[Congressional Record Volume 162, Number 176 (Wednesday, December 7, 2016)]
[House]
[Pages H7298-H7299]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
CHICANO PARK PRESERVATION ACT
Mr. YOUNG of Alaska. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and
pass the bill (H.R. 3711) to authorize the Secretary of the Interior to
conduct a special resource study of Chicano Park, located in San Diego,
California, and for other purposes, as amended.
The Clerk read the title of the bill.
The text of the bill is as follows:
H.R. 3711
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 ``Chicano Park Preservation
Act''.
SEC. 2. SPECIAL RESOURCE STUDY.
(a) Study.--The Secretary of the Interior shall conduct a
special resource study of Chicano Park and its murals located
in San Diego, California.
(b) Contents.--In conducting the study under subsection
(a), the Secretary shall--
(1) evaluate the national significance of the site;
(2) determine the suitability and feasibility of
designating the site as a National Historic Landmark or
Affiliated Area of the National Park System;
(3) consider other alternatives for preservation,
protection, and interpretation of Chicano Park and its murals
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; and
(5) identify cost estimates for any development,
interpretation, operation, and maintenance associated with
the alternatives.
(c) Applicable Law.--The study required under subsection
(a) shall be conducted in accordance with section 100507 of
title 54, United States Code, except that the study shall not
consider any options that involve Federal acquisition of
lands, interests in lands, or any other property related to
the Chicano Park and its murals.
(d) Report.--Not later than 18 months 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
Alaska (Mr. Young) and the gentleman from the Northern Mariana Islands
(Mr. Sablan) 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, located in the Barrio Logan community of San Diego,
Chicano Park is a 7.4-acre parcel known for its display of nearly 50
vibrant murals depicting the history, culture, and its civil rights
movement.
{time} 1315
Residents secured the creation of the park in 1970 by protesting the
construction of a parking lot on the vacant land the city previously
promised for the development of the community park. After successfully
taking over the land, artists painted dozens of vibrant murals on the
pillars and ramps of the San Diego-Coronado Bay Bridge located in the
park, creating the largest concentration of these murals in the world.
H.R. 3711 authorizes the Secretary of the Interior to evaluate the
national significance of the park, determine the suitability and
feasibility of designating it as a national historic landmark or
affiliated area of the National Park Service through a special resource
study. The bill prohibits the Secretary from considering any options
that result in the Federal acquisition of the park.
I urge adoption of this bill, H.R. 3711.
Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. SABLAN. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the
distinguished gentleman from California (Mr. Vargas).
[[Page H7299]]
Mr. VARGAS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to ask my colleagues for their
support of H.R. 3711, the Chicano Park Preservation Act. Again, I thank
the chairman for those kind words about the park. I appreciate it very
much.
Ranking member, thank you again for allowing me to be here to support
moving this legislation forward.
Chicano Park is a historic park under the San Diego-Coronado Bridge
that embodies the spirit of the Hispanic culture in San Diego.
As was said, in the spring of 1970, the Barrio Logan community in San
Diego united to advocate for the community park and, with the support
of the city and State officials, the park was born. Since then, the
park has been transformed by world-renowned muralists who have adorned
the freeway pillars with breathtaking murals, sculptures, and
architectural pieces that tell the story of the Hispanic community in
San Diego.
Chicano Park is home to the largest collection of outdoor murals, 89
of them, in the country, in addition to various sculptures, earthworks,
and an architectural piece dedicated to the cultural heritage of the
community. The murals are recognized at the local, State, and national
levels as historical, cultural, and public art.
This legislation, as was said, authorizes a special resource study of
Chicano Park and its murals to evaluate the feasibility of the park
becoming a national historic landmark or an Affiliated Area of the
National Park Service.
It is also interesting that now the community has taken it on as a
community park. Unfortunately, the area has very few parks, and this is
one of the places where the community now, since 1970, has been coming
and having picnics there with their families, their children, and it
has become really a wonderful opportunity for the people that live in
the community.
Even more than that, if you go there on a Saturday, you will find
artists and different people from throughout the State, and Arizona,
and other places coming to look at the murals and to look at the art.
It is quite a vibrant area. If you take a look at some of the things
that are sold in the area, you will see T-shirts and you will see lots
of cultural food. It has become a wonderful place for everyone to come
together.
So I appreciate very much the opportunity here, and I thank the
ranking member, and especially the chairman, for this opportunity.
Again, I encourage them to come to the park. It is not quite as grand
as some of the things in Alaska, and I look to going to Alaska some day
because I have only seen them in the pictures. Again, I thank you for
your kind words about the park.
Mr. YOUNG of Alaska. Mr. Speaker, I have no additional speakers on
this legislation. I do urge the passage of the legislation as a classic
example of where people are working together to have a place to rest
and save some great art. I congratulate the gentleman for introducing
the legislation. So I urge the passage of the legislation.
Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. SABLAN. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time.
Mr. Speaker, this bill will permit the National Park Service to study
and evaluate the Chicano Park for inclusion on the National Register of
Historic Places and possibly to become an affiliated site of the
agency.
Chicano Park has come to represent not only the civil rights
struggles and victories for the residents of the Barrio Logan
community, but has become a center for discussions around civil rights
movements for all Mexican Americans today.
Today, this space has become a vibrant expression of the history and
concerns of the community and, because of their efforts, I know it will
continue to remain a relevant site for generations to come. I am glad
to see that this community will receive the national recognition it
deserves.
I thank my colleague, Congressman Vargas, for introducing this bill,
and I am very pleased to see that we are able to move this through the
House expeditiously.
I would also like to, one day, visit Alaska, but at this point in
time I urge adoption of this legislation.
Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
Mr. YOUNG of Alaska. Mr. Speaker, I would assure both gentlemen,
Alaska will welcome you on a visit. I hope to visit both of their
communities in the future. The only way we can get things done around
here is if we understand your locations, your people, and what you will
treasure, as I do in my State of Alaska.
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 bill, H.R. 3711, 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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