[Congressional Record Volume 162, Number 29 (Wednesday, February 24, 2016)]
[House]
[Pages H876-H877]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR. NATIONAL HISTORICAL PARK ACT OF 2016
Mr. McCLINTOCK. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the
bill (H.R. 2880) to redesignate the Martin Luther King, Junior,
National Historic Site in the State of 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. 2880
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 ``Martin Luther King, Jr.
National Historical Park Act of 2016''.
SEC. 2. MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR. NATIONAL HISTORICAL PARK.
The Act entitled ``An Act to establish the Martin Luther
King, Junior, National Historic Site in the State of Georgia,
and for other purposes'' (Public Law 96-428) is amended--
(1) in subsection (a) of the first section, by striking
``the map entitled `Martin Luther King, Junior, National
Historic Site Boundary Map', number 489/80,013B, and dated
September 1992'' and inserting ``the map entitled `Martin
Luther King, Jr. National Historical Park Proposed Boundary
Revision', numbered 489/128,786 and dated June 2015'';
(2) by striking ``Martin Luther King, Junior, National
Historic Site'' each place it appears and inserting ``Martin
Luther King, Jr. National Historical Park'';
(3) by striking ``national historic site'' each place it
appears and inserting ``national historical park'';
(4) by striking ``historic site'' each place it appears and
inserting ``historical park''; and
(5) by striking ``historic sites'' in section 2(a) and
inserting ``historical parks''.
SEC. 3. REFERENCES.
Any reference in a law (other than this Act), map,
regulation, document, paper, or other record of the United
States to ``Martin Luther King, Junior, National Historic
Site'' shall be deemed to be a reference to ``Martin Luther
King, Jr. National Historical Park''.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from
California (Mr. McClintock) and the gentlewoman from Massachusetts (Ms.
Tsongas) each will control 20 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentleman from California.
General Leave
Mr. McCLINTOCK. 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 California?
There was no objection.
Mr. McCLINTOCK. I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, H.R. 2880, introduced by our colleague, John Lewis,
redesignates the Martin Luther King, Junior, National Historic Site in
the State of Georgia as the Martin Luther King, Jr. National Historical
Park. It also authorizes the National Park Service to include the
Prince Hall Masonic Temple in the Historical Park's boundaries.
The Prince Hall Masonic Temple long served as the headquarters of the
Southern Christian Leadership Conference. This historic and
distinguished civil rights organization was cofounded by Dr. King, who
also served as its first president. Including the Prince Hall Masonic
Temple within the unit's boundary allows the National Park Service to
provide technical assistance to the building's owners with respect to
repairs, renovations, and maintenance that would preserve its historic
integrity.
It can be said that every American figuratively walks in the
footsteps of the American Founders and those who followed them and who
perfected their vision. Because of their work, we enjoy the blessings
of a free government that exists to protect the God-given natural
rights of every person and a free society where every person will be
judged, in Dr. King's words, ``on the content of his character.''
Our historical parks give us the opportunity literally to walk in the
footsteps of these great Americans who have struggled over the
centuries to secure this vision. Those who gathered around Dr. Martin
Luther King, Jr., in the 1950s walked the streets of this neighborhood,
and its preservation gives us and future generations a tangible link
with them.
One of them was our distinguished colleague, Congressman Lewis, and I
commend him for his work. It is altogether fitting that a man who did
so much to establish this legacy brings to the House today a bill to
further preserve it, and I urge its adoption.
Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Ms. TSONGAS. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
H.R. 2880 is a simple piece of legislation that has broad bipartisan
support. The bill will accomplish two primary goals: to redesignate the
Martin Luther King, Junior, National Historic Site in Atlanta, Georgia,
as a National Historical Park, and to adjust the boundary of the park
to include the Prince Hall Masonic Temple. These actions will enhance
the ability of the National Park Service and the community to tell the
very important story of Dr. King.
The site, which is the final resting place of the great civil rights
leader, continues to connect visitors with the historical and
contemporary struggles for civil rights in this country. These stories
are as relevant today as they were half a century ago. This legislation
will provide the site with the proper acknowledgment that it deserves.
I want to thank Congressman Lewis, who remains an important civil
rights leader, for bringing this important bill forward.
I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from Georgia
(Mr. Lewis).
Mr. LEWIS. Mr. Speaker, I rise as the proud sponsor of this
legislation.
First, let me thank Chairman Bishop, Ranking Member Grijalva, and all
the staff of the Natural Resources Committee for their hard work and
support of this act.
Mr. Speaker, my bipartisan bill will create the first National
Historic Park in the State of Georgia. This technical change from a
``Site'' to a ``Park'' will make it easier for the National Park
Service to share the history of the American civil rights movement with
national and international visitors to Atlanta.
These historic spaces are located in my congressional district in
downtown Atlanta, on and around Auburn Avenue. This is where Dr. King
was born and raised, where he was nurtured and taught, where he
preached and loved.
I was a teenager when I first met Dr. King in 1958, at the age of 18.
This conversation forever changed my life, but I was not the only one.
Many, many people were touched by this man's genius and compassion for
all humankind. Dr. King's mission was to create the beloved community,
a community of justice, a community at peace with itself.
Dr. King had the power to bring people together to do good. His
message was love, his weapon was truth, and the method was the way of
nonviolence and passive resistance.
Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., led a nonviolent movement that changed
the face of our Nation. He inspired people from all over our country
and from all over the world.
My simple act will improve the services and educational opportunities
for visitors to this wonderful space and this wonderful piece of
history. It will preserve this important part of our history for
generations yet unborn.
Again, I would like to thank the chair and ranking member for their
support, and I urge all of my colleagues to support this simple,
commonsense legislation.
[[Page H877]]
Ms. TSONGAS. I yield 1 minute to the gentlewoman from Texas (Ms.
Jackson Lee).
Ms. JACKSON LEE. Mr. Speaker, there is no greater voice of the civil
rights movement here in this Congress and in this Nation than our dear
friend, Congressman John Lewis.
I am both excited and honored to be able to support this legislation
that changes what was a ``Site'' in its early beginnings to the
important designation of a National Historic Park honoring Martin
Luther King, Jr.
I first want to thank John Lewis for his conscientious and hard work
on behalf of the King family. As I sat here and listened to Congressman
Lewis relaying his story, I had the slight privilege to have worked for
the Southern Christian Leadership Conference on the very street that he
has mentioned. After him, I was able to come to the then-offices of the
Southern Christian Leadership Conference in this historic area.
The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Rothfus). The time of the gentlewoman
has expired.
Ms. TSONGAS. I yield the gentlewoman an additional 2 minutes.
Ms. JACKSON LEE. It was a small office where so many historic persons
were, in essence, able to walk in the midst of those hallowed streets.
Dr. King came. I don't know whether he parked a car or walked into that
office. Of course, we have all of the other surrounding areas and other
names of historic persons that had the ability to walk down those
streets and into that area.
We take great pride in the preservation of our National Park areas.
And I must compliment the National Park Service, because it has a love
and affection for all those lands that it takes care of. You can see it
when you are able to visit these national sites throughout our country
that we have had a chance to visit.
In my colleague's district will be an added place for Dr. Martin
Luther King's resources and things his hands touched. What an
appropriate time in our history to be able again to thank this man of
peace, of nonviolence, and to remind ourselves that America is really a
great country to have given birth to him. Along with the plight and
conditions in which he lived in at the time and the conditions which he
was subjected to, to our knowledge, he never became embittered. He
always, although frustrated at moments, recognized love and
nonviolence.
I hope that with the recognition he will get and the protection of
these wonderful assets, people will come there for solace. It will be
another place, along with the monument here in Washington, where people
will come here for solace and the recognition that nonviolence and
peace and the human dignity of all people are virtues of this Nation
carried forward by a great and wonderful and heroic leader--someone
whom I at least had a small moment to be associated with through his
organization after his death. And I thank him.
I rise today in support of H.R. 2880, the ``Martin Luther King, Jr.
National Historical Park Act.''
In 1980, Congress passed legislation (P.L. 96-428), establishing the
Martin Luther King, Jr. National Historic Site.
H.R. 2880 redesignates the ``Martin Luther King Junior, National
Historic Site'' as the ``Martin Luther King, Jr. National Historical
Park.''
This name change is important because it recognizes the greater
physical extent that the site represents not only for African American
history, but American history.
This legislation will improve the preservation and ensure the
continuous protection of this historic district.
When passed, in 1980, the law set the boundaries of the site along a
portion of Auburn Avenue in Atlanta.
This area includes the birthplace of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King,
Jr.; the Ebenezer Baptist Church, where both he and his father
preached; and the immediate surrounding area.
That law also designated a preservation district that extended
protection beyond the immediate neighborhood surrounding the birthplace
and church to include the broader Sweet Auburn commercial district.
Since 1980, Congress has twice modified the boundaries of the site
and preservation district (P.L. 102-575 and P.L. 108-314).
H.R. 2880 will extend the boundaries of the site to include the
Prince Hall Masonic Temple, which is where the Southern Christian
Leadership Conference (SCLC) established its initial headquarters in
1957.
The Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. was a co-founder and the first
president of the SCLC.
It is fitting that we remember the life and legacy of a man who
brought hope and healing to America.
The life of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. reminds us that
nothing is impossible when we are guided by the better angels of our
nature.
Dr. King walked the walk, going to jail 29 times to achieve freedom
for others.
He knew he would pay the ultimate price for his leadership, but kept
on marching and protesting and organizing anyway.
It is proper that we remember this man of action, who put his life on
the line for freedom and justice every day.
So it is fitting that we pass H.R. 2880 and expand, protect, and
preserve the Martin Luther King, Jr. National Historic Park so that for
generations to come it remains a living memorial to the men and women
who led the movement that helped our nation live up to the true meaning
of its creed and inspired non-violent movements for social change the
world over.
Ms. TSONGAS. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
Mr. McCLINTOCK. Mr. Speaker, I would urge adoption of the measure.
I yield back the balance of my time.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the
gentleman from California (Mr. McClintock) that the House suspend the
rules and pass the bill, H.R. 2880, 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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