[Congressional Record Volume 168, Number 68 (Tuesday, April 26, 2022)]
[House]
[Pages H4484-H4485]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




               NATIONAL LIBERTY MEMORIAL PRESERVATION ACT

  Mr. GRIJALVA. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the 
bill (H.R. 6201) to extend the authority for the establishment of a 
commemorative work to honor enslaved and free Black persons who served 
in the American Revolution, and for other purposes, as amended.
  The Clerk read the title of the bill.
  The text of the bill is as follows:

                               H.R. 6201

       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 ``National Liberty Memorial 
     Preservation Act''.

     SEC. 2. EXTENSION OF AUTHORITY FOR ESTABLISHMENT OF 
                   COMMEMORATIVE WORK.

       Notwithstanding section 8903(e) of title 40, United States 
     Code, the authority provided by section 2860 of the Military 
     Construction Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2013 (division 
     B of Public Law 112-239; 126 Stat. 2164; 40 U.S.C. 8903 note) 
     shall continue to apply through September 30, 2027.

     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 gentleman from 
Arizona (Mr. Grijalva) and the gentleman from Oregon (Mr. Bentz) 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. 6201, the National Liberty 
Memorial Preservation Act, introduced by my friend and colleague, 
Representative Bonnie Watson Coleman.
  This legislation would extend the authority for the establishment of 
a commemorative work to honor enslaved and free Black persons who 
served in the American Revolution. Extending this authorization would 
allow the congressionally authorized National Mall Liberty Fund D.C. to 
continue fundraising and construction of this memorial near the 
National Mall in Washington, D.C.
  Mr. Speaker, I thank Representative Watson Coleman for championing 
this bill. I urge my colleagues to support its adoption, and I reserve 
the balance of my time.
  Mr. BENTZ. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, H.R. 6201 offered by Representative Watson Coleman would 
extend the authorization for the establishment of a memorial to honor 
the approximately 5,000 enslaved and free Black Revolutionary War 
patriots who served as soldiers or provided civilian assistance during 
the American Revolution.
  In 2014, Congress authorized the National Liberty Memorial to be 
established in Area 1 in Washington, D.C., which is defined by the 
Commemorative Works Act as a location just off the National Mall.
  Under the Commemorative Works Act, sponsoring organizations are 
provided a 7-year period to construct the memorial, which unfortunately 
has expired.
  The subject matter of this memorial is extremely important, and I 
support extending the authority for the National Mall Liberty Fund D.C. 
to continue its valuable work to construct a lasting memorial in our 
Nation's Capital to honor the brave enslaved and free Black 
Revolutionary War patriots that fought to secure American independence.
  Mr. Speaker, I urge adoption of the bill, and I reserve the balance 
of my time.

                              {time}  1600

  Mr. GRIJALVA. Madam Speaker, I yield such time as she may consume to 
the gentlewoman from New Jersey (Mrs. Watson Coleman), the sponsor of 
the legislation.
  Mrs. WATSON COLEMAN. Madam Speaker, I thank Chair Grijalva for 
bringing my bipartisan, bicameral bill to the floor. And I thank my 
Republican colleagues for supporting the same.
  H.R. 6201, the National Liberty Memorial Preservation Act, would 
extend authorization of the National Liberty Memorial, a monument to 
honor the Black and Indigenous soldiers who risked everything in the 
name of the American experiment.
  If not for the sacrifices of Black and Indigenous soldiers, we may 
not be the independent Nation that we are today. By the time the 
Continental Army marched to victory in Yorktown, these soldiers made up 
a quarter of George Washington's forces.
  I am willing to bet that many Americans don't know this because, 
until recently, I certainly didn't. That is because, at best, the 
teaching of the Revolutionary War fails to highlight the contributions 
of soldiers of color and, at worst, it actively whitewashes them.
  To wipe these soldiers from the story of our independence is to 
falsify the historical record. In our current moment, where fundamental 
truths about our history are under attack, we must right this wrong. 
Black and Indigenous soldiers sacrificed too much to be erased from the 
narrative of our Nation's war for independence. I authored the National 
Liberty Memorial Preservation Act on their behalf.
  I thank Congresswoman Hinson and Senators Murphy and Grassley for 
joining me in introducing this legislation. I also thank National 
Liberty Memorial Fund D.C. for agreeing to build the memorial.
  I hope that, in addition to educating the public and honoring 
soldiers of color, this memorial will illustrate the importance of 
teaching the complete, honest truth about our history. I hope that it 
allows Black children, like my granddaughter, to grow up in an America 
where the trials and tribulations and triumphs of their ancestors are 
recognized. By telling the full story of our past, we can pave the way 
for a more inclusive future.
  I am very proud to support and urge the passage of this bicameral and 
bipartisan legislation. And I do pray that my colleagues, Democratic 
and Republican alike, will vote ``yes'' on the National Liberty 
Memorial Preservation Act.
  Mr. BENTZ. Madam Speaker, I urge adoption of this bill, and I yield 
back the balance of my time.

[[Page H4485]]

  

  Mr. GRIJALVA. Madam Speaker, I urge support for the legislation, and 
I yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore (Ms. Jackson Lee). 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. 6201, 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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