[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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