[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.
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