To establish the Adams Memorial Commission to carry out the provisions of Public Law 107-62, and for other purposes.

Mr. Speaker, let me first thank the gentleman from California for his kind words on behalf of my legislation and on behalf of John Adams in particular.

Mr. Speaker, I want to thank the gentlewoman from Guam, Ms. Bordallo, for yielding this time.

Mr. Speaker, I rise to express strong support for my bill, H.R. 1220, the Adams Memorial Commission Act. This bipartisan legislation establishes the Adams Memorial Commission, which, as the chairman recognized, will consider, formulate, report plans for a memorial here in Washington, D.C., honoring John Adams and his profound and lasting legacy in the history of the United States.

The bipartisan Adams Memorial Commission will be composed of four Presidential appointees, four members of the Senate and four members of the House of Representatives. The commission will be required to report its recommendations for the nature, location, design, and construction of a fitting memorial to the President and the Congress and will then provide annual reports on the memorial's progress.

Mr. Speaker, it is important to keep in mind the lasting legacy of John Adams' family and their service to our Nation and his prominent role in our Nation's history. John Adams was one of the most influential Founding Fathers of the United States.

Born in 1735 in Braintree, Massachusetts, a section of which is now known as Quincy, John Adams was educated at Harvard and spent his early career as a lawyer. Later on as a leader of the American Revolution, John Adams served as a delegate to both the First and Second Continental Congresses, and was regarded as the leading voice championing independence from Great Britain.

Adams' prominent role in our Nation's formation of laws is still recognized to this day. In fact, one great benefit I had as a Massachusetts legislator coming here to Washington, D.C., is John Adams drafted the rules of the House in Massachusetts, which we adopted here in our Nation's Capitol in this Congress, which still stand today.

Adams not only helped draft the Declaration of Independence, but also authored the constitution of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, which is the oldest written constitution still in place today.

After serving as U.S. representative to France and the Netherlands during the Revolutionary War, Adams became the first vice president under President George Washington. In 1796, Adams was elected the second President of the United States and in 1800 became the first occupant of the White House.

John Adams' legacy was instilled through his entire family. John's wife, Abigail, is known as an advocate for women's rights, and his son, John Quincy Adams, later served as our Nation's sixth President, and his family legacy goes on.

While commemorative works have been established for former Presidents, including George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, and Abraham Lincoln here in Washington, D.C., John Adams and his legacy are notably not represented in our Nation's capital, and that is a gap that we seek to cure.

Mr. Speaker, this memorial is long overdue. President Adams was a remarkable leader and a steadfast public servant. It is a glaring oversight that there is no memorial in our Nation's capital honoring John Adams and his family for their role in shaping our Nation.

H.R. 1220 would complement the important work that the Adams Memorial Foundation has accomplished over the years.

So as Members of Congress, I ask that we should pass this bipartisan bill and begin the process of establishing the commemorative memorial that President Adams and his family rightly deserve, that they rightly, by their courage and service, have earned.

Mr. Speaker, I thank the bipartisan cosponsors of this bill, I thank you, Mr. Speaker, for your courtesy, and the kind words by the chairman from California and Ms. Bordallo, and I thank the bipartisan sponsors of this bill, and urge my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to stand in favor of and pass H.R. 1220.

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 1220) to establish the Adams Memorial Commission to carry out the provisions of Public Law 107-62, and for other purposes, as amended.

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, several of the central figures in the winning of American independence and the founding of our constitutional republic are given short shrift among the memorials in this capital city, and none among them is more deserving than John Adams.

By all accounts, he was the animating figure in pushing the Continental Congress to declare independence; he was indefatigable in the prosecution of the war, both from stations at home and from Europe; and is our first vice president under Washington; and as our second President, he established many of the traditions and policies that set our course.

Public Law 107-62 authorized the nonprofit Adams Memorial Foundation to establish a memorial to John Adams in the District of Columbia under the Commemorative Works Act and to collect private donations for that purpose. No Federal funds can be used for the memorial.

The foundation has developed initial design concept, it has conducted location reviews, and coordinated with Congress, the National Park Service, and other stakeholders, but it has not yet been able to select a site, design the memorial, receive the approvals, or raise sufficient funds for construction.

Under the Commemorative Works Act, the foundation's authority to erect a memorial expires in December of 2020.

H.R. 1220, by Congressman Stephen Lynch of Massachusetts, would transfer that authority to the Adams Memorial Commission.

The commission would have all the powers and responsibilities of the foundation and would consist of 12 members. Its authority to erect a memorial will expire in 7 years, consistent was the CWA timeline.

Mr. Speaker, I ask for adoption of the measure, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I have no further speakers and I am ready to close.

Mr. Speaker, I just want to compliment Congressman Lynch and thank him on behalf of the Nation for keeping this memorial alive and keeping its momentum going.

This is highly deserved, it is long overdue, and this measure takes us another step toward the recognition of one of America's greatest Founding Fathers.

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

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 1220, which would establish the Adams Memorial Commission. As a former teacher and a history major from the College of William and Mary, our nation's second oldest college, I think we should do more to remember President John Adams. He was instrumental in our nation's founding and he is a central, if often overlooked, figure in American history.

John Adams--who served as our first Vice President and second President--was a statesman, lawyer, diplomat, political theorist, and leader in the campaign for American Independence. As a Member of both the First and Second Continental Congress, he became a leader in the movement for independence. During the Second Continental Congress, he nominated George Washington to lead the Continental Army, and is one of the most prominent signers of the Declaration of Independence, serving on the committee that helped Thomas Jefferson craft this monumental document. During and after the war, he served in numerous diplomatic posts in Europe. Along with Benjamin Franklin, he negotiated the Treaty of Paris that ended the Revolutionary War and solidified America's new independence. He also served in Holland during the war, and as our Ambassador to Britain following the war. Throughout his time serving the United States, President Adams remained true to his principles, and consistently fought for his beliefs.

Due to these immeasurable contributions, President Adams deserves to be more visibly honored among our nation's founders. H.R. 1220 recognizes his service by establishing a Commission to advance current efforts to build a memorial in his honor. I would urge my colleagues to support this legislation.

Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from Massachusetts (Mr. Lynch), the bill's sponsor.

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

Mr. Speaker, I just want to add a few words to this bill. Nearly 20 years ago, Congress authorized the Adams Memorial Foundation to construct a commemorative work with private funds in honor of President John Adams, First Lady Abigail Adams, President John Quincy Adams, and other prominent members of the Adams family associated with the early history of the United States.

Mr. Speaker, I want to thank Congressman Lynch and the entire Massachusetts delegation for their hard work and commitment to honoring the legacy of one their State's most influential political families.

A permanent memorial in the Nation's capital is a fitting tribute, and I hope that we can work with our Senate colleagues to deliver this bill to the President's desk and finally get it done.

Mr. Speaker, I urge a ``yes'' vote on this bill, and I yield back the balance of my time.