[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 184 (Tuesday, December 4, 2007)]
[House]
[Pages H14091-H14095]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




           AMERICA'S HISTORICAL AND NATURAL LEGACY STUDY ACT

  Ms. BORDALLO. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the 
bill (H.R. 3998) to authorize the Secretary of the Interior to conduct 
special resources studies of certain lands and structures to determine 
the appropriate means for preservation, use, and management of the 
resources associated with such lands and structures, as amended.
  The Clerk read the title of the bill.
  The text of the bill is as follows:

                               H.R. 3998

       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 ``America's Historical and Natural 
     Legacy Study Act''.

     SEC. 2. SECRETARY.

       For the purposes of this Act, the term ``Secretary'' means 
     the Secretary of the Interior.

     SEC. 3. TABLE OF CONTENTS.

       The table of contents is as follows:

Sec. 1. Short title.
Sec. 2. Secretary.
Sec. 3. Table of contents.

              TITLE I--HARRY S TRUMAN BIRTHPLACE STUDY ACT

Sec. 101. Short title.
Sec. 102. Special resource study.

 TITLE II--LEWIS AND CLARK NATIONAL HISTORIC TRAIL EXTENSION STUDY ACT

Sec. 201. Short title.
Sec. 202. Definitions.
Sec. 203. Special resource study.

                 TITLE III--BATTLE OF MATEWAN STUDY ACT

Sec. 301. Short title.
Sec. 302. Special resource study.

                  TITLE IV--BATTLE OF CAMDEN STUDY ACT

Sec. 401. Short title.
Sec. 402. Special resource study.

                  TITLE V--MISSISSIPPI RIVER STUDY ACT

Sec. 501. Short title.
Sec. 502. Special resource study.

                 TITLE VI--FORT SAN GERONIMO STUDY ACT

Sec. 601. Short title.
Sec. 602. Definitions.
Sec. 603. Special resource study.

                    TITLE VII--WOLF HOUSE STUDY ACT

Sec. 701. Short title.
Sec. 702. Special resource study.

            TITLE VIII--RIM OF THE VALLEY CORRIDOR STUDY ACT

Sec. 801. Short title.
Sec. 802. Special resource study.

             TITLE IX--BUTTERFIELD OVERLAND TRAIL STUDY ACT

Sec. 901. Short title.
Sec. 902. Special resource study.

                      TITLE X--HUNTING AND FISHING

Sec. 1001. Hunting and fishing.

                      TITLE XI--SENSE OF CONGRESS

Sec. 1101. Sense of congress.

              TITLE I--HARRY S TRUMAN BIRTHPLACE STUDY ACT

     SEC. 101. SHORT TITLE.

       This title may be cited as the ``Harry S Truman Birthplace 
     Study Act''.

     SEC. 102. SPECIAL RESOURCE STUDY.

       (a) In General.--The Secretary shall complete a special 
     resource study of the Harry S Truman Birthplace State 
     Historic Site in Lamar, Missouri to determine--
       (1) the suitability and feasibility of adding the 
     birthplace site to the Harry S Truman National Historic Site 
     or designating the site as a separate unit of the National 
     Park System; and
       (2) the methods and means for the protection and 
     interpretation of the Harry S Truman Birthplace State 
     Historic Site by the National Park Service, other Federal, 
     State, or local government entities or private or non-profit 
     organizations.
       (b) Study Requirements.--The Secretary shall conduct the 
     study in accordance with section 8(c) of Public Law 91-383 
     (16 U.S.C. 1a-5).
       (c) Report.--Not later than 3 years after the date on which 
     funds are made available to carry out this Act, the Secretary 
     shall submit to the Committee on Natural Resources of the 
     House of Representatives and the Committee on Energy and 
     Natural Resources of the Senate a report containing--
       (1) the results of the study; and
       (2) any recommendations of the Secretary.

 TITLE II--LEWIS AND CLARK NATIONAL HISTORIC TRAIL EXTENSION STUDY ACT

     SEC. 201. SHORT TITLE.

       This title may be cited as the ``Lewis and Clark National 
     Historic Trail Extension Study Act''.

     SEC. 202. DEFINITIONS.

       In this title:
       (1) Eastern legacy sites.--The term ``Eastern Legacy 
     sites'' means the sites associated with the preparation or 
     return phases of the Lewis and Clark expedition, commonly 
     known as the ``Eastern Legacy'', including sites in Virginia, 
     the District of Columbia, Maryland, Delaware, Pennsylvania, 
     West Virginia, Ohio, Kentucky, Tennessee, Indiana, Missouri, 
     and Illinois. This includes the routes followed by Meriwether 
     Lewis and William Clark, whether independently or together.
       (2) Trail.--The term ``Trail'' means the Lewis and Clark 
     National Historic Trail designated by section 5(a)(6) of the 
     National Trails System Act (16 U.S.C. 1244(a)(6)).

     SEC. 203. SPECIAL RESOURCE STUDY.

       (a) In General.--The Secretary shall complete a special 
     resource study of the Eastern Legacy sites to determine--
       (1) the suitability and feasibility of adding these sites 
     to the Trail; and
       (2) the methods and means for the protection and 
     interpretation of these sites by the National Park Service, 
     other Federal, State, or local government entities or private 
     or non-profit organizations.
       (b) Study Requirements.--The Secretary shall conduct the 
     study in accordance with section 5(b) of the National Trails 
     System Act (16 U.S.C. 1244(b)).
       (c) Report.--Not later than 3 years after the date on which 
     funds are made available to carry out this title, the 
     Secretary shall submit to the Committee on Natural Resources 
     of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Energy 
     and Natural Resources of the Senate a report containing--
       (1) the results of the study; and
       (2) any recommendations of the Secretary.

                 TITLE III--BATTLE OF MATEWAN STUDY ACT

     SEC. 301. SHORT TITLE.

       This title may be cited as the ``Battle of Matewan Study 
     Act''.

     SEC. 302. SPECIAL RESOURCE STUDY.

       (a) In General.--The Secretary shall complete a special 
     resource study of the sites and resources at Matewan, West 
     Virginia, associated with the Battle of Matewan (also known 
     as the Matewan Massacre) of May 19, 1920 to determine--
       (1) the suitability and feasibility of designating certain 
     historic areas of Matewan, West Virginia as a unit of the 
     National Park System; and
       (2) the methods and means for the protection and 
     interpretation of these sites by the National Park Service, 
     other Federal, State, or local government entities or private 
     or non-profit organizations.
       (b) Study Requirements.--The Secretary shall conduct the 
     study in accordance with section 8(c) of Public Law 91-383 
     (16 U.S.C. 1a-5).
       (c) Report.--Not later than 3 years after the date on which 
     funds are made available to carry out this title, the 
     Secretary shall submit to the Committee on Natural Resources 
     of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Energy 
     and Natural Resources of the Senate a report containing--
       (1) the results of the study; and
       (2) any recommendations of the Secretary.

                  TITLE IV--BATTLE OF CAMDEN STUDY ACT

     SEC. 401. SHORT TITLE.

       This title may be cited as the ``Battle of Camden Study 
     Act''.

     SEC. 402. SPECIAL RESOURCE STUDY.

       (a) In General.--The Secretary shall complete a special 
     resource study of the site of the Battle of Camden fought in 
     South Carolina on August 16, 1780, and the site of Historic 
     Camden, which is currently a National Park System Affiliated 
     Area, to determine--

[[Page H14092]]

       (1) the suitability and feasibility of designating these 
     sites as a unit or units of the National Park System; and
       (2) the methods and means for the protection and 
     interpretation of these sites by the National Park Service, 
     other Federal, State, or local government entities or private 
     or non-profit organizations.
       (b) Study Requirements.--The Secretary shall conduct the 
     study in accordance with section 8(c) of Public Law 91-383 
     (16 U.S.C. 1a-5).
       (c) Report.--Not later than 3 years after the date on which 
     funds are made available to carry out this title, the 
     Secretary shall submit to the Committee on Natural Resources 
     of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Energy 
     and Natural Resources of the Senate a report containing--
       (1) the results of the study; and
       (2) any recommendations of the Secretary.

                  TITLE V--MISSISSIPPI RIVER STUDY ACT

     SEC. 501. SHORT TITLE.

       This title may be cited as the ``Mississippi River Study 
     Act''.

     SEC. 502. SPECIAL RESOURCE STUDY.

       (a) In General.--The Secretary shall complete a special 
     resource study along the route of the Mississippi River in 
     the counties contiguous to the river from its headwaters in 
     the State of Minnesota to the Gulf of Mexico to evaluate--
       (1) a range of alternatives for protecting and interpreting 
     the resources along the route of the Mississippi River, 
     including alternatives for potential addition of all or 
     portions of the route to the National Trails System; and
       (2) the methods and means for the protection and 
     interpretation of the route by the National Park Service, 
     other Federal, State, or local government entities or private 
     or non-profit organizations.
       (b) Study Requirements.--The Secretary shall conduct the 
     study in accordance with section 8 (c) of Public Law 91-383 
     (16 U.S.C. 1a-5) or section 5(b) of the National Trails 
     System Act (16 U.S.C. 1244(b)) as appropriate.
       (c) Report.--Not later than 3 years after the date on which 
     funds are made available to carry out this title, the 
     Secretary shall submit to the Committee on Natural Resources 
     of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Energy 
     and Natural Resources of the Senate a report containing--
       (1) the results of the study; and
       (2) any recommendations of the Secretary.

                 TITLE VI--FORT SAN GERONIMO STUDY ACT

     SEC. 601. SHORT TITLE.

       This title may be cited as the ``Fort San Geronimo Study 
     Act''.

     SEC. 602. DEFINITIONS.

       For the purposes of this title:
       (1) Fort san geronimo.--The term ``Fort San Geronimo'' 
     (also known as ``Fortin de San Geronimo del Boqueron'') means 
     the fort and grounds listed on the National Register of 
     Historic Places and located near Old San Juan, Puerto Rico.
       (2) Related resources.--The term ``related resources'' 
     means other parts of the fortification system of old San Juan 
     that are not currently included within the boundary of San 
     Juan National Historic Site, such as sections of the City 
     Wall or other fortifications.

     SEC. 603. SPECIAL RESOURCE STUDY.

       (a) In General.--The Secretary shall complete a special 
     resource study of Fort San Geronimo and other related 
     resources, to determine--
       (1) the suitability and feasibility of including Fort San 
     Geronimo and other related resources in the Commonwealth of 
     Puerto Rico as part of San Juan National Historic Site; and
       (2) the methods and means for the protection and 
     interpretation of Fort San Geronimo and other related 
     resources by the National Park Service, other Federal, State, 
     or local government entities or private or non-profit 
     organizations.
       (b) Study Requirements.--The Secretary shall conduct the 
     study in accordance with section 8(c) of Public Law 91-383 
     (16 U.S.C. 1a-5).
       (c) Report.--Not later than 3 years after the date on which 
     funds are made available to carry out this title, the 
     Secretary shall submit to the Committee on Natural Resources 
     of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Energy 
     and Natural Resources of the Senate a report containing--
       (1) the results of the study; and
       (2) any recommendations of the Secretary.

                    TITLE VII--WOLF HOUSE STUDY ACT

     SEC. 701. SHORT TITLE.

       This title may be cited as the ``Wolf House Study Act''.

     SEC. 702. SPECIAL RESOURCE STUDY.

       (a) In General.--The Secretary shall complete a special 
     resource study of the Wolf House located on Highway 5 in 
     Norfork, Arkansas, to determine--
       (1) the suitability and feasibility of designating the Wolf 
     House as a unit of the National Park System; and
       (2) the methods and means for the protection and 
     interpretation of the Wolf House by the National Park 
     Service, other Federal, State, or local government entities 
     or private or non-profit organizations.
       (b) Study Requirements.--The Secretary shall conduct the 
     study in accordance with section 8(c) of Public Law 91-383 
     (16 U.S.C. 1a-5).
       (c) Report.--Not later than 3 years after the date on which 
     funds are made available to carry out this title, the 
     Secretary shall submit to the Committee on Natural Resources 
     of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Energy 
     and Natural Resources of the Senate a report containing--
       (1) the results of the study; and
       (2) any recommendations of the Secretary.

            TITLE VIII--RIM OF THE VALLEY CORRIDOR STUDY ACT

     SEC. 801. SHORT TITLE.

       This title may be cited as the ``Rim of the Valley Corridor 
     Study Act''.

     SEC. 802. SPECIAL RESOURCE STUDY.

       (a) In General.--The Secretary shall complete a special 
     resource study of the area known as the Rim of the Valley 
     Corridor, generally including the mountains encircling the 
     San Fernando, La Crescenta, Santa Clarita, Simi, and Conejo 
     Valleys in California, to determine--
       (1) the suitability and feasibility of designating all or a 
     portion of the corridor as a unit of the Santa Monica 
     Mountains National Recreation Area; and
       (2) the methods and means for the protection and 
     interpretation of this corridor by the National Park Service, 
     other Federal, State, or local government entities or private 
     or non-profit organizations.
       (b) Documentation.--In conducting the study authorized 
     under subsection (a), the Secretary shall document--
       (1) the process used to develop the existing Santa Monica 
     Mountains National Recreation Area Fire Management Plan and 
     Environmental Impact Statement (September 2005); and
       (2) all activity conducted pursuant to the plan referred to 
     in paragraph (1) designed to protect lives and property from 
     wildfire.
       (c) Study Requirements.--The Secretary shall conduct the 
     study in accordance with section 8(c) of Public Law 91-383 
     (16 U.S.C. 1a-5).
       (d) Report.--Not later than 3 years after the date on which 
     funds are made available to carry out this title, the 
     Secretary shall submit to the Committee on Natural Resources 
     of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Energy 
     and Natural Resources of the Senate a report containing--
       (1) the results of the study; and
       (2) any recommendations of the Secretary.

             TITLE IX--BUTTERFIELD OVERLAND TRAIL STUDY ACT

     SEC. 901. SHORT TITLE.

       This title may be cited as the ``Butterfield Overland Trail 
     Study Act''.

     SEC. 902. SPECIAL RESOURCE STUDY.

       (a) In General.--The Secretary shall complete a special 
     resource study along the ``Ox-Bow Route'' of the Butterfield 
     Overland Trail in the States of Missouri, Tennessee, 
     Arkansas, Oklahoma, Texas, New Mexico, Arizona, and 
     California to evaluate--
       (1) a range of alternatives for protecting and interpreting 
     the resources of the trail area, including alternatives for 
     potential addition of the trail area to the National Trails 
     System; and
       (2) the methods and means for the protection and 
     interpretation of this trail by the National Park Service, 
     other Federal, State, or local government entities or private 
     or non-profit organizations.
       (b) Study Requirements.--The Secretary shall conduct the 
     study in accordance with section 8(c) of Public Law 91-383 
     (16 U.S.C. 1a-5) or section 5(b) of the National Trails 
     System Act (16 U.S.C. 1244(b)) as appropriate.
       (c) Report.--Not later than 3 years after the date on which 
     funds are made available to carry out this title, the 
     Secretary shall submit to the Committee on Natural Resources 
     of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Energy 
     and Natural Resources of the Senate a report containing--
       (1) the results of the study; and
       (2) any recommendations of the Secretary.

                      TITLE X--HUNTING AND FISHING

     SEC. 1001. HUNTING AND FISHING.

       Each study authorized by this Act shall document the State 
     and local laws governing hunting and fishing within the study 
     area.

                      TITLE XI--SENSE OF CONGRESS

     SEC. 1101. SENSE OF CONGRESS.

       It is the sense of Congress that any subsequent legislation 
     affecting the status of the areas subject to the special 
     resources studies authorized under this Act shall be 
     supported by the results of the relevant studies authorized 
     by this Act.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentlewoman from 
Guam (Ms. Bordallo) and the gentlewoman from Washington (Mrs. McMorris 
Rodgers) each will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentlewoman from Guam.


                             General Leave

  Ms. BORDALLO. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members 
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 
gentlewoman from Guam?
  There was no objection.
  Ms. BORDALLO. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  H.R. 3998 was introduced by our colleague from Arizona, the chairman 
of the National Parks, Forests and Public

[[Page H14093]]

Land Subcommittee, Representative Raul Grijalva.
  This bill, America's Historical and National Legacy Study Act, would 
direct the Secretary of the Interior to study nine sites to determine 
the best way to preserve and interpret them, including an evaluation of 
whether they merit inclusion in the National Park System or the 
National Trails System.
  Special resource studies are an important tool in preserving and 
interpreting the Nation's natural and cultural history. Even if a study 
concludes that involvement of the Federal Government is not 
recommended, these studies provide important information and options 
for the local, the State, or the private landowners charged with 
managing these resources.
  Mr. Speaker, hearings have been held on eight of the measures 
included in this legislation over the course of this year. The ninth 
study passed the House in the last Congress. These study proposals have 
been sponsored or cosponsored by more than 50 of our colleagues, both 
Democrats and Republicans. The studies range geographically from 
California to Puerto Rico and from President Truman's birthplace to 
Lewis and Clark's expedition of discovery.
  Mr. Speaker, special resource studies are some of the most common and 
popular types of legislation that our colleagues ask the Natural 
Resources Committee to consider. So we are happy to recommend these 
worthy study proposals to the House.
  I urge all of my colleagues to support H.R. 3998.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mrs. McMORRIS RODGERS. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may 
consume.
  While H.R. 3998 contains titles that are a concern to some, it also 
contains studies that are worthy of special recognition for the effort 
and diligence that their sponsors put into them. In particular, I would 
like to thank Representative Boozman and his staff for their hard work 
on the Butterfield Overland Trail Study Act. Congressman Boozman 
reached out to all Members whose districts will be a part of this study 
and made sure that they had no objections. He also ensured that all 
private property rights would be protected. His actions are exemplary 
and should be commended.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Ms. BORDALLO. Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for time, and I 
yield back the balance of my time.
  Mrs. McMORRIS RODGERS. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may 
consume to the gentleman from Utah (Mr. Bishop).
  Mr. BISHOP of Utah. I appreciate the time being yielded.
  Mr. Speaker, one of the processes of this particular bill is one that 
I hope we do not replicate very often because indeed there are nine 
separate bills tied together into one package. Each bill has a separate 
amount of merits to those particular bills. Some of them, like the bill 
by Mr. Skelton, the chairman from Missouri, is a very well-written 
bill. I particularly would like to thank the gentleman from Arkansas 
(Mr. Boozman) for writing a bill that I think went above and beyond the 
call of duty in trying to ensure that the rights of citizens who would 
be in this study area are protected, as well as ensuring that the 
maximum amount of participation can be given to those people who are 
living in that particular area.
  There are also some elements in the bill as it came out of committee 
that I found personally egregious. Those have been removed from the 
bill that is here. I would like to thank the chairman of the committee 
and the subcommitees respectively as well as Democratic staff for 
making changes in this particular bill in a way that I find very 
appealing. I appreciate them for entering into discussions in an effort 
to find some kind of bipartisan cooperation with this, and I also am 
very appreciative of the professional manner in which the Democrat 
staff worked with our staff in coming up with a bill that I think is 
very positive coming out of here.
  With the bill that is now before us, I certainly have no objections 
to this particular bill, and I wish to express my appreciation for 
putting this particular piece of legislation in a form that I think is 
commendable, and we can commend it and represent it and encourage our 
fellow Members of the House to vote for it.
  Mrs. McMORRIS RODGERS. Mr. Speaker, I would like to yield 3 minutes 
to the gentleman from Arkansas (Mr. Boozman).
  Mr. BOOZMAN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 3998, in 
particular title X of the bill, the Butterfield Overland Trail Study 
Act. This title directs the Secretary of the Interior to conduct a 
special resource study of the Butterfield Overland Trail, which 
stretches from Missouri to California. Before the railroad and even the 
famed Pony Express, the Butterfield Trail was the only connection 
between the eastern United States and the rapidly expanding west coast.

                              {time}  1430

  Commissioned by Congress in 1857, John Butterfield established a 
trail that could be traveled by stagecoach from the Mississippi River 
to San Francisco in a remarkable 25 days.
  While the original purpose of the trail has long been surpassed by 
modern technology, the trail survives with the potential to be a great 
link to our Nation's past, attracting tourists with its educational and 
historic appeal, as well as a tool to educate our children about our 
country's storied history.
  I have worked with the National Resources Committee to ensure that 
extreme caution is given to protecting private property rights, and 
clear language is contained in the bill so that any future action will 
not compromise private land.
  Mr. Speaker, as our country continues to rapidly grow and develop in 
the spirit of the old American West, it is so important that we 
remember what brought us to this point. It is our duty to our children 
and grandchildren that we take the time to mark the paths our ancestors 
took across our country.
  I respectfully ask my colleagues to vote in favor of H.R. 3998. And I 
want to thank the committee so much, and the committee staff. It has 
really been a pleasure to work with you guys to help us as we worked 
forward in ironing out the kinks.
  Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  Ms. BORDALLO. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent to reclaim my 
time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentlewoman from Guam?
  There was no objection.
  Ms. BORDALLO. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the 
gentleman from South Carolina, the Honorable John Spratt.
  Mr. SPRATT. I thank the gentlelady for the generous grant of time and 
I rise in support, Mr. Speaker, of the America's Historical and 
National Legacy Study Act.
  This bill authorizes studies into the suitability of 10 sites as 
candidates for the National Park System. It is the first step towards 
preserving some of our most important historical sights and some of our 
most precious national resources, many of which are vulnerable to 
development unless we act, and act now. One of the 10 sites is located 
in the heart of my district, the Battle of Camden.
  I introduced the Battle of Camden Study Act in the 108th Congress, 
and I am thankful that Congress is now finally considering it as part 
of this National Legacy Study Act. This site has been a national 
historic landmark since 1962, but it does not enjoy the support and 
protection offered by being an official unit of the National Park 
System.
  The Battle of Camden was fought on August 16, 1780, and was a 
crushing defeat for American patriot forces. Indeed, some regard it as 
the high watermark of British supremacy in the Southern colonies. So 
it's fair to ask, if this battle was such a crushing defeat for the 
American patriots, why should we commemorate it at all?
  Well, to start with, this battle was lost by General Horatio Gates. 
The hero of Saratoga was a political favorite in the Continental 
Congress, and after the fall of Charleston, the Congress sent him south 
to command what remained of our forces. Congress appointed Gates 
without consulting Washington, who would have sent Nathaniel Greene.

[[Page H14094]]

  Gates came and drove his ill-provisioned troops into battle even 
after discovering that Cornwallis had reinforced his ranks the day 
before with fresh troops from Charleston. The result was a rout, a 
disaster, and a retreat to Charlotte led by Gates himself.
  For its part, the Congress learned from this bitter experience its 
proper role in assigning general officers, and years later that 
principle was built into the Constitution. In replacing Gates after the 
Battle of Camden, Congress deferred to Washington and Washington 
dispatched Greene to the Carolinas.
  With Charleston and then Camden subdued, Cornwallis began a drive 
north to mop up resistance with Major Ferguson on the west side of the 
Broad River and General Cornwallis on the east.
  The Battle of Camden left new doubts about local militia, and how 
reliable or effective they could be, other than to harass British 
troops. But as Cornwallis' forces moved through the upcountry, they 
learned the Carolina patriot militia could not be taken lightly.
  As Ferguson made his way through the foothills of the Blue Ridge, he 
threatened to apply ``fire and steel'' to anyone who refused allegiance 
to the crown. Settlers from over the mountain got the message. More 
than a thousand mustered at Sycamore Shoals for a fight with Ferguson. 
On October 7, 1780, they found Ferguson encamped on the top of Kings 
Mountain; and after settling on tactics, they attacked systematically. 
In less than an hour, Ferguson was dead, and hundreds of his troops 
were also dead, wounded or taken prisoner.
  Kings Mountain is widely regarded as the turning point of the 
Revolution in the South, but we cannot fully appreciate its 
significance unless we understand its context, the Battles of Camden 
and Charleston.
  Three months later, Morgan would meet Tarleton at Hannah's Cowpens, 
just 15 miles from Kings Mountain. Tarleton's defeat at Cowpens and 
Cornwallis' pursuit of Morgan into Virginia would eventually lead 
Cornwallis to Yorktown in total defeat.
  The Revolutionary War was a very near thing which could easily have 
gone either way, and that's why the Battle of Camden is so essential to 
understanding the Revolutionary War. The Continentals and the patriots 
may have lost that battle, but they learned from bitter experience and 
came back to fight and win another day.
  I thank the committee, in particular Chairmen Rahall and Grijalva, 
Ms. Bordallo, and my good colleague from South Carolina, Henry Brown, 
for including the Battle of Camden in your bill; and I encourage every 
Member to vote for the adoption of this fine piece of legislation.
  Mr. SKELTON. Mr. Speaker, let me take this means to express my 
support for H.R. 3998, which includes a piece of legislation entitled 
the ``Harry S. Truman Birthplace Study Act,'' which I introduced on 
July 31, 2007. That particular bill would direct the Interior Secretary 
to study the feasibility of adding the Harry S. Truman Birthplace State 
Historic Site in Lamar, MO, to our system of National Parks.
  I was honored to introduce this legislation on behalf of the people 
of Lamar, a community located in Southwestern Missouri that has done 
much groundwork for the inclusion of the State Historic Site in our 
Federal system. The bill would further honor the 33rd President of the 
United States and Missouri's favorite son, President Harry S. Truman.
  On May 8, 1884, Harry Truman was born in a downstairs bedroom of a 
small frame house in Lamar, MO. The Truman birthplace, which the family 
occupied until Harry was 11 months old, was built between 1880 and 
1882. In 1959, the United Auto Workers donated the home to the State of 
Missouri, after buying it some years earlier to preserve its rich 
cultural significance. Since its addition to the Missouri State Parks 
System, much work has been done to maintain the dignity and historical 
relevance of the residence, and many Americans make their way through 
the site each year.
  When the Mayor of Lamar, Keith Divine, wrote to me earlier this year 
asking me to introduce legislation to begin the process of including 
President Truman's birthplace in our National Park System, I was 
honored to oblige. In my view and in the view of the local community, 
doing so would add perhaps the most critical piece of Harry Truman's 
life, the place of his birth, to the current group of national historic 
sites that honor the legacy of our 33rd President. And, doing so would 
foster economic development in Lamar and in Barton County.
  As a matter of record, let me share with you briefly my personal 
connection with President Truman and with the legislation creating the 
original Harry S. Truman National Historic Site in Independence, MO.
  I came to personally know President Truman through my father, Ike 
Skelton, Sr., who developed a friendship with him some 78 years ago at 
the dedication of the Pioneer Mother Statue--the Madonna of the Trail--
located in my hometown of Lexington, MO. At that time, Harry Truman was 
a county commissioner in neighboring Jackson County and my father was a 
well-known lawyer and Democrat. Through the years, I developed my own 
friendship with this genuinely nice person we call the ``Man from 
Independence.''
  He was a son of rural Missouri whose handshake was firm, whose 
honesty and personal integrity were never questioned, and whose 
devotion to his beloved wife, Bess, to his daughter Margaret Truman 
Daniel, and to his friends was enduring. He led our country through 
some difficult periods and made courageous, principled decisions during 
his presidency.
  In the past, Congress has honored President Truman by designating 
sites in Missouri important to his life as part of America's National 
Park System. In 1982 and 1983, I worked with the late Senator Tom 
Eagleton and former Senator Jack Danforth to pass legislation 
designating the home of Harry and Bess Truman in Independence, MO, as 
the Harry S. Truman National Historic Site. The site, which consisted 
at that time of President and Mrs. Truman's home at 219 N. Delaware 
Street, was willed to the Archivist of the United States when Mrs. 
Truman passed away in October 1982.
  Because the National Park Service, rather than the Archivist, has the 
Federal responsibility of administering national historic sites, the 
property and its historic contents became stuck in limbo, with only 
minimal protection and threatened by possible vandalism, theft, or 
fire. At that time, there was an urgent need to protect this important 
property, so I requested the Secretary of the Interior to exercise his 
authority to designate and administer President Truman's home as a 
national historic site. The Department refused, and I quickly 
introduced legislation to establish the site. My bill passed the House 
on December 13, 1982, but the Senate failed to act on it before the end 
of the session.
  Fortunately, the Interior Secretary came to his senses and signed a 
secretarial order designating the home as a national historic site. In 
1983, however, I wrote legislation to codify the Secretary's directive. 
In May 1983, Congress unanimously approved and President Ronald Reagan 
signed into law my bill that created the Harry S. Truman National 
Historic Site in Independence.
  Since that time, Congress has authorized the National Park Service to 
add other historically significant Truman family sites to the Federal 
property--in 1989, additional family homes near 219 Delaware Street and 
in 1993, the Truman Farm Home near Grandview, MO.
  So, here we are on December 4, 2007, considering my legislation to 
direct the Interior Secretary to study whether it is feasible to 
include another important historic site--President Truman's 
birthplace--to our National Park System.
  As someone who cherishes the life and legacy of Harry Truman, I am 
hopeful this bill will become law and that the National Park Service's 
study will proceed quickly and will yield favorable results.
  Over the years, Lamar, the State of Missouri, and the University of 
Missouri Extension have put into place a development plan for the Harry 
S. Truman Birthplace State Historic Site. If approved, I am confident 
the Federal study will look favorably upon the community's work and 
will take into consideration the positive economic impact for the Lamar 
and Barton County area, which has experienced considerable economic 
hardship in recent months because a major employer, O'Sullivan 
Industries, closed its doors.
  I urge my colleagues to approve H.R. 3998 today.
  Mrs. McMORRIS RODGERS. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my 
time.
  Ms. BORDALLO. Mr. Speaker, I have no further speakers, and I yield 
back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentlewoman from Guam (Ms. Bordallo) that the House suspend the rules 
and pass the bill, H.R. 3998, as amended.
  The question was taken.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. In the opinion of the Chair, two-thirds 
being in the affirmative, the ayes have it.
  Mr. WESTMORELAND. Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.
  The yeas and nays were ordered.

[[Page H14095]]

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to clause 8 of rule XX and the 
Chair's prior announcement, further proceedings on this motion will be 
postponed.

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