[Congressional Record Volume 170, Number 149 (Tuesday, September 24, 2024)]
[House]
[Pages H5723-H5725]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




          HOLCOMBE RUCKER PARK NATIONAL COMMEMORATIVE SITE ACT

  Mr. WESTERMAN. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the 
bill (H.R. 6852) to designate Holcombe Rucker Park, in Harlem, New 
York, as a National Commemorative Site, and for other purposes, as 
amended.
  The Clerk read the title of the bill.
  The text of the bill is as follows:

                               H.R. 6852

       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 ``Holcombe Rucker Park 
     National Commemorative Site Act''.

     SEC. 2. NATIONAL COMMEMORATIVE SITE.

       (a) Designation.--Holcombe Rucker Park, in Harlem, New 
     York, is hereby designated as the ``Holcombe Rucker Park 
     National Commemorative Site'' (referred to in this section as 
     the ``Commemorative Site'').
       (b) Administration.--
       (1) Cooperative agreements.--The Secretary of the Interior 
     may enter into cooperative agreements with appropriate public 
     or private entities, including the Mayor of New York City or 
     the Mayor's designee, for interpretive and educational 
     purposes related to the Commemorative Site, including 
     installing a plaque, interpretive exhibit, or other marker, 
     as appropriate, at the Commemorative Site, with the written 
     consent of the owner of the Commemorative Site, to 
     memorialize the achievements of Holcombe Rucker and to 
     provide recognition of the historic role of Holcombe Rucker 
     Park in the development of the game of basketball and of many 
     of its most talented players.
       (2) Effect of designation.--The Commemorative Site shall 
     not be a unit of the National Park System.

[[Page H5724]]

       (3) Limitations.--Nothing in this Act--
       (A) authorizes the Secretary of the Interior to interfere 
     with the rights of any person with respect to private 
     property or any local zoning ordinance or land use plan of 
     the State of New York or any political subdivision thereof, 
     including prohibiting any actions that may otherwise be taken 
     by a property owner (including any owner of the Commemorative 
     Site) with respect to the property of the owner;
       (B) affects the administration of the Commemorative Site by 
     New York City or the State of New York; or
       (C) authorizes the Secretary of the Interior to acquire 
     land or interests in land through condemnation or otherwise.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from 
Arkansas (Mr. Westerman) and the gentlewoman from New York (Ms. Ocasio-
Cortez) each will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Arkansas.


                             General Leave

  Mr. WESTERMAN. 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 H.R. 6852, the bill now under 
consideration.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from Arkansas?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. WESTERMAN. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may 
consume.
  Mr. Speaker, Representative Espaillat's bill, the Holcombe Rucker 
Park National Commemorative Site Act, will designate the historic 
Holcombe Rucker Park in New York City as a National Commemorative Site.
  Located in the heart of New York City's Harlem neighborhood, Holcombe 
Rucker Park is a historically significant basketball destination that 
has hosted legendary basketball players such as Wilt Chamberlain, Kobe 
Bryant, and LeBron James.
  Once described as the Mecca of Basketball, the park has appeared in 
many documentaries as the birthplace of streetball, a unique form of 
basketball that emphasizes creativity.
  The park's namesake, Holcombe Rucker, was a highly influential figure 
in his community, and he helped over 700 children receive college 
scholarships for athletics.
  The legislation before us today, H.R. 6852, would designate Holcombe 
Rucker Park as a National Commemorative Site. This designation would 
not affect private property rights, alter the local governance of the 
park, or make the park a unit of the National Park System. Instead, 
this bill presents a creative way to honor an important site that has 
offered generations of Harlem youth a positive outlet for sports, team 
building, and promoting racial equality.
  Mr. Speaker, I support the bill, and I reserve the balance of my 
time.
  Ms. OCASIO-CORTEZ. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may 
consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 6852, the Holcombe Rucker Park 
National Commemorative Site Act, introduced by my colleague from New 
York City, Representative Espaillat.
  Holcombe Rucker Park in Harlem is named in honor of Holcombe Rucker, 
who dedicated his life to uplifting his community in Harlem through 
compassion.
  A World War II veteran and graduate of the City College of New York, 
Mr. Rucker returned home from his military service and continued a life 
in public service as a junior high school teacher and as the playground 
director for New York City Parks at several parks in Harlem, including 
the one that now bears his name.
  During his tenure at the park, Mr. Rucker not only served as a mentor 
for the community's youth but was actively engaged in empowering them. 
He established a youth basketball league to help kids build life skills 
and to keep them out of trouble in the summer, back at a time when 
naysayers told him it would never work because basketball was 
supposedly just a winter sport.

                              {time}  1915

  The program was a success. Mr. Rucker held popular, now-legendary 
tournaments at the park which became the Rucker Tournament. His efforts 
turned this neighborhood site into what The New York Times has called a 
``Street Basketball Mecca.''
  Using the increased visibility, Mr. Rucker went even further and 
worked to help secure hundreds of college scholarships for the youths 
he mentored.
  Through the establishment of the Rucker Tournament, Mr. Rucker paved 
the way for future generations of basketball players to grow and build 
their skills in Harlem and Washington Heights. Many of the players who 
participated in his tournaments went on to play in the NBA and became 
legendary players in their own right. The park was renamed in his honor 
in 1974 and is often affectionately called just ``the Rucker.''
  My friend Mr. Espaillat's bill would recognize the iconic Holcombe 
Rucker Park and its historical significance in Harlem and around the 
world by designating it as the Holcombe Rucker Park National 
Commemorative Site.
  Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to vote ``yes'' on the bill, and I 
reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. WESTERMAN. Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for time, I am 
prepared to close, and I continue to reserve the balance of my time.
  Ms. OCASIO-CORTEZ. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume 
to the gentleman from New York (Mr. Espaillat), the sponsor of the bill 
and my friend, colleague, and fellow New Yorker.
  Mr. ESPAILLAT. Mr. Speaker, I begin by thanking Chairman Bruce 
Westerman, Ranking Member Raul Grijalva, and of course, the gentlewoman 
from New York, my colleague, Congresswoman Ocasio-Cortez, subcommittee 
Chairman Tom Tiffany, and subcommittee Ranking Member   Joe Neguse for 
their leadership on this important matter.
  Assistant Minority Leader   Joe Neguse went to Rucker Park, and he 
shot a mean three-pointer. In fact, he earned the name ``Let It Fly,''  
 Joe Neguse, over the summer.
  I also acknowledge the families and community leaders who have 
championed this cause: the Rucker family, the Marius family, the 
McCullough family, Bobby Hunter, who was here in one of the hearings, a 
Harlem Globetrotter, Freddie Crawford, 155 Entertainers LLC, and so 
many from Harlem, including Manhattan Community Board 10 Parks Chair 
Horry. I thank them for their unwavering support and dedication in 
preserving Holcombe Rucker Park's legacy.
  Today, I rise in support of H.R. 6852, the Holcombe Rucker Park 
National Commemorative Site Act. This legislation is more than just a 
symbolic gesture. It is a commitment to recognizing the historical and 
cultural significance of one of Harlem's most cherished landmarks.
  In the 1950s, Holcombe Rucker, a World War II veteran and a scholar, 
had a vision for Harlem's youth. He sought to create a space where 
children of the Harlem community could find refuge from the street, a 
space that could not only showcase their athletic talents but also push 
young people toward higher education and economic mobility.
  The Rucker Pro League was not just about basketball. It was about 
giving back and about mentorship, about lifting each other up.
  The ``Each One Teach One'' program was Rucker's mantra, a motto that 
resulted in over 700 scholarships for young athletes.
  Through his leadership, Rucker transformed the lives of hundreds, 
instilling in them the importance of academic achievement and community 
service.
  This park has become a cultural institution where the worlds of 
sports, music, and education converge.
  A generation of athletes like Julius ``Dr. J'' Erving, Kobe Bryant, 
and LeBron James have graced the court.
  Beyond the fame, the real legacy of Rucker Park is in the 
scholarships, the mentorship, and the opportunities of upward mobility 
it has created for Harlem's youth.
  The bill we are considering tonight will grant Federal recognition to 
Holcombe Rucker Park, helping to preserve this sacred space for future 
generations.
  It ensures that Rucker's commitment to academic excellence, 
mentorship, and community empowerment is enshrined in our Nation's 
history. The recognition will highlight its historical significance and 
ensure its legacy is preserved.

[[Page H5725]]

  In closing, let me emphasize that this bill isn't just about a 
historical basketball court. It is about honoring a man who used 
basketball as a tool for social change, for empowering young people, 
and for building a brighter future for his community. It is about 
continuing the legacy of resilience and empowerment that Holcombe 
Rucker started decades ago.
  I urge my colleagues to vote ``yes'' on H.R. 6852. Let's honor the 
history, the culture, and the transformative impact of Holcombe Rucker 
Park.
  Ms. OCASIO-CORTEZ. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support the 
legislation, and I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. WESTERMAN. Mr. Speaker, I, too, want to thank Representative 
Espaillat for his work on this bill, which honors an important landmark 
without adding to the Federal estate or using taxpayer resources.
  Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentleman from Arkansas (Mr. Westerman) that the House suspend the 
rules and pass the bill, H.R. 6852, 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.

                          ____________________