[House Report 115-644]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
115th Congress } { Report
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
2d Session } { 115-644
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TO DIRECT THE SECRETARY OF THE INTERIOR TO CONDUCT A SPECIAL RESOURCE
STUDY TO DETERMINE THE SUITABILITY AND FEASIBILITY OF ESTABLISHING THE
BIRTHPLACE OF JAMES WELDON JOHNSON IN JACKSONVILLE, FLORIDA, AS A UNIT
OF THE NATIONAL PARK SYSTEM
_______
April 24, 2018.--Committed to the Committee of the Whole House on the
State of the Union and ordered to be printed
_______
Mr. Bishop of Utah, from the Committee on Natural Resources, submitted
the following
R E P O R T
[To accompany H.R. 5005]
[Including cost estimate of the Congressional Budget Office]
The Committee on Natural Resources, to whom was referred
the bill (H.R. 5005) to direct the Secretary of the Interior to
conduct a special resource study to determine the suitability
and feasibility of establishing the birthplace of James Weldon
Johnson in Jacksonville, Florida, as a unit of the National
Park System, having considered the same, report favorably
thereon without amendment and recommend that the bill do pass.
PURPOSE OF THE BILL
The purpose of H.R. 5005 is to direct the Secretary of the
Interior to conduct a special resource study to determine the
suitability and feasibility of establishing the birthplace of
James Weldon Johnson in Jacksonville, Florida, as a unit of the
National Park System.
BACKGROUND AND NEED FOR LEGISLATION
James Weldon Johnson was born in 1871 in the LaVilla
neighborhood at 120 Lee Street in Jacksonville, Florida. The
birth home no longer exists and there are no structures on the
property.\1\ However, the lot was designated by the City of
Jacksonville as ``Lift Ev'ry Voice and Sing Park'' in June
2015.\2\
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\1\Patton, Charlie. ``Jacksonville native left a huge legacy, but
nothing marks it.'' The Florida Times. June 15, 2012. Accessed February
23, 2018. http://www.jacksonville.com/article/20120615/ENTERTAINMENT/
801251861.
\2\McIntyre, Mary. ``Jacksonville To Dedicate `Lift Ev'ry Voice and
Sing' Park.'' WJCT NEWS. June 15, 2015. Accessed February 23, 2018.
http://news.wjct.org/post/jacksonville-dedicate-lift-ev-ry-voice-and-
sing-park.
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James Weldon Johnson was accomplished in several fields: a
renowned statesmen, educator, songwriter, author, lawyer, and
civil rights activist. He served as the principal at Stanton
Grade School in Jacksonville, and in 1898, became the first
African American admitted to the Florida Bar.\3\
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\3\``James Weldon Johnson.'' Biography.com. April 02, 2014.
Accessed February 23, 2018. https://www.biography.com/people/james-
weldon-johnson-9356013.
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After moving to New York City at the turn of the century,
he found success writing songs for Broadway shows with his
brother. In addition, Johnson wrote poetry and fiction, and
published anthologies contributing to the Harlem Renaissance.
He wrote the song ``Lift Ev'ry Voice and Sing,'' which is often
referred to as the ``Black National Anthem.''\4\
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\4\``Lift Every Voice and Sing.'' PBS. Accessed February 23, 2018.
http://www.pbs.org/black-culture/explore/black-authors-spoken-word-
poetry/lift-every-voice-and-sing/.
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Beginning in 1916, he worked for the National Association
for the Advancement of Colored People in various roles,
ultimately serving as Executive Secretary. He expanded the
organization in the Southern States and campaigned against
lynching and segregation.\5\
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\5\``NAACP History: James Weldon Johnson.'' NAACP. Accessed
February 23, 2018. http://www.naacp.org/oldest-and-boldest/naacp-
history-james-weldon-johnson/.
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Johnson served as the U.S. consul in Venezuela and
Nicaragua under President Roosevelt. He was the first African
American professor at New York University, where he taught
courses in literature and culture. He also taught at Fisk
University in Nashville, Tennessee.\6\
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\6\Ibid.
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Johnson's New York City residence (187 West 135th Street),
which he occupied from 1925 until his death in 1938, was
declared a National Historic Landmark in 1976, and is listed on
the National Register of Historic Places.\7\
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\7\``National Register of Historic Places Inventory Nomination
Form--James Weldon Johnson Residence'' NPS.gov, accessed February 23,
2018, https://www.nps.gov/nr/feature/places/pdfs/14000527.pdf.
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H.R. 5005 directs the Secretary of the Interior to conduct
a special resource study of James Weldon Johnson's birthplace
in Jacksonville, Florida, to determine the national
significance of the site and its suitability for inclusion as a
unit of the National Park System.
COMMITTEE ACTION
H.R. 5005 was introduced on February 13, 2018, by
Congressman Al Lawson, Jr. (D-FL). The bill was referred to the
Committee on Natural Resources, and within the Committee to the
Subcommittee on Federal Lands. On February 28, 2018, the
Subcommittee held a hearing on the legislation. On April 11,
2018, the Natural Resources Committee met to consider the bill.
The Subcommittee was discharged by unanimous consent. No
amendments were offered and the bill was ordered favorably
reported to the House of Representatives by unanimous consent.
COMMITTEE OVERSIGHT FINDINGS AND RECOMMENDATIONS
Regarding clause 2(b)(1) of rule X and clause 3(c)(1) of
rule XIII of the Rules of the House of Representatives, the
Committee on Natural Resources' oversight findings and
recommendations are reflected in the body of this report.
COMPLIANCE WITH HOUSE RULE XIII AND CONGRESSIONAL BUDGET ACT
1. Cost of Legislation and the Congressional Budget Act.
With respect to the requirements of clause 3(c)(2) and (3) of
rule XIII of the Rules of the House of Representatives and
sections 308(a) and 402 of the Congressional Budget Act of
1974, the Committee has received the following estimate for the
bill from the Director of the Congressional Budget Office:
U.S. Congress,
Congressional Budget Office,
Washington, DC, April 18, 2018.
Hon. Rob Bishop,
Chairman, Committee on Natural Resources,
House of Representatives, Washington, DC.
Dear Mr. Chairman: The Congressional Budget Office has
prepared the enclosed cost estimate for H.R. 5005, a bill to
direct the Secretary of the Interior to conduct a special
resource study to determine the suitability and feasibility of
establishing the birthplace of James Weldon Johnson in
Jacksonville, Florida, as a unit of the National Park System.
If you wish further details on this estimate, we will be
pleased to provide them. The CBO staff contact is Janani
Shankaran.
Sincerely,
Keith Hall,
Director.
Enclosure.
H.R. 5005--A bill to direct the Secretary of the Interior to conduct a
special resource study to determine the suitability and
feasibility of establishing the birthplace of James Weldon
Johnson in Jacksonville, Florida, as a unit of the National
Park System
H.R. 5005 would direct the National Park Service to study
the suitability and feasibility of establishing the birthplace
of James Weldon Johnson in Jacksonville, Florida, as a unit of
the National Park System.
Based on the costs of similar studies, CBO estimates that
implementing H.R. 5005 would cost less than $500,000; such
spending would be subject to the availability of appropriated
funds.
Enacting H.R. 5005 would not affect direct spending or
revenues; therefore, pay-as-you-go procedures do not apply.
CBO estimates that enacting H.R. 5005 would not increase
net direct spending or on-budget deficits in any of the four
consecutive 10-year periods beginning in 2029.
H.R. 5005 contains no intergovernmental or private-sector
mandates as defined in the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act.
The CBO staff contact for this estimate is Janani
Shankaran. The estimate was reviewed by H. Samuel Papenfuss,
Deputy Assistant Director for Budget Analysis.
2. General Performance Goals and Objectives. As required by
clause 3(c)(4) of rule XIII, the general performance goal or
objective of this bill is to direct the Secretary of the
Interior to conduct a special resource study to determine the
suitability and feasibility of establishing the birthplace of
James Weldon Johnson in Jacksonville, Florida, as a unit of the
National Park System.
EARMARK STATEMENT
This bill does not contain any Congressional earmarks,
limited tax benefits, or limited tariff benefits as defined
under clause 9(e), 9(f), and 9(g) of rule XXI of the Rules of
the House of Representatives.
COMPLIANCE WITH PUBLIC LAW 104-4
This bill contains no unfunded mandates.
COMPLIANCE WITH H. RES. 5
Directed Rule Making. This bill does not contain any
directed rule makings.
Duplication of Existing Programs. This bill does not
establish or reauthorize a program of the federal government
known to be duplicative of another program. Such program was
not included in any report from the Government Accountability
Office to Congress pursuant to section 21 of Public Law 111-139
or identified in the most recent Catalog of Federal Domestic
Assistance published pursuant to the Federal Program
Information Act (Public Law 95-220, as amended by Public Law
98-169) as relating to other programs.
PREEMPTION OF STATE, LOCAL OR TRIBAL LAW
This bill is not intended to preempt any State, local or
tribal law.
CHANGES IN EXISTING LAW
If enacted, this bill would make no changes to existing
law.
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