentioned, although there are some 
technical nuances that have brought this particular legislation to the 
floor, I will step aside from that as I am not a member of the 
committee.

                              {time}  1730

  I rise to state that this monument is a recognition of the heroism of 
Oklahomans and Oklahoma City residents. They are American heroes. I 
think this should be the point of this monument and this park, as we on 
the floor of the House are acknowledging that the death of the 168 and 
those that were maimed and injured was in fact in support of the 
freedom of this Nation. They died because this nation is a free Nation, 
and we should never forget the sacrifice that was made by them. I 
wanted to acknowledge and commend this effort and this acknowledgment 
of this sacrifice.
  Mr. Speaker, let me also acknowledge that I did not arrive on the 
floor in time to support the naming of the former U.S. Federal Building 
in New York for Ronald H. Brown, and I do want to enthusiastically 
support that particular legislation for the great American, Mr. Brown.
  In conclusion, sometimes the naming of buildings are taken lightly. 
These monuments are sometimes taken lightly. I hope the American people 
understand that in many instances we rise to commemorate great 
Americans, great heroes, and great members of our Nation that 
sacrificed their lives so we might live in freedom.
  I rise in tribute to the citizens of Oklahoma and in tribute to Ron 
H. Brown.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of H.R. 29 which would 
redesignate a U.S. Federal building in New York, in the name of Ronald 
H. Brown. Ronald H. ``Ron'' Brown, former chairman of the Democratic 
National Committee during the 1992 Presidential election and Secretary 
of Commerce in the first Clinton administration, was a man who served 
his country and its people above and beyond the call of duty. His 
performance in every area of his public life maintained and sustained a 
standard of excellence surpassed by few.
  In particular, Mr. Brown was a gift to the African-American 
community. As the first African-American Secretary of Commerce, Mr. 
Brown remains a symbol of what we can all achieve when we strive to be 
the very best. While growing up in Harlem as a boy, often at his 
family's business, the famed Hotel Theresa, young Ron regularly 
interacted with the cutting edge leaders in the African-American 
community. From these experiences he learned the subtle nuances of 
leadership and sought to apply them in both his professional and 
political careers.
  As a trained and practicing attorney, Mr. Brown regularly 
distinguished himself as more than simply competent, but exceptional. 
It was this drive and natural ability that propelled Ron to the Chair 
of the Democratic National Committee, and through his brilliant 
tactical leadership helped to put our current President in office. 
President Clinton, in return, rewarded the brilliant mind which had 
helped to make the White House a reality for him, by appointing Ron 
Brown to be the Secretary of Commerce. For 3\1/2\ years, Ron Brown 
pushed a new and exciting international commercial agenda to benefit 
parties both home and abroad until his tragic airplane accident in 
April 1996 near Bosnia. Secretary Brown lost his life in the service of 
his country, and for that, he stands as a hero for millions of 
Americans.
  Athough the loss to his family and loved ones can never be replaced, 
the least we can do, as a body, as a nation, is to show our eternal 
gratitude. So by the rededication of this Federal building, we remember 
and honor his life, his loss, and his legacy; on these grounds, I 
implore the whole House to vote in favor of H.R. 29.
  Mr. WATTS of Oklahoma. Mr. Speaker, I want to thank Congressman Lucas 
for introducing the Oklahoma City National Memorial Act of 1997. I 
applaud Congressman Lucas's efforts in realizing the importance of this 
legislation to all the people of Oklahoma.
  April 19, 1995 was a terrible day for the State of Oklahoma. The 
whole world witnessed what minutes before seemed like an unthinkable 
act of terrorism. We, as a state and a country, pulled together as one 
to help all of those in need. Everyone was awed by the outpouring of 
love and generosity during this time of tragedy in our State.
  A national memorial for the victims of the Oklahoma City bombing will 
help continue the healing process in Oklahoma. This will serve as a 
central place where all people, who were either victimized or lost a 
family member or friend, can go to remember not only the day of the 
tragedy but also the love and support offered by the people of this 
great Nation.
  We must not forget the horrific actions that occurred on the morning 
of April 19th, 1995. This memorial will allow us to reflect on that day 
and all those who were affected by this tragedy. It will serve as a 
memorial of hope, showing future generations of Americans how we as 
country came together during a time of unimaginable tragedy.
  Thank you again Congressman Lucas for introducing this bill. All of 
Oklahoma thanks you for your efforts in the passage of this 
legislation.
  Mr. UNDERWOOD. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. HANSEN. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Gutknecht). The question is on the 
motion offered by the gentleman from Utah [Mr. Hansen] that the House 
suspend the rules and pass the Senate bill, S. 871, as amended.
  The question was taken.
  Mr. CONDIT. Mr. Speaker, I object to the vote on the ground that a 
quorum is not present and make the point of order that a quorum is not 
present.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to clause 5 of rule 1 and the 
Chair's prior announcement, further proceedings on this motion will be 
postponed.
  The point of no quorum is considered withdrawn.

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