[Congressional Record Volume 148, Number 51 (Tuesday, April 30, 2002)]
[House]
[Pages H1701-H1702]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
MUSCLE SHOALS NATIONAL HERITAGE AREA, ALABAMA
Mr. HANSEN. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the
bill (H.R. 2628) to direct the Secretary of the Interior to conduct a
study of the suitability and feasibility of establishing the Muscle
Shoals National Heritage Area in Alabama, and for other purposes.
The Clerk read as follows:
H.R. 2628
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 ``Muscle Shoals National
Heritage Area Study Act of 2001''.
SEC. 2. STUDY.
The Secretary of the Interior, in consultation with
appropriate State historic preservation officers, States
historical societies, and other appropriate organizations,
shall conduct a study regarding the suitability and
feasibility of designating the study area described in
section 3 as the Muscle Shoals National Heritage Area. The
study shall include analysis, documentation, and
determination regarding whether the study area--
(1) has an assemblage of natural, historic, and cultural
resources that together represent distinctive aspects of
American heritage worthy of recognition, conservation,
interpretation, and continuing use, and are best managed
through partnerships among public and private entities and by
combining diverse and sometimes noncontiguous resources and
active communities;
(2) reflects traditions, customs, beliefs, and folklife
that are a valuable part of the national story;
(3) provides outstanding opportunities to conserve natural,
historic, cultural, or scenic features;
(4) provides outstanding recreational and educational
opportunities;
(5) contains resources important to the identified theme or
themes of the study area that retain a degree of integrity
capable of supporting interpretation;
(6) includes residents, business interests, nonprofit
organizations, and local and State governments that are
involved in the planning, have developed a conceptual
financial plan that outlines the roles of all participants
(including the Federal Government), and have demonstrated
support for the concept of a national heritage area;
(7) has a potential management entity to work in
partnership with residents, business interests, nonprofit
organizations, and local and State governments to develop a
national heritage area consistent with continued local and
State economic activity; and
(8) has a conceptual boundary map that is supported by the
public.
SEC. 3. BOUNDARIES OF THE STUDY AREA.
The study area referred to in section 2 shall be comprised
of the following:
(1) The part of the Tennessee River's watershed in northern
Alabama.
(2) The cities of Florence, Sheffield, Tuscumbia, and
Muscle Shoals City, Alabama.
(3) The towns of Anderson, Cherokee, Courtland, Leighton,
Lexington, Littleville, Red Bay, Rogersville, Russellville,
Town Creek, and Waterloo, Alabama, and their environs.
(4) Colbert, Lauderdale, Franklin, and Lawrence Counties,
Alabama.
(5) Other areas that have heritage aspects that are similar
to those aspects that are in the areas described in
paragraphs (1) through (4) and which are adjacent to or in
the vicinity of those areas.
SEC. 4. REPORT.
Not later than 3 fiscal years after the date on which funds
are first made available for this Act, the Secretary of the
Interior shall submit to the Committee on Resources of the
House of Representatives and the Committee on Energy and
Natural Resources of the Senate a report on the findings,
conclusions, and recommendations of the study.
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.
Mr. Speaker, H.R. 2628, introduced by the gentleman from Alabama (Mr.
Cramer) would direct the Secretary of the Interior to conduct a study
to determine the suitability and feasibility of establishing the Muscle
Shoals National Heritage Area in northwest Alabama.
Mr. Speaker, the city of Muscle Shoals and the surrounding area of
northwest Alabama has played an integral part in shaping many aspects
of Alabama and southern culture.
{time} 1500
It is the birthplace of Helen Keller, setting for Henry Ford's
utopian 75-Mile City, which inspired Frank Lloyd Wright's Broadacre
City, a number of Victorian arts and crafts residences, and plays host
to the annual music festival named for blues musician W. C. Handy. It
is also the home of the Tennessee Valley Authority, the first piece of
the New Deal legislation. A number of historic trails also transverse
the area, including the Natchez Trail and the Trail of Tears.
Mr. Speaker, H.R. 2628 is supported by both the majority and the
minority of the committee and the administration. I urge my colleagues
to support H.R. 2628.
Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mrs. CHRISTENSEN. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may
consume.
Mr. Speaker, H.R. 2628, introduced by my colleague, the gentleman
from Alabama (Mr. Cramer), would direct the Secretary of the Interior
to do a National Heritage Area study of the Muscle Shoals area of
northern Alabama. The Muscle Shoals area has a long history of
industry, transportation and music, among other things.
When the Subcommittee on National Parks, Recreation, and Public Lands
held a hearing on H.R. 2628 earlier this year, the National Park
Service testified in support of the study. Our other witnesses,
including the gentleman from Alabama (Mr. Cramer), also detailed and
expanded upon the history of the Muscle Shoals area for the
subcommittee. It is obvious that the communities of the Muscle Shoals
area value their heritage and are looking for ways to maintain and
enhance the historical and natural resources of the area.
Mr. Speaker, H.R. 2628 is a good bill. It is also noncontroversial. I
support the passage of the legislation and urge its favorable
consideration by the House today.
Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman
from Alabama (Mr. Cramer), the sponsor of this measure.
Mr. CRAMER. Mr. Speaker, I want to thank the Committee on Resources
and the Subcommittee on National Parks, Recreation, and Public Lands
for moving H.R. 2628, which is my bill, as well as the chairman, the
gentleman from Utah (Mr. Hansen), and the ranking member, the
gentlewoman from the Virgin Islands (Mrs. Christensen), very much for
their consideration.
Both the chairman and the ranking member have made reference to this
unique area of Alabama that has an extraordinary history. H.R. 2628
would allow us to do a study to determine the feasibility of collecting
that history and naming our area a national heritage study area. It was
passed by the
[[Page H1702]]
committee itself by unanimous consent, so it is a very uncontroversial
piece.
This area of northwest Alabama is adjacent to the State of Tennessee
and the State of Mississippi as well, so my colleagues in the House,
the gentleman from Mississippi (Mr. Wicker) and the gentleman from
Alabama (Mr. Aderholt), both are cosponsors of this piece of
legislation.
As the chairman referred to and the ranking member referred to in
their remarks about H.R. 2628, this area of northwest Alabama has an
extraordinary history of involvement. Native Americans were active in
this particular area, and we have an Indian Mound Museum there that is
one of the most extraordinary museums in the country.
As we move on through history, the Tennessee River has defined our
area culturally as well as in terms of transportation issues as well.
In the early 1920s, the Wilson Locks and Dam was built there even
before TVA came into existence. At the time it was the largest lock and
dam on the Tennessee River and one of the largest dams in the country
as well.
President Roosevelt visited that area and was so impressed by the
potential that he saw there that he was inspired to form the Tennessee
Valley Authority, which has given us a significant part of our
prosperity there, not only in the State of Alabama but in Tennessee and
the entire region as well.
But as the chairman referred to, we are the home of the W. C. Handy
Festival. That is a blues festival. W. C. Handy, unbeknownst to a lot
of people in the country, is the ``Father of the blues.'' He was born
in Florence, Alabama, which is located in northwest Alabama. This
festival has existed for 20 years and has brought thousands of music
specialists from all over the country.
We have a verbal history that is available in our area of the music
tradition that is there. Now, the Muscle Shoals Studio was a recent era
of music that really was born out of the blues era. It is a sound
recording studio that has been used by many musicians around the world.
All of that kind of heritage was started back in the early 1920s and
built on from there as well. So this feasibility study would give us
the chance to catalogue a lot of that information.
Helen Keller was born in Tuscumbia, Alabama. That is within 5 miles
of this Tennessee River, and within 10 miles of Florence, Alabama as
well. Her home, Ivy Green, was preserved as a museum. There is a Helen
Keller Festival there as well. A lot of Helen Keller relatives come
back to that area to this particular festival.
Jesse Owens was born in Lawrence County, again, another 7 miles from
the very center of the area we are talking about. There is a museum to
celebrate his contributions to American history there as well.
The Frank Lloyd Wright structures we have in this area all combine to
give our area of Alabama a unique history which we think is deserving
of this declaration as a National Heritage Area study place.
I want to thank again the committee for giving us this opportunity,
and I urge my colleagues to pass this important bill, H.R. 2628.
Mr. HANSEN. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
Mrs. CHRISTENSEN. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Culberson). 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. 2628.
The question was taken; and (two-thirds having voted in favor
thereof) the rules were suspended and the bill was passed.
A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.
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