[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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