[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 14 (Wednesday, January 24, 2007)]
[House]
[Page H923]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




    RECOGNIZING THE 35TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE D.C. PRESERVATION LEAGUE

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under a previous order of the House, the 
gentleman from North Carolina (Mr. Miller) is recognized for 5 minutes.
  Mr. MILLER of North Carolina. Mr. Speaker, Mr. Turner of Ohio and I 
are the cochairs of the Congressional Historic Preservation Caucus. I 
am proud to rise today, as cochair of that caucus, to recognize the 
35th anniversary of the District of Columbia Preservation League.
  In 1971 the old post office on Pennsylvania Avenue was slated for 
demolition to allow completion of an addition to the Federal Triangle 
Building. In part, to save that Washington landmark, the DCPL, which is 
also known as Don't Tear it Down, was founded. And since then, the DCPL 
has worked tirelessly to preserve Washington's historic treasures and 
save many of the unique features of this great city, the features that 
really define our Nation's capital.
  Washington's history and character are among Washington's greatest 
assets, and are vital to the local economic development efforts.
  Advocacy and education have been at the forefront of the DCPL's 
mission. The League has produced educational programs, including tours, 
lectures, newsletters and guides of historic districts here in 
Washington, and since 1996 has annually published a list of 
Washington's most endangered places.
  For the last 35 years, the DCPL has prepared, sponsored, or 
cosponsored more than 120 individual District of Columbia landmark 
nominations and many historic district nominations throughout the 
Nation's Capital.
  Mr. Speaker, this is just a sampling of the efforts that the DCPL 
puts into protecting the history of the District of Columbia. I am sure 
the League will continue to make invaluable contributions to this city, 
and every member of the League, every member, every citizen of the 
District of Columbia, has every right to feel proud of the history of 
the work, the legacy of the DCPL.
  I urge all of the citizens of Washington and supporters of historic 
preservation around the country to join me in commending the DCPL for 
its dedication and commitment to preserving and protecting the history 
and environment of this city through the work of advocacy and 
education.
  Mr. Speaker, I would also like to submit for the Record a resolution, 
a proclamation by the Congressional Historic Preservation Caucus, 
recognizing Thursday, January 25, 2007 as the DCPL's 35th anniversary.

       Whereas, the DC Preservation League was founded by 
     dedicated volunteers in 1971 as Don't Tear It Down, to save 
     the Old Post Office on Pennsylvania Avenue and other notable 
     downtown buildings from Federal Government-sponsored 
     demolition,
       Whereas, Don't Tear It Down worked to provide protection 
     for historic landmarks and historic districts in the Nation's 
     Capital through the establishment of the Historic Landmark 
     and Historic District Protection Act (D.C. Law 2-144) in 
     1978,
       Whereas, over the last 35 years the DC Preservation League 
     has prepared, sponsored or co-sponsored more than 120 
     individual DC Landmark nominations and numerous historic 
     district nominations throughout the Nation's Capital,
       Whereas, to carry out its mission of preservation advocacy 
     and education, the DC Preservation League has produced 
     educational programs including tours, lectures, citywide 
     conferences, candidates' forums, publications including 
     newsletters, information brochures and guides to historic 
     districts, and since 1996 has annually publicized a list of 
     Washington's Most Endangered Places,
       Whereas, the DC Preservation League works with the 
     government of the United States, its federal agency 
     representatives, committees appointed by the President, and 
     organizations chartered by Congress to advocate for the 
     preservation of historic resources as a vital component of 
     the economic and cultural life of our Nation's Capital,
       Whereas, the DC Preservation League is supported by 
     members, contributors and volunteers from across the 
     Washington, DC region who are dedicated to the promotion of 
     the history of the Nation's Capital for visitors and 
     residents alike,
       Whereas, the DC Preservation League will celebrate 35 years 
     of preservation activism as Washington, DC's only citywide 
     non-profit historic preservation organization at the historic 
     Willard InterContinental Hotel on Thursday, January 25, 2007,
       As co-chairs of the Congressional Historic Preservation 
     Caucus, we would like to recognize January 25, 2007 as the DC 
     Preservation League's 35th Anniversary.

                          ____________________