On Wednesday, December 7, 2015, the House will consider H.R. 3711, the Chicano Park Preservation Act, under suspension of the rules. H.R. 3711 was introduced on October 8, 2015, by Rep. Juan Vargas (D-CA) and was referred to the House Committee on Natural Resources, which ordered the bill reported, as amended, on November 16, 2016 by unanimous consent.
H.R. 3711 directs the Secretary of the Interior to conduct a special resource study of Chicano Park, located in San Diego, California. The study will evaluate national significant and determine the suitability and feasibility of designating it as a National Historic Landmark or Affiliated Area of the National Park System.
Chicano Park is a 7.4 acre parcel of land in the Barrio Logan community of San Diego. It displays nearly 50 murals depicting the history of Chicano culture and the Chicano Civil Rights Movement. Residents secured the creation of the park in 1970 by protesting the construction of a parking lot on vacant land the city previously promised for the development of a community park. After successfully taking over the land, artists painted dozens of vibrant murals on the pillars and ramps of the San Diego-Coronado Bay Bridge located in the park, creating the largest concentration of Chicano murals in the world.[1]
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[1] See Committee on Natural Resources’ markup memo, H.R. 3711, November 14, 2016
The Congressional Budget Office (CBO) estimates enacting H.R. 3711 would cost $250,000 over the 2017-2021 period, subject to the availability of appropriated funds. CBO further estimates enacting H.R. 3711 would not increase net direct spending or on-budget deficits in any of the four consecutive 10-year periods beginning in 2027.
For questions or further information please contact Jake Vreeburg with the House Republican Policy Committee by email or at 6-1828.
