Palm Coast Times

On Friday, the U.S. Senate approved the Jackie Robinson Ballpark National Commemorative Site Act, a bipartisan effort introduced by Senators Marco Rubio and Raphael Warnock. The House version of the bill was presented by Congressmen Mike Waltz and Darren Soto and had already passed earlier in the week. The legislation now awaits President Biden's signature to become law.

The act aims to honor the Jackie Robinson Ballpark in Daytona Beach, Florida, where Robinson played his first professional game, breaking baseball's color barrier. The stadium is home to the Daytona Tortugas and would be designated as a National Commemorative Site under this legislation. Additionally, it directs the Secretary of Interior to conduct a feasibility study for potentially designating it as a National Historic Landmark. This bill has garnered support from both Major and Minor League Baseball and is co-sponsored by the entire Florida House delegation.

"Jackie Robinson Ballpark in Daytona Beach has been a landmark in the history of the Civil Rights movement and of Florida," said Waltz. "On March 17th, 1946, Jackie Robinson changed professional baseball forever when he stepped out onto the field and broke the color barrier in the sport. His courage that day not only redefined the game but also signaled a profound step forward in the fight for civil rights in America. This bill preserves and honors Jackie Robinson’s legacy, the pivotal role he played in Daytona Beach’s history, and the lasting impact he made on America as a whole. I’m deeply thankful for Senator Rubio and Senator Warnock’s leadership on this bill in the Senate, and I call on President Biden to sign it into law."