Kennesaw Mountain National Battlefield Park Boundary Adjustment Act

Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 558, a bill that

will add valuable historic property to the Kennesaw Mountain National Battlefield Park, located right in the heart of Georgia's 11th Congressional District.

Our Nation has long recognized the importance of restoring historic sites, especially those battlefields where Americans fought and died for freedom. Places such as Kennesaw Mountain National Battlefield Park, where significant battles of America's Civil War took place, allow us to look back in time to get a glimpse of the events that shaped our Nation. It is extremely important that we understand our history; otherwise, we will be destined to repeat the mistakes of our past.

This bill, which passed the House unanimously last Congress, welcomes our next generation to engage in the eye-opening stories of our past. A recent study of American history education revealed that only 23 percent of college seniors could identify James Madison as the father of our Constitution; however, 98 percent of college graduates knew that Snoop Dogg was a rapper.

Mr. Speaker, it is now more important than ever to ensure that the generations following us have access to these historic sites and the educational opportunities they provide or we risk losing touch with our history. My bill simply allows Kennesaw Mountain National Battlefield Park to acquire two pieces of property, through donation, that will add to the historic and educational value of this historic battlefield.

One of the properties this bill will preserve is a home that was built in 1853 by Mr. Josiah Wallis. Mr. Wallis built this home for his family, but it was eventually used as a hospital by the Confederate Army during the Civil War. In 1864, the Wallis House fell into the hands of General William Sherman of the Union Army during his campaign to take Atlanta.

The house served as Sherman's headquarters during the Battle of Kolb's Farm, which was a resounding victory for the Union Army, but the victory was not without cost. When the smoke cleared, over 350 Union soldiers and over 1,000 Confederate soldiers lay dead.

Five days later, Union General Oliver Howard used the Wallis House as his headquarters and communications center during the Battle of Kennesaw Mountain, one of the bloodiest 1-day battles of the entire war. This was also the last major battle before Atlanta fell to Union forces.

While the assault by General Sherman was a tactical failure costing the lives of over 3,000 of his men, the battle also inflicted heavy losses on the Confederates. Having lost another 1,000 men, the Confederate Army could not stop General Sherman on his march to Atlanta.

Adjacent to the Wallis House is 8 acres of land known as Harriston Hill. This property offers a sweeping view of the valley leading to the Confederate line on top of Kennesaw Mountain and was used by the Union as signaling positions during the battle. This location is essential for park visitors to understand the strategic positions taken by the Union and Confederate flag Armies during the battle.

In addition to being critical sites in Civil War history, the Wallis House and Harriston Hill are two of the few original locations remaining from the Battle of Kennesaw Mountain associated with the Union Army. Most of the park's current attractions correspond with Confederate history, and these additions will prove to be major historical acquisitions that will enhance the value of the park and provide insight into the Union's side of the story.

In 2002, the Cobb County Government purchased the Wallis House and Harriston Hill to prevent the house from being demolished. Since then, the county has been seeking to transfer the property to the park. My bill simply modifies the boundary of Kennesaw Mountain National Battlefield Park to include the house and the hill and authorizes the park to acquire the property by donation.

Along with the Cobb County Government, this land transfer is supported by the National Park Service, Kennesaw Mountain National Battlefield Park, and several park volunteer organizations and historical societies in my district.

This legislation is an essential step toward preserving our Nation's heritage and a valuable part of Civil War history. The Wallis House and Harriston Hill will provide tremendous educational and historical value to Kennesaw Mountain National Battlefield Park, and it is my hope that the park will quickly acquire this property and restore it to its original condition for visitors to enjoy for generations to come.

I urge my colleagues to support this bill.

At 12:02 p.m., a message from the House of Representatives, delivered by Mrs. Cole, one of its reading clerks, announced that the House has passed the following bills, in which it requests the concurrence of the Senate:

H.R. 46. An act to authorize the Secretary of the Interior

to conduct a special resource study of Fort Ontario in the

State of New York.

H.R. 339. An act to amend Public Law 94-241 with respect to

the Northern Mariana Islands.

H.R. 374. An act to remove the sunset provision of section

203 of Public Law 105-384, and for other purposes.

H.R. 381. An act to designate a mountain in the John Muir

Wilderness of the Sierra National Forest as ``Sky Point''.

H.R. 538. An act to redesignate Ocmulgee National Monument

in the State of Georgia and revise its boundary, and for

other purposes.

H.R. 558. An act to adjust the boundary of the Kennesaw

Mountain National Battlefield Park to include the Wallis

House and Harriston Hill, and for other purposes.

H.R. 560. An act to amend the Delaware Water Gap National

Recreation Area Improvement Act to provide access to certain

vehicles serving residents of municipalities adjacent to the

Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area, and for other

purposes.

The message further announced that pursuant to 22 U.S.C. 1928a, and the order of the House of January 3, 2017, the Speaker appoints the following Members of the House of Representatives to the United States Group of the NATO Parliamentary Assembly: Mr. Connolly of Virginia and Ms. Frankel of Florida.

The message also announced that pursuant to 22 U.S.C. 2903, and the order of the House of January 3, 2017, the Speaker appoints the following Member of the House of Representatives to the Japan-United States Friendship Commission: Mr. Takano of California.

The message further announced that pursuant to 22 U.S.C. 2761, and the order of the House of January 3, 2017, the Speaker appoints the following Member of the House of Representatives to the British- American Interparliamentary Group: Mr. Cicilline of Rhode Island.

The message also announced that pursuant to 22 U.S.C. 3003, and the order of the House of January 3, 2017, the Speaker appoints the following Members of the House of Representatives to the Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe: Mr. Hastings of Florida and Mr. Cohen of Tennessee.

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 558) to adjust the boundary of the Kennesaw Mountain National Battlefield Park to include the Wallis House and Harriston Hill, and for other purposes.

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.

I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Mr. Speaker, H.R. 558, introduced by the gentleman from Georgia (Mr. Loudermilk), expands the boundary of the Kennesaw National Battlefield Park by authorizing the Secretary of the Interior to acquire approximately 8 acres of land by donation or exchange only. The expanded area includes the historic Wallis House and Harriston Hill.

The Wallis House is one of the few remaining structures associated with the Kennesaw Mountain Civil War battle, while Harriston Hill was strategically significant as the Union signal station.

The Battle of Kennesaw Mountain in June of 1864 was critical to the Union campaign to split the Confederacy, and although it was a tactical victory for the Confederates, it opened the way for the Union's strategic victory of taking Atlanta. The sacrifices of more than 3,000 Union troops on Kennesaw Mountain made possible Sherman's famous telegram to Lincoln 3 months later that ``Atlanta is ours and fairly won.''

These battlefields remind succeeding generations of Americans of the price paid by so many for the preservation of our Constitution and the liberty it protects and the enormous responsibility that each of us has to maintain and defend that same Constitution today. Nearly identical legislation passed the House by voice vote in the 114th Congress.

Mr. Speaker, I urge passage of the bill.

I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the sponsor of this bill, the gentleman from Georgia (Mr. Loudermilk).

Mr. Speaker, I urge the adoption of the bill.

I yield back the balance of my time.

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

This bill adjusts the boundary of the Kennesaw Mountain National Battlefield Park in Georgia to include two historically significant structures, the Wallis House and Kolb's Farm, and to assist in the preservation of the story of the Atlanta campaign. Additionally, the bill authorizes the National Park Service to acquire by donation approximately 8 acres that will be added to the Kennesaw National Battlefield Park.

The Civil War was a significant event in the history of this country and remains relevant as we grapple with the civil rights discussions today. The preservation of these sites reinforces Congress' dedication to equality and enables the National Park Service to interpret and tell our national story.

I thank the gentleman from Georgia (Mr. Loudermilk) for continuing to support the preservation of the history of this great country.

This bill passed the House last Congress by voice vote, and I encourage its swift adoption today.

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

Mr. Speaker, I have no further speakers, and I urge the adoption of the bill.

I yield back the balance of my time.