To authorize an exchange of land at Fort Frederica National Monument, and for other purposes.

Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from New Mexico for yielding me this time, and I thank the gentlewoman from the Virgin Islands for the opportunity to speak about H.R. 1113.

This bill is a small one, but it represents an important land exchange between Fort Frederica National Monument on St. Simons Island and Christ Church. Aside from some of the issues which the gentlewoman from the Virgin Islands has already outlined, it is largely noncontroversial and it benefits all the parties.

The Christ Church community, and I have to say this about Christ Church, it is an old Episcopal church and I would love everybody to visit particularly if they have the time this summer when the G-8 is going to be held in the Golden Isles of Georgia. I believe those dates are anywhere from June 12 to June 14, somewhere in that time frame; but of course everybody is really excited about it. The G-8, the economic impact, for those who have ever followed it, they probably know it is about a $200 million economic impact. People from all over the world will be there, 2,500 members of the press alone along coastal Georgia really all the way from Jacksonville to Charleston; and I have the honor of representing the entire coast.

We already have 7,000 hotel rooms reserved. I am glad I can say this because the gentlewoman from the Virgin Islands and the gentleman from New Mexico know what beautiful States they represent; and if this deal was not already done, they would probably be trying to solicit the G-8 and give us a very competitive run for our money on it, but we are very excited; and already members of the international community, members of the press community, members of the G-8 itself have already been coming to town and making preparations. So there is a lot of excitement; and I just want to say, Mr. Speaker, when any Member of Congress comes to that area, I hope that they will take the time not just to witness the G-8 but to look at all the other things we have in that area.

Christ Church is one of the oldest churches. John Wesley taught there. John Wesley came to America to Savannah and was actually a minister right after George Whitfield in Christ Church, Savannah, which was founded in 1733; and incidentally that is the home of America's first Sunday school, and then he moved to St. Simons and helped start Christ Church. And it was after that that he returned to England and started Methodism, but it can accurately be said that the birthplace of the Methodist Church, or the concept, was probably the Golden Isles of Georgia in Glynn County.

Christ Church, though, is not just about history; but if the Members do want to read about the history, there is a great book written by a man named Ethridge called ``Strange Fires,'' and I would recommend it to anybody. But it is not just about history. It is about today. It is about children in the nursery. It is about young couples getting married. It is about senior citizens living out their life in communion with Christ. This church, because it is dynamic and because it is part of the fabric of today's society, has doubled in the last 9 years and needs additional land.

The church recently acquired, with private funds, not with any Federal tax dollars, 8.69 acres of land, and this land is adjacent to Fort Frederica National Monument. Fort Frederica is where some of the early colonists lived, and it is nothing but ruins; but the ruins are very well preserved, and it is an interesting romantic spot to look at.

One of the great things they do at Fort Frederica is they have some archeological findings, some items which are not historically significant, old cannonballs and bits and pieces of utensils and pottery; and they dug it up and they have identified it and catalogued it as not being historically significant, and they get the local elementary school and they rebury these archeological gems, and they let the school kids dig it back up, and then they catalogue it and then they study it and then they rebury it for the next year's class. And it is such a great living way to teach children. In today's world of education, and I was so proud that we passed No Child Left Behind with such great bipartisan support, that this is just one other way to teach children. And the thing that I think we all share in common, liberals, conservatives, Democrats, and Republicans, is that we want our kids to get the best education they can possibly have and then they can go on and think for themselves, and I think examples of that are just wonderful exercises of things that are going on in the country today.

This land also was recognized as the site James Oglethorpe occupied after coming to Georgia. Oglethorpe actually landed in Savannah Harbor and founded the city of Savannah in 1733, February 12, 1733, and then went on to Brunswick, Georgia, which is where the Battle of the Bloody Marsh was fought, because as the Members well know, the British basically owned most of the colonies, the 12 colonies north of Georgia. The Spanish owned Florida. The gentleman from Florida who is the distinguished gentleman who sits as Speaker today knows well of the great Spanish heritage of Florida. And if we go to cities like St. Augustine and we see the influences of forts down there like Castillo de San Marco and St. Augustine and so many of the other things, it is great Spanish heritage.

But back then the British and the Spanish were kind of fighting over the land a little bit, and Georgia was a buffer State. It was founded as a penal colony. And the showdown happened actually in Glynn County, Georgia, between the British and the Spanish; and it was called the Battle of Bloody Marsh because there was so much blood spilled that the water itself turned to red because of the blood, and we can still visit that site. And again, if the Members come down for the G-8, let me know. I am going to give the tour personally if they give me the honor. But James Oglethorpe's part, as one of the founders of Georgia, is very significant and yet another reason why we want this bill to go through.

The Christ Church community wants to give this 8.69 acres to the National Park Service so that it can expand the national monument and in return get 6 acres back from Fort Frederica National Monument, which is already adjacent to Christ Church; and then they can use this for their future expansion and whatever needs they have.

I want to say that the 6 acres do not hold any historical significance and are

not occupied by any facilities of the national park right now. So the national park is not going to be inconvenienced by it.

My sister, Mr. Speaker, lived in Italy for a number of years; and one of the things I found somewhat to my amusement when one goes to Rome or Naples or any of those great Italian cities, they cannot issue building permits because every time they put a trowel in the ground, they hit an ancient Roman ruin. We all know the song by Bob Dylan that says ``The streets of Rome are filled with rubble. Ancient footprints are everywhere.'' I do not want to overindulge, but I think the next line was also pretty, ``You can almost think that you're seein' double on a cold, dark night on the Spanish stairs.'' And if one has ever been to Rome, I think that song captures so much of the essence and the romanticism and the history of Rome.

To a minor degree, the coastal area of Georgia is the same way. Every time they dig, they can find something. From native Americans to the early Spanish to the British to missionaries and everybody else in between has been there at one time or the other.

But I strongly believe that this exchange would benefit the United States and protect and conserve significant cultural resources as the Oglethorpe ruins. This property contains historical and archeological resources worthy of protection and preservation by the National Park Service for all generations in the future, and the bill is supported by the National Park Service.

In conclusion, let me say this: this bill will allow Christ Church to expand; so it is a win-win. It captures history and yet lets progress take place.

I thank the gentleman from California (Mr. Pombo), Committee on Resources chairman; the gentleman from California (Mr. Radanovich), the subcommittee chairman; the gentleman from West Virginia (Mr. Rahall), the gentlewoman from the Virgin Islands (Mrs. Christensen), the ranking members, for their support of this bill. And I also want to recognize the efforts of the former Senator of Georgia, Mr. Mack Mattingly, for his dedication to this cause.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee be authorized to meet on Wednesday, September 15, 2004, at 10 a.m., on ``Impacts of Climate Change.''

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources be authorized to meet during the session of the Senate, on Wednesday, September 15 at 9:30 a.m., to consider pending calendar business.

Agenda Item 1: S. Con. Res. 121--A concurrent resolution supporting the goals and ideals of the World Year of Physics.

Agenda Item 2: S. 437--A bill to provide for adjustments to the Central Arizona Project in Arizona, to authorize the Gila River Indian Community water rights settlement, to reauthorize and amend the Southern Arizona Water Rights Settlement Act of 1982, and for other purposes.

Agenda Item 3: S. 511--A bill to provide permanent funding for the Payment in Lieu of Taxes program, and for other purposes.

Agenda Item 7: S. 1064--A bill to establish a commission to commemorate the sesquicentennial of the American Civil War, and for other purposes.

Agenda Item 9: S. 1354--A bill to resolve certain conveyances and provide for alternative land selections under the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act related to Cape Fox Corporation and Sealaska Corporation, and for other purposes.

Agenda Item 12: S. 1462--A bill to adjust the boundary of the Cumberland Island Wilderness, to authorize tours of the Cumberland Island National Seashore, and for other purposes.

Agenda Item 13: S. 1466--A bill to facilitate the transfer of land in the State of Alaska, and for other purposes.

Agenda Item 14: S. 1614--A bill to designate a portion of White Salmon River as a component of the National Wild and Scenic Rivers System.

Agenda Item 15: S. 1649--A bill to designate the Ojito Wilderness Study Area as wilderness, to take certain land into trust for the Pueblo of Zia, and for other purposes.

Agenda Item 16: S. 1678--A bill to provide for the establishment of the Uintah Research and Curatorial Center for Dinosaur National Monument in the States of Colorado and Utah, and for other purposes.

Agenda Item 17: S. 1852--A bill to provide financial assistance for the rehabilitation of the Benjamin Franklin National Memorial in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and the development of an exhibit to commemorate the 300th anniversary of the birth of Benjamin Franklin.

Agenda Item 18: S. 1876--A bill to authorize the Secretary of the Interior to convey certain lands and facilities of the Provo River Project.

Agenda Item 19: S. 2086--A bill to amend the Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act of 1977 to improve the reclamation of abandoned mines.

Agenda Item 20: S. 2142--A bill to authorize appropriations for the New Jersey Coastal Heritage Trail Route, and for other purposes.

Agenda Item 21: S. 2181--A bill to adjust the boundary of Rocky Mountain National Park in the State of Colorado.

Agenda Item 23: S. 2334--A bill to designate certain National Forest System land in the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico as components of the National Wilderness Preservation System.

Agenda Item 24: S. 2374--A bill to provide for the conveyance of certain lands to the United States and to revise the boundary of Chickasaw National Recreation Area, Oklahoma, and for other purposes.

Agenda Item 25: S. 2408--A bill to adjust the boundaries of the Helena, Lolo, and Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forests in the State of Montana.

Agenda Item 26: S. 2432--A bill to expand the boundaries of Wilson's Creek Battlefield National Park, and for other purposes.

Agenda Item 27: S. 2567--A bill to adjust the boundary of Redwood National Park in the State of California.

Agenda Item 28: S. 2622--A bill to provide for the exchange of certain Federal land in the Santa Fe National Forest and certain non- Federal land in the Pecos National Historic Park in the State of New Mexico.

Agenda Item 31: H.R. 1113--To authorize an exchange of land at Fort Frederica National Monument, and for other purposes.

Agenda Item 32: H.R. 1446--To support the efforts of the California Missions Foundation to restore and repair the Spanish colonial and mission-era missions in the State of California and to preserve the artworks and artifacts of these missions, and for other purposes.

Agenda Item 33: H.R. 1964--To assist the States of Connecticut, New Jersey, New York, and Pennsylvania in conserving priority lands and natural resources in the Highlands region, and for other purposes.

Agenda Item 34: H.R. 2010--To protect the voting rights of members of the Armed Services in elections for the Delegate representing American Samoa in the United States House of Representatives, and for other purposes.

Agenda Item 35: H.R. 3706--To adjust the boundary of the John Muir National Historic site, and for other purposes.

Agenda Item 36: H.R. 4516--To require the Secretary of Energy to carry out a program of research and development to advance high-end computing.

In addition, the committee may turn to any other measures that are ready for consideration.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on Finance be authorized to meet in open executive session during the session on September 15, 2004, at 10 a.m., to consider favorably reporting S. 333, a bill to promote elder justice, and the nomination of Joey Russell George, to be Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration, U.S. Department of Treasury.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on Foreign Relations be authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on Wednesday, September 15, 2004, at 9:30 a.m., to hold a hearing on ``Accelerating U.S. Assistance to Iraq.''

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on Indian Affairs be authorized to meet on Wednesday, September 15, 2004, at 10 a.m., in room 485 of the Russell Senate Office Building to conduct a business meeting on pending committee matters.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on Armed Services be authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on July 15, 2004, at 9:30 a.m., in closed session to receive a briefing regarding ICRC reports on U.S. military detainee operations in Iraq.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs be authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on Thursday, July 15, 2004, at 10 a.m., to conduct a hearing on ``Regulation of the Hedge Fund Industry.''

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs be authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on Thursday, July 15, 2004, at 2:30 p.m., to conduct a hearing on the nominations of Mr. Stuart Levey, of Maryland, to be Under Secretary of the Treasury for Enforcement; Mr. Juan Carlos Zarate, of California, to be Assistant Secretary of the Treasury for Terrorist Financing and Financial Crimes; and Ms. Carin M. Barth, of Texas, to be the Chief Financial Officer, Department of Housing and Urban Development.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on Foreign Relations be authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on Thursday, July 15, 2004, at 9:30 a.m., to hold a hearing on North Korea.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on Foreign Relations be authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on Thursday, July 15, 2004, at 1 p.m., to hold a hearing on the Gulf of Guinea and U.S. Strategic Energy Policy.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on Foreign Relations be authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on Thursday, July 15, 2004, at 3 p.m., to hold a Members Briefing on Iraq.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations of the Committee on Governmental Affairs be authorized to meet on Thursday, July 15, 2004, at 9 a.m., for a hearing entitled ``Money Laundering and Foreign Corruption: Enforcement and Effectiveness of the Patriot Act.''

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Select Committee on Intelligence be authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on July 15, 2004, at 2:30 p.m., to hold a closed hearing on intelligence matters.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Special Committee on Aging be authorized to meet Thursday, July 15, 2004, from 2 p.m.-5 p.m. in Dirksen 628 for the purpose of conducting a hearing.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions, Subcommittee on Children and Families, be authorized to meet for a hearing on Pell Grants for Kids: It Worked for Colleges, Why Not K-12? during the session of the Senate on Thursday, July 15, 2004, at 10 a.m.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Subcommittee on Communications be authorized to meet on Thursday, July 15, 2004, at 9:30 a.m. on Implementation of Nielsen Local People Meter TV Rating System.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Subcommittee on National Parks of the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources be authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on Thursday, July 15, at 2:30 p.m.

The purpose of the hearings is to receive testimony on S. 1852, to provide financial assistance for the rehabilitation of the Benjamin Franklin National Memorial in Philadelphia, PA, and the development of an exhibit to commemorate the 300th anniversary of the birth of Benjamin Franklin; S. 2142, to authorize appropriations for the New Jersey Coastal Heritage Trail Route, and for other purposes; S. 2181, to adjust the boundary of Rocky Mountain National Park in the State of Colorado; S. 2374, to provide for the conveyance of certain land to the United States and to revise the boundary of Chickasaw National Recreation Area, OK, and for other purposes; S. 2397 and H.R. 3706, to adjust the boundary of the John Muir National Historic Site, and for other purposes; S. 2432, to expand the boundaries of Wilson's Creek Battlefield National Park, and for other purposes; S. 2567, to adjust the boundary of Redwood National Park in the State of California; and H.R. 1113, to authorize an exchange of land at Fort Frederica National Monument, and for other purposes.

Mr. President, I would like to announce for the information of the Senate and the public that the following hearing has been scheduled before the Subcommittee on National Parks of the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources:

The hearing will be held on Thursday, July 15, 2004 at 2:30 p.m. in room SD-366 of the Dirksen Senate Office Building in Washington, DC.

The purpose of the hearing is to receive testimony on the following bills: S. 1852, to provide financial assistance for the rehabilitation of the Benjamin Franklin National Memorial in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and the development of an exhibit to commemorate the 300th anniversary of the birth of Benjamin Franklin; S. 2142, to authorize appropriations for the New Jersey Coastal Heritage Trial Route, and for other purposes; S. 2181, to adjust the boundary of Rocky Mountain National Park in the State of Colorado; S. 2374, to provide for the conveyance of certain land to the United States and to revise the boundary of Chickasaw National Recreation Area, OK, and for other purposes; S. 2397 and H.R. 3706, to adjust the boundary of the John Muir national Historic Site, and for other purposes; S. 2432, to expand the boundaries of Wilson's Creek Battlefield National Park, and for other purposes; S. 2567, to adjust the boundary of Redwood National Park in the State of California; and H.R. 1113, to authorize an exchange of land at Fort Frederica National Monument, and for other purposes.

Because of the limited time available for the hearings, witnesses may testify by invitation only. However, those wishing to submit written testimony for the hearing record should send two copies of their testimony to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources, United States Senate, SD-364 Dirksen Senate Office Building, Washington, DC 20510-6150.

For further information, please contact Tom Lillie at (202) 224-5161 or Sarah Creachbaum at (202) 224-6293.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as may I consume.

Mr. Speaker, H.R. 1113, which authorizes a land exchange at Fort Frederica National Monument in Georgia, raises a number of issues that were discussed at the hearing on this measure in April before the Committee on Resources. Evidently, appraisals and archeological surveys of the lands proposed to be exchanged have not been completed. So the value and historical significance of the proposed lands have not been established. Furthermore, the National Park Service testified that the noncontiguous parcel that the National Park Service would acquire through the exchange will likely increase the administrative and operational costs of the national monument.

The National Park Service testimony on H.R. 1113 elaborated on these concerns and, while generally supportive of the exchange, provided little guidance on how they should be addressed. We need to be careful about altering the boundaries of national park system units. Former Resources Committee Chairman Hansen spoke many times about the National Park Service acquiring a historic site that did not contain the historic resources that were claimed. We should not make the same mistake here. In that regard I would note that H.R. 1113 authorizes, but does not require, a land exchange at Fort Frederica National Monument. Before any exchange should occur, the National Park Service would be required to complete appraisals and historical surveys as well as comply with the requirements of NEPA.

As such, there are a number of administrative procedures in place to ensure that the exchange, if it goes forward, is in the public interest. Mr. Speaker, that being the case, we will not object to the consideration of H.R. 1113 by the House today.

Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.