[Congressional Record Volume 164, Number 92 (Tuesday, June 5, 2018)]
[House]
[Pages H4752-H4753]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




       SPECIAL RESOURCE STUDY OF JAMES WELDON JOHNSON BIRTHPLACE

  Mr. BISHOP of Utah. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass 
the bill (H.R. 5005) to direct the Secretary of the Interior to conduct 
a special resource study to determine the suitability and feasibility 
of establishing the birthplace of James Weldon Johnson in Jacksonville, 
Florida, as a unit of the National Park System.
  The Clerk read the title of the bill.
  The text of the bill is as follows:

                               H.R. 5005

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

     SECTION 1. SPECIAL RESOURCE STUDY OF JAMES WELDON JOHNSON 
                   BIRTHPLACE.

       (a) Study.--The Secretary of the Interior shall conduct a 
     special resource study to determine the suitability and 
     feasibility of establishing the birthplace of James Weldon 
     Johnson located at Adams & Lee Street in Jacksonville, 
     Florida, as a unit of the National Park System.
       (b) Study Requirements.--The Secretary shall conduct the 
     study in accordance with section 100507 of title 54, United 
     States Code.
       (c) Report.--Not later than 3 years after the date on which 
     funds are made available to carry out this Act, 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 results of the study; and
       (2) any recommendations of the Secretary.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from 
Utah (Mr. Bishop) and the gentleman from the Northern Mariana Islands 
(Mr. Sablan) each will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Utah.


                             General Leave

  Mr. BISHOP of Utah. 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 Utah?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. BISHOP of Utah. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may 
consume.
  This is a fairly significant but straightforward bill. It simply is 
asking for a study on the potential of including James Weldon Johnson's 
birthplace as part of our national park system.
  Mr. Johnson was a leader in the civil rights movement of his time. He 
had many talents. He was a diplomat, executive director of the NAACP, 
the first African to be a member of The Florida Bar. He has also 
written songs.
  Having a special place in history, it is appropriate that we simply 
direct the National Park Service to investigate the possibility of 
adding this to the historical sites of significance within the Park 
Service system.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. SABLAN. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the 
gentleman from Florida (Mr. Lawson).
  Mr. LAWSON of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank Chairman

[[Page H4753]]

Bishop for moving this fine bill through his committee.
  James Weldon Johnson was born in 1871 in Jacksonville. This is very 
significant and probably should have been done many years ago for his 
contributions to education and the accomplishments he was able to make 
throughout his life.
  He also was not only the first African American admitted to The 
Florida Bar but also the first African American to teach at New York 
University. I think most significant was that he was appointed by 
President Roosevelt to serve as a dignitary to Venezuela and Nigeria. 
His accomplishments are revered by everyone in the United States.
  He was a great writer. In fact, when he wrote ``Lift Ev'ry Voice and 
Sing,'' he wrote it to celebrate President Lincoln's birthday. His 
brother later put it into lyrics. It was adopted by the NAACP as the 
Negro national anthem.
  Ever since I was small, we would hear ``Lift Ev'ry Voice,'' ``Lift 
Ev'ry Voice.'' Little did we know that ``Lift Ev'ry Voice'' would be 
presented at every festivity and graduation throughout America, at 
football games and everywhere, because of Mr. Johnson's contributions.
  I feel very honored to have this historic site among our Park Service 
so people can know the history of James Weldon Johnson, not only in the 
Jacksonville community but throughout America. I think it would be 
fitting that many people have the opportunity to visit his birthplace 
to see the contributions he has made.
  Mr. BISHOP of Utah. Mr. Speaker, I have no other speakers, and I 
reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. SABLAN. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, Representative Lawson's bill directs the Secretary of 
the Interior to conduct a special resource study to determine the 
suitability of establishing the birthplace of James Weldon Johnson, 
located in Jacksonville, Florida, as a unit of the National Park 
System.
  James Weldon Johnson was born in Jacksonville to immigrant parents 
from the Bahamas. He went on to become a respected lawyer, educator, 
and writer.
  President Theodore Roosevelt appointed James Weldon Johnson as U.S. 
Consult to Venezuela and Nicaragua during the early 1900's.
  I applaud my colleague Representative Lawson for introducing 
legislation to honor the first African American executive secretary of 
the NAACP.
  I support passage of H.R. 5005.
  Mr. Speaker, if the gentleman has no further speakers, I yield back 
the balance of my time.
  Mr. BISHOP of Utah. 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 Utah (Mr. Bishop) that the House suspend the rules and 
pass the bill, H.R. 5005.
  The question was taken.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. In the opinion of the Chair, two-thirds 
being in the affirmative, the ayes have it.
  Mr. BISHOP of Utah. Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.
  The yeas and nays were ordered.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to clause 8 of rule XX, further 
proceedings on this motion will be postponed.

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