[Congressional Record Volume 155, Number 156 (Monday, October 26, 2009)]
[House]
[Pages H11744-H11745]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




         JIMMY CARTER NATIONAL HISTORIC SITE BOUNDARY EXPANSION

  Ms. BORDALLO. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the 
bill (H.R. 1471) to expand the boundary of the Jimmy Carter National 
Historic Site in the State of Georgia, to redesignate the unit as a 
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. 1471

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

     SECTION 1. BOUNDARY EXPANSION.

       Section 1 of Public Law 100-206 is amended--
       (1) in subsection (a), by striking paragraph (3) and 
     inserting:
       ``(3) preserve and interpret a southern agricultural-based 
     rural community during the early to middle years of the 20th 
     century.'';
       (2) in subsection (b)(1), by striking ``map entitled `Jimmy 
     Carter National Historic Site and Preservation District 
     Boundary Map', numbered NHS-JC-80000, and dated April 1987'' 
     and inserting ``map titled `Jimmy Carter National Historical 
     Park and Preservation District, Proposed Boundary Map', 
     numbered 330/80,019, and dated September 2009'';
       (3) in subsection (b)(2)--
       (A) by striking ``and described more particularly as 
     follows--'' and inserting ``or is needed to enhance the 
     visitor experience, and includes--'';
       (B) in subparagraph (C), by striking ``15'' and inserting 
     ``18'';
       (C) in subparagraph (E), by striking ``and'' at the end;
       (D) in subparagraph (F), by striking ``Carter.'' and 
     inserting ``Carter, and properties in the vicinity of the 
     residence along West Church Street that are needed for 
     administrative and visitor uses and to protect scenic values, 
     not to exceed 10 acres;''; and
       (E) by adding at the end the following new subparagraphs:
       ``(G) the Billy Carter Service Station at 104 West Church 
     Street, consisting of less than one acre;
       ``(H) the property at 147 Old Plains Highway, known locally 
     as the `Haunted House', where Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter 
     resided from 1956 to 1961, consisting of approximately one 
     acre;
       ``(I) the Georgia Welcome Center on State Route 280/27, 
     consisting of approximately 18 acres; and
       ``(J) two corridors of land no wider than 50 feet each 
     between the Georgia Welcome Center and the President Carter 
     boyhood home for the purpose of establishing walking and 
     biking trails while using, to the greatest extent 
     practicable, the right-of-way for the Shoreline Excursion 
     Train.'';
       (4) in subsection (c)(1)--
       (A) in subparagraph (A), by striking ``and'' at the end;
       (B) in subparagraph (B), by striking the period at the end 
     and inserting ``; and''; and
       (C) after subparagraph (B), insert the following:
       ``(C) by donation only, other lands and interests in lands 
     in the environs of Plains containing natural, cultural, or 
     historic resources consistent with the purposes of the 
     national historical park which, upon acquisition, shall be 
     included in and administered as part of the national 
     historical park.''; and
       (5) in subsection (c)(2), by inserting ``, the Georgia 
     Welcome Center (referred to in subsection (b)(2)(I)),'' after 
     ``subsection (b)(2)(A))''.

     SEC. 2. REDESIGNATION AS NATIONAL HISTORICAL PARK.

       (a) Redesignation.--Public Law 100-206 is amended--
       (1) by striking ``National Historic Site'' each place it 
     appears and inserting ``National Historical Park'';
       (2) by striking ``historic site'' each place it appears and 
     inserting ``national historical park'';
       (3) in the section heading of section 1, by striking 
     ``NATIONAL HISTORIC SITE'' and inserting ``NATIONAL 
     HISTORICAL PARK'';
       (4) in the subsection heading of section 1(b), by striking 
     ``National Historic Site'' and inserting ``National 
     Historical Park''; and
       (5) in the section heading of section 3, by striking 
     ``HISTORIC SITE'' and inserting ``NATIONAL HISTORICAL PARK''.
       (b) References.--Any reference in a law, map, regulation, 
     document, paper, or other record of the United States to the 
     ``Jimmy Carter National Historic Site'' shall be deemed a 
     reference to the ``Jimmy Carter National Historical Park''.

     SEC. 3. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

       Public Law 100-206 is further amended by striking section 
     7.

  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. 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, the Jimmy Carter National Historic Site in 
Plains, Georgia, was established in 1987 to preserve the boyhood home 
and current residence of our 39th President. The former President and 
his wife have a lifetime tenancy in their home and are actively 
involved in the work of the park.
  The pending measure would expand the current boyhood homesite from 15 
acres to 18 acres and allow the National Park Service to acquire 
several additional properties. The bill would also redesignate the park 
from a national historic site to a national historic park.
  Mr. Speaker, the sponsor of this legislation, Representative Sanford 
Bishop, is to be commended for his commitment to preserving this 
important piece of Presidential history. This is an excellent piece of 
legislation, and I urge Members to support it.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. YOUNG of Alaska. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may 
consume.
  (Mr. YOUNG of Alaska asked and was given permission to revise and 
extend his remarks.)

[[Page H11745]]

  Mr. YOUNG of Alaska. Mr. Speaker, it is my understanding that 
President Carter is heavily involved in the land acquisition and park 
expansion authorized in this legislation. We have been made aware that 
one of the properties included in the expansion is a haunted house. 
This is no Halloween trick. The currently dilapidated structure will be 
rehabilitated by the National Park Service and eventually be made 
available to show the public where President Carter lived before his 
current estate was constructed.
  I am also aware that President Carter is an avid hunter. He likes to 
stalk deer, dove, quail, turkey, and even the occasional squirrel. 
Fortunately, with the passage of an important Republican gun rights 
amendment to the Credit Card Reform Act last spring, President Carter 
will be able to legally transport his firearms to and from his home and 
clean and load his firearms on his compound within the national park 
without fear of violating Federal law when this provision goes into 
effect in February 2010.

                              {time}  1415

  Right now, other Americans and the other 391 National Park units 
would be subject to criminal penalties for these actions.
  President Carter has an excellent relationship with the National Park 
Service, which should be preserved. After all, the agency has the duty 
to preserve the legacy of his 4 years as President through the 
conservation of his high school, boyhood home and even his current 
residence within the park. The National Park Service dutifully handles 
many important tasks, including the day-to-day maintenance of his 
property and even of mowing his lawn.
  Finally, it has been said that these new acquisitions will complete 
the story of Mr. Carters life. This is a noble goal. I can only assume 
that is why the legislation also includes the Federal takeover of Billy 
Carter's gas station.
  Mr. BISHOP of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 1471, 
which will expand and revitalize the Jimmy Carter National Historic 
Site, which is located in Plains, Georgia.
  My Congressional District in Southwest Georgia includes Plains. 
Therefore I am pleased to sponsor this bipartisan legislation in the 
U.S. House of Representatives which, if passed, will bolster the local 
economy, enhance tourism, and provide people from around the world with 
a new insight into the life and career of the 39th President of the 
United States.
  H.R. 1471 will expand the national historic site's authorized 
boundaries from 15 acres to 18 acres and would allow the National Park 
Service to acquire several additional properties for the park, 
including a house that the Carter family lived in from 1956-1961. 
Additionally, the legislation will redesignate the park from a national 
historic site to a national historical park. It also would direct that 
the park service preserves, and interprets, a southern agricultural-
based rural community during the early to middle years of the 20th 
century.
  Last August, I took my whole staff on a visit to the Jimmy Carter 
National Historic Site, including his boyhood home and school, so they 
could get a better feel and understanding of the values that shaped 
this great Georgian. We listened to the messages recorded by the former 
President that tell visitors of his experiences as a child and young 
man and how they influenced his views and values. After touring the 
Depression-era farm, home and school where he grew into manhood, every 
one of my staff members, including a number from Georgia and several 
who are not, told me they were inspired by what they learned about the 
life of Jimmy Carter, just as I have been.
  The eventual passage of this bill will ensure that the Jimmy Carter 
National Historic Site has the resources it needs to continue to 
inspire generation after generation of visitors. Additionally, the 
investments made in this property will positively impact the economic 
development of Plains and the surrounding Sumter County by providing 
increased opportunities for tourism.
  The Jimmy Carter National Historic Site already does a remarkable job 
of helping people to understand the values that shaped this great 
Georgian. This bill will ensure that the site will continue to inspire 
generations of visitors, as well as grow and positively impact the 
economies of Plains. I urge my colleagues to support H.R. 1471.
  Mr. YOUNG of Alaska. I yield back the balance of my time.
  Ms. BORDALLO. Mr. Speaker, I again urge Members to support the bill, 
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. 1471, as amended.
  The question was taken; and (two-thirds being in the affirmative) the 
rules were suspended and the bill, as amended, was passed.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

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