[Congressional Record Volume 148, Number 51 (Tuesday, April 30, 2002)]
[House]
[Pages H1699-H1701]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




    AUTHORIZING STUDY OF VIRGINIA KEY BEACH, FLORIDA, FOR POSSIBLE 
                   INCLUSION IN NATIONAL PARK SYSTEM

  Mr. HANSEN. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the 
bill (H.R. 2109) to authorize the Secretary of the Interior to conduct 
a special resource study of Virginia Key Beach, Florida, for possible 
inclusion in the National Park System, as amended.
  The Clerk read as follows:

                               H.R. 2109

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

     SECTION 1. STUDY AND REPORT.

       (a) Study.--The Secretary of the Interior (in this Act 
     referred to as ``the Secretary'') shall conduct a study of 
     Virginia Key Beach Park in Biscayne Bay, Florida, which was 
     used for recreation by African Americans at a time when 
     public beaches were racially segregated by law. The study 
     shall evaluate the national significance of the site and the 
     suitability and feasibility of establishing the site as a 
     unit of the National Park System.
       (b) Criteria.--In conducting the study required by 
     subsection (a), the Secretary shall use the criteria for the 
     study of areas for potential inclusion in the National Park 
     System contained in section 8 of Public Law 91-383 (16 U.S.C. 
     1a-5; popularly known as the National Park System General 
     Authorities Act).
       (c) Report.--Upon completion of the study, the Secretary 
     shall transmit to the Congress a report on the findings of 
     the study and the conclusions and recommendations of the 
     Secretary.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from 
Utah (Mr. Hansen) and the gentlewoman from the Virgin Islands (Mrs. 
Christensen) 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.
  H.R. 2109, introduced by the gentlewoman from Florida (Mrs. Meek) 
would authorize the Secretary of the Interior to conduct a resource 
study of Virginia Key Beach Park in Miami, Florida, to determine the 
suitability and feasibility of including this site as a unit of the 
National Park System.
  Virginia Key Beach Park, located just off the coast of Miami between 
Key Biscayne and Fisher Island, was for decades the only beach in South 
Florida where African Americans were permitted during the days of 
segregation. This beach was very significant in the local community for 
its numerous gatherings, which included baptisms and religious 
services, courtship and honeymoons, organizational gatherings, visiting 
celebrities and family recreation.
  However, in 1982 the city of Miami, citing the high cost of 
maintaining and operating the park, closed the beach. Since that time, 
the city of Miami has explored various options regarding ownership and 
the future of the beach, although nothing has yet come to fruition. 
Nevertheless, it is my understanding that the local community

[[Page H1700]]

continues to be very interested in the fate of the park due in large 
measure to its historical significance.
  This bill would authorize the Park Service to conduct a study to 
examine the possibility of including Virginia Key Beach Park as a unit 
of the National Park Service.
  Mr. Speaker, this legislation is supported by both majority and 
minority, and I urge my colleagues to support this bill.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mrs. CHRISTENSEN. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may 
consume.
  (Mrs. CHRISTENSEN asked and was given permission to revise and extend 
her remarks.)
  Mrs. CHRISTENSEN. Mr. Speaker, H.R. 2109, which was introduced by my 
friend and our colleague, the gentlewoman from Florida (Mrs. Meek), 
would authorize a special resource study of the historic Virginia Key 
Beach Park located on Biscayne Bay in Florida.
  Virginia Key Beach derives its importance from its history more so 
than from its natural or recreational qualities, although there are 
those as well. It was the first beach in south Florida to be opened to 
African Americans, and for many years it was the only beach available 
to us. Encompassing just 77 acres, the beach was a popular recreational 
area for local African American families, churches and other 
organizations, and as we have heard, it was a site of many important 
private and public events.
  At the hearing before the Subcommittee on National Parks, Recreation 
and Public Lands, the National Park Service testified in support of a 
park study of this important area.
  It is important that we look for ways to commemorate and preserve not 
only the history of this site but also the natural and recreational 
qualities as well.
  I want to commend the sponsor, the gentlewoman from Florida (Mrs. 
Meek), for her leadership on H.R. 2109. I am pleased to support this 
study legislation, and I urge my colleagues to do likewise.
  Mr. Speaker, it is my pleasure to yield such time as she may consume 
to the gentlewoman from Florida (Mrs. Meek).
  (Mrs. MEEK of Florida asked and was given permission to revise and 
extend her remarks.)
  Mrs. MEEK of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I want to thank the gentlewoman 
from the Virgin Islands (Mrs. Christensen), and I want to thank the 
gentleman from California (Mr. Radanovich).
  I rise with great pride, Mr. Speaker, and in strong support of H.R. 
2109, my bill to authorize the Secretary of the Interior to conduct a 
special resource study of Virginia Key Beach in Miami, Florida, for its 
possible inclusion in the National Park System.
  I want to again thank the gentleman from Utah (Mr. Hansen), the 
chairman, and the gentleman from West Virginia (Mr. Rahall), the 
ranking member of the full Committee on Resources, the gentleman from 
California (Mr. Radanovich), the chairman, and the gentlewoman from the 
Virgin Islands (Mrs. Christensen), the ranking member of the 
subcommittee, and their respective staffs for their assistance and 
cooperation.
  I also want to thank my delegation in south Florida, a bipartisan 
delegation, for cosponsoring this bill.
  Mr. Speaker, Virginia Key Beach is a historically important and 
environmentally significant place, worthy of being preserved and 
studied for its inclusion in the National Park System.
  Virginia Key was the only beach in Miami where African Americans 
could go to swim in the 1940s, 1950s and early 1960s. It was called 
``Virginia Key Beach at that time, a Dade County Park for the exclusive 
use of Negros.'' It opened on August 1, 1945. Until that time, Miami's 
beaches had been reserved for whites only. In those days of 
segregation, Virginia Key Beach was the only way blacks could legally 
enjoy the ocean in Dade County.
  Dade County created this park in response to the efforts of the 
African American community to integrate the beaches in Miami.
  The location of this beach was less than ideal, Mr. Speaker. There 
was no bridge, and the only way to get to it was by taking a boat from 
the Miami River.
  Despite these impediments, African Americans have made Virginia Key 
Beach a very thriving center for social and cultural activities. The 
beach became a cherished getaway, a social gathering place and even a 
sacred site for religious services.
  I attended many baptisms at Virginia Key Beach. The beach was the 
site for many baptisms, courtships, honeymoons, organizational 
gatherings, visiting celebrities and family recreation. Even after 
integration granted everyone a free choice of recreation areas, 
Virginia Key Beach remained the popular preference for many in the 
African American community.
  Mr. Speaker, this legislation is near and dear to my heart because I 
know the long way we have come because I used this park frequently 
myself and brought my children there when they were young. The fact 
that I am a Congresswoman today shows how much society has changed in 
the intervening years.
  Virginia Key Beach is a national treasure that stands as a monument 
to America's journey toward racial equality. As a reminder of our 
national heritage, Virginia Key Beach symbolizes the struggle of 
African Americans in the 20th century during racial segregation in the 
South and the onset of the civil rights movement.
  Mr. Speaker, there are very few sites in the National Park System 
that recognizes the struggle for civil rights. Out of 385 units 
currently in the park system, only 4 have been designated to 
commemorate the civil rights era. We need to do more to recognize the 
civil rights era. It is important to remember that segregation affected 
every aspect of our lives, even our leisure time.
  In addition to representing an important part of the history of 
African Americans, it is also an exceptional natural resource 
characterized by a unique and sensitive natural environment. The beach 
is a part of an area known as Virginia Key. It is a 1,000 acre barrier 
island. There has been some limited development, but the island is non-
residential and includes ponds and waterways, a tropical hardwood 
hammocks and a large wildlife conservation area.
  The Key is home to more than 25 species of birds during the winter, 
while its shallow waters contain extensive grass beds that support 
manatees, young sea turtles and many juvenile fishes. The United States 
Army Corps of Engineers, through their shoreline damage program, is 
currently restoring the beach and native plants on the islands.
  Finally, let me note, thanking this committee and my colleagues, the 
chairman and the ranking member, Virginia Key Beach is an excellent 
location and it is very accessible. Other national attractions in south 
Florida, such as Everglades National Park, Big Cypress and Biscayne 
National Park, have extraordinary resources, but they are not readily 
accessible for individuals without personal transportation; Virginia 
Key Park is. There is a good Miami-Dade bus connection there, and it is 
further enhanced by a link to south Florida's rail system.
  Mr. Speaker, Virginia Key Beach occupies a special place in the heart 
of all of us from south Florida. It is a wonderful reminder of the 
struggle of African Americans for civil rights and social justice.
  Inclusion in the National Park System would help ensure that Virginia 
Key Beach is preserved and protected for future generations. A special 
resource study is the first step.
  This committee has taken the first step to bring this to the floor. I 
urge my colleagues to support this important legislation.
  Mr. HASTINGS of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I come before you today to 
encourage my colleagues to support H.R. 2109, a bill which would 
authorize the Secretary of the Interior to conduct a special resource 
study of historic Virginia Key Beach, FL, for the inclusion into the 
National Park System. Mr. Speaker, I am proud to support a very 
important bill which will allow Congress to preserve and protect this 
beautiful beach site area.
  This legislation allows for the beautiful palm-studded old Florida 
beach located on a 1,000-acre barrier island, one of Miami's real 
treasures, to be recognized as a National Park. Miami's historical 
Virginia Key Beach has been one of Florida's most beautiful and unique 
areas since 1896. When I was growing up, Virginia Key was at one time 
one of Miami's most popular beaches for African-Americans

[[Page H1701]]

to enjoy. With its scant four-tenths of a mile of actual shoreline, the 
park was the only bathing beach in the county legally available to 
African-Americans.
  Mr. Speaker, this bill does not add to the national debt, therefore I 
urge my colleagues to realize there is no need to oppose it for 
economic reasons. This bill does not change any of the requirements for 
the inclusion process for national parks. All this bill calls for is 
the recognition of the 77-acre historic Virginia Key Beach site in 
Miami, FL. Passing this bill would be a reasonable and responsible 
approach in recognizing the significant value of this former ``colored 
beach.''
  Florida needs a place that is recognized for its historical 
significance, a place that can be enjoyed today for both recreational 
purposes and so that people can learn about the history of this 
extraordinary scenic recreational site that was once cherished as a 
``Paradise.''
  I respectfully ask that my colleagues in this Congress vote in favor 
of H.R. 2109 which would induct historic Virginia Key Beach into the 
National Park System.
  Mrs. CHRISTENSEN. Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for time, 
and I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. HANSEN. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentleman from Utah (Mr. Hansen) that the House suspend the rules and 
pass the bill, H.R. 2109, as amended.
  The question was taken; and (two-thirds having voted in favor 
thereof) the rules were suspended and the bill, as amended, was passed.
  The title of the bill was amended so as to read: ``A bill to 
authorize the Secretary of the Interior to conduct a special resource 
study of Virginia Key Beach Park in Biscayne Bay, Florida, for possible 
inclusion in the National Park System.''.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

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