[Congressional Record Volume 149, Number 153 (Tuesday, October 28, 2003)]
[House]
[Pages H9847-H9848]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




  MARTIN LUTHER KING, JUNIOR, NATIONAL HISTORIC SITE LAND EXCHANGE ACT

  Mr. SAXTON. Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the 
bill (H.R. 1616) to authorize the exchange of certain lands within the 
Martin Luther King, Junior, National Historic Site for lands owned by 
the City of Atlanta, Georgia, and for other purposes.
  The Clerk read as follows:

                               H.R. 1616

       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 ``Martin Luther King, Junior, 
     National Historic Site Land Exchange Act''.

     SEC. 2. FINDINGS AND PURPOSE.

       (a) Findings.--Congress finds the following:
       (1) Public Law 96-438 established the Martin Luther King, 
     Junior, National Historic Site, and allows acquisition, by 
     donation only, of lands owned by the State.
       (2) The National Park Service owns a vacant lot that has no 
     historic significance. The City of Atlanta has expressed 
     interest in acquiring this property to encourage commercial 
     development along Edgewood Avenue.
       (3) The National Historic Site Visitor Center and Museum is 
     land-locked and has no emergency ingress or egress, making it 
     virtually impossible for firefighting equipment to reach.
       (4) The acquisition of city-owned property would enable the 
     National Park Service to establish easy street access to the 
     National Historic Site Visitor Center and Museum, and would 
     benefit the City by exchanging a piece of property that the 
     City could develop.
       (b) Purpose.--The purpose of this Act is to authorize the 
     exchange of certain lands within the Martin Luther King, 
     Junior, National Historic Site for lands owned by the City of 
     Atlanta, Georgia.

     SEC. 3. LAND EXCHANGE.

       Section 2(b)(1) of the Act of October 10, 1980 (Public Law 
     96-428; 94 Stat. 1839; 16 U.S.C. 461 note) is amended by 
     striking the period and inserting ``or exchange.''.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from New 
Jersey (Mr. Saxton) and the gentlewoman from the Virgin Islands (Mrs. 
Christensen) each will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Saxton).


                             General Leave

  Mr. SAXTON. Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members 
may have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their 
remarks and include extraneous material on the bill under 
consideration.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from New Jersey?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. SAXTON. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Madam Speaker, H.R. 1616, introduced by my great friend, the 
gentleman from Georgia (Mr. Lewis), would authorize the Secretary of 
the Interior to exchange certain disposable lands within the boundaries 
of the Martin Luther King, Jr., National Historic Site in the City of 
Atlanta, Georgia for land owned by the City of Atlanta.
  The acquisition of the city-owned property would accomplish two 
things: first, to enable the National Park Service to establish easy 
street access to the Historic Site Visitor Center; and, second, to 
provide emergency equipment and personnel easy access to the visitor 
center.
  Madam Speaker, H.R. 1616 is supported by the administration and the 
majority and minority of the committee. I urge adoption of this bill 
and add my congratulations to the gentleman from Georgia (Mr. Lewis) 
for bringing this legislation forward.
  Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mrs. CHRISTENSEN. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may 
consume.
  Madam Speaker, H.R. 1616, introduced by my friend and colleague, the 
gentleman from Georgia (Mr. Lewis), authorizes the exchange of land 
between the National Park Service and the City of Atlanta at the Martin 
Luther King, Jr., National Historic Site.
  The national historic site was established in 1980 to preserve and 
interpret the birthplace, church, and grave of Dr. Martin Luther King, 
Jr. Part of the site also includes a vacant lot that is not 
historically significant to the site, but which the City of Atlanta 
would like to acquire as part of its redevelopment of the area 
surrounding the National Historic Site.
  The National Park Service has established a visitor center and museum 
at the historic site that could be enhanced by acquisition of an 
adjacent parcel owned by the city. While there have been discussions of 
an exchange of the two properties under the site's Enabling Act, city-
owned property can only be acquired by donation.
  Madam Speaker, both the National Park Service and the City of Atlanta 
support this exchange. It is an action that would benefit both the 
national historic site and the city. This looks to be a win-win 
situation and, as such, we support the legislation.
  Madam Speaker, it is an honor to serve with the gentleman from 
Georgia (Mr. Lewis) who, of course, was a trusted and invaluable worker 
and leader along with Dr. Martin Luther King and who continues to be a 
drum major for justice today.
  Madam Speaker, I yield such time as he might consume to the gentleman 
from Georgia (Mr. Lewis).
  Mr. LEWIS of Georgia. Madam Speaker, I would like to thank the 
gentlewoman from the Virgin Islands for those kind remarks and also for 
yielding to me time to speak about H.R. 1616, the Martin Luther King, 
Junior, National Historic Site Land Exchange Act. I also want to thank 
my good friend and colleague, the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. 
Saxton), for bringing this legislation before us.
  Madam Speaker, H.R. 1616 is a good bill. It authorizes the exchange 
of land owned by the National Park Service for land of equal or greater 
value from the City of Atlanta. The National Park Service and the City 
of Atlanta have already agreed to the land swapping. However, this 
cannot be done without authorization from Congress, and H.R. 1616 
completes the deal.
  This legislation is so important because the Martin Luther King, Jr., 
National Historic Site Visitor Center and Museum is landlocked and has 
no emergency access, making it virtually impossible for firefighting 
equipment to reach the facility. In fact, if there were a fire at the 
visitor center, the Atlanta Fire Department would have to walk at least 
150 to 200 yards in order to reach the center.
  Luckily, we have not been faced with such an outcome. However, we 
must be prepared. Furthermore, Madam Speaker, with heightened security 
concerns at our Nation's monuments and parks, emergency access is 
critical.
  Passage of H.R. 1616 will allow the Martin Luther King, Jr., National 
Historic Site to create an emergency access road to and from the site.

[[Page H9848]]

  As the gentlewoman from the Virgin Islands already stated, this bill 
is a win-win for all parties. The acquisition of city-owned property 
would enable the National Park Service to establish easy street access 
to the Martin Luther King, Jr., National Historic Site Visitor Center 
and Museum and would benefit the City of Atlanta by exchanging a piece 
of property that the city could develop into a viable commercial 
center.
  Madam Speaker, Atlanta is the heart of the South and home to 
progressive residential and business communities. The Martin Luther 
King, Jr., National Historic Site is adjacent to one of Atlanta's most 
preserved districts. It is a gathering place where people from all over 
the world travel to and from to learn our Nation's history. Furthermore 
the Martin Luther King, Jr., National Historic Site is central to the 
growth and prosperity of the surrounding community.
  Madam Speaker, we must do all that we can to preserve this important 
tale of history. H.R. 1616 plays a small, but important, role in 
achieving this responsibility.
  Again, I would like to thank the Committee on Resources for 
supporting this bill, and I urge its immediate passage.
  Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 
1616. The Martin Luther King, Jr. National Historic Site, located in 
Atlanta, Georgia, commemorates the community where the Civil Rights 
leader was raised. This community was rich with black commercial and 
residential areas with strong, prominent black religious institutions. 
It was these components that were said to have a lasting impact on King 
and other black community leaders. It is also known for greatly 
influencing the life path chosen by King, to challenge racism, poverty, 
and the denial of black civil rights.
  There are several events and programs that take place at the Museum 
free of charge to the public. For instance, currently, there is a 
program called Confederate Currency: The Color of Money, which tells 
the story of the contribution of enslaved Africans to the American 
economy and expands the discussion with exhibits on reparations and 
racial healing. There are also events which are based around 
significant moments in Dr. King's life such as the King Holiday, Black 
History Month, an Assassination Remembrance and the `I Have a Dream' 
speech.
  Unfortunately, this area rich with history and memories of Dr. King's 
childhood and a strong black neighborhood is land-locked and parts 
could easily be destroyed considering it has no emergency ingress, 
making it impossible for firefighting equipment to reach the Visitor 
Center and Museum. There is a lot owned by the National Park Service 
which could not only solve the problem by allowing street access to the 
Visitor Center, it will also serve as a great piece of property for the 
City to develop.
  Madam Speaker, I thank my colleague and friend Congressman Lewis for 
introducing this resolution and I urge all of my colleagues to support 
it as well.
  Mrs. CHRISTENSEN. Madam Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. SAXTON. Madam 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 Jersey (Mr. Saxton) that the House suspend the rules 
and pass the bill, H.R. 1616.
  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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