[Congressional Record Volume 155, Number 125 (Tuesday, September 8, 2009)]
[House]
[Pages H9296-H9297]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




  RECOGNIZING THE SIGNIFICANCE OF HISTORIC VIRGINIA KEY BEACH PARK OF 
                             MIAMI, FLORIDA

  Mr. GRIJALVA. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to 
the resolution (H. Res. 361) recognizing the historical significance of 
Historic Virginia Key Beach Park of Miami, Florida, as amended.
  The Clerk read the title of the resolution.
  The text of the resolution is as follows:

                              H. Res. 361

       Whereas in the early 1900s, Historic Virginia Key Beach 
     Park of Miami, Florida, was frequented by African-American 
     and Caribbean settlers arriving by ferry from mainland South 
     Florida;
       Whereas in the summer of 1945, on the beach at Baker's 
     Haulover County Park, a group of black men led by then 
     attorney Lawson E. Thomas staged a protest against the unjust 
     segregation laws that prohibited black people from using the 
     public beaches in South Florida;
       Whereas in response to the protest, county officials 
     designated Virginia Key Beach Park as the ``Colored Beach'', 
     a segregated beach site for the African-American community 
     which opened on August 1, 1945;
       Whereas, even after civil rights laws opened all the public 
     beaches in South Florida to people of all races and 
     ethnicities, Virginia Key Beach Park remained a popular 
     destination for many in the African-American community for 
     several decades;
       Whereas in 1979, the site was transferred from the county 
     to the City of Miami with the stipulation that the beach be 
     kept open

[[Page H9297]]

     and maintained as a public park and recreation area;
       Whereas in 1982, citing the high cost of maintenance and 
     operations, the City of Miami closed Virginia Key Beach Park 
     shortly after assuming its responsibility;
       Whereas in 1990, the City of Miami Commission responded to 
     citizen outcry and established the Virginia Key Beach Park 
     Trust (hereafter referred to as the ``Trust'') to restore, 
     reopen, and preserve the site for public use;
       Whereas the late M. Athalie Range, an African-American 
     community leader and the first woman to sit on the City of 
     Miami Commission, worked with the community to save Virginia 
     Key Beach Park from the grasp of developers, and deliver it 
     back to the people. She lobbied to place the property on the 
     National Register of Historic Places, spearheaded funding for 
     a multi-billion dollar restoration program, and planned a new 
     museum/cultural center that would one day, impart the message 
     of social equality and responsible citizenry for future 
     generations;
       Whereas in June 2002, the Trust successfully petitioned 
     Federal and State government officials to place the site on 
     the National Register of Historic Places and give it a 
     Florida Historical Marker;
       Whereas in 2003, the Dade Community Foundation established 
     the Historic Virginia Key Beach Park Trust Fund to collect 
     charitable donations to help restore and preserve the park; 
     and
       Whereas on February 22, 2008, after extensive renovation by 
     the Trust, Historic Virginia Key Beach Park celebrated its 
     grand re-opening for public use by the entire community with 
     a ribbon cutting ceremony and community concert: Now, 
     therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
       (1) recognizes the extraordinary historical, cultural, and 
     recreational significance of Historic Virginia Key Beach Park 
     of Miami, Florida;
       (2) recommits its attempt to protect and preserve American 
     history through national parks and historic sites; and
       (3) acknowledges the significance of the African-American 
     community's struggle for equality through its collaborative 
     efforts to preserve this historic site.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from 
Arizona (Mr. Grijalva) and the gentleman from Colorado (Mr. Lamborn) 
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 in which to revise and extend their remarks 
and include extraneous material on the resolution 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, in 1945 a group of black men, led by 
Lawson E. Thomas, courageously protested the banning of African 
Americans from the public beaches of south Florida. As a result, 
Virginia Key Beach Park was established as a ``Colored Beach'' under 
the segregation laws that persisted throughout the civil rights 
movement.
  The park was transferred to the city of Miami in 1979, which 
attempted to close it three years later, citing a lack of operating 
funds. Since then, dedicated community leaders have fought to not only 
keep the park open, but also add it to the National Register of 
Historic Places and establish a trust to manage it.
  With this resolution, sponsored by Representative Ros-Lehtinen of 
Florida, the House of Representatives recognizes the historic 
significance of the site and honors the African American struggle for 
equality represented there.
  I ask my colleagues to support the passage of this resolution.
  I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. LAMBORN. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  In the 1920s, Virginia Key Beach, located about 2 miles south of 
Miami, Florida, became the area's public beach that was used primarily 
by African Americans. In 1945, Dade County officials designated the 
beach as a legally segregated beach for use by the African American 
community. Today, the beach is managed by the Virginia Key Beach Park 
Trust and is owned by the City of Miami.
  This resolution recognizes the historical significance of Virginia 
Key Beach Park. I congratulate Congresswoman Ros-Lehtinen for her work, 
and I urge passage of this resolution.
  At this time, I yield such time as she may consume to my friend and 
colleague, the gentlelady from Florida (Ms. Ros-Lehtinen).
  Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from Colorado, 
my good friend, Mr. Lamborn, for the time, and I also thank Mr. 
Grijalva of Arizona. Thank you so much for bringing this resolution 
before us today.
  I rise in strong support of House Resolution 361, which is a 
bipartisan bill recognizing the national significance of historic 
Virginia Key Beach Park, which is located in my congressional district 
in south Florida. I also would like to thank my dear friends and fellow 
south Floridians, my colleagues, Representatives Kendrick Meek, Alcee 
Hastings, Lincoln Diaz-Balart, and Debbie Wasserman Schultz for their 
support of this legislation.
  A segregated beach during the 1900s, Virginia Key Beach Park serves 
as a reminder of our Nation's struggle for equality and justice for all 
members of our society. During World War II, the beach was a training 
ground for African American soldiers serving in the United States Army. 
Shortly following the war's end, the beach was established as the only 
public beach open to the African American community. In the 1950s, the 
beach played a prominent role in south Florida's efforts to desegregate 
during the civil rights movement.
  In the years following desegregation, leaders of the African American 
community in south Florida, including the influential and late 
wonderful leader in our area, Athalie Range, fought tirelessly to 
preserve this unique site.
  Today's resolution serves as a tribute to Athalie Range and to so 
many African American pioneers, including our former colleague, 
Congresswoman Carrie Meek, who authored a bill in 2001 to include 
Virginia Key Beach Park into the National Park System. I was honored to 
work with Carrie in her quest to include this beach in the National 
Park System, and years later I am joined by her beloved son Kendrick in 
honoring the importance of this historic and often overlooked site.
  I thank Congressman Grijalva for the time, and I thank my dear friend 
Mr. Lamborn for the time to talk about this historic part of south 
Florida history.
  Mr. GRIJALVA. Mr. Speaker, let me also congratulate the gentlelady 
from Florida for the resolution.
  Mr. LAMBORN. 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 agree to the resolution, H. Res. 361, as amended.
  The question was taken; and (two-thirds being in the affirmative) the 
rules were suspended and the resolution, as amended, was agreed to.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

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