[Congressional Record Volume 164, Number 61 (Monday, April 16, 2018)]
[House]
[Pages H3326-H3327]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]





               JAMES K. POLK PRESIDENTIAL HOME STUDY ACT

  Mr. McCLINTOCK. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the 
bill (H.R. 443) to direct the Secretary of the Interior to study the 
suitability and feasibility of designating the James K. Polk Home in 
Columbia, Tennessee, as a unit of the National Park System, and for 
other purposes.
  The Clerk read the title of the bill.
  The text of the bill is as follows:

                                H.R. 443

       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 ``James K. Polk Presidential 
     Home Study Act''.

     SEC. 2. FINDINGS.

       Congress finds that--
       (1) in 1961, the James K. Polk Home was designated as a 
     National Historic Landmark; and
       (2) in April 2015, the National Park Service completed a 
     reconnaissance survey of the James K. Polk Home, in which the 
     National Park Service--
       (A) determined that--
       (i) the James K. Polk Home is conclusively nationally 
     significant; and
       (ii) a special resource study is needed to fully analyze 
     the suitability, feasibility, and need for management of the 
     James K. Polk Home by the National Park Service; and
       (B) recommended that Congress consider authorizing a 
     special resource study for the James K. Polk Home and 
     associated properties.

     SEC. 3. STUDY.

       (a) In General.--The Secretary of the Interior (referred to 
     in this Act as the ``Secretary'') shall conduct a special 
     resource study of the site of the James K. Polk Home in 
     Columbia, Tennessee, and adjacent property (referred to in 
     this Act as the ``site'').
       (b) Criteria.--The Secretary shall conduct the study under 
     subsection (a) in accordance with section 100507 of title 54, 
     United States Code.
       (c) 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 unit of the National Park System;
       (3) include cost estimates for any necessary acquisition, 
     development, operation, and maintenance of the site;
       (4) consult with interested Federal, State, or local 
     governmental entities, private and nonprofit organizations, 
     or other interested individuals; and
        (5) identify alternatives for the management, 
     administration, and protection of the site.
       (d) Report.--Not later than 3 years after the date on which 
     funds are made available to carry out 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 that describes--
       (1) the findings and conclusions of the study; and
       (2) any recommendations of the Secretary.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from 
California (Mr. McClintock) and the gentlewoman from Hawaii (Ms. 
Hanabusa) 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 material on the bill under consideration.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from California?
  There was no objection.

                              {time}  1730

  Mr. McCLINTOCK. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may 
consume.
  Mr. Speaker, President James K. Polk lived in Columbia, Tennessee, 
from 1819 until 1824. Other than the White House itself, the Columbia, 
Tennessee, site is the only surviving residence of our 11th President. 
It is the repository of many original artifacts from his life.
  Although he served a single term, Polk left our Nation with a 
remarkable legacy of public accomplishments, including expansion of our 
Western territories and the establishment of the U.S. Naval Academy. My 
home State of California owes him a particular debt of gratitude.
  Indeed, he made four campaign promises and, in 4 years, he fulfilled 
all four.
  President Polk left office in 1849, and returned to Nashville, 
Tennessee, where he lived for 3 months before his death.
  The James K. Polk home in Columbia, Tennessee, was designated as a 
national historic landmark in 1961. In April of 2015, the National Park 
Service completed a reconnaissance survey of the home and determined 
that the site warrants a special resource study.
  H.R. 443 would authorize the special resource study of the James K. 
Polk home to evaluate its national significance and the suitability and 
feasibility for a potential designation of the area as a unit of the 
National Park Service.
  Mr. Speaker, I urge adoption of the measure, and I reserve the 
balance of my time.
  Ms. HANABUSA. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, H.R. 443 authorizes the Secretary of the Interior to 
study the suitability of designating the James K. Polk home in 
Columbia, Tennessee, as a unit of the National Park System. The home is 
the only surviving residence of our 11th President, President Polk, and 
contains over 1,300 artifacts and original documents.
  The National Park Service has previously testified in support of this 
bill. I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting the bill and 
helping us preserve an important part of our Nation's history.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. McCLINTOCK. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to 
the gentleman from Tennessee (Mr. DesJarlais), the author of this 
measure and another tireless advocate for Tennessee.
  Mr. DesJARLAIS. Mr. Speaker, as mentioned, the James K. Polk 
Presidential Home Study Act would require the Department of the 
Interior to study adding our 11th President's only surviving residence 
to the National Park Service. The aim of my bill is to help the charity 
that currently maintains the property in Columbia, Tennessee, to 
preserve it for future generations.
  Two hundred years ago, Columbia was a frontier town in a new State. 
Nobody knew the United States would eventually stretch from sea to 
shining sea, but James Polk had confidence and vision.
  He was a country lawyer who rose from the Tennessee State house to 
the Governor's office, then to the House of Representatives here in 
Congress. James Polk was the only Speaker of the House to ever be 
elected President.
  Polk oversaw the establishment of the U.S. Naval Academy, the 
Smithsonian Institution, and the Department of the Interior.
  Most importantly, he fulfilled his promise to Western settlers to 
expand the country's boundaries to the Pacific. Without James Polk's 
contributions, the United States might not look like it does today, a 
strong, prosperous Nation spanning a continent.
  The outcome was not always certain; however, today, we enjoy the 
fruits of President Polk's often overlooked legacy. Many historians 
consider him to be the most successful pre-Civil War President. People 
in Columbia consider him a local hero. He is a national hero and 
deserves a place of honor in our National Park System.
  I appreciate Representative Marsha Blackburn's support for my 
legislation to accomplish this goal. I also thank Senator Lamar 
Alexander, who has offered companion legislation in the Senate, and we 
all anticipate progress.
  I want to thank the Columbia city leaders and the many volunteers who 
have tirelessly worked on this project and helped bring this issue to 
my attention. We all look forward to its continued prosperity and 
recognition.
  Ms. HANABUSA. Mr. Speaker, if I may inquire as to whether the 
gentleman from California has any more speakers.
  Mr. McCLINTOCK. Mr. Speaker, I am prepared to close. I reserve the 
balance of my time.
  Ms. HANABUSA. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting this bill and helping 
us preserve an important part of our Nation's history.
  I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. McCLINTOCK. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may 
consume.
  Again, I want to thank the gentlewoman from Hawaii (Ms. Hanabusa)

[[Page H3327]]

for her support, and I ask for 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. 443.
  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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