[Congressional Record Volume 160, Number 127 (Monday, September 8, 2014)]
[House]
[Pages H7273-H7274]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
APPROVAL OF MEMORIAL TO COMMEMORATE SLAVES AND FREE BLACK PERSONS WHO
FOUGHT IN THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION
Mr. YOUNG of Alaska. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and
pass the joint resolution (H.J. Res. 120) approving the location of a
memorial to commemorate the more than 5,000 slaves and free Black
persons who fought for independence in the American Revolution.
The Clerk read the title of the joint resolution.
The text of the joint resolution is as follows:
H.J. Res. 120
Whereas section 8908(b)(1) of title 40, United States Code,
provides that the location of a commemorative work in Area I,
as depicted on the map entitled ``Commemorative Areas
Washington, DC and Environs'', numbered 869/86501 B, and
dated June 24, 2003, shall be deemed to be authorized only if
a recommendation for that location is approved by law not
later than 150 calendar days after Congress is notified of
the recommendation;
Whereas section 2860 of Public Law 112-239 (40 U.S.C. 8903
note) authorized the National Mall Liberty Fund D.C. to
establish a memorial on Federal land in Area I or Area II, as
depicted on such map, to honor the more than 5,000 slaves and
free Black persons who fought for American independence in
the Revolutionary War; and
Whereas the Administrator of General Services has notified
Congress of the Administrator's determination that such
memorial should be located in Area I: Now, therefore, be it
Resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled, That the
location of a commemorative work to honor the more than 5,000
slaves and free Black persons who fought in the American
Revolution, authorized by section 2860 of division B of
Public Law 112-239 (40 U.S.C. 8903 note), within Area I as
described on the map entitled ``Commemorative Areas
Washington, DC and Environs'', numbered 869/86501 B and dated
June 24, 2003, is approved.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from
Alaska (Mr. Young) and the gentleman from California (Mr. Lowenthal)
each will control 20 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Alaska.
General Leave
Mr. YOUNG of Alaska. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all
Members may have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks
and include extraneous materials on the bill under consideration.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the
gentleman from Alaska?
There was no objection.
Mr. YOUNG of Alaska. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may
consume.
Mr. Speaker, in 2012 Congress authorized a National Mall Liberty Fund
to establish a memorial on Federal land to honor the more than 5,000
slaves and free Black persons who served as soldiers and sailors or
provided civilian assistance during the American Revolution.
Under the Commemorative Works Act, memorials must be recommended by
the Government Service Administration for placement within what is
known as Area I, which is generally the location around The National
Mall in Washington. A recommendation may be issued if the Administrator
finds a proposed memorial is of preeminence and of lasting
significance.
On June 3, 2014, the GSA Administrator notified the Natural Resources
Committee he found the proposed National Liberty Memorial to be of
lasting significance. Under current law, once this notification is
delivered, Congress has 150 days to concur with the finding. H.J. Res.
120 provides the necessary concurrence and allows this privately funded
project to move forward. Again, I know of no Federal funds that will be
used in this memorial.
I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. LOWENTHAL. I yield myself such time as I may consume.
(Mr. LOWENTHAL asked and was given permission to revise and extend
his remarks.)
Mr. LOWENTHAL. Mr. Speaker, Washington, D.C., and The National Mall
are where we honor our Nation's heroes and commemorate our most
significant achievements. An important chapter in our history which has
yet to be fully recognized is the contribution and the sacrifice of the
over 5,000 slaves and free Black persons who fought to free the
Colonies in our Nation's War of Independence. These brave, selfless men
must not be forgotten and are certainly deserving of our lasting
recognition. That is why in 2003 after years of
[[Page H7274]]
debate and effort, Congress authorized the National Liberty Memorial.
The National Liberty Memorial will serve as an important remembrance.
I am very pleased that we are able to consider this bill today. When
Congress authorizes the establishment of a memorial in Washington,
D.C., it then takes years of planning to select a design and location.
Fortunately, for the Liberty Memorial, a site has been selected. One of
the last hurdles is approval from Congress, and with the adoption of
H.J. Res. 120, that is why and what we are here to do today.
{time} 1800
Getting this far would not have been possible without the hard work
and dedication of the bill's sponsor, Representative Butterfield from
North Carolina. I would like to thank him and congratulate him for his
work and look forward to soon visiting the new National Liberty
Memorial.
We support this legislation and thank the majority for bringing it up
for consideration. With that, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. YOUNG of Alaska. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. LOWENTHAL. Mr. Speaker, I yield as much time as he may consume to
the gentleman from North Carolina (Mr. Butterfield), the sponsor of the
legislation.
Mr. BUTTERFIELD. First, I want to thank you, Mr. Lowenthal, for those
kind words and thank you for your leadership. Thank you for yielding
time today and for working very hard to bring this important resolution
to the House floor. I also appreciate the work of the Natural Resources
Committee chairman, Doc Hastings, and Ranking Member Pete DeFazio, and
you, Mr. Young, for considering this resolution expeditiously and for
seeing that it was favorably reported by the committee.
Also, let me thank Senator Chris Murphy from Connecticut, who used to
serve in this body and now serves in the United States Senate, for
introducing a companion bill in the Senate. His support is critical,
and I thank him for his commitment to this important issue. I hope that
the Senate will act as expeditiously and in as bipartisan a fashion as
has the House of Representatives.
Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of House Joint Resolution 120, a
bill that I introduced that will formally approve the location that was
selected by the Administrator of the General Services Administration of
a memorial that will recognize the thousands of slaves and free persons
of color, or as historians sometimes refer to, free Negroes, who fought
for independence during the American Revolution.
Federal law requires, Mr. Speaker, that the location for the memorial
identified by the Administrator of GSA be formally approved by Congress
within 150 days of receiving the recommendation by the GSA
Administrator.
The memorial that will eventually be constructed to honor tens of
thousands of slaves and free people of color who helped to secure
American independence during the Revolution will be a fitting tribute
to their heroic actions that helped shape the very foundation of our
Nation.
For generations, historians estimated that at least 5,000 African
Americans--both slave and free--fought for American independence.
Revised estimates now show more than 10,000 brave men joined the fight.
At least 252 of these patriots came from North Carolina, and at least
109 of those came from my congressional district, the counties of
Bertie, Chowan, Craven, Edgecombe, Franklin, Granville, Halifax,
Hertford, Northampton, Pasquotank, and Perquimans.
The president general of the National Society of the Daughters of the
American Revolution wrote of the brave souls who fought for freedom
when they themselves were not free that ``they deserve special
recognition in order to help better educate our country.''
In 2008, the National Society of the Daughters of the American
Revolution published landmark research containing the names and
communities of these African American patriots. The research is
continuously updated with the discovery of new heroes. Scores of
African American men and women have been accepted by heritage societies
that had not been previously open to their membership.
The desire to honor these brave men and their descendants in a
permanent and meaningful way had long been championed by a
distinguished Member of this body who has since passed away,
Congressman Donald Payne, Sr. Congressman Payne introduced authorizing
language as far back as 2005. After Congressman Payne's death, I have
worked to get this effort to the finish line, guided by his words that
``this memorial is an important chapter in the reclamation of African
American history.''
There are over 2 million descendants of these Revolutionary War
patriots nationwide. This eventual memorial will show the Nation, and
it will show the world, Mr. Speaker, that the sacrifices and heroic
efforts of African Americans--both slave and free--who took up arms to
secure America's independence are not forgotten. It will permanently
affirm what we know to be true: these patriots and their service to our
then-infant Nation will forever be of preeminent historical and lasting
significance to our country that they fought to create.
Again, I thank you for the time, Mr. Lowenthal.
Mr. YOUNG of Alaska. Mr. Speaker, I have no further speakers, and I
yield back the balance of my time.
Mr. LOWENTHAL. Mr. Speaker, again, I want to thank Representative
Butterfield from North Carolina for helping us get this across the
finish line.
We are really going to honor these brave Americans, both slaves and
free blacks, who fought for American independence, and I think this is
a wonderful bill.
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 Alaska (Mr. Young) that the House suspend the rules and
pass the joint resolution, H.J. Res. 120.
The question was taken; and (two-thirds being in the affirmative) the
rules were suspended and the joint resolution was passed.
A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.
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