Congressional Record, Volume 144 Issue 142 (Saturday, October 10, 1998)

[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 142 (Saturday, October 10, 1998)]
[House]
[Pages H10413-H10416]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

WEIR FARM NATIONAL HISTORIC SITE, CONNECTICUT

Mr. HANSEN. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee
on Resources be discharged from further consideration of the Senate
bill (S. 1718) to amend the Weir Farm National Historic Site
Establishment Act of 1990 to authorize the acquisition of additional
acreage for the historic site to permit the development of visitor and
administrative facilities and to authorize the appropriation of
additional amounts from the acquisition of real and personal property,
and ask for its immediate consideration in the House.
The Clerk read the title of the Senate bill.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the
gentleman from Utah?
There was no objection.
The Clerk read the Senate bill, as follows:

S. 1718

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

SECTION 1. WEIR FARM NATIONAL HISTORIC SITE, CONNECTICUT.

(a) Acquisition of Land for Visitor and Administrative
Facilities.--Section 4 of the Weir Farm National Historic
Site Establishment Act of 1990 (16 U.S.C. 461 note; Public
Law 101-485; 104 Stat. 1171) is amended by adding at the end
the following:
``(d) Acquisition of Land for Visitor and Administrative
Facilities; Limitations.--
``(1) Acquisition.--
``(A) In general.--To preserve and maintain the historic
setting and character of the historic site, the Secretary may
acquire not more than 15 additional acres for the development
of visitor and administrative facilities for the historic
site.
``(B) Proximity.--The property acquired under this
subsection shall be contiguous to or in close proximity to
the property described in subsection (b).
``(C) Management.--The acquired property shall be included
within the boundary of the historic site and shall be managed
and maintained as part of the historic site.
``(2) Development.--The Secretary shall keep development of
the property acquired under paragraph (1) to a minimum so
that the character of the acquired property will be similar
to the natural and undeveloped landscape of the property
described in subsection (b).
``(3) Agreements.--Prior to and as a prerequisite to any
development of visitor and administrative facilities on the
property acquired under paragraph (1), the Secretary shall
enter into 1 or more agreements with the appropriate zoning
authority of the town of Ridgefield, Connecticut, and the
town of Wilton, Connecticut, for the purposes of--
``(A) developing the parking, visitor, and administrative
facilities for the historic site; and
``(B) managing bus traffic to the historic site and
limiting parking for large tour buses to an offsite
location.''.
(b) Increase in Maximum Acquisition Authority.--Section 7
of the Weir Farm National Historic Site Act of 1990 (16
U.S.C. 461 note; Public Law 101-485; 104 Stat. 1173) is
amended by striking ``$1,500,000'' and inserting
``$4,000,000''.

Amendment in the Nature of a Substitute Offered by Mr. Hansen

Mr. HANSEN. Mr. Speaker, I offer an amendment in the nature of a
substitute.
The Clerk read as follows:

Amendment in the nature of a substitute offered by Mr.
Hansen:
Strike out all after the enacting clause and insert the
following:

SECTION 1. WEIR FARM NATIONAL HISTORIC SITE, CONNECTICUT.

[[Page H10414]]

``(2) Development.--The Secretary shall keep development of
the property acquired under paragraph (1) to a minimum so
that the character of the acquired property will be similar
to the natural and undeveloped landscape of the property
described in subsection (b).
``(3) Agreements.--Prior to and as a prerequisite to any
development of visitor and administrative facilities on the
property acquired under paragraph (1), the Secretary shall
enter into 1 or more agreements with the appropriate zoning
authority of the town of Ridgefield, Connecticut, and the
town of Wilton, Connecticut, for the purposes of--
``(A) developing the parking, visitor, and administrative
facilities for the historic site; and
``(B) managing bus traffic to the historic site and
limiting parking for large tour buses to an offsite
location.''.
(b) Increase in Maximum Acquisition Authority.--Section 7
of the Weir Farm National Historic Site Act of 1990 (16
U.S.C. 461 note; Public Law 101-485; 104 Stat. 1173) is
amended by striking ``$1,500,000'' and inserting
``$4,000,000''.

SEC. 2. ACQUISITION AND MANAGEMENT OF WILCOX RANCH, UTAH, FOR
WILDLIFE HABITAT.

(a) Findings.--Congress finds the following:
(1) The lands within the Wilcox Ranch in eastern Utah are
prime habitat for wild turkeys, eagles, hawks, bears,
cougars, elk, deer, bighorn sheep, and many other important
species, and Range Creek within the Wilcox Ranch could become
a blue ribbon trout stream.
(2) These lands also contain a great deal of undisturbed
cultural and archeological resources, including ancient
pottery, arrowheads, and rock homes constructed centuries
ago.
(3) These lands, while comprising only approximately 3,800
acres, control access to over 75,000 acres of Federal lands
under the jurisdiction of the Bureau of Land Management.
(4) Acquisition of the Wilcox Ranch would benefit the
people of the United States by preserving and enhancing
important wildlife habitat, ensuring access to lands of the
Bureau of Land Management, and protecting priceless
archeological and cultural resources.
(5) These lands, if acquired by the United States, can be
managed by the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources at no
additional expense to the Federal Government.
(b) Acquisition of Lands.--As soon as practicable, after
the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of the
Interior shall acquire, through purchase, the Wilcox Ranch
located in Emery County, in eastern Utah.
(c) Funds for Purchase.--The Secretary of the Interior is
authorized to use not more than $5,000,000 from the land and
water conservation fund established under section 2 of the
Land and Water Conservation Fund Act of 1965 (16 U.S.C. 460l-
5) for the purchase of the Wilcox Ranch under subsection (b).
(d) Management of Lands.--Upon payment by the State of Utah
of one-half of the purchase price of the Wilcox Ranch to the
United States, or transfer by the State of Utah of lands of
the same such value to the United States, the Secretary of
the Interior shall transfer to the State of Utah all right,
title, and interest of the United States in and to those
Wilcox Ranch lands acquired under subsection (b) for
management by the State Division of Wildlife Resources for
wildlife habitat and public access.

SEC. 3. LAND CONVEYANCE, YAVAPAI COUNTY, ARIZONA.

(a) Conveyance Required.--Notwithstanding any other
provision of law, the Secretary of the Interior shall convey,
without consideration and for educational related purposes,
to Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, Florida, a nonprofit
corporation authorized to do business in the State of
Arizona, all right, title, and interest of the United States,
if any, to a parcel of real property consisting of
approximately 16 acres in Yavapai County, Arizona, which is
more fully described as the parcel lying east of the east
right-of-way boundary of the Willow Creek Road in the
southwest one-quarter of the southwest one-quarter (SW\1/
4\SW\1/4\) of section 2, township 14 north, range 2 west,
Gila and Salt River meridian.
(b) Terms of Conveyance.--Subject to the limitation that
the land to be conveyed is to be used only for educational
related purposes, the conveyance under subsection (a) is to
be made without any other conditions, limitations,
reservations, restrictions, or terms by the United States. If
the Secretary of the Interior determines that the conveyed
lands are not being used for educational related purposes, at
the option of the United States, the lands shall revert to
the United States.

SEC. 4. LAND EXCHANGE, EL PORTAL ADMINISTRATIVE SITE,
CALIFORNIA.

(a) Authorization of Exchange.--If the non-Federal lands
described in subsection (b) are conveyed to the United States
in accordance with this section, the Secretary of the
Interior shall convey to the party conveying the non-Federal
lands all right, title, and interest of the United States in
and to a parcel of land consisting of approximately 8 acres
administered by the Department of Interior as part of the El
Portal Administrative Site in the State of California, as
generally depicted on the map entitled ``El Portal
Administrative Site Land Exchange'', dated June 1998.
(b) Receipt of Non-Federal Lands.--The parcel of non-
Federal lands referred to in subsection (a) consists of
approximately 8 acres, known as the Yosemite View parcel,
which is located adjacent to the El Portal Administrative
Site, as generally depicted on the map referred to in
subsection (a). Title to the non-Federal lands must be
acceptable to the Secretary of the Interior, and the
conveyance shall be subject to such valid existing rights of
record as may be acceptable to the Secretary. The parcel
shall conform with the title approval standards applicable to
Federal land acquisitions.
(c) Equalization of Values.--If the value of the Federal
land and non-Federal lands to be exchanged under this section
are not equal in value, the difference in value shall be
equalized through a cash payment or the provision of goods or
services as agreed upon by the Secretary and the party
conveying the non-Federal lands.
(d) Applicability of Other Laws.--Except as otherwise
provided in this section, the Secretary of the Interior shall
process the land exchange authorized by this section in the
manner provided in part 2200 of title 43, Code of Federal
Regulations, as in effect on the date of the enactment of
this subtitle.
(e) Boundary Adjustment.--Upon completion of the land
exchange, the Secretary shall adjust the boundaries of the El
Portal Administrative Site as necessary to reflect the
exchange. Lands acquired by the Secretary under this section
shall be administered as part of the El Portal Administrative
Site.
(f) Map.--The map referred to in subsection (a) shall be on
file and available for inspection in appropriate offices of
the Department of the Interior.
(g) Additional Terms and Conditions.--The Secretary of the
Interior may require such additional terms and conditions in
connection with the land exchange under this section as the
Secretary considers appropriate to protect the interests of
the United States.

Mr. MALONEY of Connecticut. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to urge passage
of S. 1718, companion legislation to H.R. 3383, of which I am the
author. I would like to thank Mr. Hansen and Mr. Faleomavaega, as well
as Mr. Miller and Mr. Young, for their efforts on behalf of this
important legislation. I would also like to commend Rick Healy and
Allen Freemeyer of the House Resources Committee staff for their hard
work.
Weir Farm is a cultural treasure that commemorates and preserves the
homestead of American Impressionist painter J. Alden Weir. Weir is
widely recognized as one of the leaders of the American Impressionist
movement. The Weir Farm National Historic Site is Connecticut's only
national park. The grounds of Weir Farm were the primary subject of
Weir's work, and the preservation of this environment is vital not only
to Connecticut's tourist economy, but also to preserving the unique
artistic heritage of America. Under this bill, the National Park
Service is authorized to acquire 13 additional acres of land adjacent
to the existing Weir Farm site. In addition, it authorizes the
construction of a visitors center and a gallery for the display of
American Art.
In 1990, under the leadership of Sens. Lieberman and Dodd, Congress
made Weir Farm part of the National Park System and the first site to
honor an American painter. This legislation (P.L. 101-485) authorized
the Park Service to acquire 62 acres of the original Weir property
along with several of the buildings that Weir lived and worked in, as
well as many of the original furnishings. Those visitors who make their
way to Weir Farm each year can tour the studio where Weir and his
successors toiled, and the classic New England barn that caught the eye
of many visiting artists that was rehabilitated with a generous
appropriation from Congress. Unfortunately, these visitors cannot view
the wonderful collection of Impressionist works are in the process of
being acquired through private donations. The historic buildings are
ill-equipped to accommodate even a limited visitor center, let alone a
museum-quality gallery. The legislation before us today will also help
the park fulfill another critical part of its mission, which is to
reunite Weir Farm's historic landscape with the rich array of art it
inspired.
One of the most important provisions in this legislation is an
agreement that has already been approved by town officials of
Ridgefield, Connecticut and the National Park Service that limits what
the Park Service may or may not do in developing the site. Credit
should be given to town officials in Ridgefield and to the National
Park Service, especially Park Superintendent Sarah Olson, for their
tireless commitment to making this Weir Farm expansion a reality. The
agreement will limit the number of parking spaces, prohibit the sale of
food and beverages on the site, and control traffic in the area. It
also requires the Park Service to proceed through the usual Planning
and Zoning Commission process for review of the proposed improvements.
This legislation is a tremendous step toward enhancing visitors'
enjoyment of Connecticut's only National Park, and I am very
appreciative of the work that Senators Dodd and Lieberman have done on
it in the Senate. This bill represents a balanced approach to the

[[Page H10415]]

proposed expansion that is acceptable to not only the Park Service, but
more important, to the residents in the Ridgefield-Wilton, Connecticut
area.
I am proud to have worked for the passage of this important
legislation, and I would urge support for S. 1718.
Mrs. KENNELLY of Connecticut. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support
of this bill introduced by my colleagues from Connecticut Senator Joe
Lieberman, Senator Christopher Dodd, and Congressman Jim Maloney.
The Weir Farm National Historic Site was added to the National Park
System by Congress in 1990. This beautiful area in Connecticut was the
home of painter J. Alden Weir, a leader of the Impressionist movement
in American art during the last century. Like Monet's Giverney, this
picturesque and genuinely American landscape served as the inspiration
behind Weir's paintings and a generation of other American artists who
journeyed to visit the farm during this time.
Today, thousands of visitors still come to Weir Farm to tour the
studio and landscape that fueled the Impressionist movement in the New
World. The site and studio has been wonderfully preserved over the
year's by Weir's family and fellow artists. Congress made this site the
first in the country to honor an American painter, and the State of
Connecticut contributed by purchasing the initial 60 acres of open
space surrounding the homestead.
The legislation we are currently debating will allow one more
addition to this Historic Site. It would allow the Park Service to
purchase 15 additional acres of land adjacent to Weir Farm to construct
a Visitors Center to hold park information and display many of the
wonderful paintings inspired by the area. The Park Service and local
communities have asked for this permission because their facilities,
mostly preserved from the 19th Century, are not adequate to meet this
goal. Also, construction of such a facility on existing land would
tragically impact this open area. The chance to provide our children
and future generations access to these great works of American art in
the setting they were created is an opportunity we cannot let pass by.
I urge my colleagues to support and pass this important legislation.
Mr. MILLER of California. Mr. Speaker, I'm pleased that we are here
today to consider and pass H.R. 4483, the Rosie the Riveter National
Park Service Affiliated Site Study Act of 1998.
The role of women in the U.S. workforce was forever changed during
World War II when women throughout the country took over jobs
previously held by men who went off to war. Millions of women who had
never expected to find themselves working outside the home did just
that in order to support their families and keep the nation's economy
running through the war years. The now infamous slogan of ``We can do
it'' and nicknames such as ``Rosie the Riveter'' and ``Wendy the
Welder'' came to represent these women and the work they did.
This legislation directs the National Park Service to study the
feasibility of giving federal designation to the site of the old Kaiser
shipyards in Richmond, California. Thousands of ``Rosies'' and
``Wendys'' built some 747 Liberty and Victory ships which were
immediately commissioned into the U.S. Navy and sent to fight in the
war from shipyards located in my district.
I have had the honor of meeting and talking with many of the former
shipbuilders and hearing their stories. Their connection with the men
fighting on the ships and their support for the war effort led the
workers to strive for perfection in each task, and gained them the
respect of their employers and all Americans. Realizing the value of
the women workers, many shipyards conducted around the clock day care
centers and schools on site so the mothers could know their children
were well cared for nearby.
The stories of these women is an important part of the history of the
nation, and their sacrifice and effort deserved to be recognized by our
country and preserved for generations to come. The city of Richmond,
California, has established the Rosie the Riveter Park on the site of
the Kaiser shipyards during World War II where so many of the Liberty
ships were constructed. By passing this legislation, Congress honors
these women who did so much to help us win World War II. I urge my
colleagues to join me in passing this important bill.
Mr. DINGELL. Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank Representative Hansen
for bringing this legislation before the House for consideration. I am
deeply grateful for his support and the work he has done on H.R. 3910.
The industrial, cultural, and natural heritage legacies of Michigan's
automobile industry are nationally significant; they have made this a
greater country. In cities across Michigan, such as Detroit, Dearborn,
Flint, Kalamazoo, Lansing, and Saginaw, the automobile was designed and
manufactured and in turn helped establish and expand the United States
as an industrial power. The industrial strength of automobile
manufacturing was vital to defending freedom and democracy in two world
wars and fueled our economic growth in the modern era.
Automobile heritage is more than the assembly lines and engineering
rooms where cars were created and built. Turning a vision into a
reality, the story of the automobile is a tale of hard work and growth.
It is the shared history of millions of Americans who fought, during
the labor movement, for good wages and benefits. This industry shaped
20th Century America like no other; it is the quintessential American
story. It is a story worth celebrating and sharing.
The end product of all this hard work and cooperation, the Automobile
National Heritage Area, creates something special and lasting both for
Michigan and America. Again, I think my colleague from Utah,
Representative Hansen, along with Chairman Don Young. The gentleman
from Utah has done a superb job, and I salute him. I say to my
colleagues from both sides of the aisle, and from all regions of
America, that the Automobile National Heritage Area will enormously
benefit the people of the 16th District in the State of Michigan and
those who work in and are dependent upon the auto industry. This area
is very, very important to us in Michigan in terms of remembering our
history, who we are, and what we have done to build America.
But all these efforts in Washington would not have come about if not
for the years of planning by educators, local officials, and business
leaders to bring together--in one package--a way to preserve this
story. These local, grassroots efforts have been supported by many
organizations in Michigan, including our major automobile
manufacturers, labor organizations, businesses, towns and cities,
chambers of commerce, and elected official from both parties. There are
too many individuals to thank today. But I would like to extend my
gratitude to Ed Bagale of the University of Michigan-Dearborn, Steve
Hamp of the Henry Ford Museum, Sandra Clark of the State of Michigan,
Maud Lyon of the Detroit Historical Museum, Bill Chapin, and Barbara
Nelson-Jameson of the National Parks Service.
I urge my colleagues to support the rich history and tradition of the
automobile. Support this unique American story. Support H.R. 3910.
Mr. RILEY. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to support H.R. 3910.
This bipartisan bill is supported by the leadership on both sides of
the isle, the Resources Committee, the Administration, and the National
Park Service. H.R. 3910 creates two new historic sites that will help
further our nation's celebration of the ``American Experience.''
Of particular interest to me is a provision in the bill to authorize
the establishment of the Tuskegee Airmen National Historic Site at
Moton Field, Alabama. I have been working for over a year to secure
this important tribute to the famed Tuskegee Airmen of World War II.
Mr. Speaker, by any standard, the Tuskegee Airmen were and are
American heroes.
Despite a widespread belief that they, as African-Americans, did not
possess the abilities to be effective war fighters, the famed Tuskegee
Airmen of World War II proved that they were among the best pilots in
the North African, Sicilian, and European Campaigns.
Affectionately known as the ``Red Tails'' (for the red paint on the
tails of their aircraft) by the bomber crews they protected, the pilots
of Tuskegee did not lose a single bomber in their care to enemy
fighters. Because of their heroic service, the Tuskegee Airmen were one
of America's most highly decorated fighter groups of World War II. Upon
returning home, the Tuskegee Airmen had won 150 Distinguished Flying
Crosses, one Legion of Merit, one Silver Star, 14 Bronze Stars, and 744
Air Medals. But the price was high. Of the 450 pilots that saw combat
during World War II, 66 were killed in action and another 32 were taken
prisoners of war.
However, Mr. Speaker, the contributions of the Tuskegee Airmen did
not end with the war. Because of their demonstrated ability as an
effective fighting force and their individual heroism, the Tuskegee
Airmen gave President Harry S. Truman all the proof he needed to
justify his decision in 1948 to desegregate the United States military.
And in the following decades, the Airmen's accomplishments during the
war served as an inspiration for the civil rights movement as a whole.
Last August, I asked the National Park Service to conduct a
feasibility study for developing Moton Field at Tuskegee University,
Alabama, as a National Historic Site. Mr. Speaker, I want to commend
the Park Service for their fine work on this undertaking. It is because
of this study that I decided to introduce H.R. 4211, which is included
in the bill we are considering this today.

[[Page H10416]]

This legislation will allow the National Park Service to tell the
American people the most accurate and comprehensive story of Tuskegee
Airmen--a story about individuals who overcame racism and intolerance
in their own country, so that they could fight oppression and
intolerance by the Axis powers in Europe.
The Tuskegee Airmen National Historic Site will focus on life at
Moton Field and the accomplishments of the Airmen themselves.
Specifically, the park will highlight:
1. The impact of the Tuskegee Airmen during World War II;
2. The training process for the Tuskegee Airmen and the strategic
role that Tuskegee Institute (now Tuskegee University) played in that
training;
3. The African-American struggle for greater participation in the
U.S. military and more significant roles in defending their country;
4. The significance of successes of the Tuskegee Airmen in leading to
desegregation of the U.S. military shortly after World War II; and
5. The impact of Tuskegee Airmen accomplishments on subsequent civil
rights advances of the 1950s and 1960s.
Mr. Speaker, we should neither discount nor forget the influence of
the Tuskegee Airmen on the ``American Experience.'' The Tuskegee
Airmen, in my view, should be immortalized, honored and thanked for
their courageous and selfless efforts to preserve and protect the
freedom that every American enjoys today. I believe that the Tuskegee
Airmen National Historic Site will be a fitting and worth tribute to
these American heroes.
Unfortunately, time has begun to take its toll on the Tuskegee
Airmen. Many are no longer with us. That is why I would like to move
forward with this legislation as quickly as possible so that the
remaining Airmen will have the opportunity to see their legacy
enshrined in the Tuskegee Airmen National Historic Site.
Passing H.R. 3910 is the first step to making this project a reality.
Again, the story of the Tuskegee Airmen is one that I believe must be
told and I believe--and I hope my colleagues will agree--that they
deserve nothing less.
Mr. Speaker, H.R. 3910 is a good bill that has wide bipartisan
support. Therefore, I urge my colleagues to pass this important
legislation.
Mr. HANSEN (during the reading). Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent
that the amendment in the nature of a substitute be considered as read
and printed in the Record.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the
gentleman from Utah?
There was no objection.
The amendment in the nature of a substitute was agreed to.
The Senate bill was ordered to be read a third time, was read the
third time, and passed.
The title of the Senate bill was amended so as to read:

Amend the title so as to read: ``To amend the Weir Farm
National Historic Site Establishment Act of 1990 to authorize
the acquisition of additional acreage for the historic site
to permit the development of visitor and administrative
facilities and to authorize the appropriation of additional
amounts for the acquisition of real and personal property,
and for other purposes.''.

A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

____________________