[Congressional Record Volume 168, Number 46 (Tuesday, March 15, 2022)]
[House]
[Pages H3720-H3722]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
BOUNDARY OF PALO ALTO BATTLEFIELD NATIONAL HISTORIC PARK
Mr. GRIJALVA. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the
bill (H.R. 268) to provide for the boundary of the Palo Alto
Battlefield National Historic Park to be adjusted, to authorize the
donation of land to the United States for addition to that historic
park, and for other purposes, as amended.
The Clerk read the title of the bill.
The text of the bill is as follows:
H.R. 268
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of
the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. BOUNDARY; LEGAL DESCRIPTION.
(a) Boundary.--Section 3(b)(2) of the Palo Alto Battlefield
National Historic Site Act of 1991 (16 U.S.C. 410nnn-1(b)(2))
is amended--
(1) by amending subparagraph (A) to read as follows:
``(A) In general.--
``(i) In addition to the land described in paragraph (1),
the historical park shall consist of--
``(I) the approximately 34 acres of land, as generally
depicted on the map entitled `Palo Alto Battlefield NHS
Proposed Boundary Expansion', numbered 469/80,012, and dated
May 21, 2008; and
``(II) on the date that such land is donated to the United
States, the approximately 166.44 acres of land generally
depicted on the map entitled `PALO ALTO BATTLEFIELD NATIONAL
HISTORICAL PARK Proposed Boundary Addition, Fort Brown Unit',
numbered 469/143,589, and dated April 2018.
``(ii) Before accepting any donated land described in this
subparagraph, the Secretary shall complete a boundary study
analyzing the feasibility of adding the land to the national
historical park.
``(iii) If a boundary study completed under clause (ii)
finds that acceptance of the donated land is feasible and
appropriate, the Secretary may accept such land and
administer the land as part of the historical park after
providing notice of such finding to Congress.''; and
(2) in subparagraph (B)--
(A) in the heading, by striking ``map'' and inserting
``maps''; and
(B) by striking ``map'' and inserting ``maps''.
(b) Legal Description.--Section 3(b)(3) of the Palo Alto
Battlefield National Historic Site Act of 1991 (16 U.S.C.
410nnn-1(b)(3)) is amended by striking ``after'' and all that
follows through ``Secretary of the Interior'' and inserting
``after the addition of lands to the historic park boundary,
the Secretary of the Interior''.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from
Arizona (Mr. Grijalva) and the gentleman from Utah (Mr. Moore) each
will control 20 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Arizona.
General Leave
Mr. GRIJALVA. 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 the measure under consideration.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the
gentleman from Arizona?
There was no objection.
Mr. GRIJALVA. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 268, the Palo Alto Battlefield
National Historic Park Boundary Adjustment Act, introduced by the
gentleman from Texas (Mr. Vela).
H.R. 268 expands the boundary of Palo Alto Battlefield National
Historic Park to include approximately 166 acres of land that is to be
donated to the Department of the Interior.
The donated land was the site of Fort Brown, a crucial outpost during
the Mexican-American War, which remains the last standing physical
structure associated with that war.
During its life, Fort Brown transformed from a site designed for a
confrontation into a post that served to protect the growing Mexican-
American population of the region.
Palo Alto Battlefield was designated as a national historic landmark
in 1960, as a national historic site in 1978, and a national historic
park in 2009. Today, the Palo Alto Battlefield National Historic Park
is the only unit of the National Park Service focused on the Mexican-
American War.
I congratulate Representative Vela for championing this bill, and I
urge my colleagues to support it.
Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Without objection, the gentleman from
Arkansas (Mr. Westerman) will control the time for the minority.
There was no objection.
Mr. WESTERMAN. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may
consume.
H.R. 268 authorizes the transfer of approximately 166 acres, by
donation, from the International Boundary and Water Commission to the
National Park Service for inclusion in the Palo Alto Battlefield
National Historic Park in Texas.
Palo Alto Battlefield National Historic Park is the site of the first
major battle of the Mexican-American War and has the distinction of
being the only National Park Service unit to interpret the Mexican-
American War.
The land authorized to be transferred through this bill includes the
historic Fort Brown site in Brownsville, Texas, which served as a
critical military outpost during the Mexican-American War.
I thank Chair Grijalva for accommodating our request at markup to
require the Secretary of the Interior to complete a boundary study
analyzing the feasibility of adding this land to the park prior to it
being acquired and incorporated into the boundary. The study
requirement will ensure that the land to be donated is feasible for the
National Park Service to manage as an addition to the park.
Mr. Speaker, this legislation will help preserve an important piece
of American history, and I urge my colleagues to support the bill.
I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. GRIJALVA. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the
gentleman from Texas (Mr. Vela), the sponsor of the legislation.
Mr. VELA. Mr. Speaker, today I rise in support of H.R. 268,
legislation to add the Fort Brown earthworks to the Palo Alto
Battlefield National Historic Park, and I urge my colleagues to vote in
favor of this bill.
I introduced this legislation to preserve a piece of history that is
not only
[[Page H3721]]
central to south Texas, but to our great Nation. Adding this piece of
Fort Brown is critical to interpreting the Mexican-American War and the
changes made to our international boundary. It is a record of our
Nation's border expansion extending to the Pacific Ocean.
In hopes of establishing the Rio Grande River as the southern border
of the United States, General Taylor ordered the construction of Fort
Texas in March of 1846.
On May 3, 1846, Mexican General Mariano Arista attacked Fort Texas.
Under the command of General Zachary Taylor, U.S. forces, including
Lieutenant Ulysses S. Grant, fought at the Battle of Palo Alto and the
Battle of Resaca de la Palma, two decisive victories that would force
the Mexican retreat across the Rio Grande.
While the siege produced limited damage to the fort, Major Jacob
Brown, who had command of the post, was mortally wounded in its
defense. Afterward, General Taylor named the site Fort Brown, and the
surrounding area became the town of Brownsville, Texas.
The Fort Brown earthworks is the only standing architecture in the
United States associated with the Mexican-American War. Bringing the
earthworks into the Palo Alto Battlefield National Historical Park
helps tell our Nation's story and protects this important symbol of the
transformation of the country resulting from the 19th century westward
expansion.
Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to vote in favor of this
legislation so we can protect an essential piece of our history that
will help us to tell the story of our Nation long into the future. I
thank the chairman and the ranking member for their support in this
legislation.
Mr. WESTERMAN. Mr. Speaker, I am ready to close when the gentleman
from Arizona is. I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. GRIJALVA. Mr. Speaker, I have one additional request to address
the legislation.
I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Vicente Gonzalez).
Mr. VICENTE GONZALEZ of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support
of Congressman Filemon Vela's bill, H.R. 268, which would add Fort
Brown to the Palo Alto Battlefield National Historical Park located in
Brownsville, Texas.
By including this fort, we are creating a national monument for the
only standing architecture in the United States associated with the
Mexican-American War.
In 1845, after the annexation of Texas, President James Polk sent
soldiers to Matamoros, Tamaulipas, Mexico, to proclaim the boundary of
the United States at the Rio Grande River.
In 1846, General Zachary Taylor ordered the construction of the fort,
which consisted of a six-sided earthwork. Once finished, General Taylor
left to procure supplies and gave command of the fort to Major Jacob
Brown.
On May 3, 1846, Mexico sought to capitalize on the depleted resources
and bombarded the fort for 6 straight days. Major Jacob Brown and the
American troops fought valiantly, forcing Mexico to retreat. American
forces only lost two soldiers, one of which was Major Brown himself.
Today, the city of Brownsville and Fort Brown serve as a testament to
Major Brown's valor, patriotism, and sacrifice. By passing H.R. 268, we
as a Nation will honor Major Brown and the Americans who stood their
ground at Fort Brown.
I urge my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to join Congressman
Vela and I in preserving this important part of south Texas' and our
entire country's history.
Mr. WESTERMAN. Mr. Speaker, I urge adoption of the bill, and I yield
back the balance of my time.
Mr. GRIJALVA. Mr. Speaker, I join with the ranking member to urge
adoption of the legislation, and I yield back the balance of my time.
Ms. JACKSON LEE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of H.R.
268, which will preserve The Palo Alto Battlefield National Historic
Park. The preservation and expansion of the Palo Alto Battlefield will
continue to provide access, and encourage public understanding of this
historically important site.
I support this legislation because the Palo Alto Battlefield National
Historic Park marks the 1846 clash of Mexican and U.S. troops,
preserves the battle site, and includes history tours. The park
preserves the site and informs visitors about its national and
international importance. The Mexican-American war of 1846-1848 gained
the great state of Texas its independence. This bill will authorize the
donation of the park and grant the authority to the United States to
implement a boundary to preserve in perpetuity of the history of a key
notable battle that changed the map of North America.
Specifically, H.R. 268 adjusts the boundary of the Palo Alto
Battlefield National Historical Park in Texas by including
approximately 166 acres of land donated to the U.S. that will be
identified on the map titled Palo Alto Battlefield National Historical
Park, Proposed Boundary Addition, Fort Brown Unit (2018), when the land
is donated to the United States.
Finally, the bill authorizes the transfer of property from the
International Boundary and Water Commission to the National Park
Service (NPS) to be part of the Palo Alto Battlefield National
Historical Park. The identified land was the site of Fort Brown, a
crucial outpost during the conflict and which remains the last standing
physical structure associated with the Mexican-American War.
Palo Alto Battlefield was designated as a National Historic Landmark
in 1960, a National Historic Site in 1978, and a National Historical
Park in 2009. Today, the Palo Alto Battlefield National Historical Park
is the only unit of the NPS focused on the Mexican-American War.
President James K. Polk, in his December 1845 message to Congress,
characterized the recent annexation of Texas by the United States, with
a boundary along the Rio Grande. He had campaigned for the presidency
with a pledge to extend the United States to the Pacific Ocean, and the
addition of the Republic of Texas as the 28th state represented a major
step toward that goal.
Mexico, however, challenged annexation. Although Texas had severed
ties with Mexico in 1836, many Mexican leaders refused to recognize its
independence and denounced the U.S. move as an attack on Mexico. The
Rio Grande River formed the boundary of the new state. Mexico had
always mapped Texas as a much smaller region--bounded in part by the
Nueces River. Polk's call for a Rio Grande border placed a huge expanse
of territory in dispute.
President Polk attempted to force a settlement of the boundary
issues. In the summer of 1845, he sent an envoy to Mexico City to
negotiate an agreement. The tactic failed. In Mexico, hardline Gen.
Mariano Paredes y Arrillaga marched to the capital, seized control of
the government, and announced that he would discuss nothing but the
return of Texas. Clear battle lines had been drawn.
When Mexican and United States troops clashed on the Palo Alto
Battlefield, cannon blasts and musket fire were not the only dangers.
In the field's harsh environment, they also encountered poisonous
snakes and insects, and prickly plants. These natural hazards remain
today.
On May 8, 1846, U.S. and Mexican troops clashed on the coastal
prairie of Palo Alto, where the Rio Grande empties into the Gulf of
Mexico. The ensuing two-year conflict changed the map of North America.
Palo Alto Battlefield National Historical Park preserves and interprets
the site and memory of that battle, vividly described in dozens of
letters and diaries written by soldiers.
The Palo Alto Battlefield includes 3,400 acres of prairie and dense
chaparral. The battlefield is being restored to its 1846 condition
landscape and its trails, facilities, and visitor services are under
development. The battlefield is located at 7200 Paredes Line Rd. (FM
1847) in Brownsville, TX, just north of the FM 511 intersection.
The Resaca de la Palma and Fort Brown sites, both National Historic
Landmarks, will also be preserved. Today the Resaca de la Palma
Battlefield lies on Paredes Line Rd. in the heart of Brownsville, which
has swallowed up much of the original scene. But 38 acres of the
battlefield survive. In 2011 it became a second unit of Palo Alto
Battlefield National Historical Park.
Fort Brown has suffered over time from the effects of erosion and
levee construction on the Rio Grande. A few earthen mounds near the
Fort Brown Golf Course are all that remain. Palo Alto Battlefield
National Historical Park is cooperating with private and public
partners to preserve Fort Brown for public enjoyment and education.
I ask all members to join me in voting for H.R. 268, to support the
authorization of the donation of the land to the United States to
continue the preservation and expansion of the Palo Alto Battlefield
National Historic Park.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the
gentleman from Arizona (Mr. Grijalva) that the House suspend the rules
and pass the bill, H.R. 268, as amended.
[[Page H3722]]
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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