Holcombe Rucker Park National Commemorative Site Act
Floor Speech
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Mr. WESTERMAN. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 6852) to designate Holcombe Rucker Park, in Harlem, New York, as a National Commemorative Site, and for other purposes, as amended.
The Clerk read the title of the bill.
The text of the bill is as follows: H.R. 6852
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Holcombe Rucker Park National Commemorative Site Act''. SEC. 2. NATIONAL COMMEMORATIVE SITE.
(a) Designation.--Holcombe Rucker Park, in Harlem, New York, is hereby designated as the ``Holcombe Rucker Park National Commemorative Site'' (referred to in this section as the ``Commemorative Site'').
(b) Administration.--
(1) Cooperative agreements.--The Secretary of the Interior may enter into cooperative agreements with appropriate public or private entities, including the Mayor of New York City or the Mayor's designee, for interpretive and educational purposes related to the Commemorative Site, including installing a plaque, interpretive exhibit, or other marker, as appropriate, at the Commemorative Site, with the written consent of the owner of the Commemorative Site, to memorialize the achievements of Holcombe Rucker and to provide recognition of the historic role of Holcombe Rucker Park in the development of the game of basketball and of many of its most talented players.
(2) Effect of designation.--The Commemorative Site shall not be a unit of the National Park System.
(3) Limitations.--Nothing in this Act--
(A) authorizes the Secretary of the Interior to interfere with the rights of any person with respect to private property or any local zoning ordinance or land use plan of the State of New York or any political subdivision thereof, including prohibiting any actions that may otherwise be taken by a property owner (including any owner of the Commemorative Site) with respect to the property of the owner;
(B) affects the administration of the Commemorative Site by New York City or the State of New York; or
(C) authorizes the Secretary of the Interior to acquire land or interests in land through condemnation or otherwise.
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Mr. WESTERMAN. 6852, the bill now under consideration.
Mr. Speaker, Representative Espaillat's bill, the Holcombe Rucker Park National Commemorative Site Act, will designate the historic Holcombe Rucker Park in New York City as a National Commemorative Site.
Located in the heart of New York City's Harlem neighborhood, Holcombe Rucker Park is a historically significant basketball destination that has hosted legendary basketball players such as Wilt Chamberlain, Kobe Bryant, and LeBron James.
Once described as the Mecca of Basketball, the park has appeared in many documentaries as the birthplace of streetball, a unique form of basketball that emphasizes creativity.
The park's namesake, Holcombe Rucker, was a highly influential figure in his community, and he helped over 700 children receive college scholarships for athletics.
The legislation before us today, H.R. 6852, would designate Holcombe Rucker Park as a National Commemorative Site. This designation would not affect private property rights, alter the local governance of the park, or make the park a unit of the National Park System. Instead, this bill presents a creative way to honor an important site that has offered generations of Harlem youth a positive outlet for sports, team building, and promoting racial equality.
Mr. Speaker, I support the bill, and I reserve the balance of my time.
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Mr. WESTERMAN. Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for time, I am prepared to close, and I continue to reserve the balance of my time.
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Mr. WESTERMAN. Mr. Speaker, I, too, want to thank Representative Espaillat for his work on this bill, which honors an important landmark without adding to the Federal estate or using taxpayer resources.
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