[Congressional Record Volume 149, Number 131 (Tuesday, September 23, 2003)]
[House]
[Pages H8415-H8416]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




               FORT BAYARD NATIONAL HISTORIC LANDMARK ACT

  Mr. PEARCE. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the 
bill (H.R. 2059) to designate Fort Bayard Historic District in the 
State of New Mexico as a National Historic Landmark, and for other 
purposes.
  The Clerk read as follows:

                               H.R. 2059

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

     SECTION 1. FORT BAYARD NATIONAL HISTORIC LANDMARK ACT.

       (a) Short Title.--This section may be cited as the ``Fort 
     Bayard National Historic Landmark Act''.
       (b) Designation.--The Fort Bayard Historic District in 
     Grant County, New Mexico, as listed on the National Register 
     of Historic Places, is hereby designated as the Fort Bayard 
     National Historic Landmark.
       (c) Administration.--Nothing in this section shall affect 
     the administration of the Fort Bayard Historic District by 
     the State of New Mexico.
       (d) Cooperative Agreements.--The Secretary, in consultation 
     with the State of New Mexico, Grant County, New Mexico, and 
     affected subdivisions of Grant County, may enter into 
     cooperative agreements with appropriate public or private 
     entities, for the purposes of protecting historic resources 
     at Fort Bayard and providing educational and interpretive 
     facilities and programs for the public. The Secretary shall 
     not enter into any agreement or provide assistance to any 
     activity affecting Fort Bayard State Hospital without the 
     concurrence of the State of New Mexico.
       (e) Technical and Financial Assistance.--The Secretary may 
     provide technical and financial assistance with any entity 
     with which the Secretary has entered into a cooperative 
     agreement under subsection (d).
       (f) No Effect on Actions of Property Owners.--Designation 
     of the Fort Bayard Historic District as a National Historic 
     Landmark shall not prohibit any actions which may otherwise 
     be taken by any property owners, including the owners of the 
     Fort Bayard National Historic Landmark, with respect to their 
     property.
       (g) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized 
     to be appropriated such sums as may be necessary to carry out 
     this section.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from New 
Mexico (Mr. Pearce) and the gentlewoman from the Virgin Islands (Mrs. 
Christensen) each will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from New Mexico (Mr. Pearce).
  Mr. PEARCE. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of H.R. 2059. First I would 
like to take this opportunity to thank the gentleman from California 
(Chairman Pombo); the subcommittee chairman, the gentleman from 
California (Mr. Radanovich); along with the ranking member, the 
gentleman from West Virginia (Mr. Rahall), for allowing the Committee 
on Resources to consider H.R. 2059 in an expedited manner and for 
allowing it to be considered on the House floor today.
  Mr. Speaker, H.R. 2059 would designate Fort Bayard Historic District 
in the State of New Mexico as a National Historic Landmark.
  On August 21, 1866, troops under the command of Lt. James Kerr, 
Company B, 125th United States Colored Infantry, began building a new 
post in Apache country near the mining communities of Pinos Altos and 
Silver City, New Mexico. The infantry troops stationed at Fort Bayard 
were nicknamed ``Buffalo Soldiers'' by the Cheyenne and Comanche 
Indians. The post was named after Brigadier General George D. Bayard, 
who had been killed in the battle of Fredericksburg.
  After Geronimo's surrender, Fort Bayard as a military post was no 
longer needed. As a result, in 1899 Fort Bayard became the first 
sanatorium dedicated to the treatment of soldiers suffering from 
pulmonary tuberculosis.
  In 1922, Fort Bayard came under the jurisdiction of the Veterans' 
Administration and became a treatment center for veterans. During World 
War II, Fort Bayard housed German prisoners of war.
  Today, the post is operated as a hospital by the State of New Mexico 
and presently employs approximately 400 employees. To this day, Fort 
Bayard continues to play a vital role in the health care of Grant 
County, New Mexico, and the surrounding area.
  Designation of Fort Bayard as a National Historic Landmark is 
important for the preservation of its historical significance. It is 
also very important to southeastern New Mexico's economic development. 
The region is currently suffering from high unemployment and stagnant 
economic growth. This designation would allow Fort Bayard to attract 
more tourism to the area and would bring in much-needed economic 
revenue, which could help fuel more investment in the region.
  H.R. 2059 has the unanimous support of the New Mexico Congressional 
delegation, is cosponsored by the entire delegation, and also has very 
strong public support.
  Mr. Speaker, I urge all of my colleagues to support H.R. 2059.
  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. 2059 is the companion measure to the Senate bill, 
S. 214, introduced by Senator Bingaman, which passed the Senate on 
March 4, 2003, and has been referred to the Committee on Resources. The 
legislation provides for the establishment of the Fort Bayard National 
Historical Landmark in the State of New Mexico. The legislation also 
authorizes the Secretary of the Interior to provide technical and 
financial assistance to the site.

[[Page H8416]]

  The fort has a long history of use as a military post and medical 
facility. The site is currently listed on the National Register of 
Historic Places.
  While no hearings have been held on this bill, the Committee on 
Resources ordered it reported to the House in July. We will not object 
to the consideration of H.R. 2059 by the House today, but I would note 
for the record that taking up the House bill, when the companion Senate 
bill has been pending in the House since March, only serves to 
needlessly complicate the process of enactment.
  Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. PEARCE. 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 New Mexico (Mr. Pearce) that the House suspend the rules 
and pass the bill, H.R. 2059.
  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.

                          ____________________