[Congressional Record Volume 155, Number 182 (Monday, December 7, 2009)]
[House]
[Pages H13540-H13541]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                              {time}  1330
       PETERSBURG NATIONAL BATTLEFIELD BOUNDARY MODIFICATION ACT

  Ms. BORDALLO. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the 
bill (H.R. 3388) to modify the boundary of Petersburg National 
Battlefield in the Commonwealth of Virginia, and for other purposes, as 
amended.
  The Clerk read the title of the bill.
  The text of the bill is as follows:

                               H.R. 3388

       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 ``Petersburg National 
     Battlefield Boundary Modification Act''.

     SEC. 2. BOUNDARY MODIFICATION.

       (a) In General.--The boundary of Petersburg National 
     Battlefield is modified to include the properties as 
     generally depicted on the map titled ``Petersburg National 
     Battlefield Boundary Expansion'', numbered 325/80,080, and 
     dated June 2007. The map shall be on file and available for 
     inspection in the appropriate offices of the National Park 
     Service.
       (b) Acquisition of Properties.--The Secretary of the 
     Interior (referred to in this Act as the ``Secretary'') is 
     authorized to acquire the lands or interests in land, 
     described in subsection (a), from willing sellers only by 
     donation, purchase with donated or appropriated funds, 
     exchange, or transfer.
       (c) Administration.--The Secretary shall administer any 
     land or interests in land acquired under this section as part 
     of the Petersburg National Battlefield in accordance with 
     applicable laws and regulations.

     SEC. 3. ADMINISTRATIVE JURISDICTION TRANSFER.

       (a) In General.--The Secretary and the Secretary of the 
     Army are authorized to transfer administrative jurisdiction 
     for approximately 1.171 acres of land under the jurisdiction 
     of the Department of the Interior within the boundary of the 
     Petersburg National Battlefield, for approximately 1.170 
     acres of land under the jurisdiction of the Department of the 
     Army within the boundary of the Fort Lee Military Reservation 
     adjacent to the boundary of the Petersburg National 
     Battlefield.
       (b) Map.--The land to be exchanged is depicted on the map 
     titled ``Petersburg National Battlefield Proposed Transfer of 
     Administrative Jurisdiction'', numbered 325/80,081, and dated 
     October 2009. The map shall be available for public 
     inspection in the appropriate offices of the National Park 
     Service.
       (c) Conditions of Transfer.--The transfer of administrative 
     jurisdiction authorized in subsection (a) shall be subject to 
     the following conditions:
       (1) No reimbursement or consideration.--The transfer shall 
     occur without reimbursement or consideration.
       (2) Deadline.--The Secretary and the Secretary of the Army 
     shall complete the transfers authorized by this section not 
     later than 120 days after the funds are made available for 
     that purpose.
       (3) Management.--The land conveyed to the Secretary under 
     subsection (a) shall be included within the boundary of the 
     Petersburg National Battlefield and shall be administered as 
     part of the park in accordance with applicable laws and 
     regulations.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentlewoman from 
Guam (Ms. Bordallo) and the gentleman from South Carolina (Mr. Brown) 
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, H.R. 3388 is sponsored by our colleague, 
Representative Forbes of Virginia. The 9-month campaign by the Union 
Army to capture the town of Petersburg, Virginia, was the longest of 
the Civil War. Today, only a fraction of the sites associated with the 
siege are protected within Petersburg National Battlefield. The Civil 
War Preservation Trust has consistently listed this area among the 
Nation's most endangered Civil War battlefields. Mr. Speaker, this 
legislation authorizes the expansion of the park to preserve 
approximately 7,000 acres that retain their historic significance. It 
was the subject of an extensive public planning process and has strong 
support within the local community.
  I commend Mr. Forbes for sponsoring this legislation to improve the 
preservation of such an important historic resource, and I ask my 
colleagues to support passage of this measure.

                                                 December 3, 2009.
     Hon. Nick J. Rahall II,
     Chairman, Committee on Natural Resources, Longworth House 
         Office Building Washington, DC.
       Dear Mr. Chairman: On November 18, 2009, the Committee on 
     Natural Resources ordered H.R. 3388, the Petersburg National 
     Battlefield Boundary Modification Act, to be reported. As you 
     know, this measure contains certain provisions that are 
     within the jurisdiction of the Committee on Armed Services.
       Our Committee recognizes the importance of H.R. 3388 and 
     the need for the legislation to move expeditiously. 
     Therefore, while we have a valid claim to jurisdiction over 
     this legislation, the Committee on Armed Services will waive 
     further consideration of H.R. 3388. I do so with the 
     understanding that by waiving further consideration of the 
     bill, the Committee does not waive any future jurisdictional 
     claims over similar measures. In the event of a conference 
     with the Senate on H.R. 3388, the Committee on Armed Services 
     reserves the right to seek the appointment of conferees.
       I would appreciate the inclusion of this letter and a copy 
     of your response in your Committee's report on H.R. 3388 and 
     the Congressional Record during consideration of the measure 
     on the House floor.
           Very truly yours,

                                                  Ike Skelton,

                                                         Chairman,
     House Committee on Armed Services.
                                  ____

                                                 December 3, 2009.
     Hon. Ike Skelton,
     Chairman, Committee on Armed Services, Rayburn H.O.B., 
         Washington, DC.
       Dear Mr. Chairman: Thank you for your willingness to 
     expedite floor consideration of H.R. 3388, the Petersburg 
     National Battlefield Boundary Modification Act, which 
     contains provisions that fall within the jurisdiction of the 
     Committee on Armed Services.
       I appreciate your willingness to waive rights to further 
     consideration of H.R. 3388, even though your Committee has 
     received an additional referral. Of course, this waiver does 
     not prejudice any further jurisdictional claims by your 
     Committee over this legislation or similar language. 
     Furthermore, I agree to support your request for appointment 
     of conferees from the Committee on Armed Services if a 
     conference is held on this matter.
       This exchange of letters will be inserted in the 
     Congressional Record as part of the consideration of the bill 
     on the House floor. Thank you for the cooperative spirit in 
     which you have worked regarding this matter and others 
     between our respective committees.
       With warm regards, I am
           Sincerely,

                                            Nick J. Rahall II,

                                                         Chairman,
                                   Committee on Natural Resources.

  I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. BROWN of South Carolina. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as 
I may consume.
  H.R. 3388 expands the boundary of the Petersburg National Battlefield 
in Virginia and authorizes the exchange of approximately equal 1-acre 
parcels between the Secretary of the Interior and the Army. The 
boundary expansion adds an additional 7,000 acres that have been 
identified as core battlefield areas during the Union Army's long siege 
of Petersburg during the Civil War.
  I want to compliment the sponsor of this bill, Congressman Forbes, 
for including ``willing seller'' language in the bill. Private land 
will fall within the expanded boundary of the park, and those property 
rights need to be protected.
  Mr. FORBES. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to support H.R. 3388, the 
Petersburg National Battlefield Boundary Modification Act. This 
legislation would provide for the expansion of Petersburg National 
Battlefield in Petersburg, Virginia, which will serve to increase 
heritage tourism in the Commonwealth of Virginia and enable Americans 
to learn more about the final years of the Civil War.
  Nearly one quarter of the entire Civil War was fought in and around 
Petersburg, Virginia.

[[Page H13541]]

Only 25 miles south of Richmond, the city of Petersburg served as an 
important supply center to the Confederate capital. With its five 
railroad lines and key roads, Petersburg was recognized as a lynchpin 
of all Confederate efforts by both General Ulysses S. Grant and General 
Robert E. Lee, which is why on June 1864 General Grant moved to 
surround and isolate the City. Remarkably, for 9 1/2 months, General 
Lee held off the Northern troops, in what became one of the longest 
sieges in the history of American warfare. Eventually, both armies were 
forced to abandon Petersburg, leaving behind 70,000 casualties as they 
began their trek toward Appomattox Courthouse, where General Lee would 
ultimately surrender.
  The historic sites at Petersburg National Battlefield tell this 
incredible story, and serve as an important reminder of an 
extraordinary chapter in American history. The numerous battlefields, 
monuments, and museums allow not only Virginians, but all Americans, to 
appreciate those who came before us during one of the most trying 
conflicts in the history of our great Nation.
  The bill before us today, H.R. 3388, expands the area of the 
Petersburg National Battlefield in Virginia by over 7,000 acres. The 
bill allows the National Park Service to acquire the land by purchase, 
easement, exchange, and donation from private and nonprofit landowners. 
This bill would also allow for the administrative jurisdiction transfer 
of approximately 1.17 acres of land between the Fort Lee Military 
Reservation, through the Department of the Army, and the National Park 
Service, through the Department of the Interior. H.R. 3388 is supported 
by all parties involved, including each surrounding locality.
  The Petersburg National Battlefield is an integral part of the local 
community, an important tourist destination for the Commonwealth of 
Virginia, and a touchstone of America's past. I urge my colleagues to 
support H.R. 3388 to ensure that this important historic site is 
enhanced for generations of Americans to come.
  Mr. BROWN of South Carolina. I yield back the balance of my time.
  Ms. BORDALLO. Mr. Speaker, I again urge Members to support the bill, 
and I want to thank my colleague from South Carolina for managing the 
bills on the floor today.
  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. 3388, 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.

                          ____________________