[Congressional Record Volume 150, Number 69 (Monday, May 17, 2004)]
[House]
[Pages H3024-H3025]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




TIMUCUAN ECOLOGICAL AND HISTORIC PRESERVE BOUNDARY REVISION ACT OF 2004

  Mr. RADANOVICH. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the 
bill (H.R. 3768) to expand the Timucuan Ecological and Historic 
Preserve, Florida, as amended.
  The Clerk read as follows:

                               H.R. 3768

       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 2004''.

     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 8.5 
     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.''.

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


                             General Leave

  Mr. RADANOVICH. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members 
may have 5 legislative days 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 California?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. RADANOVICH. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may 
consume.
  H.R. 3768, introduced by the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Crenshaw) 
and amended by the Committee on Resources, would authorize the 
expansion of the Timucuan Ecological and Historic Preserve in the State 
of Florida by 8.5 acres. The additional land, much of it known as 
American Beach, would be donated by the Amelia Island Plantation 
Company. American Beach, established by Florida's first insurance 
company, the Afro-American Life Insurance Company, is the only 
remaining example of a beach resort established for use by African 
Americans during the divisive Jim Crow 1930s. In addition, the beach 
includes the Nana, the tallest natural dune on Amelia Island and 
habitat for the threatened loggerhead turtle.
  Mr. Speaker, H.R. 3768, as amended, is supported by the majority and 
the minority of the committee, the Nassau

[[Page H3025]]

County Board of Commissioners of Florida, and the administration. I 
urge adoption of 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. 3768, as amended, is a small, 
noncontroversial measure. The legislation involves the inclusion of 8.5 
acres of land within the Timucuan Ecological and Historic Preserve in 
northern Florida. This parcel of land, known as American Beach, has 
historical ties to the African American community, largely represented 
by the gentlewoman from Florida (Ms. Corrine Brown), which used the 
area for many years for recreational purposes. It is our understanding 
that this noncontroversial measure has the support of the local 
community and there are no objections from the National Park Service to 
the inclusion of this recreational and historical land within the 
preserve.
  That being the case, Mr. Speaker, we support the passage of the 
legislation today.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. RADANOVICH. Mr. Speaker, I yield 5 minutes to the gentleman from 
Florida (Mr. Crenshaw), who is the sponsor of this important 
legislation.
  Mr. CRENSHAW. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 3768. I 
introduced this bill to provide protection to a parcel of land that is 
located in a historic area of my district, an area called American 
Beach which has great national significance. This beautiful stretch of 
shoreline provides a great history and a great story.
  Founded in the 1930s by A. L. Lewis, American Beach provided a sunny 
paradise for African Americans during a tumultuous time in American 
history. This area of Florida's northeastern shore attracted African 
Americans from all over the country, including heavyweight boxing 
champion Joe Lewis, entertainer Cab Calloway, and civil rights leader 
A. Philip Randolph. While this Nation was struggling to find equality 
within its shores, American Beach provided a relaxing, culturally 
unique spot for African Americans to gather along the ocean's edge. The 
significance of this site was recently recognized when the beach and 
120 residential homes in the area were added to the National Registry 
of Historic Places. Additionally, in 1992 the Florida legislature named 
American Beach the first site on the Florida Black Heritage Trail.
  In his recently released budget, President Bush provides resources 
for a new Preserve America program through the National Park Service. 
This initiative is designed to encourage heritage tourism throughout 
the country. Today this legislation answers the President's call 
without spending a single dime of taxpayers' money.
  Last year, American Beach's neighbor, Amelia Island Plantation, made 
arrangements to donate 8.5 acres to the National Park Service. 
Unfortunately, the Park Service could not accept this generous gift 
because the acreage rests outside the boundaries of the Timucuan 
Ecological and Historic Preserve. And so what this legislation simply 
does, it allows the National Park Service to accept the historic site 
by simply modifying the boundaries of the preserve.
  I support this addition to the Timucuan, and others like it, where 
willing property owners and the National Park Service can work together 
as stewards of our national treasures. I urge the adoption of this 
bill.
  Mrs. CHRISTENSEN. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. RADANOVICH. 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 California (Mr. Radanovich) that the House suspend the 
rules and pass the bill, H.R. 3768, 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.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

                          ____________________