[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 72 (Friday, June 5, 1998)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1040]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




            SIGNS DESIGNATING RONALD REAGAN NATIONAL AIRPORT

                                 ______
                                 

                             HON. DON YOUNG

                               of alaska

                    in the house of representatives

                          Friday, June 5, 1998

  Mr. YOUNG of Alaska. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to introduce a simple 
bill--a bill to protect the good name of one of America's greatest 
Presidents, Ronald Reagan.
  On February 4 of this year, Mr. Speaker, this body and the other body 
both overwhelmingly passed legislation renaming National Airport after 
Ronald Reagan. President Clinton signed the bill into law on February 
6, President Reagan's 87th birthday.
  Nevertheless, the National Park Service has announced that it intends 
to thumb its nose at the will of Congress and the President by erecting 
signs on the George Washington Memorial Parkway that omit President 
Reagan's name.
  This bill prohibits such a move, and requires new signs that use the 
correct name of the airport. And, if the Park Service decides to go 
ahead with its plan to thwart the will of Congress, then we will 
require the signs to be replaced, with the funds coming out of the 
budget of the director of the National Park Service.
  Ronald Reagan is an American hero. Mr. Speaker, the Park Service must 
not be allowed to rob him of any part of his tremendous legacy.
  Mr. Speaker, I insert a copy of the bill for the Record:

                                H.R. --

       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 ``Ronald Reagan National 
     Airport Preservation and Protection Act of 1998''.

     SEC. 2. FINDINGS.

       The Congress finds that--
       (a) Ronald Reagan is an American hero deserving of 
     recognition;
       (b) the will of the Congress to honor President Reagan was 
     clearly expressed when both Houses overwhelmingly passed 
     legislation changing the name of ``Washington National 
     Airport'' to ``Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport'' on 
     February 4, 1998;
       (c) the will of President Clinton to honor President Reagan 
     was clearly expressed when he signed such legislation into 
     law on February 6, 1998, the 87th birthday of President 
     Reagan;
       (d) notwithstanding the fact that the will of the Congress 
     and the President had been clearly expressed through passage 
     of such legislation and signing such legislation into law, 
     the National Park Service (NPS) has recently announced that 
     it intends to erect new signs on the George Washington 
     Memorial Parkway directing motorists to Ronald Reagan 
     National Airport that omit Ronald Reagan's name.

     SEC. 3. PROHIBITION OF SIGNS OMITTING RONALD REAGAN'S NAME.

       (a) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the 
     Director of the National Park Service--
       (1) shall not erect any new signs on, near, or adjacent to 
     the George Washington Memorial Parkway in Northern Virginia, 
     Maryland, the District of Columbia, or elsewhere, displaying 
     the name ``National Airport'', but omitting the name ``Ronald 
     Reagan.''.
       (2) shall, on or before August 5, 1998, replace all signs 
     on, near, or adjacent to the George Washington Memorial 
     Parkway in Northern Virginia, Maryland, the District of 
     Columbia, or elsewhere, displaying the name ``National 
     Airport'' with signs prominently displaying the name ``Ronald 
     Reagan National Airport.''
       (3) shall fund the replacement pursuant to subsection (2) 
     of any signs that had been erected after February 4, 1998, 
     entirely out of the budget of the Director of the National 
     Park Service.

     

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