[Congressional Record Volume 163, Number 15 (Monday, January 30, 2017)]
[House]
[Pages H716-H717]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
KENNESAW MOUNTAIN NATIONAL BATTLEFIELD PARK BOUNDARY ADJUSTMENT ACT
Mr. McCLINTOCK. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the
bill (H.R. 558) to adjust the boundary of the Kennesaw Mountain
National Battlefield Park to include the Wallis House and Harriston
Hill, and for other purposes.
The Clerk read the title of the bill.
The text of the bill is as follows:
H.R. 558
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 ``Kennesaw Mountain National
Battlefield Park Boundary Adjustment Act''.
SEC. 2. FINDINGS.
The Congress finds the following:
(1) Kennesaw Mountain National Battlefield Park was
authorized as a unit of the National Park System on June 26,
1935. Prior to 1935, parts of the park had been acquired and
protected by Civil War veterans and the War Department.
(2) Kennesaw Mountain National Battlefield Park protects
Kennesaw Mountain and Kolb's Farm, which are battle sites
along the route of General Sherman's 1864 campaign to take
Atlanta.
(3) Most of the park protects Confederate positions and
strategy. The Wallis House is one of the few original
structures remaining from the Battle of Kennesaw Mountain
associated with Union positions and strategy.
(4) The Wallis House is strategically located next to a
Union signal station at Harriston Hill.
SEC. 3. BOUNDARY ADJUSTMENT; LAND ACQUISITION;
ADMINISTRATION.
(a) Boundary Adjustment.--The boundary of the Kennesaw
Mountain National Battlefield Park is modified to include the
approximately 8 acres identified as ``Wallis House and
Harriston Hill'', and generally depicted on the map titled
``Kennesaw Mountain National Battlefield Park, Proposed
Boundary Adjustment'', numbered 325/80,020, and dated
February 2010.
(b) Map.--The map referred to in subsection (a) shall be on
file and available for inspection in the appropriate offices
of the National Park Service.
(c) Land Acquisition.--The Secretary of the Interior is
authorized to acquire, from willing owners only, land or
interests in land described in subsection (a) by donation or
exchange.
(d) Administration of Acquired Lands.--The Secretary of the
Interior shall administer land and interests in land acquired
under this section as part of the Kennesaw Mountain National
Battlefield Park in accordance with applicable laws and
regulations.
(e) Written Consent of Owner.--No non-Federal property may
be included in the Kennesaw Mountain National Battlefield
Park without the written consent of the owner. This provision
shall apply only to those portions of the Park added under
subsection (a).
(f) No Use of Condemnation.--The Secretary of the Interior
may not acquire by condemnation any land or interests in land
under this Act or for the purposes of this Act.
(g) No Buffer Zone Created.--Nothing in this Act, the
establishment of the Kennesaw Mountain National Battlefield
Park, or the management plan for the Kennesaw Mountain
National Battlefield Park shall be construed to create buffer
zones outside of the Park. That activities or uses can be
seen, heard, or detected from areas within the Kennesaw
Mountain National Battlefield Park shall not preclude, limit,
control, regulate or determine the conduct or management of
activities or uses outside the Park.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from
California (Mr. McClintock) and the gentleman from the Northern Mariana
Islands (Mr. Sablan) 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. 558, introduced by the gentleman from Georgia (Mr.
Loudermilk), expands the boundary of the Kennesaw National Battlefield
Park by authorizing the Secretary of the Interior to acquire
approximately 8 acres of land by donation or exchange only. The
expanded area includes the historic Wallis House and Harriston Hill.
The Wallis House is one of the few remaining structures associated
with the Kennesaw Mountain Civil War battle, while Harriston Hill was
strategically significant as the Union signal station.
The Battle of Kennesaw Mountain in June of 1864 was critical to the
Union campaign to split the Confederacy, and although it was a tactical
victory for the Confederates, it opened the way for the Union's
strategic victory of taking Atlanta. The sacrifices of more than 3,000
Union troops on Kennesaw Mountain made possible Sherman's famous
telegram to Lincoln 3 months later that ``Atlanta is ours and fairly
won.''
These battlefields remind succeeding generations of Americans of the
price paid by so many for the preservation of our Constitution and the
liberty it protects and the enormous responsibility that each of us has
to maintain and defend that same Constitution today. Nearly identical
legislation passed the House by voice vote in the 114th Congress.
Mr. Speaker, I urge passage of the bill.
I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. SABLAN. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
This bill adjusts the boundary of the Kennesaw Mountain National
Battlefield Park in Georgia to include two historically significant
structures, the Wallis House and Kolb's Farm, and to assist in the
preservation of the story of the Atlanta campaign. Additionally, the
bill authorizes the National Park Service to acquire by donation
approximately 8 acres that will be added to the Kennesaw National
Battlefield Park.
The Civil War was a significant event in the history of this country
and remains relevant as we grapple with the civil rights discussions
today. The preservation of these sites reinforces Congress' dedication
to equality and enables the National Park Service to interpret and tell
our national story.
I thank the gentleman from Georgia (Mr. Loudermilk) for continuing to
support the preservation of the history of this great country.
This bill passed the House last Congress by voice vote, and I
encourage its swift adoption today.
Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
{time} 1715
Mr. McCLINTOCK. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to
the sponsor of this bill, the gentleman from Georgia (Mr. Loudermilk).
Mr. LOUDERMILK. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 558, a bill
that
[[Page H717]]
will add valuable historic property to the Kennesaw Mountain National
Battlefield Park, located right in the heart of Georgia's 11th
Congressional District.
Our Nation has long recognized the importance of restoring historic
sites, especially those battlefields where Americans fought and died
for freedom. Places such as Kennesaw Mountain National Battlefield
Park, where significant battles of America's Civil War took place,
allow us to look back in time to get a glimpse of the events that
shaped our Nation. It is extremely important that we understand our
history; otherwise, we will be destined to repeat the mistakes of our
past.
This bill, which passed the House unanimously last Congress, welcomes
our next generation to engage in the eye-opening stories of our past. A
recent study of American history education revealed that only 23
percent of college seniors could identify James Madison as the father
of our Constitution; however, 98 percent of college graduates knew that
Snoop Dogg was a rapper.
Mr. Speaker, it is now more important than ever to ensure that the
generations following us have access to these historic sites and the
educational opportunities they provide or we risk losing touch with our
history. My bill simply allows Kennesaw Mountain National Battlefield
Park to acquire two pieces of property, through donation, that will add
to the historic and educational value of this historic battlefield.
One of the properties this bill will preserve is a home that was
built in 1853 by Mr. Josiah Wallis. Mr. Wallis built this home for his
family, but it was eventually used as a hospital by the Confederate
Army during the Civil War. In 1864, the Wallis House fell into the
hands of General William Sherman of the Union Army during his campaign
to take Atlanta.
The house served as Sherman's headquarters during the Battle of
Kolb's Farm, which was a resounding victory for the Union Army, but the
victory was not without cost. When the smoke cleared, over 350 Union
soldiers and over 1,000 Confederate soldiers lay dead.
Five days later, Union General Oliver Howard used the Wallis House as
his headquarters and communications center during the Battle of
Kennesaw Mountain, one of the bloodiest 1-day battles of the entire
war. This was also the last major battle before Atlanta fell to Union
forces.
While the assault by General Sherman was a tactical failure costing
the lives of over 3,000 of his men, the battle also inflicted heavy
losses on the Confederates. Having lost another 1,000 men, the
Confederate Army could not stop General Sherman on his march to
Atlanta.
Adjacent to the Wallis House is 8 acres of land known as Harriston
Hill. This property offers a sweeping view of the valley leading to the
Confederate line on top of Kennesaw Mountain and was used by the Union
as signaling positions during the battle. This location is essential
for park visitors to understand the strategic positions taken by the
Union and Confederate flag Armies during the battle.
In addition to being critical sites in Civil War history, the Wallis
House and Harriston Hill are two of the few original locations
remaining from the Battle of Kennesaw Mountain associated with the
Union Army. Most of the park's current attractions correspond with
Confederate history, and these additions will prove to be major
historical acquisitions that will enhance the value of the park and
provide insight into the Union's side of the story.
In 2002, the Cobb County Government purchased the Wallis House and
Harriston Hill to prevent the house from being demolished. Since then,
the county has been seeking to transfer the property to the park. My
bill simply modifies the boundary of Kennesaw Mountain National
Battlefield Park to include the house and the hill and authorizes the
park to acquire the property by donation.
Along with the Cobb County Government, this land transfer is
supported by the National Park Service, Kennesaw Mountain National
Battlefield Park, and several park volunteer organizations and
historical societies in my district.
This legislation is an essential step toward preserving our Nation's
heritage and a valuable part of Civil War history. The Wallis House and
Harriston Hill will provide tremendous educational and historical value
to Kennesaw Mountain National Battlefield Park, and it is my hope that
the park will quickly acquire this property and restore it to its
original condition for visitors to enjoy for generations to come.
I urge my colleagues to support this bill.
Mr. SABLAN. Mr. Speaker, I have no further speakers, and I urge the
adoption of the bill.
I yield back the balance of my time.
Mr. McCLINTOCK. Mr. Speaker, I urge the adoption of the bill.
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. 558.
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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