[Congressional Record Volume 167, Number 207 (Wednesday, December 1, 2021)]
[House]
[Pages H6740-H6741]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




              BLACKWELL SCHOOL NATIONAL HISTORIC SITE ACT

  Ms. LEGER FERNANDEZ. Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and 
pass the bill (H.R. 4706) to establish the Blackwell School National 
Historic Site in Marfa, Texas, and for other purposes.
  The Clerk read the title of the bill.
  The text of the bill is as follows:

                               H.R. 4706

       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 ``Blackwell School National 
     Historic Site Act''.

     SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS.

       In this Act:
       (1) National historic site.--The term ``national historic 
     site'' means the Blackwell School, in Marfa, Texas.
       (2) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary 
     of the Interior.

     SEC. 3. FINDINGS.

       Congress finds as follows:
       (1) The Blackwell School, located at 501 South Abbott 
     Street, in Marfa, Presidio County, Texas, is associated with 
     the period of racial segregation in Marfa public schools and 
     is the sole extant property directly associated with Hispanic 
     education in the community, the remaining buildings having 
     been torn down after the school closed in 1965.
       (2) The Blackwell School is a tangible reminder of a time 
     when the practice of ``separate but equal'' dominated 
     education and social systems. Despite being categorized as 
     ``white'' by Texas law, Mexican Americans were regularly 
     excluded from commingling with Anglos at barbershops, 
     restaurants, funeral homes, theaters, churches, and schools.
       (3) The spectrum of experiences of students and teachers at 
     the Blackwell School constitute an important record of life 
     in a segregated school in the context of the history of Texas 
     and America.
       (4) Mexican and Mexican American culture and history in 
     Marfa is tied to the Blackwell School, which for more than 50 
     years served as a leading feature of the Hispanic community, 
     illustrating the challenge of maintaining cultural identity 
     in a dominant Anglo society. Yet today, Hispanic influences 
     are seen in Marfa's social and religious organizations, 
     business and government institutions, and shared experiences 
     of language, food, and music.
       (5) The historic Blackwell School building is a physical 
     record of the longevity and beauty of the distinctive design 
     and craftsmanship informed by both traditional techniques and 
     materials, and the transition from purely the vernacular to 
     the period of materials, design, and workmanship made 
     available after the arrival of the railroad. The original 
     historic school building and grounds on which it stands 
     provide an authentic setting to commemorate and interpret the 
     history of the Blackwell School.
       (6) The Blackwell School is closely associated with the 
     broad patterns of local, State, and national history in the 
     area of school segregation. Mexicans and other members of the 
     Latin American diaspora have placed a high value upon 
     education as a means of economic, social, and political 
     advancement.
       (7) Mexican Americans and other members of the Latin 
     American diaspora have placed a high value upon education as 
     a means of economic, social, and political advancement. 
     However, Hispanics and Latinos have not always had equitable 
     opportunities and access to quality educational facilities in 
     the United States.

     SEC. 4. ESTABLISHMENT OF THE BLACKWELL SCHOOL NATIONAL 
                   HISTORIC SITE.

       (a) Establishment.--
       (1) In general.--Subject to paragraph (2), there is 
     established the Blackwell School National Historic Site in 
     the State of Texas as a unit of the National Park System to 
     preserve, protect and interpret for the benefit of present 
     and future generations the Blackwell School, its role as both 
     an academic and cultural cornerstone in the community in 
     Marfa, Texas, and its function within a segregated system of 
     education in Texas and the United States from 1885 through 
     1965.
       (2) Conditions.--The national historic site shall not be 
     established until the date on which the Secretary has--
       (A) entered into a written agreement with the Marfa Unified 
     School District providing that the Blackwell School shall be 
     donated to or placed by agreement into co-management with the 
     United States for inclusion in a national historic site to be 
     managed consistently with the purposes of a national historic 
     site; and
       (B) acquired sufficient land or interests in land within 
     the boundaries of the national historic site to constitute a 
     manageable unit.
       (b) Boundaries.--The boundaries of the national historic 
     site shall be the boundaries generally depicted on the map.
       (c) Availability of Map.--The map shall be on file and 
     available for public inspection in the appropriate offices of 
     the National Park Service.
       (d) Acquisition of Authority.--The Secretary may only 
     acquire any land or interest in land located within the 
     boundary of the national historic site by--
       (1) donation;
       (2) purchase with donated funds; or
       (3) exchange.
       (e) Administration.--
       (1) In general.--The Secretary shall administer this 
     national historic site in accordance with--
       (A) this Act; and
       (B) the laws generally applicable to units of the National 
     Park System.
       (2) Management plan.--
       (A) Not later than 3 years after the date on which funds 
     are first made available to the Secretary for this purpose, 
     the Secretary shall prepare a general management plan for the 
     national historic site in accordance with section 100502 of 
     title 54, United States Code.
       (B) Upon completion, the Secretary shall submit the general 
     management plan prepared pursuant to subparagraph (A) to the 
     Committee on Natural Resources of the House of 
     Representatives and the Committee on Energy and Natural 
     Resources of the Senate.
       (f) Cooperative Agreements.--The Secretary shall enter into 
     cooperative agreements with the Blackwell School Alliance 
     (and other local, regional, State, academic and nonprofit 
     partners) for interpretive and educational programming, 
     technical assistance, and rehabilitation related to the 
     national historic site.
       (g) Written Consent of Owner.--No private property or non-
     Federal public property shall be included within the 
     boundaries of the national historic site or managed as part 
     of the national historic site without the written consent of 
     the owner of such property.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentlewoman from 
New Mexico (Ms. Leger Fernandez) and the gentleman from Arkansas (Mr. 
Westerman) each will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentlewoman from New Mexico.


                             General Leave

  Ms. LEGER FERNANDEZ. 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. LEGER FERNANDEZ. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may 
consume.
  Madam Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 4706, the Blackwell School 
National Historic Site Act, introduced by my colleague, Representative 
Tony Gonzales of Texas.
  This bill would direct the Secretary of the Interior to establish the 
Blackwell School National Historic Site to preserve, protect, and 
interpret the role of the Blackwell School as an academic and cultural 
cornerstone in Marfa, Texas.
  The Blackwell School was the sole public education institution for 
Mexican-American children in Marfa from 1909 until 1965, when Marfa 
schools were integrated.
  The building is a tangible reminder of a time in American history 
when separate but equal remained so prevalent in our culture. It is a 
powerful reminder of the work that still remains before us today.
  Approximately 4,000 students attended the Blackwell School over the 
course of more than 50 years. Despite the inherent unfairness of 
segregation, the Blackwell School became a meeting place and source of 
pride for the local Hispanic community.
  Today, all that remains of the once sprawling campus is a three-room 
adobe schoolhouse--one of the last such schools remaining in Texas. 
Designating the Blackwell School as a national historic site ensures 
that the story of this school is maintained so that future Americans 
can learn from and understand its rich and complex history.
  Madam Speaker, I attended a school that was likewise, in its history, 
segregated. Hispanos attended school on one side of the town and all 
others on the other side.
  I congratulate Representative Gonzales for championing this bill to 
bring awareness that this is simply part of our history and we must 
recognize it and understand it.
  Madam Speaker, I urge everyone to support this bill today, and I 
reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. WESTERMAN. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may 
consume.
  Madam Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 4706, offered by 
Representative

[[Page H6741]]

Tony Gonzales of Texas, to establish the Blackwell School National 
Historic Site in Marfa, Texas, as a unit of the National Park system.
  Segregation education began in Marfa in 1892 following the completion 
of a new school for the city's White students. The Blackwell School 
served as the sole public education institution for the city of Marfa, 
Texas', Mexican and Mexican-American children from 1909 to 1965.
  Known originally as the Ward or Mexican School, the Blackwell School 
was later renamed for its longtime principal, Jesse Blackwell, who 
arrived in 1922. During Blackwell's 25-year tenure, the school grew 
from one building and 120 students to a multi-building campus and more 
than 600 students.
  The original historic school building and grounds provide an 
authentic setting to commemorate and interpret the history of the 
Blackwell School. Designation as a national historic site is locally 
supported and the designation helps meet needs identified in the 
National Park Services' American Latino Theme Study completed in 2013.
  Madam Speaker, I highly commend my colleague from Texas (Mr. Tony 
Gonzales) for his work on commemorating this important landmark. I urge 
adoption of the measure, and I reserve the balance of my time.
  Ms. LEGER FERNANDEZ. Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. WESTERMAN. Madam Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from 
Texas (Mr. Tony Gonzales), the author of this bill.
  Mr. TONY GONZALES of Texas. Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of 
my bill, H.R. 4706, the Blackwell School National Historic Site Act.
  The Blackwell School is located in the heart of my district, Marfa, 
Texas. This week we are voting on legislation that makes this landmark 
a national historic site under the National Park Service.

                              {time}  1345

  When it comes to recognizing lands as national historic sites or 
national parks, it is paramount to look outside traditional parameters. 
We must identify and preserve our history from all walks of life and 
share stories of forgotten Americans, including the history of Mexican 
Americans and their struggle for equality.
  The Blackwell School operated from 1909 to 1965 as a segregated 
school for children of Mexican descent. While segregation was mandated 
by law for African Americans, it was optional for school districts to 
segregate Mexican students. Marfa chose to segregate. Children who 
attended the Blackwell School were banned from speaking Spanish and 
even had to bury slips of paper with Spanish words in a mock funeral 
ceremony.
  The school operated during a time of American history when separate 
but equal dominated our culture. Segregation is an ugly stain on 
America's legacy, and while we have progressed as a country, we must 
acknowledge the painful role segregation played in our Nation's 
history.
  Establishing the Blackwell School as a national historic site ensures 
that the building is maintained properly so generations to come can 
understand its rich but complicated history. The impact of establishing 
this landmark as a national historic site goes beyond cultural 
influence as well. My district is home to eight of Texas' 16 national 
parks such as Big Bend National Park. As I traveled through my 
district, I have seen the positive economic and societal impacts our 
national parks have on our communities. Establishing the Blackwell 
School as a national landmark would bring increased tourism and 
increased economic activity to Presidio County and Marfa.
  Madam Speaker, I would like to thank my friend, Fil Vela, for 
cosponsoring this bill; Natural Resources Chairman Raul Grijalva; and, 
of course, Ranking Member Bruce Westerman for prioritizing this 
legislation.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The time of the gentleman has expired.
  Mr. WESTERMAN. Madam Speaker, I yield the gentleman an additional 1 
minute.
  Mr. TONY GONZALES of Texas. Madam Speaker, most importantly, I would 
like to thank the Blackwell School Alliance and the National Parks 
Conservation Association for their commitment to giving this landmark 
the recognition it deserves. The Blackwell School has been an important 
piece of history for west Texas and many Mexican Americans across the 
country, and we are ready to share it with the world.
  Ms. LEGER FERNANDEZ. Madam Speaker, I am ready to close, and I 
reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. WESTERMAN. Madam Speaker, I have no further speakers. I want to 
encourage adoption of this bill and, again, I thank the gentleman from 
Texas for his hard work in bringing this bill forward. I hope we can 
all get behind it. I urge adoption, and I yield back the balance of my 
time.
  Ms. LEGER FERNANDEZ. Madam Speaker, I too want to recognize and 
acknowledge the importance of this bill and Representative Gonzales's 
bringing it to our attention because we must remember that all 
stories--all stories--whether they be good or bad, whether they concern 
segregation or celebration, are American stories, and this bill assists 
us in looking at the complexity of the American story.
  Madam Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support the legislation, and I 
yield back the balance of my time.
  Ms. JACKSON LEE. Madam Speaker, I rise in proud support of H.R. 4706, 
``The Blackwell School National Historic Site Act.''
  I would like to thank Congressman Tony Gonzales for introducing this 
bill.
  This bill would establish Blackwell School National Historic Site as 
a unit of the National Park System when the Secretary of the Interior 
enters into a written agreement with the Marfa Unified School District 
for donation or co-management of the site and acquires sufficient lands 
within the boundaries of the national historic site to constitute a 
manageable unit.
  The NPS would be required to develop a management plan for the site 
no later than 3 years after the date on which funds are first made 
available for this purpose.
  The bill also directs the Secretary of the Interior to enter into 
cooperative agreements with the Blackwell School Alliance (and other 
partners) for interpretive and educational programming, technical 
assistance, and rehabilitation for the site.
  The Blackwell School operated in Marfa, Texas, as a segregated school 
for children of Mexican descent from 1909 until Marfa schools were 
integrated in 1965.
  Yet this is much more than just a local story.
  The original historic school building, and grounds on which it 
stands, provide an authentic setting to commemorate and interpret a 
time when ``separate but equal'' dominated our culture in ways 
currently unknown, and essential to understanding the American 
experience.
  The Blackwell School Alliance has been working 15 years to preserve 
the stories, legacy, and buildings associated with the Blackwell 
School.
  We have partnered with many universities, state agencies, private 
foundations, individuals, and the City of Marfa to document and promote 
this important piece of Marfa history.
  This park would not only have an emotional impact, but it would also 
help preserve key history for the people of Marfa, Texas.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentlewoman from New Mexico (Ms. Leger Fernandez) that the House 
suspend the rules and pass the bill, H.R. 4706.
  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. PERRY. Madam Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to section 3(s) of House Resolution 
8, the yeas and nays are ordered.
  Pursuant to clause 8 of rule XX, further proceedings on this motion 
are postponed.

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