[Congressional Record Volume 165, Number 125 (Wednesday, July 24, 2019)]
[House]
[Pages H7290-H7291]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]





                   RESTORE THE HARMONY WAY BRIDGE ACT

  Mr. DeFAZIO. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the 
bill (H.R. 3245) to transfer a bridge over the Wabash River to the New 
Harmony River Bridge Authority and the New Harmony and Wabash River 
Bridge Authority, and for other purposes.
  The Clerk read the title of the bill.
  The text of the bill is as follows:

                               H.R. 3245

       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 ``Restore the Harmony Way 
     Bridge Act''.

     SEC. 2. TRANSFER OF BRIDGE AND LAND.

       Notwithstanding any provision of the Act of April 12, 1941 
     (55 Stat. 140, chapter 71), not later than 180 days after the 
     date of enactment of this Act, the White County Bridge 
     Commission shall convey, without consideration, to the New 
     Harmony River Bridge Authority and the New Harmony and Wabash 
     River Bridge Authority, any and all right, title, and 
     interest of such Commission in and to the bridge across the 
     Wabash River at or near New Harmony, Indiana, in the 
     approaches thereto, and in land underneath or adjacent to 
     such bridge and its approaches.

     SEC. 3. REPEAL.

       The Act of April 12, 1941 (55 Stat. 140, chapter 71) is 
     repealed effective on the date that the White County Bridge 
     Commission completes the conveyance described in section 2.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from 
Oregon (Mr. DeFazio) and the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Rodney Davis) 
each will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Oregon.


                             General Leave

  Mr. DeFAZIO. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members 
may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks 
and include extraneous material on H.R. 3245.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from Oregon?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. DeFAZIO. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 3245, introduced by the 
gentleman from Indiana (Mr. Bucshon).
  The legislation is very similar to a bill, H.R. 6793, which passed 
the House by unanimous consent during the 115th Congress but failed to 
achieve the consideration of the United States Senate.
  H.R. 3245 conveys the Harmony Way Bridge to the New Harmony River 
Bridge Authority in Illinois and the New Harmony and Wabash River 
Bridge Authority in Indiana.
  The bridge currently remains owned by the Federal Government under 
the White County Bridge Commission, but the commission is no longer 
active.
  The bridge, which was constructed in 1930, connects White County, 
Illinois, with Posey County, Indiana, across the Wabash River. It was 
placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2007 but has been 
closed since 2012 when an engineer's inspection discovered structural 
integrity issues, which made the bridge unsafe for vehicular traffic.
  This legislation allows the States of Indiana and Illinois to jointly 
work together to restore the Harmony Way Bridge and determine the 
future of this historic landmark.
  Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to join me in passing this 
legislation, and I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. RODNEY DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time 
as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I thank Chairman DeFazio for helping make this bill a 
bipartisan success, and I rise in support of H.R. 3245.
  I really want to thank my colleague, the ranking member of the 
committee, Mr. Graves, and also our other colleague, my former boss, 
Congressman   John Shimkus, who allowed me to work on this project as 
one of his staff members back in the early 2000s.
  To be able to stand on the House floor and see this solution be put 
forth by my other colleague from Indiana (Mr. Bucshon), with the 
support of Mr. Shimkus, Mr. Graves, and the Illinois and Indiana 
delegations in a very bipartisan way, it is a privilege for me to be 
able to manage this bill today.
  Who would have thought that two kids from Christian County, Illinois, 
would one day stand here on the floor of the U.S. House of 
Representatives and have a bipartisan bill that is going to help both 
the constituents of Indiana and Illinois, but that is exactly where we 
are today with my good friend Mr. Bucshon, who grew up about 8 miles 
from where I grew up.
  This bill is a long time coming. It is going to convey the Harmony 
Way Bridge from the Federal Government to the designated entities 
within the States of Illinois and Indiana. This is what the States of 
Illinois and Indiana have asked us for.
  The bridge is currently managed by the White County Bridge 
Commission, which was created by Federal legislation in 1941. In 2012, 
this bridge was closed because of the inability of that commission to 
support its safety measures and to support the improvements that were 
necessary.
  By conveying this bridge and repealing the 1941 legislation, the two 
States are going to work together for a new vision, which serves as a 
very important link between Illinois and Indiana as it crosses the 
Wabash River.
  A companion bill has already been introduced by the four Senators 
from Illinois and Indiana. Last week, that bill, S. 1833, was approved 
by unanimous consent. Additionally, the House passed a similar bill 
last Congress by unanimous consent.
  Madam Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support H.R. 3245, and I 
reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. DeFAZIO. Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. RODNEY DAVIS of Illinois. Madam Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the 
gentleman from Missouri (Mr. Graves), my good friend and the ranking 
member.
  Mr. GRAVES of Missouri. Madam Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 
3245, and I thank Representative Bucshon for his hard work on this 
important issue.
  H.R. 3245 is going to enable entities within the States of Illinois 
and Indiana to chart a whole new course for the Harmony Way Bridge, 
which is closed currently.

  The bridge is not only a critical link between these States, but it 
is also representative of that strong bond between the people of 
Illinois and Indiana. That connection is further demonstrated by the 
fact that all members of the Indiana and Illinois delegations 
cosponsored this bill.
  Madam Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support H.R. 3245.
  Mr. RODNEY DAVIS of Illinois. Madam Speaker, again, this bill is a 
bipartisan success story and a bistate success story.
  Madam Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from Indiana (Mr. 
Pence).
  Mr. PENCE. Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 3245, 
legislation sponsored by my colleague, friend, and fellow Hoosier, Dr. 
Larry Bucshon.
  The Harmony Way Bridge connects Indiana to Illinois over the Wabash 
River. The bridge is currently managed by the White County Bridge 
Commission, which was created by Federal legislation in 1941.
  The bridge closed in 2012 due to structural deficiencies, and current 
Federal law blocks local officials from taking action to repair the 
bridge.
  I am proud to join my colleagues in both the Indiana and Illinois 
delegations as a cosponsor on this critical legislation.
  H.R. 3245 would allow the two States to determine the future of the 
bridge.
  Madam Speaker, supporting this bill is common sense.
  A companion bill, S. 1833, was introduced by the four Senators from 
Indiana and Illinois and passed by unanimous consent.
  Last year, the House passed a similar bill overwhelmingly. In 
addition, both Indiana and Illinois created State commissions to manage 
the bridge, and now it is our responsibility to complete the transfer.
  I urge my colleagues to support H.R. 3245 and allow the States of 
Illinois and Indiana, and the community residents surrounding the 
Harmony Way Bridge, to determine the future of this treasured landmark.
  Mr. RODNEY DAVIS of Illinois. Madam Speaker, again, I am proud to 
stand here next to my good friend Dr. Bucshon, who was born in my 
hometown of Taylorville, Illinois, raised in Kincaid, Illinois, and 
went on to become a heart surgeon.
  I don't know if I would trust him operating on me, but, hey, I know a 
lot of patients in Indiana did.

[[Page H7291]]

  This is a guy who promised to get things done. This project, I can 
tell you firsthand, was not moving anywhere until Mr. Bucshon took the 
lead. This is why I am proud to be able to recognize him now and thank 
him very much for his support of this bill.
  Madam Speaker, I yield 4 minutes to the gentleman from Indiana (Mr. 
Bucshon).
  Mr. BUCSHON. Madam Speaker, it is an honor to rise today in support 
of H.R. 3245, the Restore the Harmony Way Bridge Act.
  The Harmony Way Bridge is a local landmark and was an engineering 
marvel when it opened in 1930. Throughout the 20th century, the bridge 
connected Posey County, Indiana, and White County, Illinois, creating 
an access point for commerce and recreation for Hoosiers from the New 
Harmony and surrounding communities, as well as those from White 
County, Illinois.
  Unfortunately, in 2012, the bridge was permanently closed due to 
safety concerns related to structural issues. While the community has 
pushed to refurbish and reopen the bridge, until now, Federal law has 
stood in the way.
  That is why the Restore the Harmony Way Bridge Act is important. It 
will convey the bridge to the Indiana and Illinois bridge authorities 
and remove the Federal conditions set out on the bridge.
  I am glad to see this bill on the floor today, and I want to give 
thanks to all those who have helped in the effort. First, I thank Susie 
Davis, from my staff, for her work on this bill. I thank Lora Arneberg 
from the New Harmony, Indiana, community, whose hard work has been 
invaluable in promoting the bridge restoration.
  I also thank Indiana State Senator Jim Tomes and State Representative 
Wendy McNamara for their efforts at the State level.
  Furthermore, I thank my colleagues: Congressman Shimkus, Indiana 
Senators Braun and Young, Illinois Senators Durbin and Duckworth, and 
all the members of the Indiana and Illinois House delegations, who are 
all cosponsors of this bill, for helping me lead this effort in 
Congress and finally solving this problem.
  The Restore the Harmony Way Bridge Act will breathe life once more 
into the Harmony Way Bridge.
  Madam Speaker, I ask that my colleagues join me on this monumental 
occasion and support this bill.
  Mr. DeFAZIO. Madam Speaker, I have no further speakers, and I reserve 
the balance of my time to close.
  Mr. RODNEY DAVIS of Illinois. Madam Speaker, I am prepared to close. 
I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Madam Speaker, again, this is a bipartisan success story. This is an 
issue so many of us have worked hard on together. To see it pass today 
with the support of Republicans and Democrats is something that I can 
tell you a few years ago I didn't think would happen.
  This is an opportunity, too, for me, again, to thank the hardworking 
people in Congressman Shimkus' office.
  I remember learning about this project from my fellow staffer who 
lived right near the New Harmony Way Bridge, Holly Healy, who gave me 
the lowdown on why it was important to pass this legislation. That was 
back in 2003.
  I am proud to thank Holly today for her dedication and the hard work 
that she has done on behalf of Congressman Shimkus over the years. 
Today is the day we finally get to make this happen so that bridge can 
be repaired and that bridge can be reopened.
  Madam Speaker, I urge a ``yes'' vote on this bill, and I yield back 
the balance of my time.
  Mr. DeFAZIO. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may 
consume.
  Madam Speaker, I urge that the House do support and pass this 
legislation, and I yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mrs. Torres of California). The question is 
on the motion offered by the gentleman from Oregon (Mr. DeFazio) that 
the House suspend the rules and pass the bill, H.R. 3245.
  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.

                          ____________________