[Congressional Record Volume 154, Number 150 (Monday, September 22, 2008)]
[House]
[Pages H8495-H8496]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 PALO ALTO BATTLEFIELD NATIONAL HISTORICAL PARK BOUNDARY EXPANSION AND 
                       REDESIGNATION ACT OF 2008

  Ms. BORDALLO. Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the 
bill (H.R. 4828) to amend the Palo Alto Battlefield National Historic 
Site Act of 1991 to expand the boundaries of the historic site, and for 
other purposes, as amended.
  The Clerk read the title of the bill.
  The text of the bill is as follows:

                               H.R. 4828

       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 ``Palo Alto Battlefield 
     National Historical Park Boundary Expansion and Redesignation 
     Act of 2008''.

     SEC. 2. DESIGNATION OF PALO ALTO BATTLEFIELD NATIONAL 
                   HISTORICAL PARK.

       (a) In General.--The Palo Alto Battlefield National 
     Historic Site is hereby designated the ``Palo Alto 
     Battlefield National Historical Park''.
       (b) References.--Any reference in a law, map, regulation, 
     document, paper or other record of the United States to Palo 
     Alto Battlefield National Historic Site is deemed to be a 
     reference to the Palo Alto Battlefield National Historical 
     Park.
       (c) Conforming Amendments.--The Palo Alto Battlefield 
     National Historic Site Act of 1991 (Public Law 102-304; 106 
     Stat. 256; 16 U.S.C. 461) is amended--
       (1) by striking ``National Historic Site'' each place it 
     appears and inserting ``National Historical Park'';
       (2) in the heading for section 3, by striking ``NATIONAL 
     HISTORIC SITE'' and inserting ``NATIONAL HISTORICAL PARK''; 
     and
       (3) by striking ``historic site'' each place it appears and 
     inserting ``historical park''.

     SEC. 3. BOUNDARY EXPANSION.

       Section 3(b) of the Palo Alto Battlefield National Historic 
     Site Act of 1991 (Public Law 102-304; 106 Stat. 256; 16 
     U.S.C. 461) is amended--
       (1) by redesignating paragraph (2) as paragraph (3);
       (2) by inserting after paragraph (1) the following new 
     paragraph:
       ``(2) The historical park also shall consist of 
     approximately 34 acres as generally depicted on the map 
     entitled `Palo Alto Battlefield NHS Proposed Boundary 
     Expansion', numbered 469/80,012, and dated May 21, 2008. The 
     map shall be on file and available for public inspection in 
     the appropriate offices of the National Park Service.''; and
       (3) in paragraph (3), as so redesignated, by striking ``map 
     referred to in paragraph (1)'' and inserting ``maps referred 
     to in paragraphs (1) and (2)''.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentlewoman from 
Guam (Ms. Bordallo) and the gentleman from Alaska (Mr. Young) each will 
control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentlewoman from Guam.


                             General Leave

  Ms. BORDALLO. Madam 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. Madam Speaker, Palo Alto Battlefield National Historic 
Site, located in Brownsville, Texas, is the only National Park Service 
unit dedicated to the preservation and interpretation of the Mexican-
American War. The park preserves the site of the Battle of Palo Alto, 
the first battle of the war, but fighting was not limited to the parcel 
of land currently preserved by the park. Fighting at a site called 
Resaca de la Palma proved pivotal in permanently repulsing the Mexican 
army from Texas.
  H.R. 4828 would amend the act creating Palo Alto Battlefield National 
Historic Site to designate the 34 acres of the Resaca de la Palma as a 
unit of the park. In recognition of the expansion of the park to 
include the noncontiguous Resaca de la Palma unit, the bill will also 
redesignate Palo Alto Battlefield National Historic Site as Palo Alto 
Battlefield National Historical Park.
  This is a good piece of legislation, and I commend my colleague and 
my good friend, Representative Solomon Ortiz from Texas, for his hard 
work on adding this unit to the park. I enthusiastically support 
passage of this measure.
  I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. YOUNG of Alaska. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may 
consume.
  I rise in strong support of this legislation. The Palo Alto 
battlefield in Brownsville, Texas is the site of the second battle of 
the U.S. War with Mexico. During the battle, American forces drove 
Mexican troops back across the Rio Grande River. This bill adds 34 
acres to the Palo Alto Battlefield National Historic Site and provides 
for a cooperative agreement under which the Brownsville Community 
Foundation and the National Park Service would co-manage this land that 
is owned by the foundation.
  I reserve the balance of my time.
  Ms. BORDALLO. Madam Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to 
the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Ortiz), the sponsor of this bill.
  Mr. ORTIZ. Madam Speaker, I want to say thank you to both Chairman 
Bordallo and my good friend from Alaska (Mr. Young) who have had an 
opportunity to spend time in my district.
  Today I rise in support of H.R. 4828, the Palo Alto Battlefield 
National Historical Park Boundary Expansion and Redesignation Act of 
2008. The battle of Resaca de la Palma--fought in 1846 in what is now 
the city of Brownsville, Texas--marked one of the early victories in 
the United States-Mexican War for the American forces.
  General Zachary Taylor, who would later become the 12th President of 
the United States, was a very notable participant in this battle.

                              {time}  1315

  The United States troops suffered 45 men dead and 228 wounded; 
Mexican forces counted 169 dead and 228 wounded.
  H.R. 4828 will expand the Palo Alto Battlefield National Historic 
Site, currently under the National Park Service, to include the Resaca 
de la Palma Battlefield site.
  The bill will preserve the battlefield site, support education and 
special events there, and develop an interpretive trail with exhibits, 
living history programs, and other community gatherings.
  The site will also conserve the increasingly rare Rio Grande delta 
landscape and protect native chaparral, prairie and brush, and native 
species. It used to be more than 100 acres, but now it has been reduced 
to 34 aches of land, so we need to preserve this site.
  Though the battle at Resaca de la Palma was fought by two warring 
nations, it is historically significant because it is unique to the 
south Texas border culture. More than just a relic of the past, the 
Resaca de la Palma Battlefield is a vast, outdoor classroom that 
preserves a vital piece of our Nation's history.
  My hope is that scholars, historians, and everyday citizens will 
learn and appreciate the sacrifice of all those who perished here on 
this battlefield.
  A coalition of local groups, community leaders, and private citizens 
has done a tremendous job in maintaining the Resaca de la Palma. I wish 
to thank them for their hard work and dedication in preserving an 
important piece of our Nation's history.
  But it is now vital for the site to have full support and resources 
that only the National Park Service can provide. I ask my colleagues to 
join me in support of this legislation.
  And I thank you and Chairman Young and Chairman Bordallo for 
supporting this bill.
  Mr. YOUNG of Alaska. I have no other requests for speakers. I yield 
back the balance of my time.
  Ms. BORDALLO. Madam Speaker, I again urge Members to support this 
very important piece of legislation, and I yield back the balance of my 
time.

[[Page H8496]]

  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. 4828, 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. YOUNG of Alaska. Madam Speaker, I object to the vote on the 
ground that a quorum is not present and make the point of order that a 
quorum is not present.
  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.
  The point of no quorum is considered withdrawn.

                          ____________________