Buffalo Soldiers in the National Parks Study Act

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 4491) to authorize the Secretary of the Interior to conduct a study of alternatives for commemorating and interpreting the role of the Buffalo Soldiers in the early years of the National Parks, and for other purposes.

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, H.R. 4491, introduced by Representative Jackie Speier of California, would authorize the National Park Service to conduct a special resource study to determine appropriate and feasible ways to commemorate the African American cavalrymen known as the Buffalo Soldiers and the important role that they played in the early years of the national parks. These soldiers played a critical role in protecting Yosemite and Sequoia National Parks and served as the Nation's first park rangers.

Under the proposed legislation, the National Park Service would evaluate alternatives to commemorate and interpret the roles of the Buffalo Soldiers. They would also evaluate the suitability and feasibility of establishing a national historic trail along the route used by the Buffalo Soldiers from their post in the Presidio of San Francisco to the Sierra Nevada Mountains.

Representative Speier is to be commended for her work to highlight this important chapter in African American history and in the history of our national parks.

Mr. Speaker, H.R. 4491 received broad bipartisan support in committee, and I urge its adoption by the House today.

I reserve the balance of my time.

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

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

Mr. Speaker, in my opinion, the most important role of the national parks is to provide a link to our Nation's proud history. I believe in American exceptionalism. The story of our Nation is the story of the uniquely American principles enshrined in the Declaration of Independence and how they shaped and molded what has become the most successful Republic in the history of human civilization.

One aspect of that story is exemplified by the Buffalo Soldiers, Americans of African descent who transcended the prejudices of the post-Civil War era to serve as the first peacetime Army units comprised of African Americans. They took the heroism and patriotism of the famous 54th Massachusetts and other Civil War units and made them into a proud and permanent fixture within the American Armed Forces. Their members included Medal of Honor winner Louis H. Carpenter and Henry O. Flipper, the first American of African descent to graduate from West Point.

The Buffalo Soldiers made immeasurable contributions to the continental expansion of our Nation, to the protection of our first national parks, but perhaps most important is their immortal contribution to the unification of our Nation as a free people.

As Shakespeare said, Their story should the good man teach his son. This bill would develop a plan to do precisely that within the national park system. I urge its adoption.

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

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 4491, the Buffalo Soldiers in the National Parks Study Act.

I commend this legislation which directs the Secretary of the Interior to study the role the Buffalo Soldiers played in the development of the National Park System. It is time more information comes to light regarding the contributions Buffalo Soldiers made to protect our National Parks until 1914. Few know the story of how Buffalo Soldiers once patrolled Yosemite, Sequoia and Kings Canyon parks.

As their service has been nearly forgotten, I praise this legislation which will ensure their efforts to our Country are remembered. Buffalo Soldiers remain an integral element in founding our National Parks. These American soldiers carried out mounted patrol duties in the Western frontier and were among the first park rangers and backcountry rangers patrolling parts of the West.

Mr. Speaker, the Buffalo soldiers blazed the trails and paved the way for what we now call our National Park System. I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting H. R. 4491, the Buffalo Soldiers in the National Parks Study Act.

Mr. Speaker, in Bob Marley's iconic anthem he describes the plight of the Buffalo Soldiers as ``fighting on arrival, fighting for survival.'' No troops in American history have given more and received less in return than the African American regiments known as the Buffalo Soldiers.

They also played a pivotal role in the creation of our national parks. Each spring, these sons of slaves hiked hundreds of miles from San Francisco and Monterey to Yosemite, Sequoia, and Kings Canyon, serving, in effect, as our country's first park rangers.

Regrettably, I have lived my entire life within walking distance of the Buffalo Soldiers Trail and until recently never knew this part of our history. I urge my colleagues to support H.R. 4491, which directs the National Park Service to study and promote the Buffalo Soldiers.