H.R.2822 Department of the Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2016

Amendments...
H.AMDT.592 (A062)
Amends: H.R.2822
Sponsor: Rep Huffman, Jared [CA-2] (offered 7/7/2015)

AMENDMENT DESCRIPTION:
Amendment inserted language to end the practice of allowing groups to display Confederate flags on federally managed cemeteries.

AMENDMENT PURPOSE:
An amendment to prohibit the use of funds to implement National Park Service Director's Order 61 as it pertains to allowing a grave in any Federal cemetery to be decorated with a Confederate flag.

STATUS:
7/7/2015 7:30pm:
Amendment (A062) offered by Mr. Huffman. (consideration: CR H4818; text: CR H4818)

7/7/2015 7:32pm:
On agreeing to the Huffman amendment (A062) Agreed to by voice vote.

Congressional Record > July 28, 2015

Amendment Offered by Mr. Huffman
Mr. HUFFMAN. Mr. Chair, I have an amendment at the desk.
The Acting CHAIR. The Clerk will report the amendment.
The Clerk read as follows:
At the end of the bill, before the short title, insert the following:

Sec. __. None of the funds made available by this Act may be used to implement National Park Service Director's Order 61 as it pertains to allowing a grave in any Federal cemetery to be decorated with a Confederate flag.

The Acting CHAIR. Pursuant to House Resolution 333, the gentleman from California and a Member opposed each will control 5 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentleman from California.

{time} 1930

Mr. HUFFMAN. Mr. Chair, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
I appreciate very much the bipartisan support and passage of my earlier amendment, which would end the practice of concessionaires in our national parks selling Confederate flags and memorabilia of the Confederacy.
We now, with this Interior Appropriations bill, have a second opportunity to speak on this very important national debate that we are having regarding symbols of the Confederacy. This additional amendment will end the practice of allowing groups to display Confederate flags on federally managed cemeteries.
The American Civil War was fought, in Abraham Lincoln's words, to ``save the last best hope of Earth.'' We can honor that history without celebrating the Confederate flag and all of the dreadful things that it symbolizes.
I request an ``aye'' of my colleagues, and I yield back the balance of my time.

The Acting CHAIR. The question is on the amendment offered by the gentleman from California (Mr. Huffman).
The amendment was agreed to.

H.AMDT.586 (A056)

Congressional Record > July 07, 2015

Amendment Offered by Mr. Huffman
Mr. HUFFMAN. Mr. Chairman, I have an amendment at the desk.
The Acting CHAIR. The Clerk will report the amendment.
The Clerk read as follows:
At the end of the bill, before the short title, insert the following:

Sec. __. None of the funds made available by this Act may be used to enter into a new contract or agreement or to administer a portion of an existing contract or agreement with a concessioner, a cooperating association, or any other entity that provides for the sale in any facility within a unit of the National Park System of an item with a Confederate flag as a stand-alone feature.
The Acting CHAIR. Pursuant to House Resolution 333, the gentleman from California and a Member opposed each will control 5 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentleman from California.
Mr. HUFFMAN. Mr. Chairman, the tragic shooting in Charleston, South Carolina, has forced a national conversation about symbols like the Confederate battle flag that represent racism, slavery, and division.
Now, like you, I applaud leaders in South Carolina and other Southern States, both Democrat and Republican, who have called on their States to end the display of the Confederate flag on government property, including State houses and license plates. With the consideration of the Interior Appropriations bill, this House now has an opportunity to add its voice by ending the promotion of the cruel, racist legacy of the Confederacy.
The National Park Service has asked its gift shops, bookstores, and other concessionaires to voluntarily end the sale of standalone items, such as flags, pins, and belt buckles that contain imagery of the Confederate flag. While many concessionaires have agreed to do this, I am dismayed by reports that some will continue to sell items with Confederate flag imagery. This amendment to the Interior Appropriations bill would end these sales. It would prevent the National Park Service from allowing the continued promotion of the Confederacy through these symbols.
Major American retailers like Walmart, Amazon, and eBay are already taking their own steps to ban sales of this type of merchandise, and we now have an obligation to ensure that the Federal agencies that we oversee act with the same moral clarity.
Mr. Chairman, with that, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. CALVERT. Mr. Chair, I claim the time in opposition to the amendment, although I am not opposed to the amendment.
The Acting CHAIR (Mr. Carter of Georgia). Without objection, the gentleman from California is recognized for 5 minutes.
There was no objection.
Mr. CALVERT. The language now in this amendment is consistent with the National Park Service policy, and I would support this language as you presently have it drafted. I would urge its adoption.
I yield back the balance of my time.
Mr. HUFFMAN. I yield 2 minutes to the gentlewoman from Minnesota (Ms. McCollum).

Ms. McCOLLUM. Mr. Chairman, I rise in support of the gentleman's amendment.
This amendment, as Chairman Calvert pointed out, is consistent with

[[Page H4812]]
the recent National Park Service actions to further limit the display of the Confederate flag in units of the National Park system.
Previous National Park Service policy had already provided that the Confederate flag would not be flown alone for many park flagpoles.
On June 25, Park Director Jon Jarvis further requested that the Confederate flag sale items be removed from the National Park bookstores and gift shops. This also follows a decision by several large national retailers, including Walmart, Amazon, and Sears, to stop selling items with Confederate flags on them.
I agree with these decisions and commend those involved for their prompt action.
While in certain and very limited instances it may be appropriate in national parks to display an image of the Confederate flag in its historical context, a general display or sale of Confederate flags is inappropriate and divisive.
I support limiting their use, and I rise in support of the amendment.
Mr. HUFFMAN. Mr. Chairman, I respectfully request an ``aye'' vote.
I yield back the balance of my time.
The Acting CHAIR. The question is on the amendment offered by the gentleman from California (Mr. Huffman).
The amendment was agreed to.

why does every piece of federal legislation end it's title with "and for other purposes?

For the amendments, man, for the amendments...like the ones I posted.

When bills can't pass as stand alone bills on their own merit they're attached to 'must pass' bills as amendments.

And if the opposition pushes against the bill or the amendments they're presented to the public as being against the main purpose of the bill.

"I can't understand why anybody would be against appropriations for the Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies. These are important government agencies and their work is beneficial to America and the American people! And because my opponents are against this bill they are Fascists on a par with Adolf Hitler himself, demagogues of the highest order and counterproductive to America's prosperity! This bill must be passed or America as we know it is doomed!"
/illustrative BS argument on floor of Congress/to the press

See? Weren't you moved by my passion and illogic?

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