[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 151 (2005), Part 10]
[House]
[Pages 14363-14365]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




           TAUNTON, MASSACHUSETTS SPECIAL RESOURCES STUDY ACT

  Mr. PEARCE. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the 
bill (H.R. 1512) to direct the Secretary of the Interior to conduct a 
special resources study regarding the suitability and feasibility of 
designating certain historic buildings and areas in Taunton, MA, as a 
unit of the National Park System, and for other purposes, as amended.
  The Clerk read as follows:

                               H.R. 1512

       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 ``Taunton, MA Special 
     Resources Study Act''.

     SEC. 2. FINDINGS.

       Congress finds the following:
       (1) The city of Taunton, Massachusetts, is home to 9 
     distinct historic districts, with more than 600 properties on 
     the National Register of Historic Places. Included among 
     these districts are the Church Green Historic District, the 
     Courthouse Historic District, the Taunton Green Historic 
     District, and the Reed and Barton Historic District.
       (2) All of these districts include buildings and building 
     facades of great historical, cultural, and architectural 
     value.
       (3) Taunton Green is the site where the Sons of Liberty 
     first raised the Liberty and Union Flag in 1774, an event 
     that helped to spark a popular movement, culminating in the 
     American Revolution, and Taunton citizens have been among the 
     first to volunteer for America's subsequent wars.
       (4) Robert Treat Paine, a citizen of Taunton, and the first 
     Attorney General of Massachusetts, was a signer of the 
     Declaration of Independence.
       (5) Taunton was a leading community in the Industrial 
     Revolution, and its industrial area has been the site of many 
     innovations in such industries as silver manufacture, paper 
     manufacture, and ship building.
       (6) The landscaping of the Courthouse Green was designed by 
     Frederick Law Olmsted, who also left landscaping ideas and 
     plans for other areas in the city which have great value and 
     interest as historical archives and objects of future study.
       (7) Main Street, which connects many of the historic 
     districts, is home to the Taunton City Hall and the Leonard 
     Block building, 2 outstanding examples of early 19th Century 
     American architecture, as well as many other historically and 
     architecturally significant structures.
       (8) The city and people of Taunton have preserved many 
     artifacts, gravesites, and important documents dating back to 
     1638 when Taunton was founded.
       (9) Taunton was and continues to be an important 
     destination for immigrants from Europe and other parts of the 
     world who have helped to give Southeastern Massachusetts its 
     unique ethnic character.

     SEC. 3. STUDY.

       The Secretary, in consultation with the appropriate State 
     historic preservation officers, State historical societies, 
     the city of Taunton, and other appropriate organizations, 
     shall conduct a special resources study regarding the 
     suitability and feasibility of designating certain historic 
     buildings and areas in Taunton, Massachusetts, as a unit of 
     the National Park System. The study shall be conducted and 
     completed in accordance with section 8(c) of Public Law 91-
     383 (16 U.S.C. 1a-5(c)) and shall include analysis, 
     documentation, and determinations regarding whether the 
     historic areas in Taunton--
       (1) can be managed, curated, interpreted, restored, 
     preserved, and presented as an organic whole under management 
     by the National Park Service or under an alternative 
     management structure;
       (2) have an assemblage of natural, historic, and cultural 
     resources that together represent distinctive aspects of 
     American heritage worthy of recognition, conservation, 
     interpretation, and continuing use;
       (3) reflect traditions, customs, beliefs, and historical 
     events that are valuable parts of the national story;
       (4) provide outstanding opportunities to conserve natural, 
     historic, cultural, architectural, or scenic features;
       (5) provide outstanding recreational and educational 
     opportunities; and
       (6) can be managed by the National Park Service in 
     partnership with residents, business interests, nonprofit 
     organizations, and State and local governments to develop a 
     unit of the National Park System consistent with State and 
     local economic activity.

     SEC. 4. REPORT.

       Not later than 3 fiscal years after the date on which funds 
     are first made available for this Act, the Secretary shall 
     submit to the Committee on Resources of the House of 
     Representatives and the Committee on Energy and Natural 
     Resources of the Senate a report on the findings, 
     conclusions, and recommendations of the study required under 
     section 3.

     SEC. 5. PRIVATE PROPERTY.

       The recommendations in the report submitted pursuant to 
     section 4 shall include discussion and consideration of the 
     concerns expressed by private landowners with respect to 
     designating certain structures referred to in this Act as a 
     unit of the National Park System.


[[Page 14364]]


  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from New 
Mexico (Mr. Pearce) and the gentleman from New Mexico (Mr. Udall) each 
will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from New Mexico (Mr. Pearce).


                             General Leave

  Mr. PEARCE. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may 
have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their remarks 
and include extraneous material on H.R. 1512.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from New Mexico?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. PEARCE. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, H.R. 1512, introduced by the gentleman from 
Massachusetts (Mr. Frank), would direct the Secretary of the Interior 
to conduct a special resources study regarding the suitability and 
feasibility of designating certain historic buildings and areas of the 
City of Taunton, Massachusetts, as a unit of the National Park System. 
It was in the City of Taunton where the Sons of Liberty first raised 
the Liberty and Union Flag in 1774, an event that helped to spark the 
American Revolution.
  I urge the adoption of the bill.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. UDALL of New Mexico. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I 
may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, the Taunton area to be included in the study authorized 
by H.R. 1512 is rich in cultural and historic resources. A 
comprehensive study of these resources will help determine if inclusion 
within the National Park System is appropriate.
  The sponsor of this legislation, the gentleman from Massachusetts 
(Mr. Frank), is to be commended for his tenacity and resolve in 
pursuing this important legislation.
  Mr. Speaker, I yield 5 minutes to the gentleman from Massachusetts 
(Mr. Frank).
  Mr. FRANK of Massachusetts. Mr. Speaker, I thank the members of the 
committee who have brought this bill forward.
  This is a bill that has particular meaning to me. The City of Taunton 
has been in the district I have been privileged to represent for just a 
couple of years. Prior to that, it was represented by one of our late 
colleagues; and when you talk about history, which this bill does, 
building as it does on the history of the City of Taunton, you could 
not talk about the history of this institution without some reference 
to the man who represented Taunton before me and that is our late 
colleague, Joe Moakley.
  Joe Moakley represented Taunton for years. He was the one under whose 
representation the discussion of a national park began. I was 
privileged to take this over actually from his immediate successor, my 
colleague, the gentleman from Massachusetts (Mr. Lynch). It is on 
behalf of both of us that we present this, and we do want to invoke the 
memory of Joe Moakley when we go forward with this bill.
  The City of Taunton, Massachusetts, is a wonderful place. I am lucky 
enough to have one of my congressional district offices right in the 
heart of this area. I have checked and I do not believe I will derive 
any particular benefit from it, so I do not have to vote ``present'' on 
the bill. What I do have is a chance right now to really be a part of 
this great history.
  The Sons of Liberty Flag was first raised here. The Sons of Liberty 
raised the flag Liberty Union in 1774. There were buildings that played 
an important role in the Revolution. They were there in Taunton. 
Taunton Green is a major place in our history. We would include here 
the Church Green Historic District. It has the Church Green National 
Register district.
  One of the original settlers, and I think this is particularly 
relevant to talk about, the modern impact of this, Elizabeth Pole was 
the first woman we believe to found a community in America, and on the 
seal of the city of Taunton the phrase ``Dux Femina Facti'' is 
included. That translates, I am reliably informed by better Latin 
scholars than myself, into ``the person responsible for this was a 
woman.''
  It was in early recognition of what we are still dealing with, 
namely, that we make a great mistake when we refuse to give individuals 
the full opportunity to engage their talents, no matter what their 
gender or whatever other characteristics that they have.
  I realize that this does not mean that we get a park immediately. It 
begins the process of study. I am confident, Mr. Speaker, that an 
objective study of the sort we get from the excellent staff that we 
have at the National Park Service will document the importance to the 
history of this country of this area of Taunton and the importance of 
making it a part of our National Park System. I thank the two gentlemen 
from New Mexico for their energy and work in this.
  Mr. Speaker, the following is a list of some of the salient points of 
the City of Taunton.

       The city of Taunton has a history of equality, patriotism, 
     commerce and innovation that make the areas ideal candidates 
     for inclusion within the National Park System. The area to be 
     included within the study includes the Church Green Historic 
     District, which includes the Church Green National Register 
     District, Main Street, and the Taunton Green National 
     Register District.
       Among the original settlers of Taunton, Elizabeth Pole is 
     credited as being the first female to found a community in 
     America. Her legacy is preserved at the Old Colony Historical 
     Society Museum on Church Green. The role that Elizabeth Pole, 
     a woman, played in founding Taunton is an important aspect of 
     our colonial history that should be emphasized as part of the 
     study. The National Park System has devoted many resources to 
     the role of women in our nation and history. However, no 
     other site presently in the National Park System matches the 
     unique circumstances surrounding Ms. Pole and her role as a 
     pioneering colonial female. The phrase ``Dux femina facti'' 
     which translates into ``the person responsible for the deed 
     or accomplishment was a woman'' adorns the Seal of the City 
     of Taunton.
       A statue of Robert Treat Paine symbolically faces away from 
     the Church Green National Registered District down Main 
     Street towards the Taunton Green National Registered 
     District. With the transformation from English colony towards 
     independent nation, the center of the city moved towards the 
     Taunton Green. Robert Treat Paine, a Taunton resident, was as 
     a signer of the Declaration of Independence. He along with 
     John Adams served as members of the First Continental 
     Congress in 1774. Paine and Adams' careers were linked again 
     as Paine served as an Associate Prosecutor at the trial of 
     the Boston Massacre. Paine went on to become the first 
     Attorney General of Massachusetts and was a member of the 
     Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court. While serving in the 
     Continental Congress in October of 1774, Paine was not a 
     party to the historic event that occurred near his home when 
     the Sons of Liberty raised the ``Liberty & Union'' or 
     ``Taunton Flag'' on October 21, 1774 over Taunton Green on a 
     112-foot Liberty Pole. The Liberty and Union flag that still 
     flies over the Taunton Green is recognized as the first flag 
     of open defiance to the crown.
       In addition to Robert Treat Paine, Taunton's General David 
     Cobb left his mark on the Revolutionary War. General Cobb 
     served as aide-de-camp to General Washington and was 
     entrusted with the duty of negotiating the evacuation of New 
     York. After the war, General Cobb served as Judge of the 
     Court of Common Pleas for Bristol County and was instrumental 
     in preventing bloodshed in Bristol County during Shay's 
     Rebellion.
       As such, the history of the revolutionary war as symbolized 
     by Robert Treat Paine, General Cobb, the Sons of Liberty and 
     the Taunton Green are an important component of the study. 
     The distance down Main Street from Church Green to Taunton 
     Green past the homes of Paine and Cobb and Elizabeth Pole to 
     the Liberty & Union Flag are symbolic of our transformation 
     from colony to independent nation.
       The anchor for the U.S.S. Constitution was forged in 
     Taunton, as was the anchor for the Civil War's Monitor. The 
     Taunton River served as a catalyst for industry and trade. At 
     one point, Taunton was one of the busiest inland ports on the 
     Atlantic coast.
       The prime industry throughout Taunton history has been 
     silver. To this day Taunton is known by many as the ``Silver 
     City.'' As with Taunton's political, cultural and religious 
     legacy, the silver industry was born on Main Street, between 
     Church Green and Taunton Green. In 1824, Isaac Babbitt 
     invented and manufactured a new alloy that resulted in pewter 
     ware of a greater quality than ever before manufactured. Two 
     employees, Henry G. Reed and Charles E. Barton went on to 
     found Reed and Barton, one of the oldest privately held 
     companies in the nation and set a standard of excellence 
     known throughout the world. The standards established by Reed 
     & Barton are evident to this

[[Page 14365]]

     day; in 1994 Reed & Barton was selected to produce all of the 
     victory medals for the 1996 Atlanta Olympic Games.

  Mr. UDALL of New Mexico. Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank the 
entire staff of the Committee on Resources, especially Dave Watkins, 
for their work on this bill.
  Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. PEARCE. Mr. Speaker, I thank the staff, both majority and 
minority; and I thank the gentleman from Massachusetts (Mr. Frank) for 
submitting this valuable legislation.
  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 New Mexico (Mr. Pearce) that the House suspend the rules 
and pass the bill, H.R. 1512, as amended.
  The question was taken; and (two-thirds having voted in favor 
thereof) the rules were suspended and the bill, as amended, was passed.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

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