Truman Farm Home Expansion Act

Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentlewoman for yielding me this time.

I rise in support of passage of H.R. 4579, the Truman Farm Home Expansion Act. My Missouri colleagues on both sides of the aisle join me in urging support of this bill.

Harry Truman is one of our Nation's greatest presidents. President Truman was instrumental in the signing of the United Nations charter, negotiating the creation of a NATO military alliance, carrying out the Marshall Plan to rebuild a war-torn Europe, conducting a massive airlift to aid the western sectors of Berlin following the Russian blockade in 1948, and he laid the foundation for an unprecedented level of American prosperity. During Truman's tenure, the United States was widely respected as a beacon of freedom and a nation willing to work with anyone across the globe to promote peaceful democratic governments.

One of the many ways we honor his life is to preserve his farm that instilled in him the values of hard work, commitment and teamwork that guided him throughout his life and inspired others who followed.

The farm has a very rich history. The Truman family purchased the land in 1840, and a young Harry Truman farmed the land from 1906 until 1917 when he left to fight as an artillery captain in the First World War. While working the farm, Truman courted the love of his life, Bess Wallace, who later became Mrs. Truman. His early experience as a farmer formed the core of his values. His mother once said that life on the farm is where Harry got his famous common sense, and Truman himself said that the best 10 years of his life were spent trying to run the 600-acre farm successfully.

This past July, the House Committee on Resources heard from Grandview Mayor Harry Wilson that historians believe the years Truman spent living

and working on his farm were the most formative, developing the character of the future President. Truman himself stated, ``Riding one of those plows all day, day after day, gives one time to think. I have settled all of the ill of mankind in one way or another while riding along, seeing that each animal pulled his part of the load.'' The late publisher of the Jackson County Advocate, Jim Turnbaugh, recounted for readers a story when, after leaving the farm, Truman attended a function where he was asked to sign the guest register. Then former President Truman, he signed in as ``Harry S Truman, retired farmer.''

This legislation would preserve the historical integrity of Harry Truman's home by adding 5 acres to the current site for educational purposes. The farm originally sat on 600 acres, but because of commercial development, the farm now encompasses only 5.2 acres. The Park Service has secured the support of two local landowners who own 5 acres bordering the farm and are interested in selling. The Park Service needs authorization from Congress to acquire the land and protect the ``viewshed'' and the character of the farm as Truman knew it.

The National Park Service and the Office of Management and Budget support this proposal. In fact, it is the only presidential-related bill endorsed by the National Park Service this session.

The Truman Farm Home and Expansion Act will help America preserve and enhance the legacy of one of our favorite sons and most revered leaders. I ask the House to support this legislation.

I would like to thank the Committee on Resources chairman, the gentleman from California (Mr. Pombo), the gentleman from West Virginia (Ranking Member Rahall), the chairman of the Subcommittee on National Parks, Recreation, and Public Lands, the gentleman from California (Chairman Radanovich), the gentlewoman from the Virgin Islands (Ranking Member Christensen) and the gentlewoman from Guam (Ms. Bordallo) for their support.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 4579, the Truman Farm Home Expansion Act. My Missouri colleagues on both sides of the aisle join me in urging passage of this bill.

Harry S Truman is one of our Nation's greatest Presidents. As President, Truman pledged to secure the free world from the spread of communism. President Truman was instrumental in the signing of the United Nations charter, negotiated the creation of the NATO military alliance, carried out the Marshall Plan to rebuild a war torn Europe, conducted a massive airlift to aid the western sectors of Berlin following the Russian blockade in 1948, and laid the foundation for an unprecedented level of American prosperity. During Truman's tenure the United States was widely respected as a beacon for freedom and a Nation willing to work with anyone across the globe to promote peaceful democratic governments. One of the many ways we honor his life is to preserve the farm that instilled in him the values of hard work, commitment, and teamwork that guided him throughout his life, and inspired others who followed.

The farm has a very rich history. The Truman family purchased the land in 1840, and a young Harry Truman farmed the land from 1906 until 1917, when he left to fight as an artillery captain in the First World War. While working the farm, Truman courted the love of his life, Bess Wallace, who later became Mrs. Truman. His early experiences as a farmer formed the core of his values. His mother once said that life on the farm is where Harry got his famous common sense and Truman himself said that the best 10 years of his life were spent trying to run the 600-ace farm successfully.

This past July, the House Resource Committee heard from Grandview Mayor, Harry Wilson, that historians believe the years Truman spent living and working on his farm were the most formative in developing the character of the future President. Truman himself stated: ``Riding one of these plows all day, day after day, gives one time to think. I've settled all the ills of mankind in one way and another while riding along seeing that each animal pulled his part of the load.'' The late publisher of the Jackson County Advocate, James D. Turnbaugh Jr., recounted for readers the story of former President Truman attending a function where he was asked to sign a guest register. He signed in as ``Harry S Truman, retired farmer.''

Truman's mother, Martha Truman, and sister, Mary Jones Truman, lived at the farm until 1940. The farm home remained in the Truman family until 1980. The speculation that the Truman's would be forced to sell the remaining house and five acres to commercial interests compelled a group of concerned citizens to form the Harry S Truman Farm Foundation in an effort to save the farm. Their efforts proved successful and Jackson County assumed control of the farm. In 1994, the county transferred the farm to the US Park Service.

H.R. 4579 will preserve the historical integrity of Harry Truman's home by adding five acres to the current site for educational purposes. Today the farm only encompasses 5.2 acres due to commercial development. The Park Service has secured the support of local landowners who are interested in selling the five acres bordering the farm. The Park Service needs authorization from Congress to acquire the land, and protect the ``viewshed'' and the character of the farm as Truman knew it.

H.R. 4579 authorizes the Secretary of the Interior to expand the park boundary to appropriately preserve the site. It does not specifically request an additional appropriation of funds to acquire the land, however it does give the Secretary the flexibility to use donated and private funds to meet this objective. The National Park Service and the Office of Management and Budget support this proposal. In fact, it is the only Presidential related bill endorsed by the National Park Service this session.

President Truman remains a hero and an inspiration for all Americans and visitors from around the world. The Truman farm offers a deeply personal connection to his legacy. Currently, Park Service employees are housed in a screened porch on the side of the house because there is no permanent area for them to be located. On average, over 5,000 vehicles drive through the farm annually and the National Park Service estimates that visitation levels will increase with the development of a new visitor center. A visitor center could be constructed with restrooms, a parking lot, drinking fountains, and facilities that the farm currently lacks. School groups, bus tours, and families from around the country and world would benefit greatly from the improved facilities.

The Truman Farm Home Expansion Act will help America preserve and enhance the legacy of one of our favorite sons and most revered leaders. I urge my colleagues to support this legislation. I would like to thank Resources Committee Chairman Pombo, Ranking Member Rahall, National Parks Recreation and Public Lands Subcommittee Chairman Radanovich, Ranking Member Christensen, and Representative Bordallo for their support.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 4579, legislation that would authorize the Interior Department to purchase approximately five acres of land, including a

structure north of the Truman Farm House in Independence, Missouri, for inclusion in the Harry S Truman National Historic Site. This addition would modify the current boundary by approximately five acres, to include the acquired lands.

The Truman family purchased the land that now makes up the Truman Farm Home in 1840. Harry Truman farmed it from 1906-1917. In 1980, due to speculation that financial difficulties would force the sale of the land, a group of concerned citizens formed the Harry S Truman Farm Foundation, which received a grant to purchase the land. The Foundation turned the land over to Jackson County, Missouri, in 1991, which transferred the farm to the National Park Service in 1994.

This measure has the support of local landowners and will preserve the viewshed and the historical character of the farm area. The purchase will include a retail paint store that the Park Service will convert into a visitors' center, providing rest room facilities and a paved parking area. I expect the Interior Department will seek appropriations in fiscal year 2006, or see, private donations to pay for implementation of the legislation. The 5.2 acres in question is the only undeveloped land remaining that borders the Site. Over the past six years, the Site has averaged over 5000 vehicles driving through each year. With the improvements planned under H.R. 4579, the Park Service expects an increase in the number of visitors, due to the addition of a visitors' center and paved parking.

I commend my fellow Kansas City Representative, from the other side of State Line Road, Karen McCarthy, for the leadership she has taken in moving this important measure forward, in concert with Senator Talent, who has introduced a companion bill, S. 2499.

Mr. Speaker, the preservation and expansion of the Truman Farm Home is an important way to preserve and enhance the legacy of our great 33rd President. As he once said, ``Do your duty and history will do you justice.''

The late President Truman left an extensive record of quoted wisdom. In conclusion, I would like to share with you, Mr. Speaker, four comments of Harry S Truman's--which are as relevant today as they were when he said them several decades ago--that I came across when preparing these remarks: ``I have always defined politics to means the science of government, perhaps the most important science, because it involves the art and ability of people to live together.'' ``I've always believed that religion is something to live by and not talk about.'' ``No government is perfect. One of the chief virtues of a democracy, however, is that its defects are always visible and under democratic processes can be pointed out and corrected.''

And finally, ``The greatest orators have been the men who understood what they wanted to say, said it in short sentences and said it quickly and then got out of there before people fell asleep.''

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 4579, the Truman Farm Home Expansion Act. This bill would allow the Secretary of the Interior to acquire approximately five acres of land surrounding the Truman Farm Home in Grandview, Missouri, preserving an historic site enjoyed by more than five thousand families each year.

Built in 1894, the Truman Home sits on 5.25 acres of the family's former 600-acre farm where President Truman lived and worked from 1906 to 1917. Acquisition of the five additional acres will prevent future commercial development and save the farm's original setting and character. The National Park service plans to utilize the land to plant vegetation shielding the home from surrounding buildings, in addition to converting one building presently on the property into a visitor's center. These much needed improvements will increase the site's accessibility and secure its authenticity, attracting more visitors to the former President's Grandview home.

By adopting H.R. 4579, we will not only protect a significant part of our history, but will honor a great President who faithfully served America during a time of international unrest. Similar to today's global war against terrorism, President Truman stood firm in the face of an enemy which sought to deter democracy. Out of honor to President Truman and with great appreciation for the historical importance of his Grandview home, I fully support passage of the Truman Farm Home Expansion Act.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of this legislation, and I certainly commend the gentlewoman from Kansas City, Missouri, the fifth district of our State, for her foresight and her effort to expand the boundaries of the Harry Truman Farm.

As we all know, Harry Truman is very special to us in the State of Missouri, and expanding the farm is all the more important because the Park Service wishes to continue to build and preserve the land and to make it a historical part of the farm area. The land will be used to plant vegetation and to shield the site from encroaching modern development.

The Truman Farm was Harry Truman's home in his younger days when he was forming his character and opinions behind the plow. The Truman family purchased this land in 1840. He farmed it from 1906 to 1917. In 1980, there was speculation that financial difficulties would force land to be sold, compelling a group of concerned citizens to form the Harry S Truman Farm Foundation which saved the farm.

We certainly hope that this body will pass this legislation. It is very important to the State of Missouri. I think it is very important to the history and to the memory of the great President from the State of Missouri, Harry Truman, and I again compliment the gentlewoman from Missouri (Ms. McCarthy) for her foresight in this legislation.

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 4579) to modify the boundary of the Harry S Truman National Historic Site in the State of Missouri, and for other purposes.

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

Mr. Speaker, H.R. 4579, introduced by the gentlewoman from Missouri (Ms. McCarthy), would authorize a modification of the boundary of the Harry S Truman National Historic Site, which includes the Truman Home in Independence, Missouri, and the Truman Farm Home in Grandview, Missouri. The Harry S Truman National Historic Site was established on May 3, 1983. The site was expanded in 1993 when the Truman Farm Home in Grandview, Missouri, was added.

Mr. Speaker, H.R. 4579 would add approximately 5 acres that abuts the site on its south side. The additional acreage would preserve the historic integrity of the site and prevent the growing need for development of nearby lands from encroaching into the immediate Truman Farm Home.

Mr. Speaker, I urge adoption of the legislation, and I reserve the balance of my time.

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