[Congressional Record Volume 145, Number 95 (Wednesday, June 30, 1999)]
[House]
[Pages H5133-H5134]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




  WORLD WAR VETERANS PARK AT MILLER FIELD GATEWAY NATIONAL RECREATION 
                                  AREA

  The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Stearns). Pursuant to House Resolution 
231 and rule XVIII, the Chair declares the House in the Committee of 
the Whole House on the State of the Union for the consideration of the 
bill, H.R. 592.

                              {time}  1514


                     In the Committee of the Whole

  Accordingly, the House resolved itself into the Committee of the 
Whole House on the State of the Union for the consideration of the bill 
(H.R. 592) to designate Great Kills Park in the Gateway National 
Recreation Area as ``World War II Veterans Park at Great Kills'', with 
Mr. Bonilla in the chair.
  The Clerk read the title of the bill.
  The CHAIRMAN. Pursuant to the rule, the bill is considered as having 
been read the first time.
  Under the rule, the gentleman from Utah (Mr. Hansen) and the 
gentleman from Puerto Rico (Mr. Romero-Barcelo) each will control 30 
minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Utah (Mr. Hansen).

                              {time}  1515

  Mr. HANSEN. Mr. Chairman, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  I rise in support of H.R. 592 introduced by the gentleman from New 
York (Mr. Fossella). H.R. 592 authorizes the Secretary of the Interior 
to designate a portion of Gateway National Recreation Area in New York 
as World War Veterans Park at Miller Field. H.R. 592 would change the 
name of this park to recognize and honor the veterans of our world wars 
who fought to protect and defend democracy and freedom.
  During markup of this bill, we accommodated concerns by the 
administration. This bill is now supported by the National Park Service 
and the minority. I urge all my colleagues to support H.R. 592.
  Mr. Chairman, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. ROMERO-BARCELO. Mr. Chairman, I yield myself such time as I may 
consume. I rise in support of H.R. 592.
  Mr. Chairman, H.R. 592 as introduced would have amended the act 
designating the Gateway National Recreation Area in New York City to 
change the name of Great Kills Park to World War II Veterans Park at 
Great Kills.
  The National Park Service testified at the hearing of the 
Subcommittee on National Parks and Public Lands on May 11 that it 
opposed this name change because there is no known connection between 
Great Kills Park and World War II activities or historical figures, nor 
do veteran groups have any known connection with the area. It was also 
noted that NPS already administers several entire national park units 
that are historically tied to World War II veterans.
  However, we learned at the hearing that there is general agreement to 
provide some sort of recognition to veterans at a more suitable 
location, known as Miller Field, within the Gateway National Recreation 
Area.
  While the NPS appears to have administrative authority to make such a 
change, the Committee on Resources adopted an amendment, drafted by the 
NPS, to designate the location as World War Veterans Park at Miller 
Field. Based on the representations made to us by the NPS, this change 
appears to be in keeping with NPS policies and as such we support the 
bill as amended.
  Mr. Chairman, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. HANSEN. Mr. Chairman, I yield such time as he may consume to the 
gentleman from New York (Mr. Fossella), the sponsor of this 
legislation.
  (Mr. FOSSELLA asked and was given permission to revise and extend his 
remarks.)
  Mr. FOSSELLA. Mr. Chairman, H.R. 592 is a simple bill. If passed, it 
would rename a portion of the Staten Island Unit of the Gateway 
National Recreation Area as World War Veterans Park at Miller Field. 
The purpose of this bill is simply to honor the brave men who served in 
World War I and World War II. Staten Island has a long and proud 
tradition of honoring our veterans, and this bill merely adds to that 
tradition.
  First, I would like to thank the gentleman from Alaska (Mr. Young) 
and the gentleman from California (Mr. George Miller) of the Committee 
on Resources and the gentleman from Utah (Mr. Hansen) and the gentleman 
from Puerto Rico (Mr. Romero-Barcelo) of the Subcommittee on National 
Parks and Public Lands for their assistance in moving this bill through 
the committee process, and, on my staff, Travers Garvin, for really 
carrying the load.
  Originally, as the ranking member indicated, H.R. 592 was intended to 
rename the Great Kills portion of the Gateway National Recreation Area. 
H.R. 592 would have renamed that park World War II Veterans Park at 
Great Kills. The National Park Service was concerned that the park 
being renamed should have a historical connection to the new name. 
Nevertheless in response to those concerns, we agreed to a compromise. 
H.R. 592 will now rename another portion of the Gateway National 
Recreation Area, known as Miller Field.
  Miller Field was originally named after a World War I aviator and was 
used as a military airstrip during World War II. In order to recognize 
veterans from both World War I and World War II, the bill seeks to 
rename the park World War Veterans Park at Miller Field. This change 
satisfies the National Park Service concerns and, more importantly, 
still recognizes veterans from Staten Island, Brooklyn and our Nation. 
I have spoken with veterans who had supported the original bill and 
they have agreed to the change.
  I believe strongly that without our veterans' dedication and 
sacrifice, we would not have the freedoms that we enjoy to this day. My 
concern is that as time goes by, perhaps the memories, particularly 
those in the World War I and World War II generation, may fade. The 
renaming of this park will stand as a timeless reminder of the heroism 
of the brave men and women who served our Nation. It is my wish that 
for generations to come, the thousands of people who use this park will 
stop for a moment and remember the heroism of these men and women.
  The Congressional Budget Office estimates that enactment of H.R. 592 
will have no significant impact on the Federal budget. It is simple, 
again noncontroversial and bipartisan. The bill has 13 cosponsors from 
both sides of the aisle and all parts of the country. H.R. 592 is 
legislation that takes pride in America. Because of this, I expect it 
will be an easy vote for. I think it would be especially appropriate to 
pass this bill for our veterans as we head into the Fourth of July 
weekend.
  Mr. ROMERO-BARCELO. Mr. Chairman, I yield such time as he may consume 
to the gentleman from New York (Mr. Crowley).
  Mr. CROWLEY. Mr. Chairman, I support the gentleman from New York's 
legislation to honor veterans of World War I and World War II by 
renaming Miller's Field in honor of our veterans. As the only New York 
member on the Committee on Resources, I was happy to support this 
legislation in committee. I believe that this park will not only honor 
veterans in the New York-New Jersey area but veterans throughout our 
country.
  Recently, I had the honor to join the French Consul General in New 
York to present the French Medal of Honor to a World War I veteran who 
lives in Flushing, New York. Tragically this

[[Page H5134]]

gentleman is one of only a few veterans of the World War I era who are 
still with us today. Men and women who served in World War II are 
rapidly passing away as well. This park will help honor their deeds and 
their fight for freedom which brought an end to tyranny and injustice, 
not once but twice in this century.
  I am proud to join the gentleman from New York (Mr. Fossella) in 
support of this proposal to honor our veterans. As the largest 
metropolitan area in the United States with one of the largest 
concentrations of veterans, I can think of no better place to honor the 
memories of these men and women who fought for freedom and to remind 
future generations of the valor and heroism of our American soldiers.
  Mr. HANSEN. Mr. Chairman, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from New 
York (Mr. Fossella).
  Mr. FOSSELLA. Mr. Chairman, I want to thank the gentleman from New 
York (Mr. Crowley). I know he was a great help at the committee in 
steering it through. We have 56,000 veterans in the 13th Congressional 
District. Again I can only hope and pray that we can do all we can to 
recognize their efforts. This bill would go a long way. I encourage its 
strong support.
  Mr. ROMERO-BARCELO. Mr. Chairman, I yield such time as he may consume 
to the gentleman from New York (Mr. McNulty).
  Mr. McNULTY. Mr. Chairman, I thank the gentleman for yielding me this 
time. I want to commend both the gentleman from New York (Mr. Fossella) 
and the gentleman from New York (Mr. Crowley) and all of those who are 
supporting this legislation. It is appropriate that we take this up at 
this particular time as we approach another celebration of our 
Independence Day and remember to keep our priorities straight. Had it 
not been for the men and women who have worn the uniform of the United 
States military through the years, we would not have the privilege of 
going around bragging about how we live in the freest and most open 
democracy on the face of the earth. Freedom is not free. We paid a 
tremendous price for it. Not a day goes by that I do not remember all 
of those who, like my brother Bill, made the supreme sacrifice and all 
of the many veterans who served our country and then came back home and 
rendered such outstanding service in our communities and raised 
wonderful families to carry on their great traditions.
  I enthusiastically support this legislation. I thank the sponsors. I 
urge my colleagues to approve it unanimously.
  Mr. ROMERO-BARCELO. Mr. Chairman, I have no further requests for 
time, and I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. HANSEN. Mr. Chairman, I have no further requests for time, and I 
yield back the balance of my time.
  The CHAIRMAN. All time for general debate has expired.
  Pursuant to the rule, the committee amendment in the nature of a 
substitute printed in the bill is considered as an original bill for 
the purpose of amendment and is considered read.
  The text of the committee amendment in the nature of a substitute is 
as follows:

                                H.R. 592

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

     SECTION 1. DESIGNATION OF PORTION OF GATEWAY NATIONAL 
                   RECREATION AREA AS WORLD WAR VETERANS PARK AT 
                   MILLER FIELD.

       Section 3(b) of Public Law 92-592 (16 U.S.C. 460cc-2(b)) is 
     amended--
       (1) by inserting ``(1)'' after ``(b)''; and
       (2) by adding at the end the following new paragraph:
       ``(2) The portion of the Staten Island Unit of the 
     recreation area known as Miller Field is hereby designated as 
     `World War Veterans Park at Miller Field'. Any reference to 
     such Miller Field in any law, regulation, map, document, 
     record, or other paper of the United States shall be 
     considered to be a reference to `World War Veterans Park at 
     Miller Field'.''.

  The CHAIRMAN. During consideration of the bill for amendment, the 
Chair may accord priority in recognition to a Member offering an 
amendment that he has printed in the designated place in the 
Congressional Record. Those amendments will be considered read.
  The Chairman of the Committee of the Whole may postpone a request for 
a recorded vote on any amendment and may reduce to a minimum of 5 
minutes the time for voting on any postponed question that immediately 
follows another vote, provided that the time for voting on the first 
question shall be a minimum of 15 minutes.
  Are there any amendments to the bill?
  If not, the question is on the committee amendment in the nature of a 
substitute.
  The committee amendment in the nature of a substitute was agreed to.
  The CHAIRMAN. Under the rule, the Committee rises.
  Accordingly, the Committee rose; and the Speaker pro tempore (Mr. 
Stearns) having assumed the chair, Mr. Bonilla, Chairman of the 
Committee of the Whole House on the State of the Union, reported that 
that Committee, having had under consideration the bill (H.R. 592) to 
redesignate Great Kills Park in the Gateway National Recreation Area as 
``World War II Veterans Park at Great Kills'', pursuant to House 
Resolution 231, he reported the bill back to the House with an 
amendment adopted by the Committee of the Whole.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under the rule, the previous question is 
ordered.
  The question is on the committee amendment in the nature of a 
substitute.
  The committee amendment in the nature of a substitute was agreed to.
  The bill was ordered to be engrossed and read a third time, was read 
the third time, and passed.
  The title of the bill was amended so as to read: ``A bill to 
designate a portion of Gateway National Recreation Area as `World War 
Veterans Park at Miller Field'.''.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

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