To authorize the addition of 100 acres to Morristown National Historical Park.

Mr. Speaker, I want to thank the gentleman from South Carolina for yielding me time and for his very accurate history lesson. This is indeed New Jersey's version of Valley Forge.

At the outset I want to thank the chairman of the Subcommittee on National Parks, Forests and Public Lands, the gentleman from Arizona (Mr. Grijalva); and the ranking member, the gentleman from Utah, Mr. Rob Bishop, for their work on my bill. In addition, I want to offer my appreciation to the chairman of the full Committee on Natural Resources, Mr. Rahall; and the ranking member, Doc Hastings, for bringing this legislation to the floor today.

Mr. Speaker, as has been stated here this afternoon, H.R. 118 seeks to authorize the addition of 100 acres to Morristown National Historic Park in my congressional district in New Jersey. The Morristown National Historic Park, our Nation's oldest National Historic Park, has a rich historical significance beginning with Washington's encampment there in 1777, 1779, and 1780.

New Jersey was quite literally the crossroads of the American Revolution as America's struggle for independence was won and, yes, nearly lost there. During two critical winters of the war, Morristown served as the headquarters for General George Washington. To mark the area's impact on our Nation's history, Morristown National Historic Park was established by Congress in 1933.

Today, from time to time, property owners with land adjacent to the park offer their property in the form of a donation to the National Park Service. Due to an existing acreage ceiling, the park cannot accept these donations nor can it acquire any additional land.

My colleagues, Federal support for Morristown National Historic Park and the inclusion of additional lands that have significant historical background presents a unique opportunity for our government to express its commitment to preserving our past which may be threatened if these lands go unprotected.

I am also pleased that the committee adopted language proposed by Representative Bishop that land come from only willing donors or sellers, assuring that property rights are respected.

I believe our responsibility at the Federal level is to serve as a helping hand, one that works with the Department of the Interior to secure critical funding, and I do that on the Appropriations Committee, and provides authority to purchase and, yes, accept as donations parcels from willing sellers. This process will allow us to continue to respect and complement greater county, State, municipal, and private efforts already in place to protect these important resources.

I want to commend the cosponsors of this legislation, including the entire New Jersey congressional delegation, and members of the Committee on Natural Resources for recognizing the importance of this proposal. Additionally, I want to thank the Morris County Board of Chosen Freeholders in New Jersey and the local municipalities for their support.

With that said, I urge passage of my bill.

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

Twice during the Revolutionary War, George Washington decided on Morristown, New Jersey, as the place to station the Continental Army for the winter lull in fighting. There were both military and civilian reasons to choose this area. With the Redcoats in firm control of New York City and the sea, it was essential that an inland route connecting rebel-held New England with the South be kept open. Morristown was positioned just right to keep this link from being severed.

Morristown was also the right place because George Washington had won over the local population to support the American cause. He won their support by insisting that his troops respect the property of the people, even the property of Tory sympathizers.

Not only did Washington give strict orders that forbade the Patriot forces

from looting, in sharp contrast to the practice of the British and Hessian forces, but he also gave the New Jersey militia as its major assignment the mission of protecting the property of New Jersey's farmers from the foraging parties of King George's army.

The leader of the militia in neighboring Somerset County at that time was a young, 23-year-old colonel named Frederick Frelinghuysen. So it is appropriate that this now 200-year-old family tradition of protecting the property rights of New Jersey citizens is upheld in the bill by a ``willing seller'' provision.

The Morristown National Historical Park was established in 1933 as the first National Historic Park. It includes Washington's winter headquarters and other preserved or reconstructed Revolutionary War encampments and artifacts. The park has reached its statutory size limit, but there are additional parcels that could be donated to the park. H.R. 118 authorizes an additional 100 acres for park expansion.

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

Mr. Speaker, I yield 5 minutes to the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Frelinghuysen).

Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for time, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 118) to authorize the addition of 100 acres to Morristown National Historical Park, as amended.

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 the bill under consideration.

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

H.R. 118 is sponsored by our colleague, Representative Frelinghuysen of New Jersey. The bill would expand the authorized acquisition ceiling for Morristown National Historic Park, which was the first unit of its kind in our national park system.

The park is currently limited to a maximum of 615 acres and is under severe pressure from surrounding residential development. H.R. 118 would allow the National Park Service to acquire up to an additional 100 acres as land or easements become available from willing sellers.

Mr. Speaker, this is a good bill and I urge Members to support it.

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

Mr. Speaker, I again urge Members to support this bill, and I yield back the balance of my time.