Approving the location of a memorial to commemorate the more than 5,000 slaves and free Black persons who fought for independence in the American Revolution.

First, I want to thank you, Mr. Lowenthal, for those kind words and thank you for your leadership. Thank you for yielding time today and for working very hard to bring this important resolution to the House floor. I also appreciate the work of the Natural Resources Committee chairman, Doc Hastings, and Ranking Member Pete DeFazio, and you, Mr. Young, for considering this resolution expeditiously and for seeing that it was favorably reported by the committee.

Also, let me thank Senator Chris Murphy from Connecticut, who used to serve in this body and now serves in the United States Senate, for introducing a companion bill in the Senate. His support is critical, and I thank him for his commitment to this important issue. I hope that the Senate will act as expeditiously and in as bipartisan a fashion as has the House of Representatives.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of House Joint Resolution 120, a bill that I introduced that will formally approve the location that was selected by the Administrator of the General Services Administration of a memorial that will recognize the thousands of slaves and free persons of color, or as historians sometimes refer to, free Negroes, who fought for independence during the American Revolution.

Federal law requires, Mr. Speaker, that the location for the memorial identified by the Administrator of GSA be formally approved by Congress within 150 days of receiving the recommendation by the GSA Administrator.

The memorial that will eventually be constructed to honor tens of thousands of slaves and free people of color who helped to secure American independence during the Revolution will be a fitting tribute to their heroic actions that helped shape the very foundation of our Nation.

For generations, historians estimated that at least 5,000 African Americans--both slave and free--fought for American independence. Revised estimates now show more than 10,000 brave men joined the fight. At least 252 of these patriots came from North Carolina, and at least 109 of those came from my congressional district, the counties of Bertie, Chowan, Craven, Edgecombe, Franklin, Granville, Halifax, Hertford, Northampton, Pasquotank, and Perquimans.

The president general of the National Society of the Daughters of the American Revolution wrote of the brave souls who fought for freedom when they themselves were not free that ``they deserve special recognition in order to help better educate our country.''

In 2008, the National Society of the Daughters of the American Revolution published landmark research containing the names and communities of these African American patriots. The research is continuously updated with the discovery of new heroes. Scores of African American men and women have been accepted by heritage societies that had not been previously open to their membership.

The desire to honor these brave men and their descendants in a permanent and meaningful way had long been championed by a distinguished Member of this body who has since passed away, Congressman Donald Payne, Sr. Congressman Payne introduced authorizing language as far back as 2005. After Congressman Payne's death, I have worked to get this effort to the finish line, guided by his words that ``this memorial is an important chapter in the reclamation of African American history.''

There are over 2 million descendants of these Revolutionary War patriots nationwide. This eventual memorial will show the Nation, and it will show the world, Mr. Speaker, that the sacrifices and heroic efforts of African Americans--both slave and free--who took up arms to secure America's independence are not forgotten. It will permanently affirm what we know to be true: these patriots and their service to our then-infant Nation will forever be of preeminent historical and lasting significance to our country that they fought to create.

Again, I thank you for the time, Mr. Lowenthal.

I yield myself such time as I may consume.

(Mr. LOWENTHAL asked and was given permission to revise and extend his remarks.)

Mr. Speaker, Washington, D.C., and The National Mall are where we honor our Nation's heroes and commemorate our most significant achievements. An important chapter in our history which has yet to be fully recognized is the contribution and the sacrifice of the over 5,000 slaves and free Black persons who fought to free the Colonies in our Nation's War of Independence. These brave, selfless men must not be forgotten and are certainly deserving of our lasting recognition. That is why in 2003 after years of

debate and effort, Congress authorized the National Liberty Memorial.

The National Liberty Memorial will serve as an important remembrance. I am very pleased that we are able to consider this bill today. When Congress authorizes the establishment of a memorial in Washington, D.C., it then takes years of planning to select a design and location. Fortunately, for the Liberty Memorial, a site has been selected. One of the last hurdles is approval from Congress, and with the adoption of H.J. Res. 120, that is why and what we are here to do today.

Getting this far would not have been possible without the hard work and dedication of the bill's sponsor, Representative Butterfield from North Carolina. I would like to thank him and congratulate him for his work and look forward to soon visiting the new National Liberty Memorial.

We support this legislation and thank the majority for bringing it up for consideration. With that, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I yield as much time as he may consume to the gentleman from North Carolina (Mr. Butterfield), the sponsor of the legislation.

Mr. Speaker, again, I want to thank Representative Butterfield from North Carolina for helping us get this across the finish line.

We are really going to honor these brave Americans, both slaves and free blacks, who fought for American independence, and I think this is a wonderful bill.

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

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the joint resolution (H.J. Res. 120) approving the location of a memorial to commemorate the more than 5,000 slaves and free Black persons who fought for independence in the American Revolution.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous materials on the bill under consideration.

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

Mr. Speaker, in 2012 Congress authorized a National Mall Liberty Fund to establish a memorial on Federal land to honor the more than 5,000 slaves and free Black persons who served as soldiers and sailors or provided civilian assistance during the American Revolution.

Under the Commemorative Works Act, memorials must be recommended by the Government Service Administration for placement within what is known as Area I, which is generally the location around The National Mall in Washington. A recommendation may be issued if the Administrator finds a proposed memorial is of preeminence and of lasting significance.

On June 3, 2014, the GSA Administrator notified the Natural Resources Committee he found the proposed National Liberty Memorial to be of lasting significance. Under current law, once this notification is delivered, Congress has 150 days to concur with the finding. H.J. Res. 120 provides the necessary concurrence and allows this privately funded project to move forward. Again, I know of no Federal funds that will be used in this memorial.

I reserve the balance of my time.

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

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

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate proceed to the consideration of H.J. Res. 120, which was received from the House and is at the desk.

I ask unanimous consent that the joint resolution be read three times and passed, and the motion to reconsider be considered made and laid upon the table, with no intervening action or debate.