[Congressional Record Volume 149, Number 135 (Monday, September 29, 2003)]
[Senate]
[Page S12139]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

      By Mr. NELSON of Florida:
  S. 1672. A bill to expand the Timucuan Ecological and Historic 
Preserve, Florida; to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
  Mr. NELSON of Florida. Mr. President, I rise today to introduce a 
bill that will preserve a part of the history of Florida and America. 
My bill will allow 20 acres of untouched, undeveloped sand dune land on 
American Beach, Amelia Island, FL to become part of Timucuan Ecological 
and Historic Preserve.
  The history of American Beach is partly the chronicle of Africa-
American achievement and economic autonomy during the Jim Crow era. 
American Beach was purchased in 1932 by the Afro American Life 
Insurance Company and its President, A.L. Lewis. This insurance company 
was the first insurance company owned by any Floridian, either a black 
or white. Mr. Lewis' granddaughter, affectionately referred to as the 
``Beachlady,'' still resides on American Beach and is revered for her 
colorful life and her work to preserve the American Beach from 
development and environmental degradation.
  American Beach was an integrated beach when all beach communities 
throughout the United States were segregated. For decades, it 
flourished as an ocean-side paradise for blacks from all parts of the 
country. American Beach is still owned primarily by African Americans 
who are the descendants of the original owners. But, developers are 
slowly moving in to destroy this property that holds a chapter of 
American history. The sand dunes tell many stories of generations long 
past--writer Zora Neale Hurston, heavy-weight champion Joe Louis, 
entertainer Cab Calloway, and civil rights leader A. Philip Randolph 
vacationed on American Beach. But, most of the beach dwellers and 
visitors were ordinary working-class African Americans.
  This legislation merely seeks to expand the boundaries of a wonderful 
nature preserve already in place to preserve this unique and special 
place called American Beach.
  I ask unanimous consent that the text of the bill be printed in the 
Record.
  There being no objection, the bill was ordered to be printed in the 
Record, as follows:

                                S. 1672

       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 ``Timucuan Ecological and 
     Historic Preserve Boundary Revision Act of 2003''.

     SEC. 2. REVISION OF BOUNDARY OF TIMUCUAN ECOLOGICAL AND 
                   HISTORIC PRESERVE, FLORIDA.

       Section 201(a) of Public Law 100-249 (16 U.S.C. 698n) is 
     amended--
       (1) by striking ``(a) Establishment.--There is hereby'' and 
     inserting the following:
       ``(a) Establishment.--
       ``(1) In general.--There is''; and
       (2) by adding at the end the following:
       ``(2) Modification of boundary.--
       ``(A) In general.--In addition to the land described in 
     paragraph (1), the Preserve shall include approximately 12.5 
     acres of land located in Nassau County, Florida, as generally 
     depicted on the map entitled `Timucuan Ecological and 
     Historic Preserve American Beach Adjustment', numbered 006/
     80012 and dated June 2003.
       ``(B) Duties of secretary.--The Secretary of the Interior 
     shall--
       ``(i) revise the boundaries of the Preserve so as to 
     encompass the land described in subparagraph (A); and
       ``(ii) maintain the map described in subparagraph (A) on 
     file and available for public inspection in the appropriate 
     offices of the National Park Service.''.
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