[Congressional Record Volume 162, Number 133 (Tuesday, September 6, 2016)]
[House]
[Pages H5068-H5069]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




  ESTABLISHMENT OF A VISITOR SERVICES FACILITY ON THE ARLINGTON RIDGE 
                                 TRACT

  Mr. THOMPSON of Pennsylvania. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the 
rules and pass the bill (H.R. 4789) to authorize the Secretary of the 
Interior to establish a structure for visitor services on the Arlington 
Ridge tract, in the area of the U.S. Marine Corps War Memorial, and for 
other purposes.
  The Clerk read the title of the bill.
  The text of the bill is as follows:

                               H.R. 4789

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

     SECTION 1. DEFINITION.

       In this Act, the term ``Arlington Ridge tract'' means the 
     parcel of Federal land located in Arlington County, Virginia, 
     known as the Nevius Tract and transferred to the Department 
     of the Interior in 1953, that is bounded generally by--
       (1) Arlington Boulevard (United States Route 50) to the 
     north;
       (2) Jefferson Davis Highway (Virginia Route 110) to the 
     east;
       (3) Marshall Drive to the south; and
       (4) North Meade Street to the west.

     SEC. 2. ESTABLISHMENT OF A VISITOR SERVICES FACILITY ON THE 
                   ARLINGTON RIDGE TRACT.

       Notwithstanding section 2863(g) of Public Law 107-107, the 
     Secretary of the Interior is authorized to construct a 
     structure for visitor services to include a public restroom 
     facility on the Arlington Ridge tract in the area of the U.S. 
     Marine Corps War Memorial.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from 
Pennsylvania (Mr. Thompson) and the gentleman from Virginia (Mr. Beyer) 
each will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Pennsylvania.


                             General Leave

  Mr. THOMPSON of Pennsylvania. 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.

[[Page H5069]]

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from Pennsylvania?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. THOMPSON of Pennsylvania. I yield myself such time as I may 
consume.
  Mr. Speaker, the United States Marine Corps War Memorial in 
Arlington, Virginia, honors the many members of the Marine Corps who 
have given their lives fighting for our country. This is one of the 
most popular memorials in the area, attracting over 1 million visitors 
annually and hosting several popular events, such as the Summer Sunset 
Parades and the Marine Corps Marathon.
  Despite the popularity, the site only has portable toilets and no 
permanent bathroom facilities for visitors. This bipartisan, 
straightforward bill introduced by Congressman Don Beyer authorizes the 
construction of a visitor services center that includes permanent 
restroom facilities.
  Due to a generous donation from billionaire David Rubenstein, this 
new visitor service center will come at no cost to the taxpayer. This 
new facility represents a more respectful and permanent solution to 
improve visitor experiences at this important site.
  I urge the adoption of the measure.
  I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. BEYER. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, H.R. 4789 is an uncontroversial technical provision 
authorizing construction of a small restroom facility on the grounds of 
the Marine Corps Memorial, also known as the Iwo Jima Memorial.
  Recently, billionaire David Rubenstein donated more than $5 million 
to the National Park Foundation to be used for repairs and 
rehabilitation of the memorial and the surrounding grounds.
  Because of the donation, the National Park Service was able to look 
closely at the needs of the memorial and the visitors who come there, 
and one amenity it clearly lacks is public restrooms. At the moment, 
the only restrooms available are Park Service-supplied porta potties.
  With visitation steady and possibly increasing because of the 
memorial rehabilitation, there is a clear need to address this 
deficiency in visitor services, and this is especially concerning 
because this is a very popular destination for veterans, not all of 
whom are able-bodied.
  The current statutory ban on additional structures on the Marine 
Corps Memorial dates to 2002, and it was part of this debate over the 
location of the Air Force Memorial. Well, in the meantime, the Air 
Force Memorial was ultimately located somewhere else, but we still need 
this legislation to authorize construction of restroom facilities.
  The provision has already been passed by the Senate, and I am pleased 
by its consideration in the House. The National Park Service has long 
wanted to build a small structure with water and restrooms at the 
Marine Corps Memorial because there are no such facilities within 
several miles, and this is in keeping with the broader policy of 
improving accessibility of all the memorials on and around the National 
Mall.
  I am particularly thankful for Mr. Cook's support in putting this 
together and for Mr. Thompson's leadership and for the chairman's 
support.
  I urge all Members to support this bipartisan bill.
  I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. THOMPSON of Pennsylvania. Mr. Speaker, I urge passage of this 
bill.
  I yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Thompson) that the House suspend the 
rules and pass the bill, H.R. 4789.
  The question was taken; and (two-thirds being in the affirmative) the 
rules were suspended and the bill was passed.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

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