[Congressional Record Volume 162, Number 144 (Thursday, September 22, 2016)]
[House]
[Pages H5842-H5844]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                     ROBERT EMMET PARK ACT OF 2016

  Mr. DENHAM. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the 
bill (H.R. 4564) to redesignate the small triangular property located 
in Washington, DC, and designated by the National Park Service as 
reservation 302 as ``Robert Emmet Park'', and for other purposes.
  The Clerk read the title of the bill.
  The text of the bill is as follows:

                               H.R. 4564

       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 ``Robert Emmet Park Act of 
     2016''.

     SEC. 2. FINDINGS.

       Congress finds as follows:
       (1) Robert Emmet was one of Ireland's most prominent 
     historical figures, having led an effort to secure Irish 
     independence in 1803.
       (2) Although Emmet's efforts initially failed, they 
     succeeded in inspiring new generations of Irish men and women 
     to struggle for independence.
       (3) For his efforts to gain Irish independence, Emmet was 
     found guilty of treason and sentenced to death by hanging.
       (4) Robert Emmet's ``Speech from the Dock'' motivated many 
     of the efforts that led to an independent Ireland following 
     1916's Easter Rising; (Emmet famously said that ``To 
     [Ireland] I sacrificed every selfish, every lasting sentiment 
     . . . I wished to place her independence beyond the reach of 
     any power of earth . . . to procure for my country the 
     guarantee which Washington procured for America . . . to 
     exalt her to that proud station in the world.''). Emmet was 
     strongly influenced by American democracy and the American 
     Revolution.
       (5) Emmet had family members similarly admiring of the 
     United States and dedicated to the cause of Irish 
     independence, including his brother Thomas Addis Emmet who 
     went on to become a prominent Attorney General of New York.
       (6) Emmet has been revered by generations of Irish-
     Americans for his leadership, courage, and sacrifice.
       (7) Fifty years ago on April 22, 1966, the Robert Emmet 
     Statue was dedicated on a

[[Page H5843]]

     small parcel of National Park Service land (reservation 302) 
     at the corner of 24th Street NW and Massachusetts Avenue NW 
     in Washington, DC.
       (8) Robert Emmet's statue is the central feature of 
     reservation 302.
       (9) Many leading Members of Congress, including Speaker of 
     the House John W. McCormack and Senators Everett Dirksen and 
     Mike Mansfield served on the Robert Emmet Statue Dedication 
     Committee.
       (10) Other members of that committee and participants in 
     the dedication ceremony included Secretary of the Interior 
     Stewart Udall, Representative Michael Kirwan, Ambassador of 
     Ireland William P. Fay, and Rector of St. Matthews Cathedral 
     John K. Cartwright.

     SEC. 3. REDESIGNATION OF ROBERT EMMET PARK.

       (a) Redesignation.--The small triangular property 
     designated by the National Park Service as reservation 302, 
     shall be known as ``Robert Emmet Park''.
       (b) Reference.--Any reference in any law, regulation, 
     document, record, map, paper, or other record of the United 
     States to the property referred to in subsection (a) is 
     deemed to be a reference to ``Robert Emmet Park''.
       (c) Signage.--The Secretary of the Interior may post signs 
     on or near Robert Emmet Park that include one or more of the 
     following:
       (1) Information on Robert Emmet, his contribution to Irish 
     Independence, and his respect for the United States and the 
     American Revolution.
       (2) Information on the history of the statue of Robert 
     Emmet located in Robert Emmet Park.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from 
California (Mr. Denham) and the gentleman from California (Mr. Huffman) 
each will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from California (Mr. Denham).


                             General Leave

  Mr. DENHAM. 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 California?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. DENHAM. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  This bill, introduced by Congressman Crowley of New York, 
redesignates a small, triangular property in Washington, D.C., that is 
currently designated by the National Park Service as reservation 302, 
as Robert Emmet Park.
  Robert Emmet is a prominent historical figure who is known for his 
role in the Irish Rebellion of 1803 and for his classic Speech from the 
Dock that inspired future efforts to gain Irish independence. Last 
April marked the 100th anniversary of the 1916 uprising, commonly known 
as the Easter Rising by Irish Republicans, to end British rule and 
establish an independent Irish Republic.
  The small property redesignated by the bill is located just a few 
blocks from the Irish Embassy, and it currently features a nearly 100-
year-old statue of Robert Emmet--a source of pride for America's Irish 
community. The bill also authorizes the Secretary of the Interior to 
post informational signage regarding Robert Emmet and his statue in the 
park.
  I urge my colleagues to support this measure.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. HUFFMAN. Mr. Speaker, Robert Emmet was an Irishman who was 
inspired by our hard-fought independence in this country, and he wanted 
the same for his native land. I think this bill is a wonderful thing 
for Ireland and a wonderful thing for Irish Americans, including for my 
colleague, Mr. Crowley, a great, proud Irish American.
  Mr. Speaker, H.R. 4564 designates a small triangle of land in 
Washington, DC as the Robert Emmet Park. The parcel is home to a statue 
of Robert Emmet, a seminary figure in Ireland's quest for independence. 
The bill also authorizes the National Park Service, which managed the 
area, to add interpretive displays and signage to the area.
  Emmet admired the independence we achieved in this country, and only 
wanted the same freedom and liberty for his compatriots. These powerful 
sentiments are a charge to all of us in this Chamber and throughout the 
country: that we put the good of our fellow countrymen before our 
individual gains and that we work together to preserve this great 
Nation.
  By designating this small plot of land and the accompanying statue as 
Robert Emmet Park, this stands as a constant reminder of the call to 
liberty and freedom that binds our Nation together. I am glad to 
support this bill and thank the sponsor, Representative Joe Crowley of 
New York, the vice-chair of the Democratic Caucus.
  I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from New York 
(Mr. Crowley).
  Mr. CROWLEY. Mr. Speaker, I thank both of my friends from California 
for bringing this bill to the floor today. I am not a member of the 
requisite committee, but I appreciate the work that was done to bring 
it to the floor. I thank them both for speaking in favor of this piece 
of legislation.
  Mr. Speaker, it is interesting that we are here this week at the cusp 
of the grand opening of the National Museum of African American History 
and Culture here in Washington, D.C.--a, rightfully, magnificent 
building here on The Mall of our Nation's Capital. I think, after 
listening to a few of the remarks I will make about this little piece 
of property here in Washington, it is a modicum in comparison to that, 
but it is, I think, worthy of our support.
  This is a bipartisan bill that is before us today. It has earned the 
support of both sides of the aisle. Specifically, it would name a small 
parcel of land in Washington, D.C., as the Robert Emmet Park. In some 
ways, the name can be considered a formality because, as has been 
mentioned by Mr. Denham, there is already a statue of Emmet that has 
been in the park for decades. It is the only statue in the very small 
park, and it is situated so that it is the main visible feature to 
visitors. I hope one doesn't mind my sharing just a little of the 
history here today.
  The Robert Emmet statue first came into the possession of the United 
States 100 years ago, when then-President Woodrow Wilson, other Cabinet 
members, diplomats, and Members of Congress joined in the acceptance 
ceremony.
  The statue was a gift from the Irish American community and was 
created by renowned artist Jerome Connor. After it was donated, it 
graced the rotunda of the National Museum of Natural History for its 
first 50 years. In the 1960s, it was moved to its current location in 
the park, and it was rededicated. The statue has stood there ever since 
and has been admired by millions of tourists, visitors, local 
residents, and passersby.
  But this is not just a statue. For many Americans, the admiration for 
Robert Emmet reflects a deep and abiding pride in Irish American 
history as well as the lasting, worldwide influence of our own American 
history. That is because, over 200 years ago, inspired by George 
Washington and the American Revolution, Emmet led an attempt to free 
Ireland from British rule. For this effort, he was captured and was 
ultimately executed. In the course of his execution, he gave one of the 
most famous speeches in history, known as the Speech from the Dock. His 
cause lived on not only because he paid the ultimate price on September 
20, 1803, but because of his incredible and indelible words that he 
spoke that day.
  In his speech, Emmet spoke about how George Washington and the 
American independence struggle inspired his actions. He spoke about his 
desire for sovereignty and for independence for his own land. He spoke 
about his desire for freedom and uttered words that live on in the 
hearts of Irish Americans and of all freedom-loving people throughout 
the world.
  I quote from that speech:

       Let no man write my epitaph; for as no man who knows my 
     motives dare now vindicate them, let not prejudice or 
     ignorance asperse them. Let them and me rest in obscurity and 
     peace and my tomb remain uninscribed and my memory in 
     oblivion until other times and other men can do justice to my 
     character. When my country takes her place among the nations 
     of the Earth, then--and not till then--let my epitaph be 
     written.

  It is dangerous to paraphrase a famous speech; but basically Emmet 
was saying not to write his epitaph until the struggle was won. He 
believed it ultimately would be won someday.
  The brilliance of his speech and the courage of his convictions had a 
profound impact on people throughout the world, but particularly in 
Ireland. Understand that he was subject to execution--he was hung, 
drawn, and quartered--and he knew that that is what he was facing; yet 
he had the ability to

[[Page H5844]]

deliver one of the greatest speeches in the history of mankind.
  Scholars indicate that President Abraham Lincoln knew and recited the 
very speech I just alluded to. The American author Washington Irving 
wrote of Emmet, and many schoolchildren across our country memorized 
parts of the speech I just referred to. I, myself, learned of that 
passage during time spent at my high school, my alma mater, Power 
Memorial Academy in New York City.
  Emmet and his speech also had a real and concrete impact on our own 
American history. In fact, organizations called the Emmet Monument 
Association sprung up in the United States. Their goal was to build a 
burial monument to Emmet on which that promised epitaph, one day, could 
be written. Since Emmet had requested that Ireland be free before his 
epitaph were written, these were really Fenian freedom organizations.

                              {time}  1815

  Over the years, these and other organizations were supported by 
countless Americans not only in New York, Boston, and Washington, D.C., 
but throughout our land, Irish and non-Irish alike. Their work was the 
precursor to later American roles in the struggle for Ireland's 
independence, and their presence played a major part in American 
political life for many, many, many decades.
  When the Emmet statue was moved to its current location 50 years ago, 
many leading American figures served on the bipartisan dedication 
committee, including then-Speaker of the House John W. McCormack and 
Senators Everett Dirksen and Mike Mansfield. They were joined by the 
Secretary of the Interior Stewart Udall and Rector of St. Matthews 
Catholic Cathedral, John Cartwright.
  President Lyndon Johnson also conveyed his admiration for Emmet in a 
message to the event writing, `` . . . the sheer patriotism and the 
gallant courage of Robert Emmet has inspired Americans no less than 
Irishmen . . . We Americans are proud to accord a place of honor here 
in the Nation's Capital to Robert Emmet, whose struggles and sacrifices 
bespeak the yearnings of mankind throughout the ages.''
  Mr. Speaker, it is clear that Congress and the U.S. Government have 
long recognized the significance of this park and its central statue in 
keeping alive not only the memory of Robert Emmet but the ideals that 
he fought and what he was executed for.
  I hope we can continue that record and the bipartisan cooperation 
here today by passing this legislation. This bill doesn't require 
spending funds. It doesn't require undue efforts. It doesn't 
significantly rearrange any current setup of the park or the park 
system. It would simply attach the name ``Robert Emmet Park'' to the 
existing small piece of land where that statue rests.
  I respectfully urge its passage.
  In closing, I thank the members and staff of the Natural Resources 
Committee for their work and their support of this measure. I greatly 
appreciate their work in ensuring that this is on the floor and that 
the bill passes today.
  I can't do enough justice to the life of Robert Emmet, nor his 
brother, Thomas, for that matter, and all those who followed 
afterwards. He was an incredible inspiration, as I said, not only to 
Ireland but well beyond the shores of Ireland as well, including the 
United States of America.
  Mr. HUFFMAN. Mr. Speaker, I have no additional speakers, and I 
reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. DENHAM. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. HUFFMAN. Mr. Speaker, in closing, I would just like to thank Mr. 
Crowley for offering this important issue. It is important to Irish 
heritage, and it certainly deserves the recognition as a park right 
here in our local area of Washington, D.C.
  I yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Young of Iowa). The question is on the 
motion offered by the gentleman from California (Mr. Denham) that the 
House suspend the rules and pass the bill, H.R. 4564.
  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.

                          ____________________