Floor SpeechUrgent2026-09-23

REDESIGNATING A PLAYGROUND IN THE NEW RIVER GORGE NATIONAL PARK AND PRESERVE IN THE STATE OF WEST VIRGINIA AS THE "HEARTS OF GOLD PLAYGROUND"

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Context

On 2026-09-23, Senator James C. Justice (R-WV) delivered a floor speech titled "REDESIGNATING A PLAYGROUND IN THE NEW RIVER GORGE NATIONAL PARK AND PRESERVE IN THE STATE OF WEST VIRGINIA AS THE "HEART" in the Senate.

Full Text

REDESIGNATING A PLAYGROUND IN THE NEW RIVER GORGE NATIONAL PARK AND PRESERVE IN THE STATE OF WEST VIRGINIA AS THE "HEARTS OF GOLD PLAYGROUND"

Congressional Record, Volume 172 Issue 151 (Wednesday, September 23, 2026) [Congressional Record Volume 172, Number 151 (Wednesday, September 23, 2026)] [Senate] [Pages S4901-S4902] From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [ www.gpo.gov ] REDESIGNATING A PLAYGROUND IN THE NEW RIVER GORGE NATIONAL PARK AND PRESERVE IN THE STATE OF WEST VIRGINIA AS THE ``HEARTS OF GOLD PLAYGROUND'' Mr. JUSTICE. Mr. President, you know, we are dealing with some tough stuff, aren't we, all over the place. Whether it be the war in Iran or whatever it may be, we deal with tough stuff here every day, every single day. But just imagine this one. Imagine coming home to one of your children and knowing that today--today--you got the prognosis and they have childhood cancer. It can't get any tougher than that. No matter what any of us say, it can't possibly get any tougher than that. I would tell you that my bill, S. 2933, with Senator Capito and Congressman Miller, that we have all jumped on to try to support in every way--it deals about something that is so simple, so, so elementary today. You know, in my State, we have an unbelievable national park in the New River Gorge, and they have a playground there. All we are doing is asking just this: that we rename that playground for all those children--all those children--that absolutely have cancer and are fighting for their lives in every way and all the unbelievable families that are really hurting. The name we want it to be is ``Hearts of Gold Playground.'' It seems so simple, because hearts of gold--think about this: the little gold ribbon. It [[Page S4902]] stands for something that right now is going on all across this country and all across the world. This doesn't have anything to do with swings and slides and everything; it has to do with just absolutely what should touch all of our hearts. Cancer is unthinkable. We have made strides that are off the chart, and every day that goes by, we are a day closer to absolutely curing cancer forever more and eradicating it from our lives. Won't it be an incredible day? With all that being said, the great part about this is we don't have to have food fights, do we? We don't have to pick sides between Republicans and Democrats. We only absolutely need to move forward on goodness--real, real, live goodness. When I was a Governor not long ago, I had the opportunity in September--I think it was on September 13, 2023. I had the opportunity to make in West Virginia a proclamation--you know, that was just a followup to what we already had--make in West Virginia a Childhood Cancer Awareness Month in the month of September. You know, we signed into legislation a thing that absolutely had a new license plate--that had on this license plate ``West Virginia, Cure Childhood Cancer.'' We have done some good things, but today--today--let's get on with unanimous consent to doing something really, really special that maybe a few--that maybe a lot will be there and absolutely feel really good about the moment we stood up for them in every way. God bless all those that are fighting this dreaded disease, all the great families, and all those incredible children. Mr. President, with that being said, notwithstanding rule XXII, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate proceed to the immediate consideration of Calendar No. 645, S. 2933. The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will report the bill by title. The legislative clerk read as follows: A bill (S. 2933) to redesignate a playground in the New River Gorge National Park and Preserve in the State of West Virginia as the ``Hearts of Gold Playground: In Honor of West Virginia Children and Families Impacted by Childhood Cancer''. There being no objection, the Senate proceeded to consider the bill. Mr. JUSTICE. I ask unanimous consent that the bill be considered read a third time and passed and that the motion to reconsider be considered made and laid upon the table. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered. The bill (S. 2933) was ordered to be engrossed for a third reading, was read the third time, and passed as follows: S. 2933 Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, SECTION 1. REDESIGNATION OF THE ``HEARTS OF GOLD PLAYGROUND: IN HONOR OF WEST VIRGINIA CHILDREN AND FAMILIES IMPACTED BY CHILDHOOD CANCER'' IN THE NEW RIVER GORGE NATIONAL PARK AND PRESERVE, WEST VIRGINIA. (a) Redesignation.--The primary playground located in the Grandview area south of the amphitheater at New River Gorge National Park and Preserve in the State of West Virginia shall be known and designated as the ``Hearts of Gold Playground: In Honor of West Virginia Children and Families Impacted by Childhood Cancer''. (b) References.--Any reference in a law, map, regulation, document, paper, or other record of the United States to the playground referred to in subsection (a) shall be deemed to be a reference to the ``Hearts of Gold Playground: In Honor of West Virginia Children and Families Impacted by Childhood Cancer''. Mr. JUSTICE. How about that? Good stuff. The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Tennessee. ____________________

Referenced legislation: S2933, S2933

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REDESIGNATING A PLAYGROUND IN THE NEW RIVER GORGE NATIONAL PARK AND PRESERVE IN THE STATE OF WEST VIRGINIA AS THE "HEARTS OF GOLD PLAYGROUND" Congressional Record, Volume 172 Issue 151 (Wednesday, September 23, 2026) [Congressional Record Volume 172, Number 151 (Wednesday, September 23, 2026)] [Senate] [Pages S4901-S4902] From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [ www.gpo.gov ] REDESIGNATING A PLAYGROUND IN THE NEW RIVER GORGE NATIONAL PARK AND PRESERVE IN THE STATE OF WEST VIRGINIA AS THE ``HEARTS OF GOLD PLAYGROUND'' Mr. JUSTICE. Mr. President, you know, we are dealing with some tough stuff, aren't we, all over the place. Whether it be the war in Iran or whatever it may be, we deal with tough stuff here every day, every single day. But just imagine this one. Imagine coming home to one of your children and knowing that today--today--you got the prognosis and they have childhood cancer. It can't get any tougher than that. No matter what any of us say, it can't possibly get any tougher than that. I would tell you that my bill, S. 2933, with Senator Capito and Congressman Miller, that we have all jumped on to try to support in every way--it deals about something that is so simple, so, so elementary today. You know, in my State, we have an unbelievable national park in the New River Gorge, and they have a playground there. All we are doing is asking just this: that we rename that playground for all those children--all those children--that absolutely have cancer and are fighting for their lives in every way and all the unbelievable families that are really hurting. The name we want it to be is ``Hearts of Gold Playground.'' It seems so simple, because hearts of gold--think about this: the little gold ribbon. It [[Page S4902]] stands for something that right now is going on all across this country and all across the world. This doesn't have anything to do with swings and slides and everything; it has to do with just absolutely what should touch all of our hearts. Cancer is unthinkable. We have made strides that are off the chart, and every day that goes by, we are a day closer to absolutely curing cancer forever more and eradicating it from our lives. Won't it be an incredible day? With all that being said, the great part about this is we don't have to have food fights, do we? We don't have to pick sides between Republicans and Democrats. We only absolutely need to move forward on goodness--real, real, live goodness. When I was a Governor not long ago, I had the opportunity in September--I think it was on September 13, 2023. I had the opportunity to make in West Virginia a proclamation--you know, that was just a followup to what we already had--make in West Virginia a Childhood Cancer Awareness Month in the month of September. You know, we signed into legislation a thing that absolutely had a new license plate--that had on this license plate ``West Virginia, Cure Childhood Cancer.'' We have done some good things, but today--today--let's get on with unanimous consent to doing something really, really special that maybe a few--that maybe a lot will be there and absolutely feel really good about the moment we stood up for them in every way. God bless all those that are fighting this dreaded disease, all the great families, and all those incredible children. Mr. President, with that being said, notwithstanding rule XXII, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate proceed to the immediate consideration of Calendar No. 645, S. 2933. The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will report the bill by title. The legislative clerk read as follows: A bill (S. 2933) to redesignate a playground in the New River Gorge National Park and Preserve in the State of West Virginia as the ``Hearts of Gold Playground: In Honor of West Virginia Children and Families Impacted by Childhood Cancer''. There being no objection, the Senate proceeded to consider the bill. Mr. JUSTICE. I ask unanimous consent that the bill be considered read a third time and passed and that the motion to reconsider be considered made and laid upon the table. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered. The bill (S. 2933) was ordered to be engrossed for a third reading, was read the third time, and passed as follows: S. 2933 Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, SECTION 1. REDESIGNATION OF THE ``HEARTS OF GOLD PLAYGROUND: IN HONOR OF WEST VIRGINIA CHILDREN AND FAMILIES IMPACTED BY CHILDHOOD CANCER'' IN THE NEW RIVER GORGE NATIONAL PARK AND PRESERVE, WEST VIRGINIA. (a) Redesignation.--The primary playground located in the Grandview area south of the amphitheater at New River Gorge National Park and Preserve in the State of West Virginia shall be known and designated as the ``Hearts of Gold Playground: In Honor of West Virginia Children and Families Impacted by Childhood Cancer''. (b) References.--Any reference in a law, map, regulation, document, paper, or other record of the United States to the playground referred to in subsection (a) shall be deemed to be a reference to the ``Hearts of Gold Playground: In Honor of West Virginia Children and Families Impacted by Childhood Cancer''. Mr. JUSTICE. How about that? Good stuff. The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Tennessee. ____________________ Referenced legislation: S2933, S2933