[Congressional Record Volume 171, Number 80 (Tuesday, May 13, 2025)]
[House]
[Pages H1984-H1985]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
SALEM MARITIME NATIONAL HISTORICAL PARK REDESIGNATION AND BOUNDARY
STUDY ACT
Mr. WESTERMAN. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the
bill (H.R. 2215) to redesignate the Salem Maritime National Historic
Site as the ``Salem Maritime National Historical Park'', and for other
purposes.
The Clerk read the title of the bill.
The text of the bill is as follows:
H.R. 2215
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 ``Salem Maritime National
Historical Park Redesignation and Boundary Study Act''.
SEC. 2. SALEM MARITIME NATIONAL HISTORICAL PARK.
(a) Redesignation.--The Salem Maritime National Historic
Site shall hereafter be known and designated as the ``Salem
Maritime National Historical Park''.
(b) References in Law.--Any reference to the Salem Maritime
National Historic Site in any law, regulation, map, document,
record, or other paper of the United States shall be deemed
to be a reference to the Salem Maritime National Historical
Park.
SEC. 3. BOUNDARY STUDY.
(a) In General.--The Secretary shall conduct a boundary
study to evaluate the suitability and feasibility of
including in the National Park System, as part of the Salem
Maritime National Historical Park (as redesignated by section
2(a)), sites and resources in the study area associated with
the study area's--
(1) maritime history;
(2) coastal defenses; and
(3) military history, including National Guard and militia
activity.
(b) Report.--Not later than 3 years after the date on which
funds are made available to conduct the study required under
subsection (a), the Secretary shall submit to the Committee
on Natural Resources of the House of Representatives and the
Committee on Energy and Natural Resources of the Senate a
report containing--
(1) the results of the study; and
(2) any findings, conclusions, and recommendations of the
Secretary.
(c) Definitions.--In this section:
(1) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary
of the Interior.
(2) Study area.--The term ``study area'' means Salem,
Massachusetts, and its vicinity, and includes the Salem
Armory Visitor Center building and adjacent Salem Armory
Park.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from
Arkansas (Mr. Westerman) and the gentlewoman from Oregon (Ms. Hoyle)
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. 2215, 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, I rise in support of Representative Moulton's bill, the
Salem
[[Page H1985]]
Maritime National Historical Park Redesignation and Boundary Study Act.
This legislation would redesignate the Salem Maritime National Historic
Site in Salem, Massachusetts, as the Salem Maritime National Historical
Park.
Known for its rich history dating back to the colonial era, this area
was the first historic site to be included in the National Park System
in 1938. Today, the historical park includes 12 historic structures, a
downtown visitors center, and a replica of a famous sailing ship, the
Friendship of Salem. The site attracts over 800,000 visitors annually
and showcases over 600 years of New England's maritime history.
Since most historical sites focus on a singular historical feature,
designating Salem Maritime as a national historic park would align with
the naming conventions of other National Park System units around the
country. Community leaders in the area also hope the redesignation will
lead to more visitors by highlighting the various attractions.
In addition to the redesignation, this legislation also requires the
National Park Service to conduct a boundary study of related sites to
assess their feasibility for future inclusion in the historical park.
I support this bill, and I reserve the balance of my time.
Ms. HOYLE of Oregon. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may
consume.
Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of the Salem Maritime National
Historical Park Redesignation and Boundary Study Act introduced by the
gentleman from Massachusetts (Mr. Moulton).
This bill would redesignate the Salem Maritime National Historic Site
in Salem, Massachusetts, as the Salem Maritime National Historical
Park, and it would require a study into including additional sites and
resources.
The Salem Maritime National Historic Site preserves more than 600
years of our history, documenting the development of international
maritime trade and the journey to American economic independence
following the Revolutionary War.
Due to the importance of preserving the maritime history of New
England, Congress chose to designate a piece of the Salem waterfront as
the country's first national historic site in 1938. The site has since
grown to nine acres of land, 12 historic structures, and a visitors
center hosting an average of over 300,000 visitors per year.
The bill before us today would redesignate the site to more
accurately reflect the scope, scale, and significance of the resources
managed there by the National Park Service.
Mr. Speaker, this is an important update to an important historical
resource, and I thank Representative Moulton for his leadership on this
bill. I urge my colleagues to support this 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 reserve the balance of my time.
Ms. HOYLE of Oregon. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume
to the gentleman from Massachusetts (Mr. Moulton), the sponsor of the
bill.
Mr. MOULTON. Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleagues for supporting this
legislation, especially my good friend and workout buddy from Arkansas.
I urge support for my bill, H.R. 2215, the Salem Maritime National
Historical Park Redesignation and Boundary Study Act. Salem Maritime
was established in 1938 as the Nation's first national historic site.
It has spent the ensuing 87 years preserving and interpreting over 600
years of American history. This redesignation is overdue.
National historic sites tend to contain a single historical feature
and focus on one theme or period of time, but the Salem Maritime
National Historic Site contains a dozen historical structures across
nine acres. These sites preserve and share diverse histories, ranging
from early American maritime trade to slavery and emancipation to the
creation of the National Guard.
In many ways, Salem's history is our Nation's history. Take, for
example, the Salem Gunpowder Raid of 1775, which was the first armed
resistance to the Royal authority, laying the groundwork for the
Battles of Lexington and Concord and, later, the American Revolution.
{time} 1745
Mr. Speaker, this is history that our children and our communities
should learn. The Salem Maritime National Historic Park does that
critical work.
This redesignation will also help to bring more visitors to Salem,
including to the city's many small businesses, promoting year-round
stability in a city that receives a third of its tourism revenue in 1
month.
As America's 250th anniversary approaches, we should expand Salem
Maritime's capacity to share our region's rich history with visitors
from across Massachusetts and the country.
Mr. Speaker, I urge support of H.R. 2215.
Mr. WESTERMAN. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Ms. HOYLE of Oregon. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support
this legislation, and I yield back the balance of my time.
Mr. WESTERMAN. Mr. Speaker, this bill will more appropriately reflect
the varied and unique history of the timeless landmarks in Salem,
Massachusetts.
I thank my friend and acknowledge Representative Moulton for his work
on this bill.
Mr. Speaker, I thank my friend and acknowledge Representative Moulton
for his work on this bill, and I urge its adoption. 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. 2215.
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. WESTERMAN. Mr. 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.
____________________