[Senate Report 110-313]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
Calendar No. 665
110th Congress Report
SENATE
2d Session 110-313
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BOB HOPE MEMORIAL LIBRARY
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April 10, 2008.--Ordered to be printed
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Mr. Bingaman, from the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources,
submitted the following
R E P O R T
[To accompany H.R. 759]
The Committee on Energy and Natural Resources, to which was
referred the Act (H.R. 759) to redesignate the Ellis Island
Library on the third floor of the Ellis Island Immigration
Museum, located on Ellis Island in New York Harbor, as the
``Bob Hope Memorial Library'', having considered the same,
reports favorably thereon without amendment and recommends that
the Act do pass.
PURPOSE
The purpose of H.R. 759 is to redesignate the Ellis Island
Library on the third floor of the Ellis Island Immigration
Museum, located on Ellis Island in New York Harbor, as the
``Bob Hope Memorial Library.''
BACKGROUND AND NEED
From 1892 to 1954, over twelve million immigrants entered
the United States through immigration facilities located on
Ellis Island, a small island in New York Harbor. Ellis Island
is located in the upper bay just off the New Jersey coast, near
the Statue of Liberty. Today, over 40 percent of America's
population can trace their ancestry through Ellis Island.
The main building of the Immigration Station was restored
after 30 years of abandonment and opened as a museum in 1990,
administered by the National Park Service. The Ellis Island
Library is located on the third floor of the museum and houses
the historical and ethnological resources collection, including
over 1,000 oral histories.
Noted entertainer Bob Hope was born Leslie Townes Hope in
England in 1903. His parents emigrated from England to
Cleveland in 1908, entering the United States through Ellis
Island. Bob Hope's life story exemplifies the story of many who
came to this country through Ellis Island, entering the country
with little, but who then became successful citizens. Bob Hope
died in 2003 at the age of 100.
In recognition of his many decades of work entertaining
American troops overseas, Congress enacted Public Law 105-67 in
1997, which conferred on him status as an honorary U.S. Armed
Forces Veteran. He was awarded the Congressional Gold Medal in
1962, the Medal of Freedom in 1969, and the National Medal of
Arts in 1995.
In commemoration of Bob Hope's lifetime achievements as
someone who entered the country through Ellis Island, H.R. 759
would redesignate the Ellis Island Library as the ``Bob Hope
Memorial Library.''
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY
H.R. 759, sponsored by Congressman Engel and others, passed
the House of Representatives by a vote of 420-1 on March 20,
2007. There is no Senate companion measure. During the 109th
Congress, the House of Representatives passed a similar
measure, H.R. 323. The Senate did not take any action on that
bill.
The Subcommittee on National Parks held a hearing on H.R.
759 on September 11, 2007. (S. Hrg. 110-213.) At its business
meeting on January 30, 2008, the Committee on Energy and
Natural Resources ordered H.R. 759 favorably reported without
amendment.
COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION
The Committee on Energy and Natural Resources, in open
business session on January 30, 2008, by a voice vote of a
quorum present, recommends that the Senate pass H.R. 759.
SECTION-BY-SECTION ANALYSIS
Section 1 provides that the Ellis Island Library, located
on the third floor of the Ellis Island Immigration Museum on
Ellis Island, shall be known and redesignated as the ``Bob Hope
Memorial Library.''
Section 2 states that any legal reference to the Ellis
Island Library shall be deemed to be a reference to the Bob
Hope Memorial Library.
COST AND BUDGETARY CONSIDERATIONS
The following estimate of costs of this measure has been
provided by the Congressional Budget Office:
H.R. 759--An act to redesignate the Ellis Island Library on the third
floor of the Ellis Island Immigration Museum, located on Ellis
Island in New York Harbor, as the ``Bob Hope Memorial Library''
H.R. 759 would redesignate the Ellis Island Library in New
York as the Bob Hope Memorial Library. CBO estimates that
implementing this legislation would have no significant effect
on the operating budget of the Ellis Island Immigration Museum,
which is administered by the National Park Service (NPS). We
expect that one-time costs to revise NPS brochures, maps, and
signs would be minimal because most such revisions would take
place in conjunction with scheduled reprinting and other
routine maintenance. CBO estimates that enacting H.R. 759 would
not affect revenues or direct spending.
H.R. 759 contains no intergovernmental or private-sector
mandates as defined in the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act and
would not affect the budgets of state, local, or tribal
governments.
The CBO staff contact for this estimate is Deborah Reis.
This estimate was approved by Theresa Gullo, Deputy Assistant
Director for Budget Analysis.
REGULATORY IMPACT EVALUATION
In compliance with paragraph 11(b) of rule XXVI of the
Standing Rules of the Senate, the Committee makes the following
evaluation of the regulatory impact which would be incurred in
carrying out H.R. 759. The Act is not a regulatory measure in
the sense of imposing Government-established standards or
significant economic responsibilities on private individuals
and businesses.
No personal information would be collected in administering
the program. Therefore, there would be no impact on personal
privacy.
Little, if any, additional paperwork would result from the
enactment of H.R. 759, as ordered reported.
CONGRESSIONALLY DIRECTED SPENDING
H.R. 759, as reported, does not contain any congressionally
directed spending items, limited tax benefits, or limited
tariff benefits as defined in rule XLIV of the Standing Rules
of the Senate.
EXECUTIVE COMMUNICATIONS
The testimony provided by the National Park Service at the
September 11, 2007 subcommittee hearing on H.R. 759 follows:
Statement of Daniel N. Wenk, Deputy Director, National Park Service,
Department of the Interior
Mr. Chairman and members of the Committee, thank you for
the opportunity to appear before you to present the views of
the Department of the Interior on H.R. 759, a bill to
redesignate the Ellis Island library on the third floor of the
Ellis Island Immigration Museum as the Bob Hope Memorial
Library.
The National Park Service believes there should be a strong
association between the park and the person being commemorated,
and that at least five years should have elapsed since the
death of the person. This basic principle is reflected in our
National Park Service Management Policies. Therefore, the
Department cannot support this bill. On May 12, 2005, the
Department also testified that we could not support H.R. 323,
an identical bill from the 109th Congress.
A unique repository of resources in history, ethnology, and
sociology is located on the third floor of the Immigration
Museum on Ellis Island. The space has been reconfigured to
provide a reading room, a preschool children's reading center,
an archive for controlled storage of valuable paper artifacts,
and a room designed to provide retrieval access to the
library's collection of more than 1,000 oral histories. It is a
resource devoted to the American immigration experience and the
stories of those who came to America with hopes and dreams for
a better life. The library provides important lessons to our
citizens of the meaning of liberty and opportunity in the
history of our nation.
Although Bob Hope's life story exemplifies the experience
of many who came to the United States with little, rose to the
heights of their professions, and gave back in abundance to
their adopted nation, the Department cannot support H.R. 759.
Bob Hope did enter the United States through Ellis Island, as
did many other great Americans; however, there is no compelling
connection between his life and the Ellis Island Immigration
Museum.
Bob Hope was born Leslie Townes Hope, the son of stonemason
William Henry Hope and Avis Townes Hope. The family emigrated
from England to Cleveland, Ohio in 1908, when Leslie, one of
seven children, was not yet five years old. In Cleveland, the
Hope family struggled financially, as they had in England. Mrs.
Hope took in boarders to supplement her husband's erratic
income. She gave singing lessons to Leslie, who entertained his
family with song, impersonations, and dancing. When he left
school at age 16, Leslie worked at a number of part-time jobs.
He boxed for a short time under the name of ``Packy East'' but
later changed his name to Lester Hope. His interest in
entertainment and show business led him to take dancing lessons
and to seek employment as a variety stage entertainer. Not
until he had achieved considerable success on the stage did he
begin using the name, ``Bob Hope.''
Bob Hope's more than fifty-year commitment to public
service has made him one of the most honored and esteemed
performers in history. His charitable work and tours on behalf
of the armed forces brought him the admiration and gratitude of
millions and the friendship of every President of the United
States since Franklin D. Roosevelt.
National Park Service Management Policies 2006 states that
the National Park Service will discourage and curtail
commemorative works, especially commemorative naming, except
when Congress specifically authorizes them or there is a
compelling justification for the recognition, and the
commemorative work is the best way to express the association
between the park and the person, group, event, or other subject
being commemorated. While Bob Hope had a distinguished career,
we do not believe there is sufficient association between him
and the Ellis Island Library to merit renaming the library.
Mr. Chairman, this concludes my statement and I will be
happy to answer any questions that members of the committee may
have.
CHANGES IN EXISTING LAW
In compliance with paragraph 12 of rule XXVI of the
Standing Rules of the Senate, the Committee notes that no
changes in existing law are made by the Act H.R. 759, as
ordered reported.