Rodney Davis

Mr. RODNEY DAVIS of Illinois

Mr. RODNEY DAVIS of Illinois. Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. RODNEY DAVIS of Illinois. Madam Speaker, I yield an additional 2 minutes to the gentlewoman from Texas (Ms. Jackson Lee).

Mr. RODNEY DAVIS of Illinois. Madam Speaker, I certainly hope that that exhibit honoring Pete Aguilar is not because of winning the Congressional Baseball Game, but I would be glad to see any exhibit honoring many of our colleagues who have served, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. RODNEY DAVIS of Illinois. Madam Speaker, it is an honor to be here to support this project; it is an honor to be able to stand here with my colleagues on both sides of the aisle; and it is an honor to give as much time as he may consume to the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Hurd), my good friend, so that he can close out this debate on our side.

Mr. RODNEY DAVIS of Illinois. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. I, too, agree with my friend from California: Mr. Serrano was right. This is something we need to do. And I will probably catch some flack for it later from him, but I have to say Mr. Aguilar is correct: We ought to do something to honor the Latino community that has made our country the greatest country in the history of the world. Madam Speaker, I rise today to support the underlying legislation that would create the first Smithsonian museum honoring Latinos. Again, our country would not be what it is today without their contributions. More than 18 percent of our population is Latino. Sixteen percent of the men and women serving in our military heroically are Latino. You don't have to look too far to see their contribution to the brave men and women in our police forces throughout this Nation. Also, every essential workforce that we see in America today is populated with hardworking American Latinos. I would also be remiss if I didn't mention, of course, a third of Major League Baseball players are Latino. And, unfortunately, we are not going to get to see who would win the Congressional Baseball Game this year. I think it was our year; I truly do. And I do certainly miss being able to jaw with my good friends, Mr. Aguilar and Mr. Cardenas, while they came up to the plate while I was playing catcher in that game. And I will tell you, the Latino contribution to Congressional baseball has led to many more victories than I would have liked, because I would like to win again this year. Earlier this year, the House Administration Committee had a hearing on the possibility of creating this museum to specifically honor Latinos. This was an important step that hasn't been done on other issues that we face in this Congress, because hearings give us an opportunity to ask important questions about the complexities of creating a world-class museum. And I am, again, glad Chairperson Lofgren led the effort in getting this done. At the hearing, we discussed the Smithsonian's current struggles in handling the maintenance of their numerous facilities. In fact, Chairperson Lofgren and I sent a letter last fall to appropriators asking for robust funding to address the Smithsonian's current maintenance and repair needs, which have now reached nearly $1 billion. The lack of upkeep has led to damaged collections and building closures. It is concerning to me to hear how much the Smithsonian is struggling to take care of their current facilities, not to mention the possibility of creating new ones. This brings me to another concern: the cost of a new museum. And the most recent Smithsonian museum constructed, the National Museum of African American History and Culture, truly a work of art and history, cost $555 million. That was nearly $200 million more than the Commission estimated. Given the current billion-dollar backlog, costs are always important to consider, particularly as we envision what museums will look like in a post-pandemic America. I bring these costs up, not to say this is an impossible task ahead of us; it is to make sure that we learn from the mistakes of the previous cultural giants like the last museum that was built. As we look at the contributions of Latinos, we need to be realistic about the current restraints of the Smithsonian. Additionally, I am glad this legislation includes a provision requiring all political viewpoints to be represented, because I believe it is important we respect our diversity and all cultures throughout the Smithsonian. No Smithsonian, no museum in America, should put a political litmus test on what Americans get to learn from. This is what makes our country great. Madam Speaker, I hope the Smithsonian Institute takes my concerns seriously as this great initiative moves forward, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. RODNEY DAVIS of Illinois. Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. RODNEY DAVIS of Illinois. Madam Speaker, I yield the gentleman from Texas an additional 30 seconds.

Mr. RODNEY DAVIS of Illinois. Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. RODNEY DAVIS of Illinois. Madam Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentlewoman from Washington (Ms. Herrera Beutler), the Latino leader in the Republican Conference and the ranking member of the Subcommittee on Legislative Branch Appropriations.

Mr. RODNEY DAVIS of Illinois. Madam Speaker, I also yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from California (Mr. Cardenas).

Mr. RODNEY DAVIS of Illinois. Madam Speaker, I yield an additional 30 seconds to the gentleman from California.

Mr. RODNEY DAVIS of Illinois. Madam Speaker, I yield an additional 30 seconds to the gentlewoman from Texas (Ms. Jackson Lee).

Mr. RODNEY DAVIS of Illinois. Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. RODNEY DAVIS of Illinois

Mr. RODNEY DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I thank the ranking member, Ms. Granger, and Chair Lowey. Also, I give thanks to Chair McCollum and also Ranking Member Joyce on the Appropriations Subcommittee for Interior for allowing the provision that I am going to speak about to be included in today's legislation. It is very important because this inclusion was language from a bill that I introduced, the Springfield Race Riot National Historic Monument Act, and that is in the fiscal year 2021 Interior Appropriations bill. Mr. Speaker, my bill would designate the 1908 Springfield Race Riots, which ultimately played an integral role in the formation of the NAACP, it would designate the site of those race riots. For over the last few years, because of a Federal project, we have been uncovering artifacts from those race riots. We want to tell a story about those race riots and why America and Springfield, Illinois, should never have anything like that happen again. This language would authorize the Park Service to conduct a special resource study to determine its eligibility into the park system. Thank you, again, to all who have made this a possibility. Building off conversations that we had on the floor yesterday, I am grateful for this opportunity to further engage in the important discussions that we are having surrounding race in this country. Mr. Speaker, I look forward to supporting a final package that includes this language to give this site and the events that occurred there proper recognition.

Mr. RODNEY DAVIS of Illinois

Mr. RODNEY DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, at this time, it looks like I am going to be here on the floor with many of our colleagues who are going to offer remarks on this legislation, so I will give my opening remarks after I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from California (Mr. McClintock).

Mr. RODNEY DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time, and I will close. Mr. Speaker, it is great to follow our new colleague, Mr. Mfume. Because of COVID and the restrictions we have in getting together and getting to know each other like we did before this pandemic, I have not had a chance to meet you yet. Welcome to this institution. Thank you for your service here. Thank you for your service leading the NAACP. I don't know if Mr. Mfume is aware, but many say that the birthplace of the NAACP is also in Springfield, Illinois, because of the 1908 race riots that took place in my district. We are trying to honor those who suffered during that instance in our Nation's history, still centuries after we saw the scourge of slavery come to our shores. We still have a lot of work to do. But I welcome Mr. Mfume. Come to my district and see the artifacts from those race riots that have been dug up and displayed for all to see, to be honored. That is what education and history is. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from Maryland (Mr. Mfume).

Mr. RODNEY DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. RODNEY DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I will reclaim my time. That is exactly why we still, as a Nation, have so much to learn about each other. We have so much to learn as to why we live, and we are blessed to live in what I consider the greatest country on God's green Earth. The opportunity for every American to do what we do, to serve in this great institution, is something that should be cherished. Those issues that seemingly divide us more in a Nation of prosperity, we need to educate the youth, we need to educate America, and how we can come together, not just correcting some of the awful, evil parts of our Nation's history, but let's continue to correct the division that exists today, not just on this floor, but in this country. And if we can stand together in this instance, we can surely stand together and make this country, at a time and place of civil unrest, a better place for every single American in this country. With that, Mr. Speaker, I thank again all of my colleagues. I respect their opinions, their ideas. But today is a day of history. Today is a day that we are going to band together in a bipartisan way. And I commend my good friend and look forward to hosting him in Springfield, Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I urge support, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. RODNEY DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. RODNEY DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from the State of Michigan (Mr. Mitchell), my friend.

Mr. RODNEY DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, it is an honor to follow Whip Clyburn and the historical context of being a history teacher, and also the historical context of serving this institution and what it means. So I thank Whip Clyburn for his leadership. I thank my good friend, Mr. Butterfield, for his leadership on this issue. We are going to work together today to make sure that we are sending a message to the American people that it is Republicans and Democrats standing together. Now, I have a unique district in central Illinois. I am from the Land of Lincoln. As a matter of fact, Abe, himself, lived in my district. I represent Lincoln's Tomb, Lincoln's Home. The old State Capitol where Abraham Lincoln delivered his ``House Divided'' speech in 1858 is in my Congressional District. It was there when Lincoln not only spoke out against slavery and, specifically, the Dred Scott decision, but stood unequivocally in support of a free country, famously saying: ``A house divided against itself cannot stand. I believe this government cannot endure, permanently half slave and half free. I do not expect the Union to be dissolved--I do not expect the house to fall--but I do expect it will cease to be divided. It will become all one thing or all the other.'' While Lincoln and many others who stood for freedom are represented throughout this Capitol, there are others that symbolize the opposite. While we cannot erase our past and should do everything we can--as Whip Clyburn just stated--we should do everything we can to learn from it instead. The statues in the U.S. Capitol represent to visitors throughout the world what we stand for as a Nation. I support this important discussion about which statues belong in the U.S. Capitol and, also, the goal of this legislation. Before we began debating this piece of legislation, my friend, Mr. Butterfield, and I had a discussion, a discussion about the 13th Amendment. And I invite all Members of this institution to come to my district, to come to the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Museum and Library, where I can show you an original copy of the 13th Amendment; also, one of the first copies of the Emancipation Proclamation. This institution is not just an extended classroom. Where Lincoln lived, where Lincoln is honored, the 13th District of Illinois, that I am truly blessed to represent, is also a living classroom of the good things in our Nation's history. Now, we also have to remember that the National Statuary Hall Collection was created in 1864 to commemorate States and their contributions to this country. And many statues being discussed today were donated by States to the collection nearly 100 years ago. And as my colleagues earlier said, many States are already working to remove them. While I support their removal, I believe the better route would have been to have some more hearings in the Committee on House Administration. But today, today, is not about politics. Today is about coming together as an institution. And today is a day that I can say I proudly am blessed to be a Member of Congress. Our country, right now, is facing a very difficult time, and Abraham Lincoln's spirit of unity is desperately needed. ``A house divided against itself cannot stand.'' As leaders, we need to come together to show there is much more that unites us Americans than divides us, and lead this country, together, Republicans and Democrats, through this difficult time. I hope this legislation today, the bipartisanship that we will see, is a shining example to the rest of the country of what we can build together. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. RODNEY DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. RODNEY DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. RODNEY DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. RODNEY DAVIS of Illinois

Mr. RODNEY DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in honor of our friend and colleague, John Lewis. John will be remembered as one of the pioneers of the civil rights movement, and his example of courage will be talked about for generations to come. John Lewis was loved on both sides of the aisle. Even when we disagreed, John never failed to be kind and professional. John loved this country and never stopped his pursuit of a perfect union for all Americans. Even in the last few weeks of his battle with cancer, John was still partaking in nonviolent activism and advocating for equal justice. When I was a freshman here in Congress, I was touring the Smithsonian with my sons and daughter. One of my sons asked who the bleeding man in the picture was. I told him it was a photo of John Lewis during the civil rights movement and that I now have the privilege of serving with him in Congress. I am lucky to have been able to call John Lewis a colleague and a friend. His passing is a loss for American democracy and advocacy. My wife, Shannon, and I send our deepest condolences to John's family, friends, and staff. He will truly be missed. The House will miss John Lewis greatly.