[Congressional Record Volume 154, Number 155 (Saturday, September 27, 2008)]
[House]
[Pages H10205-H10206]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




    WAIVING CLAIMS TO CERTAIN DOCUMENTS RELATING TO FRANKLIN DELANO 
                               ROOSEVELT

  Mr. CLAY. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill 
(H.R. 6669) to provide that claims of the United States to certain 
documents relating to Franklin Delano Roosevelt shall be treated as 
waived and relinquished in certain circumstances.
  The Clerk read the title of the bill.
  The text of the bill is as follows:

                               H.R. 6669

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

     SECTION 1. TREATMENT OF OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN DOCUMENTS 
                   RELATING TO FRANKLIN DELANO ROOSEVELT.

       (a) In General.--If any person makes a gift of any property 
     described in subsection (b) to the National Archives and 
     Records Administration, then any claim of the United States 
     to such property shall be treated as having been waived and 
     relinquished on the day before the date of such gift.
       (b) Property Described.--Property is described in this 
     subsection if such property is a part of the collection of 
     documents, papers, and memorabilia relating to Franklin 
     Delano Roosevelt, or any member of his family or staff, which 
     was originally in the possession of Grace Tully and retained 
     by her at the time of her death, and included in her estate.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from 
Missouri (Mr. Clay) and the gentleman from Virginia (Mr. Davis) each 
will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Missouri.


                             General Leave

  Mr. CLAY. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may 
have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from Missouri?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. CLAY. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  As a member of the House Committee on Oversight and Government 
Reform, I rise today in support of H.R. 6669, which was introduced by 
Congresswoman Kirsten Gillibrand on July 30, 2008.
  This bill waives a government interest in certain records in order to 
allow private owners of some personal papers of President Franklin 
Delano Roosevelt to deliver these valuable papers, called the Tully 
Collection, to the FDR Presidential Library in Hyde Park, New York.
  The owners of the collection currently want to donate the papers to 
the FDR Library, but because the National Archives asserted a claim to 
a portion of the collection, the owners would be ineligible for a 
common tax deduction for the fair market value of the donation.
  I urge my colleagues to support this measure.
  I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. DAVIS of Virginia. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may 
consume. I will try to be brief.
  Mr. Speaker, this is a simple bill with the limited purpose of 
waiving certain claims of the United States to specific documents 
relating to President Franklin Delano Roosevelt.
  The papers in question, known as the Tully Collection, are a very 
important and valuable collection of materials relating to Roosevelt's 
Presidency.
  Grace Tully served on President Roosevelt's secretarial staff for 
several decades and in 1941 became his personal secretary. After her 
death, her collection of personal papers passed on through her niece 
into the hands of private collectors, and finally, to the current 
owner, Sun Times Media, which bought the collection for $8 million in 
2001.
  In 2004, the National Archives asserted a claim to a portion of the 
documents. Sun Times Media would now like to donate the entire 
collection to the FDR Presidential Library, but due to the Archives' 
formal claim, Sun Times Media is prevented from receiving any type of 
tax deduction for this, the donation.
  This bill will address the legal barriers preventing the transfer of 
this very important collection to President Roosevelt's library.
  I understand this bill has the strong support of members of the New 
York delegation. I would urge Members to support this legislation to 
help complete this historical collection.
  I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. CLAY. Mr. Speaker, I have no additional speakers. I will continue 
to reserve.
  Mr. DAVIS of Virginia. I yield back the balance of my time and urge 
its adoption.
  Ms. SLAUGHTER. Mr. Speaker, today I am proud to support HR 6669, a 
bill that will waive and relinquish claims by the United States to 
certain documents relating to Franklin Delano Roosevelt. This 
legislation would allow the transfer of the Tully/Suckley papers from 
the Sun Times Media to the Franklin Delano Roosevelt Library. These 
papers shed a great deal of light on the FDR era and are the largest 
collection of FDR documents and memorabilia in private hands.
  Franklin Delano Roosevelt started his political career in New York 
State by working vigorously for reform movements that would redefine 
the role of government, and he never stopped. The programs that 
epitomized the New Deal had their genesis in Albany. As governor, 
Roosevelt implemented many of the innovative, progressive policies he 
would later introduce to the Nation as President. He expanded state 
assistance to social services and state agencies and eased the 
hardships on New York's agricultural industry by encouraging tax cuts 
for small farmers. Upon the onset of the Great Depression, he 
authorized the New York State Unemployment Relief Act and the Temporary 
Emergency Relief Administration.
  In 1928, Roosevelt won the Democratic nomination for Governor at the 
Naval Armory in my home city of Rochester, New York. While serving as 
Governor, his successes elevated him to national prominence, and in 
1932, he was elected President of the United States for the first of an 
unprecedented--and never to be repeated--four terms in office.
  Franklin Roosevelt embraced the unique capabilities of every 
individual and worked tirelessly to ensure that all Americans would be 
able to earn a living and build this great Nation. As a result of 
initiatives like the PWA, the

[[Page H10206]]

WPA, and the CCC, the unemployed got jobs, people were able to support 
their families, and this Nation was able to grow and prosper. I hope 
that, as public servants, my colleagues will join me in following in 
his example by supporting honest policies that work to better the lives 
of American people.
  Franklin Roosevelt had great regard for public service, and served 
with a sense of responsibility and honor. His respect for the American 
people and the value he placed on their well-being and security drove 
everything he did. President Roosevelt came to embody strength, hope 
and resolve during some of the most difficult days in our Nation's 
history. From the economic distress of the Great Depression to the 
horrifying attack on Pearl Harbor that caused the Nation to enter World 
War II, Roosevelt's steadfast leadership ignited an economic engine and 
calmed a frightened nation.
  The legacy of his policies will certainly outlast my lifetime and 
will continue to benefit my children and grandchildren for years to 
come. We owe him an unpayable debt of gratitude. And while only those 
closest to him realized that he couldn't walk unaided, as former 
Governor of New York, Mario Cuomo said, ``Franklin Roosevelt lifted 
himself from his wheelchair to lift this nation from its knees.''
  Today more than ever, we can learn from Franklin Roosevelt's 
leadership. There is no better way to do this than to study his past. 
By allowing the transfer of these documents, it will open up the life 
of Franklin Roosevelt for everyone to enjoy. With the economic distress 
that our nation is facing today, we would do well to follow President 
Roosevelt's example. There is little doubt this nation could use some 
lifting up right about now.
  This bill makes sense, is non-controversial, and is for the good of 
the United States. Please support this legislation that would allow 
this transfer to the FDR Library. It would shed light on one of the 
most important Presidents of the 20th Century and greatly consolidate 
the legacy of the Roosevelt era. I am honored to rise today and support 
this legislation and encourage my colleagues to do the same.
  Mr. CLAY. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time and urge 
my colleagues to support the legislation.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentleman from Missouri (Mr. Clay) that the House suspend the rules and 
pass the bill, H.R. 6669.
  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. DAVIS of Virginia. Mr. 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.

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