[Congressional Record Volume 150, Number 119 (Tuesday, September 28, 2004)]
[House]
[Pages H7664-H7666]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
TRUMAN FARM HOME EXPANSION ACT
Mr. RADANOVICH. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the
bill (H.R. 4579) to modify the boundary of the Harry S Truman National
Historic Site in the State of Missouri, and for other purposes.
The Clerk read as follows:
H.R. 4579
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of
the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This section may be cited as the ``Truman Farm Home
Expansion Act''.
SEC. 2. HARRY S TRUMAN NATIONAL HISTORIC SITE BOUNDARY
MODIFICATION.
The first section of Public Law 98-32 (16 U.S.C. 461 note)
is amended--
(1) by redesignating subsection (d) as subsection (e); and
(2) by inserting after subsection (c) the following:
``(d) Acquisition of Additional Land.--
``(1) In general.--The Secretary may acquire, by donation,
purchase with donated or appropriated funds, transfer from
another Federal agency, or any other means, the land
described in paragraph (2) for inclusion in the Harry S
Truman National Historic Site.
``(2) Description of land.--The land referred to in
paragraph (1) consists of the approximately 5 acres of land
(including the structure located south of the Truman Farm
Home site), as generally depicted on the map entitled `Harry
S Truman National Historic Site Proposed Boundary', numbered
492/80,027, and dated April 17, 2003.
``(3) Boundary modification.--On acquisition of the land
under this subsection, the Secretary shall modify the
boundary of the Harry S Truman National Historic Site to
reflect the acquisition of the land.''.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from
California (Mr. Radanovich) and the gentlewoman from Guam (Ms.
Bordallo) each will control 20 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentleman from California (Mr. Radanovich).
Mr. RADANOVICH. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may
consume.
Mr. Speaker, H.R. 4579, introduced by the gentlewoman from Missouri
(Ms. McCarthy), would authorize a modification of the boundary of the
Harry S Truman National Historic Site, which includes the Truman Home
in Independence, Missouri, and the Truman Farm Home in Grandview,
Missouri. The Harry S Truman National Historic Site was established on
May 3, 1983. The site was expanded in 1993 when the Truman Farm Home in
Grandview, Missouri, was added.
Mr. Speaker, H.R. 4579 would add approximately 5 acres that abuts the
site on its south side. The additional acreage would preserve the
historic integrity of the site and prevent the growing need for
development of nearby lands from encroaching into the immediate Truman
Farm Home.
Mr. Speaker, I urge adoption of the legislation, and I reserve the
balance of my time.
Ms. BORDALLO. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, I would like to commend the sponsor of this bill, the
gentlewoman from Missouri (Ms. McCarthy) for bringing forth this very
important measure.
Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as she may consume to the gentlewoman
from Missouri (Ms. McCarthy).
Ms. McCARTHY of Missouri. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentlewoman for
yielding me this time.
I rise in support of passage of H.R. 4579, the Truman Farm Home
Expansion Act. My Missouri colleagues on both sides of the aisle join
me in urging support of this bill.
Harry Truman is one of our Nation's greatest presidents. President
Truman was instrumental in the signing of the United Nations charter,
negotiating the creation of a NATO military alliance, carrying out the
Marshall Plan to rebuild a war-torn Europe, conducting a massive
airlift to aid the western sectors of Berlin following the Russian
blockade in 1948, and he laid the foundation for an unprecedented level
of American prosperity. During Truman's tenure, the United States was
widely respected as a beacon of freedom and a nation willing to work
with anyone across the globe to promote peaceful democratic
governments.
One of the many ways we honor his life is to preserve his farm that
instilled in him the values of hard work, commitment and teamwork that
guided him throughout his life and inspired others who followed.
The farm has a very rich history. The Truman family purchased the
land in 1840, and a young Harry Truman farmed the land from 1906 until
1917 when he left to fight as an artillery captain in the First World
War. While working the farm, Truman courted the love of his life, Bess
Wallace, who later became Mrs. Truman. His early experience as a farmer
formed the core of his values. His mother once said that life on the
farm is where Harry got his famous common sense, and Truman himself
said that the best 10 years of his life were spent trying to run the
600-acre farm successfully.
This past July, the House Committee on Resources heard from Grandview
Mayor Harry Wilson that historians believe the years Truman spent
living
[[Page H7665]]
and working on his farm were the most formative, developing the
character of the future President. Truman himself stated, ``Riding one
of those plows all day, day after day, gives one time to think. I have
settled all of the ill of mankind in one way or another while riding
along, seeing that each animal pulled his part of the load.'' The late
publisher of the Jackson County Advocate, Jim Turnbaugh, recounted for
readers a story when, after leaving the farm, Truman attended a
function where he was asked to sign the guest register. Then former
President Truman, he signed in as ``Harry S Truman, retired farmer.''
This legislation would preserve the historical integrity of Harry
Truman's home by adding 5 acres to the current site for educational
purposes. The farm originally sat on 600 acres, but because of
commercial development, the farm now encompasses only 5.2 acres. The
Park Service has secured the support of two local landowners who own 5
acres bordering the farm and are interested in selling. The Park
Service needs authorization from Congress to acquire the land and
protect the ``viewshed'' and the character of the farm as Truman knew
it.
The National Park Service and the Office of Management and Budget
support this proposal. In fact, it is the only presidential-related
bill endorsed by the National Park Service this session.
The Truman Farm Home and Expansion Act will help America preserve and
enhance the legacy of one of our favorite sons and most revered
leaders. I ask the House to support this legislation.
I would like to thank the Committee on Resources chairman, the
gentleman from California (Mr. Pombo), the gentleman from West Virginia
(Ranking Member Rahall), the chairman of the Subcommittee on National
Parks, Recreation, and Public Lands, the gentleman from California
(Chairman Radanovich), the gentlewoman from the Virgin Islands (Ranking
Member Christensen) and the gentlewoman from Guam (Ms. Bordallo) for
their support.
Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 4579, the Truman Farm Home
Expansion Act. My Missouri colleagues on both sides of the aisle join
me in urging passage of this bill.
Harry S Truman is one of our Nation's greatest Presidents. As
President, Truman pledged to secure the free world from the spread of
communism. President Truman was instrumental in the signing of the
United Nations charter, negotiated the creation of the NATO military
alliance, carried out the Marshall Plan to rebuild a war torn Europe,
conducted a massive airlift to aid the western sectors of Berlin
following the Russian blockade in 1948, and laid the foundation for an
unprecedented level of American prosperity. During Truman's tenure the
United States was widely respected as a beacon for freedom and a Nation
willing to work with anyone across the globe to promote peaceful
democratic governments. One of the many ways we honor his life is to
preserve the farm that instilled in him the values of hard work,
commitment, and teamwork that guided him throughout his life, and
inspired others who followed.
The farm has a very rich history. The Truman family purchased the
land in 1840, and a young Harry Truman farmed the land from 1906 until
1917, when he left to fight as an artillery captain in the First World
War. While working the farm, Truman courted the love of his life, Bess
Wallace, who later became Mrs. Truman. His early experiences as a
farmer formed the core of his values. His mother once said that life on
the farm is where Harry got his famous common sense and Truman himself
said that the best 10 years of his life were spent trying to run the
600-ace farm successfully.
This past July, the House Resource Committee heard from Grandview
Mayor, Harry Wilson, that historians believe the years Truman spent
living and working on his farm were the most formative in developing
the character of the future President. Truman himself stated: ``Riding
one of these plows all day, day after day, gives one time to think.
I've settled all the ills of mankind in one way and another while
riding along seeing that each animal pulled his part of the load.'' The
late publisher of the Jackson County Advocate, James D. Turnbaugh Jr.,
recounted for readers the story of former President Truman attending a
function where he was asked to sign a guest register. He signed in as
``Harry S Truman, retired farmer.''
Truman's mother, Martha Truman, and sister, Mary Jones Truman, lived
at the farm until 1940. The farm home remained in the Truman family
until 1980. The speculation that the Truman's would be forced to sell
the remaining house and five acres to commercial interests compelled a
group of concerned citizens to form the Harry S Truman Farm Foundation
in an effort to save the farm. Their efforts proved successful and
Jackson County assumed control of the farm. In 1994, the county
transferred the farm to the US Park Service.
H.R. 4579 will preserve the historical integrity of Harry Truman's
home by adding five acres to the current site for educational purposes.
Today the farm only encompasses 5.2 acres due to commercial
development. The Park Service has secured the support of local
landowners who are interested in selling the five acres bordering the
farm. The Park Service needs authorization from Congress to acquire the
land, and protect the ``viewshed'' and the character of the farm as
Truman knew it.
H.R. 4579 authorizes the Secretary of the Interior to expand the park
boundary to appropriately preserve the site. It does not specifically
request an additional appropriation of funds to acquire the land,
however it does give the Secretary the flexibility to use donated and
private funds to meet this objective. The National Park Service and the
Office of Management and Budget support this proposal. In fact, it is
the only Presidential related bill endorsed by the National Park
Service this session.
President Truman remains a hero and an inspiration for all Americans
and visitors from around the world. The Truman farm offers a deeply
personal connection to his legacy. Currently, Park Service employees
are housed in a screened porch on the side of the house because there
is no permanent area for them to be located. On average, over 5,000
vehicles drive through the farm annually and the National Park Service
estimates that visitation levels will increase with the development of
a new visitor center. A visitor center could be constructed with
restrooms, a parking lot, drinking fountains, and facilities that the
farm currently lacks. School groups, bus tours, and families from
around the country and world would benefit greatly from the improved
facilities.
The Truman Farm Home Expansion Act will help America preserve and
enhance the legacy of one of our favorite sons and most revered
leaders. I urge my colleagues to support this legislation. I would like
to thank Resources Committee Chairman Pombo, Ranking Member Rahall,
National Parks Recreation and Public Lands Subcommittee Chairman
Radanovich, Ranking Member Christensen, and Representative Bordallo for
their support.
Ms. BORDALLO. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the
gentleman from Missouri (Mr. Skelton)
Mr. SKELTON. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of this
legislation, and I certainly commend the gentlewoman from Kansas City,
Missouri, the fifth district of our State, for her foresight and her
effort to expand the boundaries of the Harry Truman Farm.
As we all know, Harry Truman is very special to us in the State of
Missouri, and expanding the farm is all the more important because the
Park Service wishes to continue to build and preserve the land and to
make it a historical part of the farm area. The land will be used to
plant vegetation and to shield the site from encroaching modern
development.
The Truman Farm was Harry Truman's home in his younger days when he
was forming his character and opinions behind the plow. The Truman
family purchased this land in 1840. He farmed it from 1906 to 1917. In
1980, there was speculation that financial difficulties would force
land to be sold, compelling a group of concerned citizens to form the
Harry S Truman Farm Foundation which saved the farm.
We certainly hope that this body will pass this legislation. It is
very important to the State of Missouri. I think it is very important
to the history and to the memory of the great President from the State
of Missouri, Harry Truman, and I again compliment the gentlewoman from
Missouri (Ms. McCarthy) for her foresight in this legislation.
{time} 1515
Ms. BORDALLO. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
I wish to go on record to thank the sponsor of this measure, the
gentlewoman from Missouri (Ms. McCarthy) and the very distinguished
gentleman from Missouri (Mr. Skelton), the ranking member of the
Committee on Armed Services.
Mr. MOORE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 4579,
legislation that would authorize the Interior Department to purchase
approximately five acres of land, including a
[[Page H7666]]
structure north of the Truman Farm House in Independence, Missouri, for
inclusion in the Harry S Truman National Historic Site. This addition
would modify the current boundary by approximately five acres, to
include the acquired lands.
The Truman family purchased the land that now makes up the Truman
Farm Home in 1840. Harry Truman farmed it from 1906-1917. In 1980, due
to speculation that financial difficulties would force the sale of the
land, a group of concerned citizens formed the Harry S Truman Farm
Foundation, which received a grant to purchase the land. The Foundation
turned the land over to Jackson County, Missouri, in 1991, which
transferred the farm to the National Park Service in 1994.
This measure has the support of local landowners and will preserve
the viewshed and the historical character of the farm area. The
purchase will include a retail paint store that the Park Service will
convert into a visitors' center, providing rest room facilities and a
paved parking area. I expect the Interior Department will seek
appropriations in fiscal year 2006, or see, private donations to pay
for implementation of the legislation. The 5.2 acres in question is the
only undeveloped land remaining that borders the Site. Over the past
six years, the Site has averaged over 5000 vehicles driving through
each year. With the improvements planned under H.R. 4579, the Park
Service expects an increase in the number of visitors, due to the
addition of a visitors' center and paved parking.
I commend my fellow Kansas City Representative, from the other side
of State Line Road, Karen McCarthy, for the leadership she has taken in
moving this important measure forward, in concert with Senator Talent,
who has introduced a companion bill, S. 2499.
Mr. Speaker, the preservation and expansion of the Truman Farm Home
is an important way to preserve and enhance the legacy of our great
33rd President. As he once said, ``Do your duty and history will do you
justice.''
The late President Truman left an extensive record of quoted wisdom.
In conclusion, I would like to share with you, Mr. Speaker, four
comments of Harry S Truman's--which are as relevant today as they were
when he said them several decades ago--that I came across when
preparing these remarks: ``I have always defined politics to means the
science of government, perhaps the most important science, because it
involves the art and ability of people to live together.'' ``I've
always believed that religion is something to live by and not talk
about.'' ``No government is perfect. One of the chief virtues of a
democracy, however, is that its defects are always visible and under
democratic processes can be pointed out and corrected.''
And finally, ``The greatest orators have been the men who understood
what they wanted to say, said it in short sentences and said it quickly
and then got out of there before people fell asleep.''
Mr. BLUNT. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 4579, the
Truman Farm Home Expansion Act. This bill would allow the Secretary of
the Interior to acquire approximately five acres of land surrounding
the Truman Farm Home in Grandview, Missouri, preserving an historic
site enjoyed by more than five thousand families each year.
Built in 1894, the Truman Home sits on 5.25 acres of the family's
former 600-acre farm where President Truman lived and worked from 1906
to 1917. Acquisition of the five additional acres will prevent future
commercial development and save the farm's original setting and
character. The National Park service plans to utilize the land to plant
vegetation shielding the home from surrounding buildings, in addition
to converting one building presently on the property into a visitor's
center. These much needed improvements will increase the site's
accessibility and secure its authenticity, attracting more visitors to
the former President's Grandview home.
By adopting H.R. 4579, we will not only protect a significant part of
our history, but will honor a great President who faithfully served
America during a time of international unrest. Similar to today's
global war against terrorism, President Truman stood firm in the face
of an enemy which sought to deter democracy. Out of honor to President
Truman and with great appreciation for the historical importance of his
Grandview home, I fully support passage of the Truman Farm Home
Expansion Act.
Ms. BORDALLO. 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 (Mr. Issa). 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. 4579.
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.
____________________