[Congressional Record Volume 166, Number 163 (Monday, September 21, 2020)]
[House]
[Pages H4558-H4559]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
REPUBLIC OF TEXAS LEGATION MEMORIAL ACT
Ms. HAALAND. Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the
bill (H.R. 3349) to authorize the Daughters of the Republic of Texas to
establish the Republic of Texas Legation Memorial as a commemorative
work in the District of Columbia, and for other purposes, as amended.
The Clerk read the title of the bill.
The text of the bill is as follows:
H.R. 3349
SEC. 2. AUTHORIZATION TO ESTABLISH COMMEMORATIVE WORK.
(a) In General.--The Daughters of the Republic of Texas may
establish a commemorative work on Federal land in the
District of Columbia and its environs to commemorate and
honor those who, as representatives of the Republic of Texas,
served in the District of Columbia as diplomats to the United
States and made possible the annexation of Texas as the
twenty-eighth State of the United States.
(b) Compliance With Standards for Commemorative Works.--The
establishment of the commemorative work under this section
shall be in accordance with chapter 89 of title 40, United
States Code (commonly known as the ``Commemorative Works
Act'').
(c) Prohibition on the Use of Federal Funds.--
(1) In general.--Federal funds may not be used to pay any
expense of the establishment of the commemorative work under
this section.
(2) Responsibility of the daughters of the republic of
texas.--The Daughters of the Republic of Texas shall be
solely responsible for acceptance of contributions for, and
payment of the expenses of, the establishment of the
commemorative work under this section.
(d) Deposit of Excess Funds.--
(1) In general.--If upon payment of all expenses for the
establishment of the memorial (including the maintenance and
preservation amount required by section 8906(b)(1) of title
40, United States Code), there remains a balance of funds
received for the establishment of the commemorative work, the
Daughters of the Republic of Texas shall transmit the amount
of the balance to the Secretary of the Interior for deposit
in the account provided for in section 8906(b)(3) of title
40, United States Code.
(2) On expiration of authority.--If upon expiration of the
authority for the commemorative work under section 8903(e) of
title 40, United States Code, there remains a balance of
funds received for the establishment of the commemorative
work, the Daughters of the Republic of Texas shall transmit
the balance to a separate account with the National Park
Foundation for memorials, to be available to the Secretary of
the Interior or the Administrator (as appropriate) following
the process provided in section 8906(b)(4) of title 40,
United States Code, for accounts established under section
8906(b)(2) or (3) of title 40, United States Code.
SEC. 3. DETERMINATION OF BUDGETARY EFFECTS.
The budgetary effects of this Act, for the purpose of
complying with the Statutory Pay-As-You-Go Act of 2010, shall
be determined by reference to the latest statement titled
``Budgetary Effects of PAYGO Legislation'' for this Act,
submitted for printing in the Congressional Record by the
Chairman of the House Budget Committee, provided that such
statement has been submitted prior to the vote on passage.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentlewoman from
New Mexico (Ms. Haaland) and the gentlewoman from Wyoming (Ms. Cheney)
each will control 20 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentlewoman from New Mexico.
General Leave
Ms. HAALAND. Madam 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 the measure under
consideration.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the
gentlewoman from New Mexico?
There was no objection.
Ms. HAALAND. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may
consume.
Madam Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 3349, the Republic of Texas
Legation Memorial Act, introduced by Representative Lloyd Doggett.
This bill would authorize the Daughters of the Republic of Texas to
establish a commemorative work to honor the representatives of the
Republic of Texas who served here in the District of Columbia as
diplomats to the United States.
Shortly after Texas declared its independence from Mexico in 1836,
the Republic of Texas sent diplomats to several countries to represent
the Republic's interests. Among other things, these diplomats advocated
for protection from Mexico, financial assistance, and annexation by the
United States.
London and Paris have each erected commemorative works to recognize
the role their Texas legations played in their countries, and it seems
only fitting to install one here in the capital of the country proud to
claim Texas as its own.
Madam Speaker, I would like to thank Representative Doggett for his
efforts to elevate this unique and often untold story of our Nation's
history, and urge my colleagues to support this bill.
Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
[[Page H4559]]
Ms. CHENEY. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Madam Speaker, I rise in support of this legislation. H.R. 3349 would
authorize the Daughters of the Republic of Texas to establish the
Republic of Texas Legation Memorial on Federal land in the District of
Columbia, commemorating those who, as representatives of the Republic
of Texas, served in Washington, D.C., as diplomats to the United
States, and made possible the annexation of Texas as the 28th State.
Texas legation sites in Paris and London have been recognized with
historical markers for many years, but never here in Washington, D.C.
The Texas diplomatic ministers who came to Washington worked out of the
boarding houses in which they lived. Eight boarding houses have been
identified with varying degrees of supporting evidence. This bill would
allow the Daughters of the Republic of Texas to place memorial plaques
in honor of these diplomats.
Madam Speaker, I urge the adoption of this measure, and I reserve the
balance of my time.
Ms. HAALAND. Madam Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to
the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Doggett).
Mr. DOGGETT. Madam Speaker, I rise in support of this bill, which I
authored, to authorize the Daughters of the Republic of Texas to
establish this commemorative work here in the District of Columbia
honoring the Republic of Texas Legation.
This is a bipartisan effort supported by a number of my colleagues
from Texas, as well as Representative Holmes Norton, who represents the
area where the memorial will reside. And it has the approval,
initially, of the subcommittee which my colleague, Ms. Haaland, chairs.
The history of the Texas Legation and its significance to American
history is as broad as the pride held by present-day Texans over a time
when we were once an independent Republic. The district that I now
represent includes the historic Alamo in San Antonio. With the battle
cries of ``Remember the Alamo,'' and ``Remember Goliad,'' Texas won its
independence on March 2, 1836. And as most Texans are aware, for almost
a decade thereafter, Texas was a whole other country, an independent
Nation with the same independent spirit that pervades our State today.
What are frequently less discussed are the diplomatic efforts
stretching over almost a decade by this young new Nation, sending
emissaries to Europe and to Washington. At multiple times from 1836 to
1845, the Texas Legation negotiated the terms by which Texas would
become a part of the United States.
While everything is still bigger in Texas, the territory of the
Republic of Texas, as a sovereign independent Nation, was much more
than the current State of Texas. Indeed, it included parts of New
Mexico, including Albuquerque, Oklahoma, Kansas, Colorado, and even
Wyoming. How different America would be today had not this huge part of
the center of our country been incorporated into the United States.
The young Republic of Texas had many debts and many challenges from
abroad. My own home in East Austin is only a few blocks away from the
historic French Legation, this is the place that the diplomats from
France used to establish their formal diplomatic relations with the
Nation of Texas. Texans in turn established legations abroad to
negotiate terms of trade and recognition with multiple European
countries. Most importantly, the Texas delegation came here on the very
difficult journey to Washington.
Today, we find the plaques about the work of the Texas Legation in
London and Paris, but not yet here in Washington, where the Legation's
effort had its most profound effect.
Here in this area the Legation operated from a number of houses,
boarding houses, some near the present-day National Archives and the
Navy Memorial, which is appropriate since one of the diplomats
involved, Mr. Memucan Hunt, who also served as secretary of the
fledgling Republic of Texas Navy.
In Washington, the diplomats left their most significant legacy by
negotiating the terms of annexation in 1845 when Texas became the 28th
State to join the Union. That is why this bill approves a commemoration
here.
Most appropriately, this commemoration is spearheaded by the
Daughters of the Republic of Texas, our State's oldest patriotic
women's organization committed to the preservation of Texas heritage
and historic sites. They will work together with our National Park
Service to develop and design a location here that is appropriate
within Washington D.C.
Madam Speaker, I would like to extend a special thanks to Kitty
Hoeck, she has led the way as the historian of the Elisabet Ney
Chapter, that includes the Daughters in the District, Virginia, and
Maryland, for her commitment to this effort. I ask that she be
particularly recognized in connection with this work, along with other
representatives of the Daughters.
The history of the Texas Legation did not end with the annexation of
Texas in 1845. Today, it lives on in the strength of multicultural and
multilingual communities across the Lone Star State. They have made our
State so dynamic.
With this commemoration, those who visit our capital will have the
opportunity to learn about a turning point in the history of Texas and
in the history of the United States, and reflect on the sacrifices by
the diplomats who made this possible.
Madam Speaker, I urge approval of the resolution, and thank both of
my colleagues for their support.
{time} 1230
Ms. CHENEY. Madam Speaker, I have no further speakers, and I yield
back the balance of my time.
Ms. HAALAND. Madam Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support the
legislation, and I yield back the balance of my time.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the
gentlewoman from New Mexico (Ms. Haaland) that the House suspend the
rules and pass the bill, H.R. 3349, as amended.
The question was taken; and (two-thirds being in the affirmative) the
rules were suspended and the bill, as amended, was passed.
A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.
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