Mr. ROSS. Madam Speaker, as the sponsor of this legislation, I rise in support of H.R. 4192, a bill to designate the William Jefferson Clinton birthplace home located in my hometown of Hope, Arkansas, as a national historic site and unit of the National Park System. 

First, I would like to thank Chairman Pombo, Chairman Saxton and Ranking Member Rahall and Ranking Member Christensen for their support and their assistance in moving this bill from the Resources Committee in a bipartisan manner to the floor of the United States House of Representatives. 

Madam Speaker, what we have just witnessed from the gentlewoman from Florida is an example of the kind of partisan bickering that the people back home are sick and tired of. This is not a Democrat or Republican issue. This is about America, and it is about our Nation's history. 

Madam Speaker, what the gentlewoman from Florida obviously does not get is the fact that this is about history. We have only had 42 Presidents in the history of this Nation; and I believe all of them, Democrat and Republican alike, if their birthplace home is still standing, it should be an historic site because it is a part of history. 

I am pleased to have the entire Arkansas congressional delegation supporting this bill in a bipartisan manner including Congressman Boozman from Arkansas, Congressman Berry from Arkansas, Congressman Snyder from Arkansas; and I am proud that this bill was passed out of the Resources Committee and placed on the suspension calendar by our leaders in both parties that recognized it for what it is, about history, not about politics. So I am deeply, deeply saddened that one Member out of 435 has chosen to try to divide us once again by taking a history lesson and turning it into a partisan ball game. 

In my mind and in the minds of my colleagues from Arkansas there is no doubt this important property in Hope, Arkansas deserves Federal recognition. I believe the preservation of properties of historical significance is a necessary and important function of our government. The designation as a national historic site and unit of the National Park System will open the doors for further economic opportunities and prosperity for the city of Hope and all of southwest Arkansas. This site will celebrate, it will celebrate the history and educate thousands of visitors on the early life of our 42nd President of the United States of America, President William Jefferson Clinton, who came into this world on August 19, 1946, as William Jefferson Blythe, III, in Hope, Arkansas, just 3 months after his father tragically died in a car accident. 

I mentioned that this has bipartisan support, Madam Speaker. This is about economic development. It is about tourism. It is about history. It is about maintaining and protecting and preserving an historic site, the birthplace home of the 42nd President of the United States of America. 

Our Republican Governor in Arkansas gets it. And I want to thank him for that, and I want to share with my colleagues and make a part of the RECORD a letter I received dated yesterday from our Republican Governor, Mike Huckabee who, too, grew up in Hope, Arkansas. 

It says: ``Dear Congressman Ross: Thank you for your efforts to honor and recognize the birthplace of our 42nd President, William Jefferson Clinton, by naming his birthplace in Hope, Arkansas a national historic site. As is customary in this country to honor our former Presidents with libraries and other accolades, I cannot think of a better tribute to President Clinton than this recognition. The lasting impact this will have for the State and country is immeasurable. Not only would it provide future generations an educational look into our 42nd President and the times he lived in, but it will provide the region of our State, and specifically my native home of Hope, Arkansas, added economic opportunity and prosperity. 

 ``H.R. 4192 is an important piece of legislation for not only the reasons mentioned above, but also for the preservation and protection of this historical site which is currently reliant upon private donations. President Clinton will forever be a true Arkansan, and this piece of legislation will allow not only Arkansas but the country the ability to properly honor him and his service. 

``Again, thank you for your work on this legislation. I look forward to working with you to see its passage out of Congress this year. 

``Sincerely yours, Mike Huckabee, Governor of the State of Arkansas.'' 

Might I add, a Republican Governor, who like myself, grew up in Hope, Arkansas. 

Finally, Madam Speaker, I would like to at least read a part of a letter from Mack McLarty who was President Clinton's first White House Chief of Staff and someone who commanded respect from both sides of the aisle during those early Clinton years. 

``Dear Mike: I'm writing today in support of H.R. 4192, your bill authorizing the Secretary of the Interior to designate President William Jefferson Clinton's birthplace home in Hope, Arkansas as a national historic site and unit of the National Park System. This step would be a fitting recognition of President Clinton's birthplace home in our Nation's Presidential history and ensure the preservation of the site for future generations. This site will celebrate history and educate thousands of visitors and perhaps, most importantly, it will bring jobs and economic development opportunities to southwest Arkansas. 

``As you know, I was born and raised in Hope myself. My lifelong friendship with President Clinton dates back to Miss Mary's kindergarten. Not surprisingly, then, my attachment to 117 South Hervey Street is personal and heartfelt, but, more than that, I believe the Clinton birthplace stands for something larger than itself.'' 

Mack McLarty goes on to write that, ``As I wrote some years ago in an essay for the Arkansas Historic Preservation Program, I believe that white frame house is worthy of more than a nod of nostalgia because the values President Clinton learned there and in Hope formed the core of his political philosophy. 

``In 1946 when President Clinton and I were born, Hope was the essence of small-town America. Family and faith were at the center of people's lives. Commitment to work was expected. From the schools to the churches, local businesses and charities, knowing and caring for one another was part of daily life. And as our friend, Joe Purvis, later wrote, `It bred a sense of responsibility, because if you misbehaved, your mama knew about it before you got home.' '' 

Mack McLarty continues in his letter, ``For a small boy growing up in that era, Hope lived up to its name. We had won the war. The economy was booming. The American Dream was alive. People had confidence in a future they believed was theirs to shape. It was a time of infectious optimism and seemingly limitless potential. 

``I do not mean to suggest that our hometown was perfect. We never thought it was even then. Hope was segregated like the rest of the South. It had its share of human frailty and vice, but kids were taught, growing up, to respect the dignity of each individual. There was a genuine sense of community in Hope that crossed income lines and, in many ways, race as well.'' 

Mack McLarty continues in his letter in support of this bill, ``The young Bill Clinton, who was then Billy Blythe, understood this perhaps better than most. His father had died before he was born. His mother, determined to provide for her son, was in nurse anesthetist school in New Orleans, a brave step in an era when single mothers and working women were uncommon. Young Billy was raised those first few years primarily by his grandparents who owned a grocery on North Hazel Street across from Rose Hill Cemetery.'' 

I could continue, Madam Speaker, but there are others who want to speak in support of this bill on both sides of the aisle, and I applaud them and thank them for helping me restore and maintain and preserve this piece of history, as we should do for all 42 former Presidents, Democrat and Republican alike. 
 

STATE OF ARKANSAS, 
STATE CAPITOL BUILDING, 
Little Rock, AR, March 7, 2006. 
Hon. MIKE ROSS, 

House of Representatives, Cannon House Office Building, Washington, DC. 

DEAR CONGRESSMAN ROSS: Thank you for your efforts to honor and recognize the birthplace of our 42nd President, William Jefferson Clinton, by naming his birthplace home in Hope, Arkansas a National Historic Site. As is customary in this country to honor our former Presidents with libraries and other accolades, I can not think of a better tribute to President Clinton than this recognition. The lasting impact this will have for the state and country is immeasurable. Not only will it provide future generations an educational look into our 42nd President and the times he lived in, but it will provide this region of our state and specifically my native home of Hope added economic opportunity and prosperity. 

H.R. 4192 is an important piece of legislation for not only the reasons mentioned above, but also for the preservation and protection of this historical site, which is currently reliant upon private donations. President Clinton will forever be a true Arkansan and this piece of legislation will allow not only Arkansas but the country the ability to properly honor him and his service. 

Again thank you for your work on this legislation and I look forward to working with you to see its passage out of Congress this year. 

Sincerely yours, 

Mike Huckabee, 
Governor. 

--
   Little Rock, AR, March 7, 2006. 
Hon. MIKE ROSS, 
House of Representatives, Cannon House Office Building, Washington, DC. 

DEAR MIKE: I'm writing today in support of H.R. 4192, your bill authorizing the Secretary of the Interior to designate President William Jefferson Clinton's birthplace home in Hope, Arkansas, as a National Historic Site and unit of the National Park System. This step would be a fitting recognition of President Clinton's birthplace home in our nation's presidential history--and ensure the preservation of the site for future generations. This site will celebrate history and educate thousands of visitors, and perhaps most importantly, it will bring jobs, and economic development opportunities to southwest Arkansas. 

As you know, I was born and raised in Hope myself; my lifelong friendship with President Clinton dates back to Miss Mary's kindergarten. Not surprisingly, then, my attachment to 117 South Hervey Street is personal and heartfelt; but, more than that, I believe the Clinton birthplace stands for something larger than itself. 

As I wrote some years ago in an essay for the Arkansas Historic Preservation Program, I believe that white frame house is worthy of more than a nod of nostalgia, because the values President Clinton learned there and in Hope formed the core of his political philosophy. 

In 1946, when President Clinton and I were born, Hope was the essence of small-town America. Family and faith were at the center of people's lives. Commitment to work was expected. From the schools to the churches, local businesses and charities, knowing and caring for one another was part of daily life. And as our friend Joe Purvis later wrote, ``It bred a sense of responsibility, because if you misbehaved your mama knew about it before you got home.'' 

For a small boy growing up in that era, Hope lived up to its name. We had won the war. The economy was booming. The American Dream was alive. People had confidence in a future they believed was theirs to shape. It was a time of infectious optimism and seemingly limitless potential. 

I don't mean to suggest that our hometown was perfect. We never thought it was, even then. Hope was segregated, like the rest of the South. It had its share of human frailty and vice. But kids were taught, growing up, to respect the dignity of each individual. There was a genuine sense of community in Hope, that crossed income lines and, in many ways, race as well. 

The young Bill Clinton, who was then Billy Blythe, understood this perhaps better than most. His father had died before he was born. His mother, determined to provide for her son, was in nurse-anesthetist school in New Orleans--a brave step in an era when single mothers, and working women, were uncommon. Young Billy was raised those first few years primarily by his grandparents, who owned a grocery on North Hazel Street, across from Rose Hill Cemetery. 

That grocery store was one of the most integrated enterprises in Hope. It was a place where every customer, black or white, was treated kindly; where credit was given freely on the basis of trust; where equality was a way of life and not just an aspiration. It was also a place that catered to lower- and lower-middle income families. Young Billy saw parents working hard to make ends meet for their children. 

His exposure, early on, to human effort, and to the open hearts and minds of his grandparents, helped sharpen Bill Clinton's ability to empathize and understand real people's dreams and struggles. Much of what he has stood for, first as governor and then as president--whether his national race initiative, his emphasis on service, or his efforts to expand the middle class--reflected his belief that we need to band together, that by lifting others we also raise ourselves. 

The importance of community was just one of the lessons Bill Clinton took to heart on South Hervey Street. His grandparents taught him to count and read, nurturing a commitment to education he carried throughout his life. And his mother taught him, by her own powerful example, to persevere in the face of adversity. As one friend said, Virginia Kelley was like a rubber ball: ``The harder life put her down, the higher she bounced. She didn't know what the word quit meant.'' 

I'll always remember the October afternoon in 1991, when Bill Clinton declared from the Old State House steps his candidacy for President. ``Together we can make America great again,'' he said, ``and build a community of hope that will inspire the world.'' 

A community of hope--a community of Hope--inspired my childhood friend with the extraordinary confidence, courage, commitment and vision to lead our country. And when I look at 117 South Hervey Street, most remarkable for its simplicity, I am proud to say I hail from a place where a boy could grow up to be president; a place where loving families, devoted teachers, friendly and supportive neighbors gave children like Billy Blythe and me the wings to pursue our dreams. 

I hope the U.S. House of Representatives will pass H.R. 4192. Thank you for your leadership on this issue, and your service to our state and our country. 

Personally, 
MACK MCLARTY. 
 

Mr. GOHMERT. Madam Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from Arkansas (Mr. Boozman). 

Mr. BOOZMAN. Madam Speaker, I thank Congressman Ross and Chairman Pombo. Congressman Ross for introducing the bill, and then Chairman Pombo for getting it to the floor. 

I rise in strong support of this bill. The reason that I do, before I was elected to Congress I had never been to Washington, D.C, and I came up here, I can still remember the excitement of seeing all the structures and things; and then now, as my constituents come up, taking them around, showing them the different areas, the different things of history that we preserved. 

Preserving Presidential birthplaces is very, very important. It is something that we need to do. We need to do a much better job, I think, in this country of preserving structures like this in general that are so important, that tell the story of America. 

One of the things that I really enjoy doing is going out to schools and I visit with the kids. I was on the school board for 7 years, and I sit down and visit with them, and one of the main reasons I am there is I want them to understand that a guy like me that was on the school board, had a small business, was on the school board, grew up very much like they did, in western Arkansas, that the sky is the limit, that they can work hard and basically achieve anything they want. 

Bill Clinton is truly an example of that. And certainly as they go through the structure that we are trying to preserve, I think it really shows that a young guy that grew up as much of America is growing up, maybe at some times maybe a little bit worse than much of America is growing up, but growing up in humble circumstances, having a dream, able to achieve the governorship of Arkansas, and then go on to become the most powerful man in the world. I think it is a great story. I think it is one that kids will be able to relate to and certainly show that, again, if they step forward that the sky is the limit. 

As Mike said, this has great support from the State of Arkansas, great support from our congressional delegation, and then also from our Governor, Governor Huckabee, that we would like to do what President Clinton did in the future, also from Hope, and he was very, very supportive as the letter indicates. 

Again, I speak in strong support of this bill and I urge its adoption. 

Mrs. CHRISTENSEN. Madam Speaker, how much time do I have remaining? 

The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mrs. Capito). The gentlewoman from the Virgin Islands (Mrs. Christensen) has 10 minutes remaining. 

Mrs. CHRISTENSEN. Madam Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from California (Mr. Cardoza). 

Mr. CARDOZA. Madam Speaker, I am pleased to rise in support of H.R. 4192, to designate the birthplace of our 42nd President, William Jefferson Clinton, as a national historic site and a unit of the National Park System. 

Currently, the Clinton birthplace home is owned and operated by a nonprofit Clinton birthplace foundation. While they are doing an excellent job of maintaining this site for the public viewing and educational purposes, by becoming part of the National Park System the Clinton birthplace will now be able to take full advantage of the National Park Service's vast resources. 

As a member of the Committee on Resources and at Mr. Ross' request, I have been down to southwest Arkansas to see the Clinton birthplace for myself, and I can personally attest to the great pride that fellow Arkansans feel for this site. 

Not only is Mr. William Jefferson Clinton a source of pride for the folks in his home State of Arkansas, but he is also a representative of the symbol of hope for millions of both Americans and those throughout the world who have seen his work. And you just need to tour the Clinton library to see the respect he received throughout the globe by the tributes housed at the library. 

I believe every Presidential birthplace should be preserved and protected as part of our Nation's history regardless of political party. 

I would like to also recognize that Speaker Hastert and Chairman Pombo have brought this bill to the floor. And I want to commend them for doing so in a nonpartisan manner, not treating this issue as a political football, but one of worthy legislation that deserves our support. 

I urge my colleagues to support H.R. 4192. 

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

Mrs. CHRISTENSEN. Madam Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Arkansas (Mr. Snyder), my colleague. 

Mr. SNYDER. Madam Speaker, it is starting to be a pattern here of the Arkansans lining up here in support of  this bill, both Republican and Democrat, but it is the kind of bill that in any State we would all do the same thing, Republican or Democrat, to preserve this kind of a historic place. 

Obviously, we are all very much aware that during his time in office President Clinton was a controversial figure. Any President is these days, but what we are talking about is preserving the childhood home, the birthplace home, of this President. 

As a person who is the child of a single-parent household, I think it is important that we enrich those sites that have been preserved so this story can be told also, that no longer are our Presidents, like Abraham Lincoln, reading by firelight because there was no electricity in those days, but in this modern era that any child in America, regardless of background, can rise above that background, take those values that he learns and, regardless of party affiliation, go on to achieve great things in this country. 

So I think this is very important. I am very much appreciative of Mr. Hastert and Mr. Pombo for allowing this bill to come to the floor. Our Republican Governor, Governor Huckabee, is also supportive. And also, thanks today to the people of Hope who have kept this site in a state of suspended animation and preserved it while their Federal Government catches up with them in recognizing the significance of preserving and maintaining for all time this modest home. 

Mr. GOHMERT. Madam Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Keller), my friend. 

Mr. KELLER. Madam Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding me the time, and I just want to say I intend to vote for this. I think it is worthy of being designated as an historic site. 

Ms. GINNY BROWN-WAITE of Florida. Madam Speaker, will the gentleman yield? 

Mr. KELLER. I yield to the gentlewoman from Florida. 

Ms. GINNY BROWN-WAITE of Florida. Madam Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding. 

As I said before, my decision to call for a recorded vote is based on the future of our country and the fact that we need to have the information out there about Mr. Clinton's involvement in the Dubai port, the whole issue. 

It is about hope, certainly about Hope, Arkansas. I hope to vote for this bill. I had hoped to vote for the bill because I had hoped that Mr. Clinton would do the right thing and register as a foreign agent. That not happening is the reason why I am objecting to the bill at this time. 

I also believe that we need to preserve birthplaces of our Presidents, and had we had enough time, I just would have asked the leadership to postpone this vote. I wanted to vote for this bill, but the more information that comes out about the millions of dollars that have been paid by the UAE to Mr. Clinton just gives many Americans the lack of hope for our security. That is exactly why I am going to call for the yeas and nays. 

It is not against President Clinton. It is not against him, but rather, I wish we had more time so that the public would know exactly how involved he was in what that million dollars bought when it came to the Dubai port issue. 

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

This bill, H.R. 4192, would give the home most closely associated with the 42nd President of the United States the designation that other Presidents have had. It is about naming this boyhood home as a national historic site. It is not about policy, and in 2002, Members on both sides of the aisle, regardless of any disagreements they may have had over any of President Reagan's policies, came together and wholeheartedly supported the designation of the Ronald Reagan Boyhood Home as a national historic site. 

In his Presidency, William Jefferson Clinton gave many Americans who were at that time left behind and left out and left on the fringes of American society reasons to hope. It is fitting that we recognize his 8 years of service to this country as our President and designate his home in Hope, Arkansas, as the Clinton Boyhood Home National Historic Site. 

I would urge all of my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to support this bill, as we have supported so many others for Presidents in the past. 

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

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

I appreciate my colleagues across the aisle. You are right, this is not a partisan issue when we are talking about the birthplace of a President. Frankly, here I am making the motion, and I never voted for President Clinton. I was not a big fan of President Clinton, but you are right, also: he came from extraordinary circumstances and rose to the highest position in this country. 

I mean, he and I apparently had very different lifestyles growing up. I never consumed a drop of alcohol, and when I was underage, I never not only did not inhale, I never smoked. 

There are so many things different in our backgrounds, and he ought to be an inspiration to every child out there, whether leaning toward being Republican or Democrat. That President Bill Clinton, with the things that he had in his background, could reach the Nation's highest office. I mean, any of you should know that it is not out of your reach either. It is extraordinary what he accomplished. 

But there is an old political adage that says, democracy ensures that a people govern no better than they deserve. In 1992 and 1996, whether any of us like it or not, America deserved Bill Clinton, and that is who we elected. It is now a fact he has been a President. It is now a fact that his birthplace should be a historical site, and I understand the concerns of the gentlewoman from Florida (Ms. Ginny Brown-Waite), my friend. Maybe there will be a room dedicated to all the money made from the UAE, but that is someone else's determination. 

The fact is it is a historical place. It deserves that designation, and, hopefully, people will be inspired for years to come that this is America. It does not matter what your background is; you can rise to the highest office in the land, and you should be inspired by that. 

For that reason, I would urge the passage of this bill. 

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

The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mrs. Capito). The question is on the motion offered by the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Gohmert) that the House suspend the rules and pass the bill, H.R. 4192. 

The question was taken. 

The SPEAKER pro tempore. In the opinion of the Chair, two-thirds of those present have voted in the affirmative. 

Ms. GINNY BROWN-WAITE of Florida. Madam Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays. 

The SPEAKER pro tempore. The yeas and nays are requested. All those in favor of taking this vote by the yeas and nays will rise and remain standing until counted. A sufficient number having arisen, the yeas and nays are ordered.