[Congressional Record Volume 168, Number 150 (Monday, September 19, 2022)]
[House]
[Pages H7936-H7937]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
BLACKWELL SCHOOL NATIONAL HISTORIC SITE ACT
Mr. GRIJALVA. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the
bill (S. 2490) 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:
S. 2490
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. FINDINGS.
Congress finds that--
(1) the Blackwell School, located at 501 South Abbott
Street, in Marfa, Presidio County, Texas, is--
(A) associated with the period of racial segregation in
Marfa public schools; and
(B) the only extant property directly associated with
Hispanic education in Marfa since the other buildings were
torn down after the Blackwell School closed in 1965;
(2) the Blackwell School is a tangible reminder of the
period during which the doctrine of ``separate but equal''
dominated education and social systems;
(3) despite being categorized as ``white'' by Texas law,
Mexican Americans were regularly excluded from commingling
with Anglo individuals at barbershops, restaurants, funeral
homes, theaters, churches, and schools;
(4) the spectrum of experiences of students and teachers at
the Blackwell School are an important record of life in a
segregated school in the context of the history of Texas and
the United States;
(5) 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;
(6) Hispanic influences continue to be seen in social and
religious organizations, business and government
institutions, and shared experiences of language, food, and
music in Marfa, Texas;
(7) the historic Blackwell School building is a physical
record of--
(A) the longevity and beauty of the distinctive design and
craftsmanship informed by traditional techniques and
materials; and
(B) the transition from the purely vernacular to the period
of materials, design, and workmanship made available after
the arrival of the railroad;
(8) the original historic school building and grounds on
which the Blackwell School building stands provide an
authentic setting to commemorate and interpret the history of
the Blackwell School;
(9) the Blackwell School is closely associated with the
broad patterns of local, State, and national history in the
area of school segregation; and
(10) Mexicans and other members of the Latin American
diaspora have placed a high value on education as a means of
economic, social, and political advancement, but Hispanics
and Latinos have not always had equitable opportunities and
access to quality educational facilities in the United
States.
SEC. 3. DEFINITIONS.
In this Act:
(1) Map.--The term ``map'' means the map entitled
``Blackwell School National Historic Site Proposed
Boundary'', numbered 593/178387, and dated February 2022.
(2) National historic site.--The term ``National Historic
Site'' means the Blackwell School National Historic Site
established by section 4(a)(1).
(3) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary
of the Interior.
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, including--
(A) the role of the Blackwell School as an academic and
cultural cornerstone in Marfa, Texas; and
(B) the function of the Blackwell School within a
segregated system of education in Texas and the United States
from the period of 1885 through 1965.
(2) Determination by secretary.--The National Historic Site
shall not be established until the date on which the
Secretary determines that--
(A) a written agreement has been entered into by the
Secretary with the Marfa Unified School District providing
that the Blackwell School shall be donated to the United
States or co-managed with the Secretary for inclusion in a
national historic site to be managed consistently with the
purposes of a national historic site; and
(B) a sufficient quantity of land or an interest in land
within the boundaries of the National Historic Site has been
acquired to constitute a manageable unit.
(b) Map.--
(1) Boundaries.--The boundaries of the National Historic
Site shall be the boundaries generally depicted on the map.
(2) Availability of map.--The map shall be on file and
available for public inspection in the appropriate offices of
the National Park Service.
(c) 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.
(d) Administration.--
(1) In general.--The Secretary shall administer the
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) In general.--Not later than 3 years after the date on
which funds are first made available to the Secretary to
prepare a general management plan for the National Historic
Site, 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) Submission.--On completion of the general management
plan under subparagraph (A), the Secretary shall submit to
the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources of the Senate
and the Committee on Natural Resources of the House of
Representatives the general management plan prepared under
that subparagraph.
(e) 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 relating to the
National Historic Site.
(f) 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 the property.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from
Arizona (Mr. Grijalva) and the gentleman from Alabama (Mr. Carl) 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 that is before us 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 S. 2490, the Blackwell School
National Historic Site Act. This legislation, if the House will recall,
was sponsored primarily by Representative Tony Gonzales from Texas.
S. 2490 is a companion to that legislation from the Senate, from
Senator Cornyn, and this legislation directs 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 local
schools were finally integrated.
[[Page H7937]]
The building is a tangible reminder of a time in American history
where separate but equal remained prevalent in our culture. It is a
symbol of community solidarity, pride, and identity, and it remains to
this day.
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 a source
of pride for the local Mexican-American community in the region.
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 the Blackwell School is maintained so that future
Americans can learn from and understand its rich, complex, and
troubling history.
Representative Tony Gonzales should be applauded for his efforts on
this.
Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to join me today in supporting the
bill and sending it to President Biden for his signature, and I reserve
the balance of my time.
{time} 1800
Mr. CARL. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Madam Speaker, I rise in support of S. 2490, the Blackwell School
National Historic Site Act. This legislation, championed in the House
by my friend, Tony Gonzales of Texas, would establish a new unit of the
National Park System to tell the history of this segregated education
in Marfa, Texas.
Although there was no State law that mandated separate schools for
Hispanic students, Texas school districts practiced de facto
segregation through the mid-20th century.
Blackwell School was known originally as the Ward School and later
renamed for its longtime principal, Jesse Blackwell, who arrived at the
school in 1922. During Blackwell's 25-year tenure, the school grew from
one building with 120 students to a multi-building campus with more
than 600 students.
The original historic school building and grounds provide an
authentic setting to the interpretation of history of segregated
schools in Texas.
I commend Mr. Gonzales for his work on this important landmark. He
has been a strong champion for this legislation, including writing
House companion legislation that previously passed this Chamber with
strong bipartisan support.
Madam Seaker, I urge adoption of this bill, and I reserve the balance
of my time.
Mr. GRIJALVA. Madam Speaker, I have no further requests for time on
this legislation. I am prepared to close. I reserve the balance of my
time.
Mr. CARL. Madam Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from
Texas (Mr. Tony Gonzales).
Mr. TONY GONZALES of Texas. Madam Speaker, I rise today to encourage
my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to vote ``yes'' on the
Blackwell School National Historic Site Act. And I thank my
distinguished colleague from Alabama for allowing me this opportunity.
This bill would designate the Blackwell School in my district as one
of the first national park sites dedicated to Latino history. This
legislation comes at a critical time, as we celebrate the
accomplishments of the Latino community during Hispanic Heritage Month.
From 1909 to 1965, the Blackwell School in Marfa, Texas, was the only
public school for the city's Mexican-American children. Although there
was no State law that mandated separate schools for Hispanic students,
it was common practice for them to be taught at different facilities.
This meant that the Blackwell School was the only place where children
of Mexican descent could be educated and have a shot at the American
Dream.
Today, the Blackwell School reminds us of the resiliency the Mexican-
American community has displayed throughout our history.
Designating the Blackwell School as a national park site would
improve the ability of the Park Service to oversee conservation
efforts, promote regional tourism, and share important stories about
the Mexican-American community in the U.S.
Please join me in passing this bill to honor the hard work and
fighting spirit of the Hispanic community.
Mr. CARL. Madam Speaker, again, I urge the adoption of this bill, and
I yield back the balance of my time.
Mr. GRIJALVA. Madam Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
The SPEAKER pro tempore (Ms. Brown of Ohio). The question is on the
motion offered by the gentleman from Arizona (Mr. Grijalva) that the
House suspend the rules and pass the bill, S. 2490.
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. GAETZ. Madam Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.
The yeas and nays were ordered.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to clause 8 of rule XX, further
proceedings on this motion will be postponed.
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