[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 160 (Monday, October 22, 2007)]
[House]
[Page H11786]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[[Page H11786]]
   HOPEWELL CULTURE NATIONAL HISTORICAL PARK BOUNDARY ADJUSTMENT ACT

  Mr. GRIJALVA. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the 
bill (H.R. 2197) to modify the boundary of the Hopewell Culture 
National Historical Park in the State of Ohio, and for other purposes.
  The Clerk read the title of the bill.
  The text of the bill is as follows:

                               H.R. 2197

       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 ``Hopewell Culture National 
     Historical Park Boundary Adjustment Act''.

     SEC. 2. BOUNDARY EXPANSION.

       Section 2 of the Act entitled ``An Act to rename and expand 
     the boundaries of the Mound City Group National Monument in 
     Ohio'', approved May 27, 1992 (106 Stat. 185), is amended--
       (1) by striking ``and'' at the end of subsection (a)(3);
       (2) by striking the period at the end of subsection (a)(4) 
     and inserting ``; and'';
       (3) by adding after subsection (a)(4) the following new 
     paragraph:
       ``(5) the map entitled `Hopewell Culture National 
     Historical Park, Ohio Proposed Boundary Adjustment' numbered 
     353/80,049 and dated June, 2006.''; and
       (4) by adding after subsection (d)(2) the following new 
     paragraph:
       ``(3) The Secretary may acquire lands added by subsection 
     (a)(5) only from willing sellers.''.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from 
Arizona (Mr. Grijalva) and the gentleman from Alaska (Mr. Young) each 
will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Arizona.


                             General Leave

  Mr. GRIJALVA. 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 Arizona?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. GRIJALVA. Mr. Speaker, H.R. 2197 was introduced by the gentleman 
from Ohio (Mr. Space). The legislation would modify the boundaries of 
the Hopewell Culture National Historical Park in south central Ohio to 
add two tracts, totaling almost 360 acres.
  The Hopewell Culture was a pre-European civilization best known for 
the numerous mounds and earthworks found throughout the Ohio Valley. 
The current park boundary encompasses five sites totaling 1,174 acres. 
H.R. 2197 would add two tracts, the 177-acre Spruce Hill Works unit and 
the 180-acre addition to the existing Seip Earthworks unit.
  Mr. Speaker, the National Park Service has testified in support of 
the legislation, and it was approved by the Resources Committee by 
unanimous consent. This addition to our National Park System will 
preserve important sites from our Nation's past.
  I commend the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Space) for his diligence in 
bringing this bill to the House. Representative Space is on his way 
back from his district this afternoon, but will submit a statement for 
the Record.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Without objection, the gentleman from Texas 
(Mr. Gohmert) will control the time.
  There was no objection.
  Mr. GOHMERT. Mr. Speaker, I believe the National Parks Subcommittee 
chairman has adequately explained this bill, and we have no objection.
  Mr. SPACE. Mr. Speaker, it is with great excitement that I share my 
support for H.R. 2197, the Hopewell Culture National Historical Park 
Boundary Adjustment Act, with the House today. Passage of this 
legislation will help to ensure the protection of a national 
archaeological treasure in Ohio's 18th Congressional District.
  I would like to begin by offering my thanks to Chairmen Rahall and 
Grijalva for their gracious assistance in assuring this legislation was 
heard both by the Committee and the House of Representatives. The House 
is fortunate to have the service of both of these Members.
  H.R. 2197 permits the expansion of the boundaries of Hopewell Culture 
National Historical Park in two areas. Hopewell Culture National 
Historical Park is home to historical remains of the Hopewell Culture, 
a culture of Native Americans that thrived between the years of 200 BC 
and 500 AD. This culture was known for the creation of large enclosures 
characterized by earthen walls, many of which still stand today.
  The proposed border expansion is not an arbitrary one. Earlier this 
year, a parcel of land known as Spruce Hill became available for sale. 
Spruce Hill is home to many archaeological remains of interest to 
historians and archaeologists, and significant natural phenomena that 
piqued the interest of the environmental community. In fact, 
legislation passed by Congress in 1980 ordered the Department of the 
Interior to perform a study on the relevance of Spruce Hill to the 
Hopewell culture for the purposes of a possible expansion. The report, 
released in 1998, found that Spruce Hill is an ``outstanding example of 
a particular class of Hopewellian monumental architecture,'' confirming 
the importance of adding this land to the Park.
  Spruce Hill was scheduled for public auction by the owner last June. 
I, like many of the residents of Ross County, were concerned that this 
land might be transferred to an owner uninterested in preserving its 
historical treasures. Fortunately, a land trust created by a group of 
concerned citizens and other interested parties were successful in 
raising enough funds to purchase the land before it was put up for 
auction. I am pleased to say that the land is currently in safe hands.
  H.R. 2197 will allow the federal government to expand the borders of 
Hopewell Culture National Historical Park to include Spruce Hill, 
ensuring it takes it proper place within the boundaries of a park meant 
to commemorate an important chapter in the history of America.
  Historians will tell you that the Hopewell culture is a chapter of 
American history in need of further exploration. Dr. Brad Lepper of the 
Ohio Historical Society testified before the Subcommittee on National 
Parks in June that Spruce Hill was an untapped resource that could 
offer answers to many historical questions about this culture, and even 
raise new questions of interest.
  I urge my colleagues to join me in passage of H.R. 2197 today. Its 
passage is both timely and critical to the protection of our culture.
  Mr. GOHMERT. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. GRIJALVA. 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 Arizona (Mr. Grijalva) that the House suspend the rules 
and pass the bill, H.R. 2197.
  The question was taken; and (two-thirds being in the affirmative) the 
rules were suspended and the bill was passed.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

                          ____________________