[Congressional Record Volume 154, Number 111 (Tuesday, July 8, 2008)]
[House]
[Pages H6189-H6191]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




      DAYTON AVIATION HERITAGE NATIONAL HISTORICAL PARK EXPANSION

  Ms. BORDALLO. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the 
bill (H.R. 4199) to amend the Dayton Aviation Heritage Preservation Act 
of 1992 to add sites to the Dayton Aviation Heritage National 
Historical Park, and for other purposes, as amended.
  The Clerk read the title of the bill.
  The text of the bill is as follows:

                               H.R. 4199

       Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of 
     the United States of America in Congress assembled,

TITLE I--ADDITIONAL AREAS INCLUDED IN DAYTON AVIATION HERITAGE NATIONAL 
                            HISTORICAL PARK

     SEC. 101. ADDITIONAL AREAS INCLUDED IN PARK.

       Section 101 of the Dayton Aviation Heritage Preservation 
     Act of 1992 (16 U.S.C. 410ww, et seq.) is amended by adding 
     at the end the following:
       ``(c) Additional Sites.--In addition to the sites described 
     in subsection (b), the park shall consist of the following 
     sites, as generally depicted on a map titled `Dayton Aviation 
     Heritage National Historical Park', numbered 362/80,013 and 
     dated May 2008:
       ``(1) Hawthorn Hill, Oakwood, Ohio.
       ``(2) The Wright Company factory and associated land and 
     buildings, Dayton, Ohio.''.

     SEC. 102. PROTECTION OF HISTORIC PROPERTIES.

       Section 102 of the Dayton Aviation Heritage Preservation 
     Act of 1992 (16 U.S.C. 410ww-1) is amended--
       (1) in subsection (a), by inserting ``Hawthorn Hill, the 
     Wright Company factory,'' after ``, acquire'';
       (2) in subsection (b), by striking ``Such agreements'' and 
     inserting:
       ``(d) Conditions.--Cooperative agreements under this 
     section'';
       (3) by inserting before subsection (d) (as added by 
     paragraph 2) the following:
       ``(c) Cooperative Agreements.--The Secretary is authorized 
     to enter into a cooperative agreement with a partner or 
     partners, including the Wright Family Foundation, to operate 
     and provide programming for Hawthorn Hill and charge 
     reasonable fees notwithstanding any other provision of law, 
     which may be used to defray the costs of park operation and 
     programming.''; and
       (4) by striking ``Commission'' and inserting ``Aviation 
     Heritage Foundation''.

 TITLE II--WRIGHT BROTHERS-DUNBAR NATIONAL HISTORICAL PARK DESIGNATION

     SEC. 201. REDESIGNATION OF DAYTON AVIATION HERITAGE NATIONAL 
                   HISTORICAL PARK.

       (a) Redesignation.--The Dayton Aviation Heritage 
     Preservation Act of 1992, is amended--
       (1) by striking ``Dayton Aviation Heritage National 
     Historical Park'' each place it appears and inserting 
     ``Wright Brothers-Dunbar National Historical Park'';
       (2) by redesignating subsection (b) of section 108 as 
     subsection (c); and
       (3) by inserting after subsection (a) of section 108 the 
     following new subsection:
       ``(b) Grant Assistance.--The Secretary is authorized to 
     make grants to the parks' partners, including the Aviation 
     Trail, Inc., the Ohio Historical Society, and Dayton History, 
     for projects not requiring Federal involvement other than 
     providing financial assistance, subject to the availability 
     of appropriations in advance identifying the specific partner 
     grantee and the specific project. Projects funded through 
     these grants shall be limited to construction and development 
     on non-Federal property within the

[[Page H6190]]

     boundaries of the park. Any project funded by such a grant 
     shall support the purposes of the park, shall be consistent 
     with the park's general management plan, and shall enhance 
     public use and enjoyment of the park.''.
       (b) References.--Any reference in any law (other than this 
     title), map, regulation, document, record, or other official 
     paper of the United States to the ``Dayton Aviation Heritage 
     National Historical Park'' shall be considered to be a 
     reference to the ``Wright Brothers-Dunbar National Historical 
     Park''.

     SEC. 202. NATIONAL AVIATION HERITAGE AREA.

       Title V of division J of the Consolidated Appropriations 
     Act, 2005 (16 U.S.C. 461 note; Public Law 108-447), is 
     amended--
       (1) in section 503(3), by striking ``104'' and inserting 
     ``504'';
       (2) in section 503(4), by striking ``106'' and inserting 
     ``506'';
       (3) in section 504, by striking subsection (b)(2) and by 
     redesignating subsection (b)(3) as subsection (b)(2); and
       (4) in section 505(b)(1), by striking ``106'' and inserting 
     ``506''.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentlewoman from 
Guam (Ms. Bordallo) and the gentleman from Virginia (Mr. Wittman) 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 
may have 5 legislative days in which 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. 4199 adds two sites to the Dayton Aviation Heritage National 
Historical Park. The bill also renames the park as the Wright Brothers-
Dunbar National Historical Park.
  Mr. Speaker, the Dayton Aviation Heritage National Historical Park 
was established to preserve sites associated with Wilbur and Orville 
Wright and the early history of aviation. The park also honors the life 
and work of African American poet Paul Laurence Dunbar, a business 
associate and a friend of Orville Wright.
  H.R. 4199 would add Hawthorn Hill, the mansion designed by the Wright 
Brothers, and the Wright Company factory to the park. The factory, 
completed in 1910, is the site of the first American facilities 
specifically designed and built for the manufacture of airplanes.
  Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to support passage of this measure.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. WITTMAN of Virginia. Mr. Speaker, H.R. 4199 has been adequately 
explained by the majority, and I would like to thank Congressman Turner 
from Ohio for his diligent work to advance this legislation on behalf 
of his constituents and for the benefit of park visitors around the 
country.
  At this time, Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the 
gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Turner), author of the bill.

                              {time}  1515

  Mr. TURNER. I speak today in favor of H.R. 4199, which will add two 
important historic sites into the Dayton Aviation Heritage National 
Park. I want to thank Natural Resources Chairman Rahall and Ranking 
Member Young, as well as Subcommittee Chairman Grijalva and Ranking 
Member Bishop for ushering this bill through the Resources Committee 
process, as well as bringing it to the floor today. I also want to 
thank the members of the Ohio delegation, many of whom have cosponsored 
this legislation.
  Mr. Chairman, Ohio is the birthplace of aviation, and Dayton is the 
home of Orville and Wilbur Wright, the two men that invented the 
airplane. Some consider their invention to be the most important 
innovation in modern history. When the Wright brothers took flight in 
Kitty Hawk, North Carolina, our world became connected in a dramatic 
way, transforming travel, commerce, and communication.
  Dayton is also the home of Paul Laurence Dunbar. Dunbar was a 
classmate of Orville Wright, and was a contemporary of the Wrights. 
Throughout his life, he was known as the poet laureate of African 
Americans, and achieved national success after his second collection of 
poems was reviewed in Harper's Weekly in 1896.
  The Dayton Aviation Heritage National Historic Park is a celebration 
of the legacies of the Wright brothers, as well as Paul Laurence 
Dunbar. Currently, many people enjoy our National Historic Park. The 
park includes the Wright's Cycle Shop, the Wright Flyer Airplane, and 
the Huffman Prairie, where the Wrights perfected fixed-wing flight, 
among other sites.
  However, the Wright's history within the park remains incomplete. 
Currently, the Wright Company factory buildings and their home, 
Hawthorn Hill, are not included among the sites at the park. That is 
why I have introduced H.R. 4199, which will complete the Wright's story 
told at the park, by adding these two critical sites.
  The Wright Company factory buildings in west Dayton are the first 
American facilities specifically designed and built for the manufacture 
of airplanes. These buildings had a production capability that was 
greater than any other airplane manufacturing facility at the time.
  The Wright Company operated at the site from 1910 to 1916, and 
produced 13 different models of airplanes. This site is currently owned 
and controlled by the Delphi Corporation, who will operate at this site 
until later this year.
  Hawthorn Hill was designed by Wilbur and Orville Wright and was the 
home of the Wright family until 1948. This historic architectural 
landmark tells the story of the Wright brothers as inventors. Amanda 
Wright-Lane, the great-grandniece of the Wright brothers, testified 
before the Resources Subcommittee on National Parks earlier this year, 
discussing the Wright's incredible history and the importance of 
Hawthorn Hill to the Wright's story.
  Mr. Speaker, the addition of these sites to the existing park is 
critical to the park's purpose, which was outlined in the Dayton 
Aviation Heritage Preservation Act of 1992. The purpose is ``to create 
partnerships among Federal, State and local governments and the private 
sector to preserve, enhance, and interpret for the present and future 
generations the historic and cultural structures, districts, and 
artifacts in Dayton and the Miami Valley in the State of Ohio 
associated with the Wright brothers, the invention and the development 
of aviation, or the life and works of Paul Laurence Dunbar.'' Put 
plainly, the addition of these sites completes the Wright's story at 
the park.
  Mr. Speaker, adding these sites to the national park enjoys a wide 
range of support from both local and national organizations, including 
the City of Dayton; Montgomery County; the State of Ohio; the Wright 
family; the Dayton Area Chamber of Commerce; the Dayton Development 
Coalition; the Ohio Historical Society; the Dayton Historical Society; 
Sinclair Community College; The University of Dayton; the Dayton 
Foundation, the National Cash Register Corporation; the Delphi 
Corporation; the National Conference of State Historic Preservation 
Officers; and the National Trust for Historic Preservation.
  H.R. 4199 also includes the exact language from H.R. 4191, which 
passed the House by a voice vote earlier this year. This language would 
change the name of the Dayton Aviation National Historic Park to the 
Wright Brothers-Dunbar National Historic Park.
  Changing the name of the park has been the result of a community-wide 
process, led by Federal Judge Walter Rice and the Dayton Aviation 
Heritage Commission. I want to thank Judge Walter Rice and the other 
commissioners for their time and dedication to making the name of our 
park a fitting salute to those for whom it is a tribute.
  It is clear that this bill is an important priority to the Dayton 
region. It is also important to the Paul Laurence Dunbar and the Wright 
brothers' legacy.
  Mr. Speaker, I want to thank you again for this opportunity, and I 
urge my colleagues to support H.R. 4199.
  Ms. BORDALLO. I yield such time as he may consume to my colleague 
from North Carolina (Mr. Miller).
  Mr. MILLER of North Carolina. I want to applaud Mr. Turner for 
bucking his party in introducing a bill on something other than gas 
prices. I have frequently worked with Mr. Turner on historic 
preservation issues. It has never been difficult to work across 
partisan lines. But rising to support this bill is somewhat more 
difficult for me.

[[Page H6191]]

  Mr. Turner described Dayton, Ohio, as the birthplace of aviation in 
his remarks a minute ago. Mr. Speaker, that is stretching the truth a 
bit. But after sitting on the floor for about an hour and hearing our 
energy problems blamed on environmentalists, not the fact that 
ExxonMobil made $40 billion in profits in the fourth quarter of 2007, 
it seems like a fairly minor stretching of the truth.
  As every school child in America knows, with the exception of school 
children in Dayton, Ohio, the first powered flight was in Kitty Hawk, 
North Carolina, in December, 1903, or at least it was the first 
photographed, the first documented powered flight. There is still some 
dispute about where the actual first powered flight was. But the 
photograph of the Wright brothers plane above the dunes, just a few 
feet above the dunes at Kitty Hawk, was probably the most important 
photograph in history to that point, and remains one of the most famous 
photographs in all of history. That photograph, Mr. Speaker, was taken 
by a North Carolinian.
  After that first flight, which lasted just 12 seconds, and even with 
the soft sands of Kitty Hawk to land in, the landing almost destroyed 
or badly damaged the balsa wood plane. Progress was very rapid. Within 
just a decade, the airplane proved to be a very effective weapon of war 
in the First World War, and in another decade, just another decade 
after that, Charles Lindbergh flew the Atlantic alone.
  Mr. Turner is correct, flight has been an important transformational 
invention in human history. We are now a connected world, largely 
because of flight. The Wright brothers and Dayton, Ohio, did have a 
role in that, Mr. Speaker. So I do rise to support adding Hawthorn 
Hill, the Wright family home, and the Wright Airplane Factory to the 
national park in Dayton, Ohio highly.
  I do this, taking the lead of my party's nominee for President, who 
has urged that we put aside all the old animosities, that we reach 
across all divisions of society. In that spirit, Mr. Speaker, I rise in 
support of this bill.
  Mr. HOBSON. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 4199, which 
would expand the Dayton Aviation Heritage National Historical Park to 
include additional sites associated with the lives and work of Wilbur 
and Orville Wright.
  Few technological advances have transformed the world or our nation's 
economy, society, culture, and national character as the development of 
powered flight. Therefore, it is important to preserve the historical 
sites associated the Wright brothers' achievements in the field of 
aviation. That is what this bill will do.
  Over the years, the Ohio congregational delegation has worked 
together to preserve and promote Ohio's rich aviation history. A few 
years ago, I, along with Congressman Tony Hall, had the privilege of 
introducing the bill that later became law to designate eight Miami 
Valley counties and the Dayton Aviation Heritage National Historical 
Park as part of a National Aviation Heritage Area. Today, I commend my 
colleague, Congressman Mike Turner, for his leadership in sponsoring 
this bill to add two additional sites to the aviation park.
  Specifically, H.R. 4199 will add Hawthorne Hill, which was Orville 
Wright's home in Oakwood, and several Wright Factory buildings in 
Dayton, where the brothers conducted research and testing. These sites 
would be part of the Dayton Aviation Heritage National Historical Park, 
which already includes such historic sites as: Huffman Prairie Flying 
Field, the Wright Cycle Company Complex, and the Paul Laurence Dunbar 
House. Together, these sites are an important part to nation's history, 
and Ohio's cultural heritage.
  Again, I commend Congressman Turner for his leadership to preserve 
and promote Ohio's aviation heritage with this legislation, and I urge 
my colleagues to join me in supporting H.R. 4419.
  Mr. WITTMAN of Virginia. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my 
time.
  Ms. BORDALLO. Mr. Speaker, I again urge Members to support this 
important piece of legislation, 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. 4199, 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.
  Ms. BORDALLO. Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.
  The yeas and nays were ordered.
  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.

                          ____________________