Save the Liberty Theatre Act of 2021

Madam Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 3197, which provides a land conveyance to the city of Eunice, Louisiana.

The Save the Liberty Theatre Act of 2021 will allow the city of Eunice to restore its historic Liberty Theatre.

This historic theatre has hosted silent films, live bands, and other entertainment over its beautiful history.

The Liberty Theatre has been a staple of Louisiana's Cajun community for nearly 100 years.

With passage of this bill, the City of Eunice can proceed with its efforts to restore the theatre as an important center of culture and tourism.

The bill will also direct the Secretary of the Interior to convey all rights, title, and interest of the federal government in specified areas of the ``Jean Lafitte National Historical Park and Preserve'' to the city of Eunice, Louisiana.

That area includes an annex owned by the National Park Service (NPS) that is attached to the Liberty Theatre, which is owned by the city.

The area the NPS owns is a section of the Liberty Theatre that provides a handicap accessible entrance, but this ownership interest in the property is hindering efforts to restore the theatre.

The Save the Liberty Theatre Act of 2021 would grant Eunice full ownership of the theatre property so the city can begin restoration efforts.

The theatre's stage has been dark since October 2019, and to local Cajun musicians like Joel Savoy, there is a fear that the centerpiece of the Cajun community will be nothing more than a memory.

Savoy's family is very connected to the theatre, as his parents were the driving force behind a restoration project in the 1980s to reopen the ornate building.

The theatre's return is vital to regional tourism.

Savoy, along with a handful of other Eunice residents, formed the Association for the Liberty Theatre earlier this year.

Their association is looking into ongoing revenue potential through private events, such as wedding receptions, so the theatre doesn't shutter again in a few decades.

Their goal is to renovate and reopen the theatre by 2024 to commemorate the 100th anniversary, and according to Savoy an anonymous donor has committed to donating a ``substantial amount'' of the projected $2 million needed to return the theatre to its former glory.

A handful of other Eunice residents plan on launching fundraising campaigns and other public planning projects if the legislation passes.

The people of this community are willing to go the extra mile in hard work and funding to preserve this landmark that is dear to them.

I encourage all my colleagues to join me and vote for H.R. 3197.

Since the people of this community are willing to come together to revitalize this landmark, we should support them.

Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 3197) to direct the Secretary of the Interior to convey to the City of Eunice, Louisiana, certain Federal land in Louisiana, and for other purposes.

Madam 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 measure under consideration.

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

Madam Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 3197, the Save the Liberty Theatre Act introduced by my colleague Representative Mike Johnson.

This bill would direct the Secretary of the Interior to convey a small piece of the historic Liberty Theatre to the city of Eunice, Louisiana. Although the theater is owned and operated by the city, it is adjacent to the Prairie Arcadian Cultural Center, which is owned by the National Park Service as a unit of Jean Lafitte National Historical Park.

In the 1980s, the Park Service ended up building an annex to the theater in order to construct an ADA compliant ramp and to house an air conditioning system for the two buildings. Now, the city of Eunice plans to build its own HVAC system. Consolidation of the property is a win-win: It will allow rehabilitation of the Liberty Theatre to move forward and decrease operating costs for the National Park Service.

This is a commonsense piece of legislation, and I am pleased to support it today. I thank Representative Johnson for bringing this bill forward and bringing it to our attention, and I urge our colleagues to support the passage today.

Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Madam Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support the legislation, and I yield back the balance of my time.

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

Madam Speaker, I also rise in support, along with Chairman Grijalva, of H.R. 3197, the Save the Liberty Theatre Act, offered by Mr. Johnson of Louisiana.

Mr. Johnson's bill transfers a federally owned annex to the city of Eunice, Louisiana, so the city can complete critical renovations to the historic Liberty Theatre.

Transferring this annex will allow the park to replace the HVAC system in the adjacent Prairie Acadian Cultural Center and allow the city of Eunice to install a new HVAC system in the theater and perform other renovations that are currently hindered due to the Natural Park Services' ownership interest. This transfer will result in cost savings for the National Park Service and the taxpayer.

Madam Speaker, I commend Mr. Johnson for his work to save this important Louisiana landmark and building local support for his legislation. I urge adoption of the measure, and I hope that the Senate will take up this bill very soon.

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

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate proceed to the immediate consideration of Calendar No. 309, H.R. 3197.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the bill be considered read a third time and passed and that the motion to reconsider be considered made and laid upon the table.

Madam Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.