[Congressional Record Volume 164, Number 124 (Tuesday, July 24, 2018)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1055]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




INCREASING FY19 FUNDING FOR HISTORIC PRESERVATION OF CIVIL RIGHTS SITES

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. TERRI A. SEWELL

                               of alabama

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, July 24, 2018

  Ms. SEWELL of Alabama. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to state my 
excitement that Democrats and Republicans came together this year and 
supported my amendments to increase FY 2019 funding for competitive 
grants to preserve the sites and stories of the Civil Rights movement 
and grants for Civil Rights Preservation of sites on Historically Black 
Colleges and Universities. In total, our amendments boosted funding for 
civil rights research by $4,500,000 for Fiscal Year 2019. I greatly 
appreciate the bipartisan commitment and support from Interior 
Subcommittee Chairman Calvert, Ranking Member McCollum, and Democratic 
Assistant Leader Clyburn.
   These grants, as part of the National Park Service's Historic 
Preservation Fund, are critically important to protecting and 
preserving Civil Rights history. As the Congresswoman representing the 
7th Congressional District of Alabama, also known as the Civil Rights 
District, I can personally attest to the impact these grants have in 
the community. Many historic events of the Civil Rights Movement took 
place within my district, including the 16th Street Baptist Church 
bombing, the Children's March, the Montgomery Bus Boycott, and Bloody 
Sunday. We are fortunate that the National Park Service is preserving 
and interpreting these stories, and I am grateful for the Park 
Service's dedication to telling a more complete version of America's 
history.
   The National Park Service also brings much needed economic 
revitalization to communities in my district through tourism. In 
Birmingham, the Civil Rights National Monument and other sites are 
playing a critical role as part of the new National Civil Rights Trail. 
In my hometown of Selma, the NPS Selma Interpretive Center attracts 
tourism to the rural black belt community. These historic sites will 
also help generate economic activity beyond tourism. In fact, for each 
dollar invested in National Parks, 10 dollars is generated in national 
economic activity.
   As the foot soldiers of the Civil Rights movement grow older, it is 
imperative that every effort is made to preserve the stories and sites 
of the era. There is no place more equipped for such preservation than 
Historically Black Colleges and Universities. These institutions and 
their students have a legacy that is inseparable from the Civil Rights 
Movement. They continue to play a role in activism and education that 
would make many of those who came before them proud.
   The funding that my amendments provided in the House Interior 
Appropriations bill for FY 2019 is an investment aimed at both historic 
preservation and economic development. Not only is it important to 
preserve history in our districts--we all have important stories to 
tell that provide education to visitors--but it is also imperative that 
we help bring much needed development to our communities.
   Thanks again to Chairman Calvert and Ranking Member McCollum, and I 
urge all of my colleagues to continue supporting this historic 
preservation funding as we finalize appropriations for FY19.

                          ____________________