CHESAPEAKE BAY GATEWAYS AND WATERTRAILS NETWORK REAUTHORIZATION ACT OF 2019; Congressional Record Vol. 166, No. 42
(Extensions of Remarks - March 03, 2020)
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[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E253]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
CHESAPEAKE BAY GATEWAYS AND WATERTRAILS NETWORK REAUTHORIZATION ACT OF
2019
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speech of
HON. ELEANOR HOLMES NORTON
of the district of columbia
in the house of representatives
Wednesday, February 26, 2020
Ms. NORTON. Madam Speaker, I rise in support of the Chesapeake Bay
Gateways and Watertrails Reauthorization Act (H.R. 2427). I am an
original cosponsor of this legislation. This legislation would
reauthorize the Chesapeake Bay Gateways Program for six years,
providing continued congressional support to the National Park Service
(NPS) as it partners with state and local governments to promote public
access to the Chesapeake Bay, which is the nation's largest estuary and
spans six states and my own district, the District of Columbia. Nearly
98 percent of the Bay's vast shoreline is privately owned, with only a
small portion available for public use. The Chesapeake Bay Gateways
Program helps to maximize the effectiveness of public access points to
the Bay by providing resources for infrastructure improvements,
signage, exhibits and public education. The Chesapeake Bay Gateways and
Watertrails network includes over 170 gateways, including parks,
wildlife refuges, maritime museums, historic sites and watertrails,
which serve as points of recreation and exploration along the Bay.
The history of the Bay is rich, and gateways allow the public to
engage with the life of the Bay through learning about its history,
ecology and people. For example, the Captain John Smith Chesapeake
National Historic Trail allows visitors to retrace the journey Captain
John Smith and fellow colonists took when they arrived at the
Chesapeake Bay in 1607. Through over 3,000 miles spanning Virginia,
Maryland, Delaware and the District, visitors can experience the sights
and sounds of the trail both by water and land. Another key point in
the gateway system is the 125-mile Harriet Tubman Underground Railroad
Scenic Byway. Visitors can explore the byway via car and learn about
Harriet Tubman's upbringing in Maryland's Eastern Shore and view
historic sites important to her legacy. Other attractions of note
include the Pamunkey Indian Reservation, the George Washington
Birthplace National Monument and Kingman and Heritage Islands Park in
the District.
The preservation of these sites, and the numerous other gateways
along the Bay, is critical to the NPS's mission of maintaining the
national park system and preserving the legacies of the communities in
which parks and monuments are located. I am proud to support this
legislation and know that it will greatly benefit the District, as well
as the broader Bay region and visitors to these important sites.
I urge my colleagues to support this legislation.
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