[Congressional Record Volume 160, Number 131 (Monday, September 15, 2014)]
[House]
[Pages H7495-H7497]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                              {time}  1930
              WEST HUNTER STREET BAPTIST CHURCH STUDY ACT

  Mr. HASTINGS of Washington. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules 
and pass the bill (H.R. 4119) to direct the Secretary of the Interior 
to conduct a special resource study of the West Hunter Street Baptist 
Church in Atlanta, Georgia, and for other purposes, as amended.
  The Clerk read the title of the bill.
  The text of the bill is as follows:

                               H.R. 4119

       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 ``West Hunter Street Baptist 
     Church Study Act''.

     SEC. 2. SPECIAL RESOURCE STUDY.

       (a) Study.--The Secretary of the Interior shall conduct a 
     special resource study of the historic West Hunter Street 
     Baptist Church, located at 775 Martin Luther King Jr. Drive, 
     SW., Atlanta, Georgia and the block on which the church is 
     located.
       (b) Contents.--In conducting the study under subsection 
     (a), the Secretary shall--

[[Page H7496]]

       (1) evaluate the national significance of the site;
       (2) determine the suitability and feasibility of 
     designating the area as a unit of the National Park System;
       (3) consider other alternatives for preservation, 
     protection, and interpretation of the site by Federal, State, 
     or local governmental entities, or private and nonprofit 
     organizations;
       (4) consult with interested Federal, State, or local 
     governmental entities, private and nonprofit organizations or 
     any other interested individuals;
       (5) identify cost estimates for any Federal acquisition, 
     development, interpretation, operation, and maintenance 
     associated with the alternatives;
       (6) consider the effect of the designation of the study 
     area as a unit of the National Park System on--
       (A) existing commercial and recreational activities, 
     including but not limited to hunting, fishing, and 
     recreational shooting, and on the authorization, 
     construction, operation, maintenance, or improvement of 
     energy production and transmission infrastructure; and
       (B) the authority of State and local governments to manage 
     those activities.
       (7) identify any authorities, including condemnation, that 
     will compel or permit the Secretary to influence or 
     participate in local land use decisions (such as zoning) or 
     place restrictions on non-Federal lands if the study area is 
     designated a unit of the National Park System.
       (c) Notification of Private Property Owners.--Upon 
     commencement of the study, owners of private property 
     adjacent to the area will be notified of the study's 
     commencement and scope.
       (d) Applicable Law.--The study required under subsection 
     (a) shall be conducted in accordance with the National Park 
     System General Authorities Act (16 U.S.C. 1a-5(c)).
       (e) Report.--Not later than 3 years after the date on which 
     funds are first made available for the study under subsection 
     (a), the Secretary shall submit to the Committee on Natural 
     Resources of the House of Representatives and the Committee 
     on Energy and Natural Resources of the Senate a report 
     containing the results of the study and any conclusions and 
     recommendations of the Secretary.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from 
Washington (Mr. Hastings) and the gentleman from Arizona (Mr. Grijalva) 
each will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Washington.


                             General Leave

  Mr. HASTINGS of Washington. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that 
all Members may have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their 
remarks and to include extraneous materials on the bill under 
consideration.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from Washington?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. HASTINGS of Washington. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as 
I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, during the civil rights movement, the West Hunter Street 
Baptist Church became a center for the movement. It was the site of 
many civil rights gatherings, strategy sessions, and nonviolent 
resolution trainings. The church was also the site of leadership 
meetings and doubled as a school for nonviolent protest during 
initiatives such as the Voter Education Project and the Freedom Summer 
of 1964.
  H.R. 4119 directs the Secretary of the Interior to conduct a special 
resource study of the West Hunter Street Baptist Church in Atlanta, 
Georgia, to determine whether it meets the National Park Service's 
criteria for inclusion in the National Park System.
  I urge its passage, and I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. GRIJALVA. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  H.R. 4119 will authorize the National Park Service to study the 
feasibility of including the West Hunter Street Baptist Church as a 
unit of the National Park Service.
  The West Hunter Street Baptist Church served as an important 
gathering center and site, an organizing, training, and strategy place 
where leaders met, and a leadership development area, all during the 
civil rights movement, and it became a place where many of the most 
important initiatives during the fight for equality, such as the Voter 
Education Project and the Freedom Summer of 1964, were born.
  I want to applaud my colleague from Georgia, Congressman Johnson, for 
his efforts to preserve this iconic building and hope the feasibility 
study is the first step in permanently preserving a landmark for future 
generations of Americans.
  With that, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. HASTINGS of Washington. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the 
gentleman from Georgia (Mr. Austin Scott), the cosponsor of the 
legislation.
  Mr. AUSTIN SCOTT of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I, along with my colleague 
from Georgia, Mr. Johnson, am pleased to offer H.R. 4119, the West 
Hunter Street Baptist Church Study Act.
  During the civil rights movement, the church served as a headquarters 
for many workers and a meeting ground for leaders.
  The West Hunter Street Baptist Church served as a spiritual refuge 
for countless men and women, like our colleague, John Lewis, who 
devoted their lives to the civil rights movement.
  I ask my colleagues to support this legislation.
  Mr. GRIJALVA. Mr. Speaker, I yield as much time as he may consume to 
the gentleman from Georgia (Mr. Johnson), my friend and cosponsor of 
the legislation.
  Mr. JOHNSON of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, tonight, I rise to urge the 
House to adopt H.R. 4119, the West Hunter Street Baptist Church Study 
Act.
  Mr. Speaker, this is a noncontroversial and bipartisan piece of 
legislation. I was proud to introduce this bill in partnership with my 
colleague and fellow Georgian, Congressman Austin Scott.
  My bill has the support of both of Georgia's Republican U.S. Senators 
and 77 bipartisan Members of the House of Representatives.
  This is an important piece of legislation for the people of Georgia's 
Fourth Congressional District, whom I represent, but also for the 
thousands of heroes who fought tirelessly during the civil rights 
movement for equality in the South and throughout the country.
  The West Hunter Street Baptist Church Study Act authorizes the 
Department of the Interior to conduct a study of the West Hunter Street 
Baptist Church in Atlanta, Georgia, to determine if it meets the 
requirements to become part of our Nation's park system. According to 
the National Park Service, the site may be considered for designation 
as a national park if it is associated with significant events and 
people in our Nation's history and contributes to the understanding of 
these historic events and figures.
  During the civil rights movement, the West Hunter Street Baptist 
Church served as the headquarters for many civil rights workers and 
organizers. It was the site of many important leadership meetings and 
doubled as a school for nonviolent protests during initiatives such as 
the Voter Education Project and the Freedom Summer of 1964. It was also 
a spiritual refuge for the countless men and women who devoted their 
lives to the cause.
  Rev. Dr. Ralph David Abernathy, Sr., the church's pastor, was the 
best friend and a partner of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. He helped lead 
the bus boycotts after Rosa Parks famously refused to give up her seat. 
Rev. Dr. Abernathy, Sr. assumed his position at the church at Dr. 
King's urging following the success of the Freedom Rides. He was the 
pastor at West Hunter Street Baptist Church until his death in 1990.
  Passage of this bill will allow the Department of Interior to assess 
how to more fully preserve and honor the contributions of all who 
played significant roles in advancing freedom and human rights, 
including the Rev. Dr. Ralph David Abernathy, Sr.
  I urge the House to remember the pivotal nature of the civil rights 
movement. When considering this bill, think of what the movement meant 
to our Nation and to the world. As Dr. King said, the struggle for 
civil rights ``lifted our Nation from the quicksands of racial 
injustice to the solid rock of brotherhood.''
  In addition to broad bipartisan support in the House, this bill 
enjoys the support of a number of prominent organizations, including 
the Coalition for the People's Agenda, the Southern Christian 
Leadership Conference, and the National Association for the Advancement 
of Colored People.
  I would like to thank Chairman Hastings and Ranking Member DeFazio 
and Subcommittee Chairman Bishop and Ranking Member Grijalva for their 
support of this bill, and I thank them for moving this bill through the 
Natural Resources Committee.
  Again, I want to thank my colleague and homeboy, Austin Scott, for 
his work on this.
  I urge my colleagues to support this bipartisan bill.

[[Page H7497]]

  Mr. HASTINGS of Washington. Mr. Speaker, I advise my friend from 
Arizona I have no more requests for time, so I reserve the balance of 
my time.
  Mr. GRIJALVA. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. HASTINGS of Washington. 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 Washington (Mr. Hastings) that the House suspend the 
rules and pass the bill, H.R. 4119, 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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