Kweisi Mfume: “I extend my sincere thanks to the gentlewoman from Michigan (Mrs. Dingell) and the gentleman from Arkansas (Mr.…”

“I extend my sincere thanks to the gentlewoman from Michigan (Mrs. Dingell) and the gentleman from Arkansas (Mr. Westerman) for their leadership on the floor today and for the long- standing diligence and civility that they bring to each and every debate. It is not lost on me at all. I also thank the ranking member of the Subcommittee on Federal Lands, Representative Grijalva; Representative Tom Tiffany; and Federal Lands Subcommittee Ranking Member Joe Neguse. They have my sincerest appreciation. It has been a bit of a struggle to get to this point, but we found a way to get here in a bipartisan manner, and I am deeply, deeply appreciative. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 6826, legislation to designate the visitor and education center at Fort McHenry National Monument and Historic Shrine as the Paul S. Sarbanes Visitor and Education Center. The Fort McHenry National Monument and Historic Shrine is a unit of the National Park Service, and it resides in the heart of my congressional district in Baltimore. As many Members may know, Fort McHenry was, as was mentioned earlier, the site of the historic Battle of Baltimore, the conflict between British and American forces which came to a head in the War of 1812. During the clash, American forces beat back British sea and land invasions off of the busy port city of Baltimore and permanently neutralized the commander of the invading British forces.…”