[House Hearing, 105 Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
H.R. 1635, H.R. 755, H.R. 1718, AND H.R. 708
=======================================================================
HEARING
before the
SUBCOMMITTEE ON NATIONAL PARKS AND PUBLIC LANDS
of the
COMMITTEE ON RESOURCES
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
ONE HUNDRED FIFTH CONGRESS
FIRST SESSION
on
H.R. 1635, to Establish Within the United States National Park Service
the National Underground Railroad Network to Freedom Program, and for
Other Purposes. H.R. 755, to Amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to
Allow Individuals to Designate Any Portion of their Income Tax
Overpayments, and to make Other Contributions, for the Benefit of Units
of the National Park System. H.R. 1718, to Provide for the Conveyance
of Certain Lands in Wyoming to the County of Park, Wyoming. H.R. 708,
to Require the Secretary of Interior to Conduct a Study Concerning
Grazing Use of Certain Land within and adjacent to Grand Teton National
Park, Wyoming, and to Extend Temporarily Certain Grazing Privileges.
__________
JULY 22, 1997--WASHINGTON, DC
__________
Serial No. 105-37
__________
Printed for the use of the Committee on Resources
U.S. GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE
44-138 CC WASHINGTON : 1997
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
For sale by the U.S. Government Printing Office
Superintendent of Documents, Congressional Sales Office, Washington, DC 20402
COMMITTEE ON RESOURCES
DON YOUNG, Alaska, Chairman
W.J. (BILLY) TAUZIN, Louisiana GEORGE MILLER, California
JAMES V. HANSEN, Utah EDWARD J. MARKEY, Massachusetts
JIM SAXTON, New Jersey NICK J. RAHALL II, West Virginia
ELTON GALLEGLY, California BRUCE F. VENTO, Minnesota
JOHN J. DUNCAN, Jr., Tennessee DALE E. KILDEE, Michigan
JOEL HEFLEY, Colorado PETER A. DeFAZIO, Oregon
JOHN T. DOOLITTLE, California ENI F.H. FALEOMAVAEGA, American
WAYNE T. GILCHREST, Maryland Samoa
KEN CALVERT, California NEIL ABERCROMBIE, Hawaii
RICHARD W. POMBO, California SOLOMON P. ORTIZ, Texas
BARBARA CUBIN, Wyoming OWEN B. PICKETT, Virginia
HELEN CHENOWETH, Idaho FRANK PALLONE, Jr., New Jersey
LINDA SMITH, Washington CALVIN M. DOOLEY, California
GEORGE P. RADANOVICH, California CARLOS A. ROMERO-BARCELO, Puerto
WALTER B. JONES, Jr., North Rico
Carolina MAURICE D. HINCHEY, New York
WILLIAM M. (MAC) THORNBERRY, Texas ROBERT A. UNDERWOOD, Guam
JOHN SHADEGG, Arizona SAM FARR, California
JOHN E. ENSIGN, Nevada PATRICK J. KENNEDY, Rhode Island
ROBERT F. SMITH, Oregon ADAM SMITH, Washington
CHRIS CANNON, Utah WILLIAM D. DELAHUNT, Massachusetts
KEVIN BRADY, Texas CHRIS JOHN, Louisiana
JOHN PETERSON, Pennsylvania DONNA CHRISTIAN-GREEN, Virgin
RICK HILL, Montana Islands
BOB SCHAFFER, Colorado RON KIND, Wisconsin
JIM GIBBONS, Nevada LLOYD DOGGETT, Texas
MICHAEL D. CRAPO, Idaho
Lloyd A. Jones, Chief of Staff
Elizabeth Megginson, Chief Counsel
Christine Kennedy, Chief Clerk/Administrator
John Lawrence, Democratic Staff Director
------
Subcommittee on National Parks and Public Lands
JAMES V. HANSEN, Utah, Chairman
ELTON, GALLEGLY, California ENI F.H. FALEOMAVAEGA, American
JOHN J. DUNCAN, Jr., Tennessee Samoa
JOEL HEFLEY, Colorado EDWARD J. MARKEY, Massachusetts
WAYNE T. GILCHREST, Maryland NICK J. RAHALL II, West Virginia
RICHARD W. POMBO, California BRUCE F. VENTO, Minnesota
HELEN CHENOWETH, Idaho DALE E. KILDEE, Michigan
LINDA SMITH, Washington FRANK PALLONE, Jr., New Jersey
GEORGE P. RADANOVICH, California CARLOS A. ROMERO-BARCELO, Puerto
WALTER B. JONES, Jr., North Rico
Carolina MAURICE D. HINCHEY, New York
JOHN B. SHADEGG, Arizona ROBERT A. UNDERWOOD, Guam
JOHN E. ENSIGN, Nevada PATRICK J. KENNEDY, Rhode Island
ROBERT F. SMITH, Oregon WILLIAM D. DELAHUNT, Massachusetts
RICK HILL, Montana DONNA CHRISTIAN-GREEN, Virgin
JIM GIBBONS, Nevada Islands
RON KIND, Wisconsin
LLOYD DOGGETT, Texas
Allen Freemyer, Counsel
Dan Smith, Professional Staff
Liz Birnbaum, Democratic Counsel
C O N T E N T S
----------
Page
Hearing held July 22, 1997....................................... 1
Statements of Members:
Christian-Green, Hon. Donna, a Representative in Congress
from the Virgin Islands.................................... 7
Prepared statement of.................................... 8
Cubin, Hon. Barbara, a Representative in Congress from the
State of Wyoming........................................... 14
Prepared statement of.................................... 16
Duncan, Hon. John J., Jr., a Representative in Congress from
the State of Tennessee..................................... 4
Prepared statement of.................................... 5
Hansen, Hon. James, a Representative in Congress from the
State of Utah.............................................. 1
Prepared statement of.................................... 3
Portman, Hon. Rob, a Representative in Congress from the
State of Ohio.............................................. 10
Prepared statement of.................................... 12
Stokes, Hon. Louis, a Representative in Congress from the
State of Ohio.............................................. 8
Prepared statement of.................................... 10
Statements of witnesses:
Blockson, Charles L., Curator, Charles L. Blockson Afro-
American Collection, Temple University..................... 24
Prepared statement of.................................... 89
Eisenberg, Albert C., Deputy Director for Conservation
Policy, National Parks and Conservation Association........ 32
Prepared statement of.................................... 110
Galvin, Denis P., Acting Deputy Director, National Park
Service.................................................... 17
Prepared statement of.................................... 61
Gantt-Wright, Iantha, Diversity Outreach Manager, National
Parks and Conservation Association......................... 22
Prepared statement of.................................... 86
Howe, Allan T., Washington Representative, National Park
Hospitality Association.................................... 34
Prepared statement of.................................... 136
Martinez, Eluid, Commissioner, Bureau of Reclamation......... 18
Prepared statement of.................................... 72
Nelson, Cathy, State Coordinator, Ohio Underground Railroad
Association................................................ 26
Prepared statement of.................................... 93
Rigaud, Edwin J., Executive Director, National Underground
Railroad Freedom Center, Cincinnati, Ohio.................. 28
Prepared statement of.................................... 98
Additional material supplied:
List of Friends of Freedom Society........................... 95
Maynard, Charles W., Executive Director, Friends of Great
Smoky Mountains National Park Sevierville, Tennessee,
prepared statement of...................................... 143
Snowe, Hon. Olympia J., additional testimony submitted by for
Maine Underground Railroad Association..................... 75
Text of H.R. 1635............................................ 39
Text of H.R. 755............................................. 46
Text of H.R. 1718............................................ 51
Text of H.R. 708............................................. 56
HEARING ON:
H.R. 1635, TO ESTABLISH WITHIN THE UNITED STATES NATIONAL PARK SERVICE
THE NATIONAL UNDERGROUND RAILROAD NETWORK TO FREEDOM PROGRAM, AND FOR
OTHER PURPOSES.
H.R. 755, TO AMEND THE INTERNAL REVENUE CODE OF 1986 TO ALLOW
INDIVIDUALS TO DESIGNATE ANY PORTION OF THEIR INCOME TAX OVERPAYMENTS,
AND TO MAKE OTHER CONTRIBUTIONS, FOR THE BENEFIT OF UNITS OF THE
NATIONAL PARK SYSTEM.
H.R. 1718, TO PROVIDE FOR THE CONVEYANCE OF CERTAIN LANDS IN WYOMING TO
THE COUNTY OF PARK, WYOMING.
H.R. 708, TO REQUIRE THE SECRETARY OF INTERIOR TO CONDUCT A STUDY
CONCERNING GRAZING USE OF CERTAIN LAND WITHIN AND ADJACENT TO GRAND
TETON NATIONAL PARK, WYOMING, AND TO EXTEND TEMPORARILY CERTAIN GRAZING
PRIVILEGES.
----------
TUESDAY, JULY 22, 1997
House of Representatives, Subcommittee on National
Parks and Public Lands, Committee on Resources,
Washington, DC.
The Subcommittee met, pursuant to notice, at 10 a.m., Room
1324, Longworth House Office Building, Hon. James V. Hansen
(Chairman of the Subcommittee) presiding.
STATEMENT OF HON. JAMES HANSEN, A REPRESENTATIVE IN CONGRESS
FROM THE STATE OF UTAH
Mr. Hansen. The Subcommittee on National Parks and Public
Lands convenes to receive testimony on several bills. I want to
welcome the members who join us today as sponsors and co-
sponsors of the legislation before us. We will hear H.R. 1635
by Mr. Stokes and Mr. Portman to establish the National
Underground Railroad Network to Freedom program, H.R. 755 by
Mr. Duncan to allow a tax checkoff for contribution to the
National Park System, H.R. 1718 by Mrs. Cubin to transfer lands
in Park County, Wyoming, and H.R. 708, also by Mrs. Cubin, to
study and extent grazing rights on lands within and adjacent to
Grand Teton National Park.
The first bill we will hear today is H.R. 1635, the
National Underground Railroad Network to Freedom Act of 1997.
The bill was introduced by our colleagues Mr. Stokes and Mr.
Portman, who are here today to testify. The bill has over 70
co-sponsors representing broad bipartisan support.
H.R. 1635 does not create any additional units to the
National Park System, but provides for the National Park System
to establish a program to coordinate, produce and distribute
interpretative educational materials, enter into cooperative
agreements to provide technical assistance to State and local
governments in the private sector, and provides an official
symbol for the 380 sites and structures associated with this
historic social and humanitarian movement to resist slavery in
the United States in the 1800's.
H.R. 755 is the National Parks Checkoff Act, introduced by
Mr. Duncan, a member of this Subcommittee. This bill would
amend the Internal Revenue Code to allow individual taxpayers
to voluntarily designate a portion of their overpayment of
Federal income tax or make a contribution in addition to their
Federal tax payment of one dollar or more for the benefit of
the National Park Service.
This concept is unique in that there is no budgetary
impact. This is a voluntary decision by the taxpayer. None of
the funds can be used for land acquisition, but only for
operation and maintenance of the units of the National Park
System.
The next bill is H.R. 1718. H.R. 1718 provides for the
conveyance of 190 acres of land in Wyoming to the County of
Park, Wyoming. The land conveyed can only be used for economic
development by the county or, if the property is transferred to
a local non-profit organization, solely for the purposes of
economic development. This bill would convey all right, title
and interest, except for any right or interest in oil and gas
reserves, which would remain held by the U.S. Government. As
originally proposed, if within 5 years of the authorization of
the conveyance the Secretary determines that the property is
not being used for economic development, then right, title and
interest shall revert back to the Federal Government. The
Federal Government also agrees to hold harmless future owners
from violations that may have occurred from past activity. We
are aware of a few concerns with this bill that have recently
come to light, and Mrs. Cubin will describe H.R. 1718 and some
of the concerns when the time comes.
Lastly, H.R. 708, sponsored by Mrs. Cubin, is designated to
address a problem that is beginning to affect many of our
Federal lands, and that is development up to the boundaries of
our parks and recreation areas. I am the last person in
Congress to endorse buffer zones, however in this instance Mrs.
Cubin has crafted a solution that I believe will insure
responsible grazing in and around the park for years to come
and will insure the benefits these ranchers provide the park
and its resources are not taken over by con-
dominium developments. Many people forget that if we run the
true stewards of our Federal lands off these lands, the private
lands will likely be sold and developed for purposes that are
completely in contradiction to conservation and responsible
commodity products.
We will hear from Mr. Duncan first. Mrs. Cubin is second,
and then members from the Committee in the order they arrive. I
ask unanimous consent that any of these members be allowed to
join us on the dias after their testimony. We will then call
upon Administration witnesses, Mr. Galvin and Mr. Martinez, to
testify on the bills before us. Panel II will address H.R.
1635. Panel III will address H.R. 755. We appreciate the
testimony attendants and look forward to their testimony.
[Statement of Hon. James Hansen follows:]
Statement of Hon. James V. Hansen, a Representative in Congress from
the State of Utah
The Subcommittee on National Parks and Public Lands
convenes to receive testimony on several bills. I want to
welcome the Members who join us today as sponsors and co-
sponsors of the legislation before us. We will hear H.R. 1635
by Mr. Stokes and Mr. Portman to establish the National
Underground Railroad Network to Freedom program, H.R. 755, by
Mr. Duncan to allow a tax cheek-off for contributions to the
National Park System, H.R. 1718, by Mrs. Cubin to transfer
lands in Park County, Wyoming and H.R. 708, also by Mrs. Cubin
to study and extend grazing rights on lands within and adjacent
to Grand Teton National Park.
The first bill we will hear today is H.R. 1635, ``The
National Underground Railroad Network to Freedom Act of 1997.''
The bill was introduced by our colleagues Mr. Stokes and Mr.
Portman, who are here today to testify. The bill has over 70
co-sponsors representing broad bipartisan support.
H.R. 1635 does not create any additional units to the
National Park System, but provides for the National Park
Service to establish a program to coordinate, produce and
distribute interpretative educational materials, enter into
cooperative agreements to provide technical assistance to State
and local governments and the private sector; and provide an
official symbol for the 380 sites and structures associated
with this historic social and humanitarian movement to resist
slavery in the United States in the 1800's.
H.R. 755 is The National Parks Checkoff Act, introduced by
Mr. Duncan, a Member of this Subcommittee. The bill would amend
the Internal Revenue Code to allow individual taxpayers to
voluntarily designate a portion of their overpayment of Federal
income tax, or make a contribution in addition to their Federal
Tax payment, of one dollar or more for the benefit of the
National Park System.
This concept is unique in that there is no budgetary
impact. This is a voluntary decision by the taxpayer. None of
the funds can be used for land acquisition, but only for
operation and maintenance of the units of the National Park
System.
The next bill is H.R. 1718. H.R. 1718 provides for the
conveyance of 190 acres of land in Wyoming to the County of
Park, Wyoming. The land conveyed can only be used for economic
development by the county or, if the property is transferred,
to a local non-profit organization, solely for the purposes of
economic development. This bill would convey all right, title,
and interest, except for any right or interest in oil and gas
reserves, which would remain held by the U.S. Government. As
originally proposed, if within 5 years of the authorization of
the conveyance, the Secretary determines that the property is
not being used for economic development, then right, title, and
interest shall revert back to the Federal Government. The
Federal Government also agrees to hold harmless future owners
from violations that may have occurred from past activity. We
are aware of a few concerns with this bill that have recently
come to light and Mrs. Cubin will describe H.R. 1718 and some
of the concerns.
Lastly, H.R. 708, sponsored by Mrs. Cubin is designed to
address a problem that is beginning to affect many of our
Federal lands and that is development up to the boundaries of
our parks and recreation areas. I am the last person in
Congress to endorse buffer zones; however, in this instance,
Mrs. Cubin has crafted a solution that I believe will insure
responsible grazing in and around the park for years to come
and will insure the benefits these ranches provide the park and
its resources are not taken over by condominium developments.
Many people forget that if we run the true stewards of our
Federal lands off those lands, the private lands will likely be
sold and developed for purposes that are completely in
contradiction to conservation and responsible commodity
production.
We will hear from Mr. Duncan on H.R. 755 first, Mrs. Cubin,
who sits on the Full Committee, second and then Members from
off the Committee in the order they arrived. I ask unanimous
consent that any of these Members be allowed to join us on the
dais after their testimony. We will then call the
Administration witnesses, Mr. Galvin and Mr. Martinez to
testify on all of the bills before us. Panel II will address
H.R. 1635 and then Panel III will address H.R. 755. We
appreciate the witnesses attendance and look forward to the
testimony.
Mr. Hansen. Mr. Duncan, do you have any opening statement,
sir?
STATEMENT OF HON. JOHN J. DUNCAN, JR., A REPRESENTATIVE IN
CONGRESS FROM THE STATE OF TENNESSEE
Mr. Duncan. Well, Mr. Chairman, first I would like to thank
you for holding this hearing. You have already explained H.R.
755, the National Parks Checkoff Act. This is a simple bill
that would place a checkoff box on Federal income tax forms so
that taxpayers could make donations, voluntary donations, to
our National Parks. Unlike the Presidential Checkoff, this
would not divert funds from the Treasury. Taxpayers would only
be able to give above what they already owe or return part of
their refund for this purpose. They would not be allowed to
divert part of their tax dollars toward this fund. Therefore,
it would not have any negative impacts upon the Federal budget.
The other point that--another major point that should be
noted is that this legislation would not allow any of this
money to be used for land acquisition. This is because I and
many others feel that this money should be used to address the
estimated $4 to $6 billion maintenance backlog that the Park
Service currently has. I do not think we should be expanding
the National Park System at a time that we are having such
extreme difficulties taking care of what we already have.
This bill has strong bipartisan support. It has at this
time a total of 70 co-sponsors, 35 Democrats and 35
Republicans. Nine members of this Subcommittee are co-sponsors,
including the Chairman and the Ranking Member. And, Mr.
Chairman, I want to say that I certainly appreciate your
support of this legislation.
In addition, this bill has received the support of the Full
Committee Chairman, Representative Don Young, and the Chairman
of the Interior Appropriations Subcommittee, Representative
Ralph Regula. This bill has also been endorsed by organizations
such as the National Tour Association, the American Hiking
Society, America Outdoors, Friends of the Smokies and several
other leading organizations. I believe we will also hear today
from witnesses from the National Parks and Conservation
Association and the National Parks Hospitality Association on
this bill.
Mr. Chairman, I believe that the Federal Government should
take a closer look at some of the State programs which have
been so successful which are similar to this. A report recently
released by the Federation of Tax Administrators found that
``State income tax checkoffs have proven to be popular ways of
providing funding for various causes during times of tight
State budgets.''
Currently 41 States have some type of checkoff on their
State income tax forms. At least 37 of these raise money for
conservation funds. During the 1980's these checkoffs brought
in over $30 million a year according to a USA Today article
recently published. In addition, my staff was told by the
Maryland Natural Resources Department that $1 million was
raised last year alone through its checkoff program to protect
the Chesapeake Bay.
Mr. Chairman, if this legislation were passed, I really
believe that it could raise a substantial amount. In fact, I
believe hundreds of millions of dollars could be raised for our
national parks. I believe this because Americans really love
and support these parks and they are willing to pitch in to
help. One national poll showed that 80 percent of the people
would support a checkoff fund such as this on their income tax
returns if they were allowed to do so.
Let me just mention a couple other things. When the C&O
Canal was destroyed by flooding, numerous people volunteered
their time and money to help restore the canal. In fact, the
Park Service at the C&O Canal estimated that over $1 million
was donated and over 4,000 people donated time to help clean
up.
In my own district a group of individuals formed the
Friends of the Smokies three years ago to help the Great Smoky
Mountains National Park. In just this short period of time,
this organization has raised over $1.3 million for the Park.
This Friends group placed a donation box at one of the more
popular points in the park. At the height of the visitation
season, this box took in more than $1,000 a day.
The legislation I have introduced simply places a donation
box on tax forms and does not require any specific amount. It
just says any even dollar amount. Many people would donate one
dollar, five dollars, but some people might even donate
extremely large amounts if they were allowed to do so or
encouraged in this way.
In conclusion, Mr. Chairman, we all know about the problems
which exist in our national parks, and it was highlighted just
last week in the cover story by U.S. News and World Report
called Parks In Peril. I agree that many of our parks are in
peril, however I disagree with one point made in the magazine.
The cover of its July 21 edition stated that there is
Congressional indifference toward our parks. I think that the
fact that you are holding this hearing and the many other
things that this Subcommittee has done under your direction,
such as allowing parks to keep more of the fees they collect,
shows that everyone on this Subcommittee and many, many people
in this Congress are very concerned about the condition of our
national parks.
I believe that passage of H.R. 755, the National Parks
Checkoff Act, will go a long way toward protecting these
national treasures for future generations.
Again, Mr. Chairman, I would like to thank you very much
for holding this hearing and for supporting this legislation
and for giving me the opportunity to discuss the merits of this
legislation.
[Statement of Hon. John Duncan follows:]
Statement of Hon. John J. Duncan, Jr., a Representative in Congress
from the State of Tennessee
First, I would like to thank the Chairman for holding this
hearing.
H.R. 755, the National Parks Checkoff Act, would simply
place a checkoff box on Federal income tax forms so that
taxpayers could make donations to our National Parks.
Unlike the Presidential Checkoff, this would not divert
funds from the Treasury.
Taxpayers would only be able to give above what they
already owe, or return part of their refund for this cause.
They would not be allowed to divert part of their tax
dollars toward this fund. Therefore, it would not have any
negative impacts upon the Federal budget.
The other point that should be noted is that this
legislation would not allow any of this money to be used for
land acquisition.
I feel that this money should be used to address the
estimated $4 to $6 billion maintenance backlog the Park Service
currently has.
I do not think that we should expand the National Park
System when we cannot take care of what we already have.
This bill has strong bipartisan support. It has a total of
70 cosponsors--35 Democrats and 35 Republicans. Nine Members of
this Subcommittee are cosponsors, including the Chairman and
the Ranking Member. I want say that I appreciate their support.
In addition, this legislation has received the support of
the Full Committee Chairman, Rep. Don Young, and the Interior
Appropriations Subcommittee Chairman, Rep. Ralph Regula.
This bill has also been endorsed by organizations such as
the National Tour Association, the American Hiking Society,
America Outdoors, Friends of the Smokies, and I believe we will
hear from our witnesses today, the National Parks and
Conservation Association and the National Parks Hospitality
Association, as to where they stand on this bill.
Mr. Chairman, I believe that the Federal Government should
take a closer look at some of the State programs which have
been successful.
A report recently released by the Federation of Tax
Administrators found that:
``State income tax check-offs have proven to be popular ways of
providing funding for various causes during times of tight
State budgets.''
Currently, 41 States have some type of checkoff on their
State income tax forms.
At least 37 of these raise money for conservation funds.
During the 1980's these checkoffs brought in over $30 million a
year according to a USA Today article recently published.
In addition, my staff was told by the Maryland Natural
Resources Department that $1 million was raised last year
through its checkoff program to protect the Chesapeake Bay.
Mr. Chairman, if this legislation were passed, I really
believe that it could raise a substantial amount of money for
our Parks.
I believe this because Americans really love their parks,
and they are willing to pitch in to help.
Let me give you just a couple of examples.
When the C&O Canal was destroyed by flooding, numerous
people volunteered their time and money to help restore the
Canal. In fact, the Park Service at the C&O Canal estimated
that over $1 million was donated and over 4,000 people
volunteered to help with the clean up.
In my own District, a group of individuals formed the
Friends of the Smokies 3 years ago to help the Great Smoky
Mountains National Park. In just this short period of time,
this organization has raised over $1.3 million for the Park.
This Friends group placed a donation box at one of the more
popular points in the Park. At the height of the visitation
season this box took in more than $1,000 a day.
The legislation I have introduced simply places a donation
box on tax forms. I believe, it, too, can do great things for
our parks.
In conclusion, Mr. Chairman, we all know about the problems
which exist in our parks, as it was highlighted in a recent
cover story by U.S. News and World Report.
I agree that many of our parks are in peril, however, I
disagree with one point made in this magazine. The cover of its
July 21st edition stated that there is congressional
indifference toward our parks.
I think that the fact you are holding this hearing, and the
many other things that this Subcommittee has done under your
direction, such as allowing parks to keep more of the fees they
collect, shows that everyone on this Subcommittee is very
concerned about the condition of our National Parks.
I believe that the passage of H.R. 755, the National Parks
Checkoff Act, will go a long way toward protecting these
national treasures for future generations.
Again, Mr. Chairman, I would like to thank you for holding
this hearing and giving me the opportunity to discuss the
merits of this legislation, and I yield back the balance of my
time.
Mr. Hansen. Thank the gentleman.
Mr. Duncan. Thank you.
STATEMENT OF HON. DONNA CHRISTIAN-GREEN, A REPRESENTATIVE IN
CONGRESS FROM THE VIRGIN ISLANDS
Ms. Christian-Green. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. And it is a
distinct honor and pleasure for me not only to be able to give
these brief opening remarks in support of H.R. 1635, the
National Underground Railroad Network to Freedom Bill, but also
to welcome our esteemed colleagues who have sponsored this
historic piece of legislation, and the other outstanding
panelists this morning.
I am proud to be a co-sponsor of this historic bill, and I
look forward to hearing the witnesses' testimony.
I am especially pleased and proud to welcome Congressman
Lou Stokes, the dean of the Congressional Black Caucus, and
someone who has graciously taken me under his wing since I have
arrived at the House. And I want to take this opportunity to
thank him for his leadership on this issue, as well as on
health care and on other issues of importance to the integrity
of this Nation.
In 1990 the Congress, in its wisdom, directed what I am
sure was a very willing National Park Service to study how best
to interpret and commemorate the Underground Railroad. I trust
that this Committee and this Congress will be just as wise and
pass this significant piece of legislation.
As we embark on a national dialog on race and its impact on
our past, present and future, the memorializing of this
testament to the courage and sacrifice of many people of all
persuasions and to the spirit, strength and the determination
of the Africans who had been forced into brutal slavery will be
an important legacy.
Already the investigators have greatly expanded our
knowledge of this important heritage trail. We now know that
this was a far more complex and expansive network than we
thought. I am particularly happy that their investigation went
beyond the borders of the continent to the Caribbean, and I
trust they have included the escape routes to freedom which my
ancestors used from the Virgin Islands to nearby Puerto Rico.
From this study, and the bill before us today, we will come
to know the many heretofore nameless individuals and groups who
made the route come alive, and the traditions that created its
culture. All were an integral part of the entire experience. An
experience which, with the passage of this legislation, will
bring us closer to realizing this effort which will serve to
enrich the lives of all Americans.
I get very excited when I think about this project and its
unlimited potential to be a part of the education of this
country, the healing of our diverse community and a source of
strength, direction and hope for our children.
So I again thank the panelists and you, Mr. Chairman, for
holding this hearing and for this opportunity to voice my
enthusiasm and support for this important project. And I urge
all of my colleagues to give it their unqualified and
wholehearted support, as well.
Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
[Statement of Hon. Donna Christian-Green follows:]
Statement of Hon. Donna M. Christian-Green before the Subcommittee on
National Parks on H.R. 1635, to establish The National Underground
Railroad Network to Freedom Program--July 22, 1997
Thank you Mr. Chairman:
It is a distinct privilege and honor, not only to be able
to give these brief opening remarks in support of H.R. 1635,
the National Underground Railroad Network to Freedom Bill, but
to also welcome our esteemed colleagues who have sponsored this
historic piece of legislation, and the other outstanding
panelists.
I am proud to also be a cosponsor of this historic bill and
I look forward to hearing the witnesses' testimony.
I am especially pleased and proud to welcome Congressman
Lou Stokes, the dean of the Congressional Black Caucus, and
someone who has graciously taken me under his wing since my
coming to the House.
I want to take this opportunity to thank him for his
leadership on this issue, as well as, on health care and on
other issues of importance to the integrity of our Nation.
In 1990, the Congress in its wisdom directed, what I am
sure was a very willing National Park Service, to study how
best to interpret and commemorate the Underground Railroad.
I trust that this Committee and this Congress will be just
as wise and pass this significant piece of legislation.
As we embark on a national dialog on race, and its impact
on our past, present and future, the memorializing of this
testament to the courage and sacrifice of many people, of all
persuasions, and to the spirit, strength, and the determination
of the Africans who had been forced into brutal slavery, will
be an important legacy.
Already the investigators have greatly expanded our
knowledge of this important heritage trail. We now know that
this was a far more complex and expansive network than we
thought.
I am particularly happy that their investigation went
beyond the borders of the continent to the Caribbean, and I
trust they have included the escape routes to freedom which my
ancestors used from the Virgin Islands to nearby Puerto Rico.
From this study, and the bill before us today, we will come
to know the many heretofore nameless individuals and groups who
made the route come alive, and the traditions that created its
culture.
All were an integral part of the entire experience. An
experience which, with passage of this legislation, will bring
us closer to realizing this effort which will serve to enrich
the lives of all Americans.
I get very excited when I think about this project and its
unlimited potential to be a part of the education of this
country, the healing of our diverse community, and a source of
strength, direction and hope for our children.
Again, I thank the panelists and you Mr. Chairman for
holding this hearing and for this opportunity to voice my
enthusiasm and support for this important project, and I urge
all of my colleagues to give it their wholehearted and
unqualified support as well.
Mr. Hansen. Thank you. The gentlelady from Wyoming, Mrs.
Cubin.
Mrs. Cubin. I don't have an opening statement.
Mr. Hansen. The gentleman from Nevada has no opening
statement. We are honored to have our two distinguished
colleagues with us today from Ohio who will testify regarding
H.R. 1635. the National Underground Railroad Bill. We will
first hear from the Honorable Lou Stokes, who I had the
privilege of serving as his ranking member for a number of
years, and a very distinguished member of our group, and also
our distinguished friend from Ohio, the Honorable Rob Portman.
We are grateful for both of you being here.
Lou, we will start with you.
STATEMENT OF HON. LOUIS STOKES, A REPRESENTATIVE IN CONGRESS
FROM THE STATE OF OHIO
Mr. Stokes. Thank you very much, Mr. Chairman and members
of the Subcommittee. Mr. Chairman, before I begin my testimony,
I want to take just a moment to express my appreciation to you
for the expeditious manner in which you have responded to the
request of Mr. Portman and myself to conduct hearings on our
jointly sponsored legislation. We appreciate very much your
responsiveness in this matter.
I am pleased to appear before your panel this morning as
you consider H.R. 1635, the National Underground Railroad
Network to Freedom Act of 1997. My colleague, Congress Rob
Portman, and I introduced this legislation in May. Since its
introduction, the bill has enjoyed strong support on both sides
of the aisle. As of this morning, we very proudly say to you
that we now have 92 co-sponsors here in the House. This
Subcommittee hearing represents an important step in our
bipartisan effort to secure the enactment of H.R. 1635.
The issue of slavery brings to mind a painful chapter in
our Nation's history. As a result of forced enslavement,
America witnessed the birth of a movement that would carry
masses of people from slave quarters in the South to freedom in
northern cities of the United States, Mexico, Canada and the
Caribbean. This movement became known as the Underground
Railroad.
History teaches us that the Underground Railroad flourished
from the end of the 18th century to the end of the Civil War.
It was one of the most significant expressions of the American
Civil Rights Movement. During its evolution over more than
three centuries, the Underground Railroad movement helped
thousands of African Americans gain the freedom and human
dignity they were endowed with at their birth.
Mr. Chairman, H.R. 1635, the National Underground Railroad
Network to Freedom Act, is a good bill. Through the National
Park Service, the measure will link Underground Railroad sites.
The legislation directs the Secretary of the Interior to
produce appropriate educational materials associated with the
Underground Railroad. Further, the bill seeks to encourage
public and private partnerships to tell the story of the
Underground Railroad.
It is our hope that through this legislation, we can
educate all people concerning this important episode in
American history. Second, we want to bring our country together
by facing the lingering vestiges of our dehumanizing past, so
that we can find common ground and move forward as a people. I
am convinced that we cannot solve our racial problems unless we
find a way to bring the American people together in the same
manner the Underground Railroad bridged our divisions of race,
religion, nationalities and spanned State lines and, indeed,
international borders.
I am pleased that a number of distinguished experts are
joining us this morning to offer their strong support for the
Underground Railroad bill. We are grateful for this high level
of support.
Before I close, Mr. Chairman, I also want to thank Mr. Dan
Smith and the other members of your staff for the cooperation
and the work that they did with us in order to bring this bill
before you this morning. I also want to specifically thank Ms.
Minnie Kenny and Ms. Joyce Larkin, members of my own staff, who
worked so diligently on this legislation, along with members of
Mr. Portman's staff. We have had an excellent working
relationship, everyone here, to produce the bill we bring
before you this morning.
So, Mr. Chairman, I thank you for the opportunity to
address the Subcommittee, and I will be pleased to answer any
questions if there are any.
[Statement of Hon. Louis Stokes follows:]
Statement of Hon. Louis Stokes, a Representative in Congress from the
State of Ohio
Mr. Chairman, Members of the Subcommittee. Before I begin
my testimony, I want to express my appreciation to you for the
expeditious manner in which you have responded to the request
of Mr. Portman and myself to conduct hearings on our jointly-
sponsored legislation.
I am pleased to appear before your panel this morning as
you consider H.R. 1635, The National Underground Railroad
Network to Freedom Act of 1997. My colleague, Congressman Rob
Portman, and I introduced this legislation in May. Since its
introduction, the bill has enjoyed strong support on both sides
of the aisle. This Subcommittee hearing represents an important
step in our bipartisan effort to secure the enactment of H.R.
1635.
The issue of slavery brings to mind a painful chapter in
our Nation's history. As a result of forced enslavement,
America witnessed the birth of a movement that would carry
masses of people from slave quarters in the south to freedom in
northern cities of the United States, Mexico, Canada and the
Caribbean. This movement became known as ``The Underground
Railroad."
History teaches us that the underground railroad flourished
from the end of the 18th century to the end of the civil war.
It was one of the most significant expressions of the American
Civil Rights Movement during its evolution over more than three
centuries. The Underground Railroad Movement helped thousands
of African Americans to gain the freedom and human dignity they
were endowed with at birth.
Mr. Chairman, H.R. 1635, ``The National Underground
Railroad Network to Freedom Act,'' is a good bill. Through the
National Park Service, the measure will link underground
railroad sites. The legislation directs the Secretary of the
Interior to produce appropriate educational materials
associated with the underground railroad. Further, the bill
seeks to encourage public and private partnerships to tell the
story of the underground railroad.
It is our hope that through this legislation, we can
educate all people concerning this important episode in
American history. Second, we want to bring our country together
by facing the lingering vestiges of our dehumanizing past, so
that we can find common ground and move forward as a people. I
am convinced that we cannot solve our racial problems unless we
find a way to bring the American people together in the same
manner the underground railroad bridged the divisions of race,
religion, nationalities, and spanned State lines and
international borders.
I am pleased that a number of distinguished experts are
joining us this morning to offer their strong support for the
underground railroad bill. we are grateful for this high level
of support.
Thank you, Mr. Chairman, for the opportunity to address the
Subcommittee. I would be pleased to answer any questions at
this time.
Mr. Hansen. Thank you, Mr. Stokes. Appreciate your
comments.
Mr. Portman, we will hear from you.
STATEMENT OF HON. ROB PORTMAN, A REPRESENTATIVE IN CONGRESS
FROM THE STATE OF OHIO
Mr. Portman. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Mr. Duncan, Ms.
Christian-Green, Mrs. Cubin, we appreciate the opportunity to
be before you today.
Mr. Chairman, I would like to echo the comments of my
colleague, Mr. Stokes, in thanking you for having this hearing
and helping us to expedite this process. This is a very
important topic, and I think it is important that the
Subcommittee, Full Committee and the Congress move forward on
it.
I want to commend Lou Stokes--he is the original sponsor of
this legislation--for his leadership and also thank other
Members of Congress who have signed on, and the experts and
supporters of this project, many of whom are here with us
today.
As Congressman Stokes mentioned, H.R. 1635 now has strong
bipartisan support. I also understand it has the support of the
National Park Service--I think you will be hearing from them
directly later--and the National Parks and Conservation
Association.
Allow me to go into a little more detail as to the three
things this legislation does. First, it creates a National
Underground Railroad Freedom Network from all existing units
and programs of the National Park Service that pertain to the
Underground Railroad, and also from historic buildings,
interpretive centers, research facilities, community projects
and activities directly related to the Underground Railroad
that are spread throughout this country and really this
hemisphere, all to commemorate and honor the history of the
Underground Railroad.
Much of what we know today, of course, has been handed down
by oral traditions over the years. And as a recent National
Park Service study indicated, much of the tangible evidence, we
believe, is in danger of being lost forever. So this network is
very important to establish.
Second, Mr. Chairman, it requires the Secretary of the
Interior to produce and disseminate appropriate educational
materials such as maps, handbooks, interpretive guides or
electronic information, and enter into cooperative agreements
to provide technical assistance to facilities that have a
verifiable connection to the Underground Railroad, and finally
to create a uniform official symbol for the national network
and to issue regulations for its use.
Third, and I think, Mr. Duncan, this is along the lines of
your opening statement regarding another bill, I think it is
very important that this legislation strongly encourages
public/private partnerships that I believe we should be doing
in the era of the balanced budget discussions we are currently
having in Congress.
And finally, Mr. Chairman, the most important thing this
legislation does--and it is not just the legislation but all
the activities that it will promote--is it helps to foster a
spirit of racial harmony and national reconciliation. Just as
the Underground Railroad itself bridged the divide of race,
religion, sectional differences and nationality and joined
people in common purpose, so can this legislation. The powerful
and largely untold stories of the brave men and women of the
Underground Railroad can inspire us, I believe, even today
about racial cooperation and reconciliation, about
determination, about freedom and courage.
Like so many of us, I have a personal connection to the
Underground Railroad. The family home of my namesake and
grandfather, who passed away just last year, was a station on
the Underground Railroad. His great grandparents were Quakers
and abolitionists who lived in a farmhouse near West Milton,
Ohio, that harbored slaves who sought freedom. And so many of
the prominent figures of the Underground Railroad happened to
come from our area. Levi Coffin, another Quaker, was active as
a conductor and often called the President of the Underground
Railroad. Harriet Beecher Stowe, another Cincinnatian, wrote
Uncle Tom's Cabin, which of course helped to galvanize the
anti-slavery forces back in the 1850's.
I would like to say a special thanks, Mr. Chairman, to my
friend and fellow Cincinnatian, Ed Rigaud, who is with us here
today and you will hear from in a moment, for his help. He has
helped me to understand and appreciate the Underground Railroad
experience. He is also leading an exciting effort in Cincinnati
to establish a National Underground Railroad Freedom Center,
funded primarily through private efforts. And he can talk a
little about the funds they have been able to raise and the
interest that they have locally in Cincinnati, and really
around the country now, in this effort. The Cincinnati Center
would be located on the banks of the Ohio River, the line
dividing the free and the slave States.
I would also like to recognize Iantha Gantt-Wright. She is
here with us today, I saw, from the National Parks and
Conservation Association, who also has been very helpful in
providing input to Mr. Stokes and myself as we have gone
through this process.
And finally, I join Mr. Stokes in thanking the staff,
particularly Allen Freemyer and Dan Smith of the Majority staff
and John Lawrence of the Minority staff, for their great help
in putting this together and moving this process forward.
Again, Mr. Chairman, thank you very much for the
opportunity to testify, and we look forward to any questions
you all may have.
[Statement of Hon. Rob Portman follows:]
Statement of Hon. Rob Portman, a Representative in Congress from the
State of Ohio
Thank you, Mr. Chairman, Mr. Faleomavaega, and Members of
the Subcommittee for holding this important hearing today and
giving me the opportunity to testify. I want to thank my
colleague, Mr. Stokes, the original sponsor of the legislation,
for his leadership on this project. I also want to thank the
other Members, experts and supporters of this legislation, some
of whom have joined us today.
H.R. 1635 was introduced on May 15 and now has the
bipartisan support of 81 cosponsors. I understand this
legislation also has the support of the National Park Service
and the National Parks and Conservation Association.
Specifically, the bill would do three things: First, create
a National Underground Railroad Freedom Network from all
existing units and programs of the National Park Service that
pertain to the Underground Railroad, historic buildings,
interpretive centers, research facilities, community projects,
and activities directly related to the Underground Railroad, to
commemorate and honor the history of the Underground Railroad.
Much of what we know about today has been handed down through
oral traditions over the years. And, as a recent National Park
Service study indicated, some of the tangible evidence is in
danger of being lost forever.
Second, it would require the Secretary of Interior to
produce and disseminate appropriate educational materials, such
as maps, handbooks, interpretive guides, or electronic
information; enter into cooperative agreements to provide
technical assistance to facilities with a verifiable connection
to the Underground Railroad; and create a uniform, official
symbol for the national network and issue regulations for its
use.
Third, it would strongly encourage public-private
partnerships that we should be promoting in a balanced budget
environment. No funds are authorized except a small amount to
coordinate the network, offer technical assistance and place
plaques on network sites.
I think this legislation will also help to foster a spirit
of racial harmony and national reconciliation. Just as the
Underground Railroad bridged the divide of race, religion,
sectional differences, and nationality and joined people in
common purpose, so can this bill. The powerful, and largely
untold, stories of the brave men and women of the Underground
Railroad can inspire us--even today--about racial cooperation
and reconciliation, about determination and courage.
Like so many of us, I have a personal connection to the
Underground Railroad. The family home of my namesake and
grandfather, who died last year, was a Station on the
Underground Railroad. His great, great-grandparents were
Quakers and abolitionists who lived in a farmhouse near West
Milton, Ohio that harbored slaves who sought freedom. And many
of the prominent figures the Underground Railroad have
connections to my district I represent in the Greater
Cincinnati area. Levi Coffin, another Quaker, was active as a
conductor and was often called the ``President'' of the
Underground Railroad. Harriet Beecher Stowe, another
Cincinnatian, wrote Uncle Tom's Cabin, which helped galvanize
anti-slavery forces in the 1850's.
I'd like to say a special thanks to my friend and fellow
Cincinnatian, Ed Rigaud, who will be speaking later this
morning, and has helped me to understand and appreciate the
significance of the Underground Railroad. Ed is leading an
effort to establish a National Underground Railroad Freedom
Center, funded largely through private efforts, and located in
Cincinnati on the banks of the Ohio River--the dividing line
between free and slave States. I would also like to recognize
Iantha Gantt-Wright with the National Parks and Conservation
Association, who will also be testifying. She provided us with
a great deal of input throughout the process. Finally, I wish
to thank Allen Freemyer and Dan Smith of the majority staff,
and John Lawrence of the minority staff, for their assistance.
Thank you, Mr. Chairman, for this opportunity to testify. I
would be happy to answer any questions.
Mr. Hansen. Thank you. I appreciate your testimony. Do any
of the members of the Committee have questions for our
distinguished panel on what I consider a very laudatory and
reasonable piece of legislation?
Now you know where I am coming from. Let us go to the next
one. Mr. Duncan.
Mr. Duncan. I don't have any questions, Mr. Chairman, but I
would simply like to say that I, too, support this legislation,
and Mr. Stokes has helped me on several occasions and is one of
our finest members. And I am pleased that my friend Rob Portman
is helping to lead the charge on this, because this is
legislation that should be bipartisan in nature. And I just
want to thank both of them for being here with us today. Thank
you very much, gentlemen.
Mr. Stokes. Thank you.
Mr. Hansen. Any other statements from members of the
Committee?
Mrs. Cubin. Mr. Chairman.
Mr. Hansen. The gentlelady from Wyoming.
Mrs. Cubin. Mr. Chairman, I certainly am impressed that you
are impressed, and I do support this bill. And if I am not a
co-sponsor, this is how much I support it, I would like to go
on the bill.
Mr. Hansen. 93 here.
Mr. Stokes. 93, thank you.
Mr. Hansen. Why don't we just mark it up and forget the
rest of this nonsense.
If our colleagues would like to join us on the dias, we
would be happy to have you. We know you are both very, very
busy with other things, but we would love to have you join us
if you would.
Mr. Stokes. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
Mr. Hansen. We will turn to our first panel, Denis P.
Galvin, Acting Deputy Director of National Park Service. We are
always grateful to have Mr. Galvin with us. And Eluid--if I am
pronouncing that wrong, I apologize--L. Martinez, Commissioner
of Bureau of Reclamation. We are grateful to have both of you
gentlemen with us. And, Mr. Galvin, we will start with you,
sir. Now we are going to go to time. Is that okay?
Mr. Galvin. That is fine, Mr. Chairman.
Mr. Hansen. All right, we all know the rules. It is like a
traffic light, green you start, yellow you wrap up and red I
gavel you down. Is that fair?
Mr. Galvin. That is fair.
Mr. Hansen. All right, 5 minutes.
Mr. Galvin. I have----
Mrs. Cubin. Mr. Chairman.
Mr. Hansen. Actually, hold on just a minute. The gentlelady
from Wyoming.
Mrs. Cubin. Mr. Chairman, I have an opening statement.
Mr. Hansen. If you will suspend, we will turn to the
gentlelady from Wyoming.
STATEMENT OF HON. BARBARA CUBIN, A REPRESENTATIVE IN CONGRESS
FROM THE STATE OF WYOMING
Mrs. Cubin. Thank you. And thank you, Mr. Chairman, for
holding this hearing.
H.R. 1718 is the result of 5 years of dedication and hard
work by the Cody Chamber of Commerce, by the Cody Economic
Development Council to transfer 190 acres of Federal land to
the ownership of Park County, Wyoming.
I also extend a special thanks to Paul Hoffman, the
Executive Director of the Cody Chamber of Commerce, for his
unwavering commitment for the past 5 years in getting this
matter resolved.
The land to be transferred is currently in public
ownership, more specifically, that of the Bureau of Land
Management--excuse me, Bureau of Reclamation. The Bureau has
completed its withdrawal review of this land and has done
extensive environmental testing, archeological and cultural
resource studies. For this I commend them. The State Historic
Preservation Office has reviewed and, through the Bureau of
Land Management, completed a cadastral survey--it has something
to do with cadaver--of the land to be transferred.
All wetlands and lands with potential recreation, wildlife
and water management significance have been surveyed out of the
area recommended for disposal, and that land will be retained
by the Federal Government under the Bureau of Reclamation
management.
Through the General Services Administration, the Bureau of
Reclamation recommends that all 190 acres be transferred.
BLM, of course, would be the logical Federal agency to
administer the current leases, but it has formally confirmed
that it does not want to have the property under its
management.
Mr. Chairman, this property, when transferred to Park
County, will help ensure the economic stability of many
businesses that currently hold leases on the property. Most of
the acreage has excellent development potential as an
industrial area, but the details of its use would be left to
the discretion of the people of Park County, Wyoming.
The Bureau of Reclamation has refused to issue new leases
for the past 5 years and has not allowed expansion of existing
leases. This is definitely stifling the economic expansion of
this area. The area manager for the Bureau has had a letter on
his desk to the GSA asking for the property to be turned over,
but as yet it has not been sent. As a matter of fact, it has
been stated that the Bureau of Reclamation has been withholding
transfer to the GSA pending this legislation. The interesting
thing was that letter was sent three months before the
legislation was filed.
I am hopeful that my colleagues in the House will see the
importance of conveying this Federal property, property that is
no longer needed or wanted by the Federal Government, but is
significant to the local entities that will directly benefit
from it.
It is my understanding that the Bureau of Reclamation has
some concerns regarding this bill. Specifically, the Bureau is
looking to reap the rewards of selling the property to a
private entity. However, to this point the Bureau of
Reclamation has not demonstrated it was interested in making
any money for the Nation's taxpayers. As I mentioned before, it
has not issued any new leases for the past 5 years and is not
allowing any extension or expansion of existing leases.
I believe another point must be brought forward. Although
it is very difficult to document, I am fairly sure of the fact
that the taxable revenue brought about by economic growth,
which will be realized after the transfer of the property to
the county, will outweigh the nominal $10,000 per year
taxpayers are now making on leases on the property.
An independent consulting team analyzed the North Cody area
and two other potential industrial area sites in Cody last
fall. They concluded it would cost about $13,600 per acre to
bring the North Cody area up to marketable standards, that is
for appropriate water, sewer and other infrastructure. Not all
190 acres of the property are marketable. If the Federal
Government insists on receiving fair market value for the
property, many of the improvements will never be made.
Through the GSA, the Bureau of Reclamation--oh, wait, I
said that. Excuse me.
This property is not pristine. It has no scenic,
recreational or environmental values. Park County is made up of
over 4 million acres. Eighty one point nine percent of those
acres belong to the Federal Government. I would like to repeat
that. Over 80 percent of this county belongs to the Federal
Government, which means that the schools, the cities, the towns
and counties cannot benefit from property taxes on 80 percent
of the land in the county. That is what makes it so much more
important that the Federal Government move along in their
process and dispose of this property as quickly as possible.
The potential for growth in the county is severely limited
by the fact that the Federal Government has not moved on the
action that they themselves said was important, that is that
the land should be disposed of from Federal ownership.
The community supports this project in a variety of ways.
In the Park County Land Use Planning process and the Cody
Master Plan process, the community has said the focus should be
on commercial development near or within existing towns. North
Cody has an industrial history and this proposal makes the most
sense from a viewshed perspective. It is the least visible area
from the town's major entryways.
Cody, Wyoming, is the east entrance to Yellowstone National
Park. Understanding and knowing that allows us to realize that
one of the most important things on the minds of the people who
live in Park County and in Cody, Wyoming, is to maintain the
pristine area. Tourism is their biggest industry. They
certainly don't want any industrial development where it would
harm the tourism industry.
Over the past 4 years there have been a significant number
of front page stories about this project, and neither the Cody
Chamber of Commerce or my office has ever received one negative
comment regarding this project.
Mr. Chairman, I will work in cooperation with the GSA to
resolve as many of these concerns as possible before the bill
goes to markup. I continue to believe that the taxpayers of
this Nation will be better served through the transfer of this
property to Park County and the local economic interests will
be better served when this property is out of Federal lands. I
commend this legislation to my colleagues and urge their
support for its prompt enactment.
This concludes my comments.
[Statement of Hon. Barbara Cubin follows:]
Statement of Hon. Barbara Cubin, a Representative in Congress from the
State of Wyoming
Thank you Mr. Chairman for this opportunity to speak today,
and the Subcommittee's efforts to schedule this hearing.
Jackson Hole, Wyoming is one of the most beautiful and
unique areas of our Nation. Over 3 million visitors per year
come to hike, camp, ski, and sightsee amidst the grandeur of
the Teton range and the winding Snake River in Grand Teton
National Park and the Greater Yellowstone area beyond.
Many wildlife species such as moose, bear, eagles, and
trumpeter swan make the valley their home, while the largest
elk herd in the lower 48 states annually migrates through it to
winter on the wildlife refuge at its southern end.
While much of the valley is protected in perpetuity by
Federal ownership, some of the most valuable wildlife habitat,
migration routes, and scenic vistas remain in private ownership
as working ranch lands.
Conservation groups in Jackson Hole and around the country
have worked for years to help protect these ranches from
development through the use of scenic easements and other means
and are to be commended for their good work.
The concept of preserving and protecting parts of the Teton
Range and Jackson Hole date from the time settlers moved into
the valley in the late 1800s. In January 1929 the U.S. Senate
reported on a bill to establish Grand Teton National Park and
stated:
The Teton range presents the most profoundly impressive view in
America. It is a gift to the nation and posterity in which the
people of Wyoming may be proud, and the wilderness surrounding
them may be preserved in their natural state for the benefit
and enjoyment of the people of these United States and future
generations to come.
In 1950, the Act establishing Grand Teton National Park allowed the
continuation of grazing privileges within the boundaries of the new
park for the life of the designated heirs of the current holders of
grazing permits.
Early management of the Park determined that managing cattle in a
concentrated area with irrigated grass was less destructive to the
resource and less intrusive to the visiting public than random grazing
throughout the Park.
Mr. Chairman, the purpose of my legislation, H.R. 708, is not about
granting special grazing rights; it is about doing the right thing to
maintain the scenic wonderment that encompasses this magnificent area
and keep the area open for wildlife, especially migratory elk.
This pristine land obviously comes with a price tag. Real estate
prices have skyrocketed; and intense development pressure has occurred
because of this fact.
Through this legislation I pledge to work in cooperation with
officials from Grand Teton National Park to resolve this issue. I know
that all parties involved in this issue are striving to reach the same
goal: maintain the scenic beauty that those of us who have been
fortunate enough to spend time in the Tetons will continue to enjoy the
Park for a long time to come.
Mr. Chairman, I am eager to work with my colleagues both here in
the House and the Senate, along with Grand Teton National Park
Superintendent Jack Neckels, to bring a resolution to this unique
situation.
I believe the changes to the legislation proposed by the Park
Service make sense, and I will be happy to incorporate them in the
legislation during the markup of the bill.
Mr. Chairman that concludes my remarks.
Mr. Hansen. I thank the gentlelady.
Mr. Galvin, you are recognized for 5 minutes.
STATEMENT OF DENIS P. GALVIN, ACTING DEPUTY DIRECTOR, NATIONAL
PARK SERVICE
Mr. Galvin. Mr. Chairman, I have statements on three of the
bills before the Subcommittee this morning, and I will simply
submit them for the record and summarize my remarks and the
Administration's position on each of those bills.
H.R. 1635 establishes the National Underground Railroad
Network to Freedom. We strongly support this bill. We are
pleased to be part of this program to commemorate, preserve and
interpret this important and inspiring chapter in American
history. Congressman Stokes adequately and eloquently outlined
the history of this chapter of American history. It is not, as
some people believe, simply a trail. It is a regional story
that touched many States, that touched many races, that indeed
is international in character and the bill references that.
The bill that we find here today, as Congressman Portman
said, is the result of grass-roots work extending in many of
these communities and people who owned these sites that
represent this important historic story to our country. And you
will be hearing from some of them later this morning.
The study was delivered to Congress in February 1996.
Subsequently we have produced a brochure on the Underground
Railroad and a handbook is under production. The bill
authorizes the Secretary to enter into memorandums of
understanding. It is not a high-cost bill. As you pointed out,
it does not require new units of the National Park System. It
simply authorizes the Secretary to cooperate with these people
in marking these sites and interpreting them.
The second bill I would like to discuss is H.R. 755, a bill
to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1968 to allow individuals
to designate any portion of their income tax overpayments and
to make other contributions for the benefit of the National
Park System. As Mr. Duncan mentioned, the needs of the park
system are great, particularly in the area that the bill
focuses on with respect to infrastructure, rehabilitation of
historic structures and reconstruction and rehabilitation of
roads.
Regrettably, we must, because of the precedent-setting
nature of the bill and the potential for lengthening the
Federal tax form, express opposition to H.R. 755. There are
probably scores of federally funded activities who could also
benefit from such a treatment and would want their own separate
line on the 1040.
We understand that this Subcommittee does not have primary
jurisdiction in this matter. My prepared statement indicates,
Mr. Chairman, the many uses that could be used if this tax
checkoff became law. As I said, principally they are in the
area of rehabili-
tating infrastructure, although there are important natural and
cultural resource preservation issues that could also be funded
with the revenue from this tax checkoff.
I noted in Mr. Duncan's statement he estimated over $200
million of revenue would come from this. That in essence is
larger than the recent recreation fee demonstration project
authorized by the Congress where we estimate revenues of about
$140 million over 3 years.
Finally, Mr. Chairman, I have a statement on H.R. 708, a
bill to require the Secretary of the Interior to conduct a
study concerning grazing use of certain land within and
adjacent to Grand Teton National Park. We recommend enactment
of this legislation, if amended to address our concerns as
outlined below.
And we have in our prepared statement three amendments that
are not major but simply focus and somewhat broaden the scope
of the study. We believe, as you mentioned in your opening
statement, Mr. Chairman, in the West, and particularly in this
valley, we have intense pressure to develop, to in essence
subdivide, some of these important open spaces represented by
these traditional uses of the land.
We support this study because we believe it provides an
opportunity to engage in an important discussion in this,
indeed, world-class scenic valley and to ponder the question of
these traditional land uses and their, indeed, importance to
the history of this park. The grazing that traditionally was
done in this valley led to the dude ranch industry that led to
the creation of Grand Teton National Park. So all of these
stories are importantly intertwined.
We strongly recommend enactment of this legislation which,
as I said, simply authorizes a study. And we have been working
with all the local interested parties to see that their views
are represented as we do the study. We do recommend an
amendment that would extend these grazing privileges until such
time as the recommendations in the study are implemented as
opposed to the way the legislation is currently written that
would only extend them until the study is submitted.
That concludes the summary of remarks, Mr. Chairman. As I
said, I will submit our prepared statement. I would be happy to
answer any questions of the subcommittee.
[Statement of Denis Galvin may be found at end of hearing.]
Mr. Hansen. Thank you, Mr. Galvin.
Mr. Martinez, we are grateful to have you with us. We will
turn to the time to you for 5 minutes, sir.
STATEMENT OF ELUID MARTINEZ, COMMISSIONER, BUREAU OF
RECLAMATION
Mr. Martinez. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Thank you for the
opportunity to provide the subcommittee with the
Administration's views on H.R. 1718, a bill that would provide
for the conveyance of 190.12 acres of Federal land in Park
County, Wyoming. With your permission, I would like to
summarize my remarks and have the full text of my prepared
statement entered into the record.
The Administration believes that the disposal of the
subject property should be handled by the General Services
Administration consistent with the Federal Property
Administrative Services Act of 1949 and accordingly opposes
H.R. 1718. The Bureau of Reclamation no longer needs the parcel
of land. Reclamation and the Bureau of Land Management have
determined that the property is not suitable for return to the
public domain. Reclamation supports the intent of this
legislation.
Mr. Chairman, my prepared statements contain some items of
concern with respect to the legislation. There is an issue of--
we believe that if conveyance does occur it should be through a
quit-claim deed, that there should be fair market value
determined for the property. I am advised that the GSA Property
Disposition Act requires a fair compensation, that if the
property is transferred there should be no oversight on the
part of the Secretary of the Interior and that the
environmental liability clause should be stricken. I am advised
that the other Federal laws adequately address and protect the
Federal interest in these issues.
My prepared statement contains additional items of concern.
The Bureau of Reclamation would welcome the opportunity to work
with the Subcommittee on amendments to this legislation. And in
summary, the Administration opposes the legislation but
recommends that the Committee allow the parties to work with
GSA to dispose of the property in a way that will facilitate
economic development in Park County consistent with the GSA
Property Act.
Mr. Chairman, this concludes my remarks. I will be happy to
answer any questions you might have.
[Statement of Eluid Martinez may be found at end of
hearing.]
Mr. Hansen. Thank you, Commissioner. Questions for this
panel? Mr. Duncan.
Mr. Duncan. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. The only question I
might have is for Mr. Galvin. I notice that you said your
opposition to H.R. 755 was regrettable or reluctant. And I
think I understand where you are coming from, but just for the
record, you do--the Administration has taken the position that
this might require that the Federal tax form be lengthened and
made over-complicated, but you do realize that 41 States have
similar checkoff funds and have been able to limit them and
keep their tax forms much simpler even than the Federal tax
code. And what we are talking about has worked successfully
throughout this country.
Mr. Galvin. Indeed, I do. I live in a State that has, I
believe, six or eight tax checkoffs and is able to accomplish
it.
Mr. Duncan. All right, thank you very much.
Mr. Hansen. The gentlelady from the Virgin Islands. The
gentlelady from Wyoming.
Mrs. Cubin. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Before I start
questioning the panel, I have an opening statement on H.R. 708,
which is the study that Mr. Galvin referred to. So rather than
read that, I will just submit it for the record.
Mr. Hansen. The lady is recognized for the opening
statement and to question the panel.
Mrs. Cubin. Thank you. Mr. Martinez, I would like to start
off by saying that I, too, would like GSA to dispose of this
property going through all of the proper channels. The reason
the legislation is here is because the Bureau of Reclamation
has not turned the property over to the GSA so that they can do
that. And this has been going on for 5 years. So my reflex
reaction to your statement that you would like to work with the
Subcommittee to amend the bill is nice and it is laudatory and
I appreciate that, however my wish would be that you would work
with your managers to get the process completed to get the
property owned by GSA so that they can properly dispose of it
through the proper channels.
In your statement you mention that the property should be
turned over to the GSA. And I am going to ask three questions
here, so if you can remember them, good. I couldn't, if you
want to take notes. But why has it taken the Bureau of
Reclamation so long to turn the property over for disposal?
This legislation was introduced in May of this year, but the
issue of disposing of this property has been around for a long
time. I have a copy of a February 1997 memo to the area manager
that informs him that this qualifies as excess property. Could
you please explain to the Subcommittee why the paperwork that
will turn the property over to GSA is still on the Bureau of
Reclamation manager's desk? And when can GSA expect the SF-118?
Mr. Martinez. Mr. Chairman, ma'am, if I may, I can't--I
will get that answer for the record, but let me raise an issue
which I think is an issue that was raised to my attention and I
think that might be of some importance. It is my understanding,
and subject to correction, that if a property is transferred to
GSA, they will go through the normal proceedings, which does
not necessarily result in the fact that the county will acquire
the property, because their procedures, as I understand, result
in a procedure which is sale of property to the highest bidder.
So unless something is worked out, it might not follow that the
county will acquire the property.
Bureau of Reclamation is of the opinion that the intent of
this legislation that the county acquire the property has merit
for the reasons that you have raised and I, reading in between
the lines, believe that probably that has been one of the
reasons why the transfer has not occurred. But I am prepared to
direct to my area manager to move the paper forward.
Mrs. Cubin. I do appreciate that, Mr. Martinez. When I
first began working on this legislation, it was understood that
the Bureau would be willing to dispose of the property at no
cost to the local community. I think that certainly--that was a
result of the fact that a lot of money has to be put into the
property before it can be developed and Bureau of Reclamation
didn't want to do that, isn't in the position to do that.
And also I was under the understanding that when we were
working with the State office of the Bureau of Reclamation that
it would be turned over at no cost. Can you tell me why the
Washington office and the Bureau disagrees with the State
office on this?
Mr. Martinez. Mr. Chairman, Madam, I will be real frank. I
do not disagree with that position, however there is a Property
Disposition Act that the GSA has that requires just
compensation. And there is a value to that property. And the
issue is whether there should be a fair price or compensation
for the property. And I do realize that some of that value is
inherent in the fact that the county and the individual who
developed the property have developed it and caused the
property value to go up.
Mrs. Cubin. How many properties--this is industrial
property. How many other properties does the Bureau of
Reclamation have under its management that are industrial
sites?
Mr. Martinez. I couldn't respond to that, but we administer
millions of acres across the West, and I imagine we have quite
a few of them. And I would be glad to provide that information
for the record. In this particular area my understanding is we
have six or seven individuals leasing property.
Mrs. Cubin. Would it be fair to say that managing
industrial property by the Bureau of Reclamation is an uncommon
thing and that managing industrial property is not in the
scope, if you will, of the Bureau of Reclamation?
Mr. Martinez. Mr. Chairman, ma'am, I would like to get out
of that business. It is not--I don't think we should be
managing those properties.
Mrs. Cubin. In your testimony you made a couple of indirect
references to the economic benefits this area has to the city
of Cody, and you also mention your concern about jeopardizing
the existing leases that are there. Could you tell me why the
Bureau has refused to expand leases over the past 5 years or
issue any new leases in that area?
Mr. Martinez. Mr. Chairman, ma'am, I was not aware of that
issue, and I will be glad to respond to the record.
Mrs. Cubin. Is it fair for me to say that you think the
best use of the property is industrial use?
Mr. Martinez. For that particular property in question, I
believe so. It has been industrial use, some of it, since the
1950's.
Mrs. Cubin. Thank you very much, Mr. Martinez.
Mr. Hansen. The gentleman from Nevada, Mr. Gibbons.
Mr. Gibbons. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Mr. Galvin, if I made
a presumption here that our National Park System over the last
few years has seen an increasing need of revenues for wear and
tear on it, that would be within the scope of what you would
agree to, would it not be?
Mr. Galvin. Yes, it would.
Mr. Gibbons. Do you believe that additional funding that
could be provided through this Internal Revenue Code change
would be helpful to the park system?
Mr. Galvin. Yes, I do.
Mr. Gibbons. Yet you are still opposed to it?
Mr. Galvin. We are opposed to it. The Administration is
opposed to it because of the precedent. As I said in my
prepared statement it points out that there are probably a lot
of other Federal programs that don't come under my jurisdiction
but could benefit from a tax checkoff. And I think the basis of
the Administration's position is in that precedent, not denying
the needs that exist in the National Park System, but simply
the precedent of a tax checkoff is the basis of the opposition.
Mr. Gibbons. Well, see, my understanding is this is not
Federal money. This is money coming back to an individual which
is being redonated back in an earmarked fashion for a specific
program, not at the will of the Administration but at the will
of the taxpayer whose money that is. So it is like a charitable
contribution, a gift to that individual or to that park system.
Mr. Galvin. I share that understanding. I believe in
reading the bill that it is, in effect, money that people would
get as part of a tax refund that is being checked off here. So,
as Mr. Duncan said, it has no negative effect on the deficit.
Nevertheless, the precedent, I believe, causes anxiety in the
Administration.
Mr. Gibbons. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
Mr. Hansen. Mr. Stokes.
Mr. Stokes. No questions.
Mr. Hansen. Mr. Portman.
Mr. Portman. No questions.
Mr. Hansen. I will recognize the gentlelady from Wyoming,
Mrs. Cubin.
Mrs. Cubin. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Just one last
statement for this panel. I wanted to thank Mr. Galvin for his
kind remarks regarding the bill for the open spaces in Grand
Teton, the grazing study. I appreciate your support and
certainly want to work with you on those amendments that you
propose. I think they certainly do improve the legislation.
I also wanted to recognize Kit Mullen, who is one of the
supervisors of the Grand Teton National Park. Thank you all for
being here.
Mr. Galvin. Thank you very much.
Mr. Hansen. We thank the panel for being with us. We will
excuse you and turn to our second panel.
Mr. Galvin. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
Mr. Hansen. Our second panel is Iantha Gantt-Wright,
Diversity Outreach Manager, National Parks and Conservation
Association; Charles L. Blockson, Curator, Charles L. Blockson
Afro-American Collection, Temple University; Edwin Rigaud,
Executive Director, Underground Railroad Freedom Center; and
Cathy D. Nelson, State Coordinator, Ohio Underground Railroad
Association. If we could ask you folks to come up and take your
places, we would appreciate it.
I ask unanimous consent that the statement of Senator
Olympia Snowe be incorporated in the record. Is there
objection? Hearing none, so ordered.
[Additional material submitted by Senator Snowe may be
found at end of hearing.]
Mr. Hansen. Have we got everybody in place? Let me ask you,
can you folks make it in 5 minutes in your testimony? Okay, I
appreciate that. That is kind of you to agree with this. Iantha
Gantt-Wright, I hope I am pronouncing that right.
Ms. Gantt-Wright. That is right.
Mr. Hansen. We will give you the first 5 minutes. And just
move across the panel.
Ms. Gantt-Wright. Okay, thank you.
Mr. Hansen. Thank you.
STATEMENT OF IANTHA GANTT-WRIGHT, DIVERSITY OUTREACH MANAGER,
NATIONAL PARKS AND CONSERVATION ASSOCIATION
Ms. Gantt-Wright. Thank you. Good morning, Mr. Chairman.
Once again, my name is Iantha Gantt-Wright, and I am the
Cultural Outreach Manager for the National Parks and
Conservation Association. I would like to take the time to
thank you and the Committee for the opportunity to testify on
behalf of H.R. 1635, the National Underground Railroad Network
to Freedom bill.
As a representative of the National Parks and Conservation
Association, I would like to note for the record our full
support for H.R. 1635 and for sufficient funding to implement
it. We believe that this bill encourages the preservation,
commemoration and interpretation of the hundreds of route
sites, people, programs, activities and events that made up
America's historic Underground Railroad. We commend
Representatives Stokes and Portman for their leadership on this
measure, and we greatly appreciate your positive response to
it.
Mr. Chairman, I have had the pleasure of working on this
issue now for about 2 years, and it is really close to my
heart. And given the level of support we have seen from around
the country, it is close to the hearts of many Americans. NPCA
has received hundreds of phone calls and letters from
Washington DC to Washington State and from every corner of
America as people learn about this bill. Blacks, whites,
Hispanics, Native Americans, Christians, Quakers, Jews and many
others have joined us in support of this bill.
Evidence of this broad and diverse enthusiasm for the bill
is here in the room today. I would like to note for the record
that here supporting this bill is the Ohio Underground Railroad
Association [they came in on a bus yesterday], the Friends of
Freedom Society, the National Underground Railroad Association
based in St. Louis. We also have here, Mr. Chairman, from Santa
Barbara, California, the great granddaughter of Levi Coffin, a
well-known conductor of the railroad. We have here today a
representative of the tourism industry from Kansas City, a
member of the advisory committee that worked on the study, and
I am told that we have individuals here from Michigan,
Illinois, New York, Maryland and Pennsylvania.
Mr. Chairman, my reason for acknowledging these individuals
and organizations is twofold. First, I think it is really
crucial that the CCommittee see the ordinary people who have
been working for many years to preserve this powerful story. It
is through the persistence, fortitude, faith and courage of
these wonderful and committed individuals and many people just
like them that this story has remained alive for so long. The
spirit of the railroad is alive in them today. Look around this
room, and what you see is you see the faces are many colors,
the backgrounds just as diverse, but the motives are basically
the same, the same as they were during the era of the railroad,
to promote freedom, justice and the true goodness of the
American spirit.
Many of the people that you see here today are owners and
operators of Underground Railroad sites. They open their hearts
and their homes to the public, not because they get paid to do
it but because they want to. The Network to Freedom bill would
show them that they are not alone in this effort and that our
government also realizes the significance of this chapter of
American history. Second, I believe that it is important for
the Committee to see firsthand the vastness of the
opportunities for interpreting this amazing story. The people
here today and what they represent offer re-
sources that would be available to the Park Service for
inclusion in this network.
The Underground Railroad spanned 29 States, Canada, Mexico
and the Caribbean. Its railways were back roads, swamps, caves,
forests, rivers and streams, and the modes of transportation
just as diverse. The dilemma for those wishing to commemorate
and establish this was to figure out how to best do it so that
the American public would experience and benefit from it. The
advisory committee responsible for the study realized that the
true story of the railroad cannot be told by one site, trail or
place but rather through networks of sites, structures,
programs, museums, artifacts, commemorative activities bound
together through a variety of partnerships among different
levels of government, international and all aspects of private
sector.
As an African American, I grew up not knowing the
intricacies of the resistance to slavery. I spent most of my
life believing that my ancestors were not courageous enough to
fight for freedom. Today, because of my involvement in this
experience, I know better. This network will provide for our
youth a better understanding of the institution of slavery, the
progress we have made as a country, and more importantly the
opportunity to visit a time in our history when many of us put
aside our differences and awakened to the fact that if one of
us was enslaved we were all enslaved. H.R. 1635 would foster
the projects, programs and materials to bring the history, the
message of the railroad to all Americans.
It is important to stress what the legislation won't do. It
won't create a new park. It would be too complex and diffuse
and unmanageable. It is not a heritage area. It would not
elevate any site or project or activity above others, but would
treat all equally and would allow great flexibility in
additions and changes to the network as the program proceeds.
Finally, Mr. Chairman, the National Park System brings to
life the history of the joys and pains of a nation striving to
grow and progress. The Underground Railroad is a piece of that
history that must be passed on to children and adults alike.
This bill would create the means for doing that. It will make
the connections across borders, social and racial lines and
time to create a visible and identifiable commemoration that
can engender the spirit of freedom and national reconciliation
in our homes, on our jobs and throughout the halls of Congress.
What better time is there than now?
This concludes my testimony. I will be happy to answer any
questions.
[Statement of Iantha Gantt-Wright may be found at end of
hearing.]
Mr. Hansen. Thank you very much. Mr. Blockson, we will
recognize you, sir.
STATEMENT OF CHARLES L. BLOCKSON, CURATOR, CHARLES L. BLOCKSON
AFRO-AMERICAN COLLECTION, TEMPLE UNIVERSITY
Mr. Blockson. It is indeed an honor for me to return to
Washington DC.
I became involved with the Underground Railroad--52 years
ago. When I was a boy of 10 years old my grandfather was
singing a song, ``There's a highway to heaven,''and ``Walking
up the King's highway.'' I said grandpop, what are you singing
about. He said the Underground Railroad--my father, your great
grandfather James and others escaped from the Underground
Railroad from Seaford, Delaware, through Pennsylvania into
Canada. And so I became more or less baptized in the
Underground Railroad from the age of 10 and have been following
it ever since.
I have traced my ancestry in Canada from Ontario to Nova
Scotia. My great grandfather returned to Delaware from Canada
after the Civil War. For more than 35 years I have researched,
collected and traveled throughout the United States, and the
greatest opportunity came in 1984 when I had the opportunity to
write the cover story for the National Geographic magazine,
July issue, a story that more or less popularized the
Underground Railroad at that time. I received scores of letters
from all the country and various parts of the world about the
Underground Railroad. I spoke in Denmark, Sweden, Brazil and
other countries. They knew about the Underground Railroad.
Condensing 300 years of history in 5 minutes is very
difficult, nevertheless I also want to point out long before
the National Park Service Underground Railroad Committee was
formed, there was concern for preservation. To my astonishment
as I traveled throughout, to the deep South--we must not forget
the people from the South in the Underground Railroad--the
Midwest and through Pennsylvania and New York State, every
county, hundreds of counties I collected information from the
local history for years and years. So I was able to visit these
places.
I was called to Quindaro in Kansas back in June 1988 when
there was a problem pertaining to preservation of the
nationally known Underground Railroad site Old Quindaro. They
were more or less trying to fill it with some trash.
I also was astonished and saddened, deeply saddened, that
most of the known Underground Railroad sites in the Midwest
where I traveled, in Kentucky, Michigan, Ohio and many counties
in upstate New York and Pennsylvania and other places, that
many sites in the African American community eliminated,
demolished through urban renewal. You will also find that many
of the best sites on this great study are the private homes. We
must come up with something to help identify private homes.
Let us begin with a short history of how all of this came
about. Let us not forget our good friend, my good friend, Peter
H. Kostmayer, who was the brainchild behind the study from
Pennsylvania. In 1990, Representative Peter Kostmayer asked me,
after reading the National Geographic article and one of my
other books that I did on the Underground Railroad, was it
possible to establish a committee to study the Underground
Railroad. And finally I said yes. Representative Kostmayer said
select four or five people and then I will contact their
representatives of their States from Delaware, from Ohio, from
Illinois, and other places. And as a result it was finally
established, a committee. We met at a historical African
American church, Mother Bethel A.M.E. Church in Philadelphia,
where we had a press conference January 16, 1990.
In order to deal with history, we must go back to the
beginning, and as I move on it is important to know that people
from the age of 99 to 9 seem--of all races seem to have an
interest in the Underground Railroad. As late as last year, I
took 35 school teachers from Washington DC in conjunction with
the National Geographic from Buckstown, Maryland, Harriet
Tubman's home, up through Delaware, Maryland, New Jersey,
Pennsylvania to the Finger Lakes of New York State, the great
New York State, stood over the grave of Frederick Douglas at
Rochester and wept over the grave of Harriet Tubman in Auburn,
New York. And later we went on to Niagara Falls and into
Canada.
I also want to point out that there were many people of all
races, creeds and color. Let us not forget the spirit of
Harriet Tubman, Frederick Douglas, Levi Coffin, the great John
Brown, the Quaker Lucretia Mott, they chronicled the activities
of the Underground Railroad, along with William Still, Chief
Pontiac and Detroit Michigan. Long before the Underground
Railroad was formed, during the time of George Washington, the
Native American assisted not only in the Midwest but the deep
South. Let us not forget the Native American, the children and
adults.
And as I move on, let us give credit to all of you who came
today, from all over the country. Back in 1990, in the
beginning, we had to agitate, agitate, agitate for this
Committee here. For seven years, it did not come easy. As
Frederick Douglas said, ``agitate, agitate, agitate.'' I am
greatly pleased just to be here today, after all the trials and
tribulations of having meetings around the country.
And let us not forget people such as Vincent De Forest and
Barbara Taggert and others on the National Park Service, and
our own advisory committee, who worked to make this become a
reality.
We must also remember that the Underground Railroad was not
a romantic episode. People died, people were arrested, people
were taken back. We must commemorate, not commercialize.
Recently groups have been springing up all over the country.
The best people who know about the Underground Railroad are the
local people in the various communities. The National Park
Service must reach out to the historical societies and other
areas around this country.
And in closing, I would like to say to you in the spirit of
the old black spiritual in connection with the Underground
Railroad, ``Please don't let this harvest pass.'' Pass this
bill. Give us the funding we need so that we today can walk
upon this American earth in sisterhood and brotherhood. Thank
you.
[Statement of Charles Blockson may be found at end of
hearing.]
[Statement of Underground Railroad Advisory Committee may
be found at end of hearing.]
Mr. Hansen. Thank you. Cathy Nelson, you are recognized for
5 minutes. Pull that mike as close to as you can get it, would
you please. Thank you.
STATEMENT OF CATHY NELSON, STATE COORDINATOR, OHIO UNDERGROUND
RAILROAD ASSOCIATION
Ms. Nelson. Good morning. My name is Cathy Nelson from
Columbus, Ohio. I am the founder and president of the Friends
of Freedom Society and the State coordinator for the Ohio
Underground Railroad Association commonly known as OURA. I am
joined by 22 members of our grass-roots organization from Ohio
and supporters from five States extending from Maine to
California. We are all here today to show our support for H.R.
1635, the National Underground Railroad Network to Freedom Act
of 1997. We are also joined this morning by thousands of people
whose faces you cannot see but voices we hear, those of our
ancestors. They are the voices of the past whose determination,
courage and sacrifices have spoken to us so we could bring
their story to you.
As State coordinator for OURA, I would like to take this
opportunity to acquaint you with the efforts of our
organization. OURA is made up of 12 regions representing the 88
counties in Ohio. Each region has a coordinator who works with
county agents to research, collect and record their local
Underground Railroad history along with marking existing and
nonexisting sites and structures.
This has been a statewide initiative involving individuals
young and old, black, white and Native American working
together to reach out across the State of Ohio and regionally
to develop interpretive programs and to operate local
Underground Railroad museums. To date over 150 sites throughout
Ohio have been researched, documented and photographed by
county and regional coordinators.
There is a crying need for this history to be told from
multiple perspectives and not from one voice, which has
traditionally been the case. H.R. 1635 gives long overdue
recognition to this important piece of history. It allows for a
more expansive and diverse approach to the telling of this
story by creating a network to link the countless sites and
structures that were a part of the Underground Railroad both
nationally and internationally.
Ohio, along with other participatory States, stand to
benefit greatly through the passage of this bill. With
sufficient appropriations necessary in carrying out the
responsibilities of the Underground Railroad Network to
Freedom, we hope this bill will provide for the creation of a
national/international corridor program on both land and water
encompassing the natural and cultural features associated with
the Underground Railroad. In addition, we hope the Secretary
will enter in cooperative agreements with non-profit
organizations in research and in the production of historical
information relating to the role of the Underground Railroad
movement. In addition, we also hope that assistance to owners
of documented Underground Railroad dwellings who at their own
expense maintain on a daily basis the historical integrity of
their properties while educating the general public of their
significance in history.
America is incomprehensible without understanding the
institution of slavery and the resistance to it. The U.S.
Government enacted the legislation that legalized slavery in
this country, which lasted for over 250 years. Slavery was a
war waged upon innocent men, women and children. The
Underground Railroad was one of the effective resistances
against that war. A movement cast in secrecy, the time has now
come to reveal the historic deeds of those who fought against
the inhumanity of this peculiar institution known as American
slavery. Equally, it is now time for the Federal Government to
take responsibility by seizing the opportunity to acknowledge,
honor and preserve the people, places and events that launched
this Nation's greatest social and moral endeavor, the
Underground Railroad.
With these and the recommendations from grass-roots
organizations around the country and scholars alike, H.R. 1635
can begin to develop a comprehensive understanding and
inclusive approach to educate the global society of the
significant contributions made by individuals who were diverse
racially, politically, religiously, socially and economically.
In conclusion, the Underground Railroad movement is a story
of personal empowerment. It appeals to the better nature of
humankind. In a sense, these ordinary people became the David
who slew Goliath. They were the foot soldiers of resistance and
change. These are the unsung heroes and heroines, both black,
white and red, whose acts of conscience and courage are largely
untold but were prepared to die for their beliefs. It is one of
America's most powerful social movements.
On behalf of the Friends of Freedom Society and the Ohio
Underground Railroad Association, I would like to thank you for
allowing me the opportunity to share our viewpoints with this
committee.
[Statement of Cathy Nelson may be found at end of hearing.]
[List of attendees may be found at end of hearing.]
Mr. Hansen. Thank you very much. Mr. Rigaud, we recognize
you for 5 minutes, sir.
STATEMENT OF EDWIN J. RIGAUD, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, UNDERGROUND
RAILROAD FREEDOM CENTER
Mr. Rigaud. Thank you, Mr. Chairman and members of the
Subcommittee. My name is Ed Rigaud and I am the Executive
Director of the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center in
Cincinnati, Ohio.
Three years ago, the Greater Cincinnati Region of the
National Conference of Christians and Jews began an effort to
create the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center. This
will be a major interpretive center to open in 2002, and it
will be located on the historic Ohio River in downtown
Cincinnati. The Freedom Center desires to become a significant
link in the National Underground Railroad Network to Freedom
being established by H.R. 1635.
Now let me briefly explain what we are setting out to do.
Conceptually the Freedom Center is not a traditional museum. It
is a museum of reflection which will attempt to touch the heart
as well as the mind. We want visitors to relive the great
Underground Railroad stories of courage and cooperation between
the races and to understand the importance of the quest for
freedom in America. We also want them to be stimulated to think
about how this history can teach us to come together today
across racial and ethnic barriers to preserve our liberties.
So we also view the Freedom Center as an educational and
cultural institution which will employ state-of-the-art
technologies and the best minds to accomplish its mission of
reconciliation. As one educational psychologist put it: ``I
believe this project has more potential to create cross-racial
reconciliation and collaboration than any national endeavor
currently in process.''
This legislation is important to the future success of the
Freedom Center as well as all of the other Underground Railroad
initiatives from four perspectives. First, the expertise of the
National Park Service will be essential in helping our effort
in Cincinnati and elsewhere to authenticate historic sites and
explore appropriate ways to link those sites together in an
official national network.
Secondly, the National Park Service can help facilitate
public/private partnerships that will minimize Federal
financial commitments and maximize the visibility and
integration of each site in the network. The Freedom Center,
for example, is looking to raise $80 million in order to have a
125,000 square foot facility, and the majority of the funds
will be coming from private sources. In the future as we ask
the private sector to take on increasingly meaningful roles in
supporting our cultural institutions, it will be good to hold
up the Freedom Center as a strong example of how such
partnerships can be made to work. Obtaining the National Park
Service technical expertise without having to spend scarce
Federal dollars is the best of both worlds.
Thirdly, the National Park Service will help the Freedom
Center fulfill its distributive museum role. The Freedom Center
is just one important piece of a larger network that needs to
be integrated and given visibility so the story of the
Underground Railroad is available to all Americans. Making
information available about other sites and units throughout
the country will enable interaction and communication between
all sites. Through this cooperation, the overall story of the
Underground Railroad can finally be communicated throughout the
entire Nation.
Finally, in our day when we see so many examples of
divisiveness among our country's diverse races and cultures,
there is an increased need for institutions that can help
foster understanding, respect and cooperation between people of
different races and backgrounds. When each element of the
network, including the Freedom Center, becomes part of an
overall National Underground Railroad Network to Freedom, it
will be in a much better position to achieve its goals of
commemoration, education and inspiration.
So I ask for your favorable consideration of H.R. 1635. It
gives the Underground Railroad sites visibility and unity. It
promotes public/private partnerships and it is fiscally
responsible. The uplifting stories of the Underground Railroad,
in sharp contrast with the stark reality of slavery, can
provide this entire country with a metaphor to shed light on
the many issue confronting contemporary society. The powerful
experiences from the Underground Railroad Network to Freedom
should encourage everyone, perhaps for the first time, to have
positive discussions about an otherwise painful past. This is a
great way to underscore the precious value of freedom to all
and emphasize the importance of preserving that freedom for all
future generations.
Thank you again, Mr. Chairman, for your kind consideration.
[Statement of Edwin J. Rigaud may be found at end of
hearing.]
Mr. Hansen. Thank you. We appreciate the testimony of all
the members of this panel. Now we will turn to the Members of
Congress. You are recognized for 5 minutes for questioning of
the panel. Mr. Duncan from Tennessee is recognized.
Mr. Duncan. Well, let me--I have earlier said that I think
this is a very worthwhile cause, and I want to say that I
appreciate very much that in this time when we are all looking
for funds for so many good causes that you are working so hard
to make sure that the majority of these funds come from private
sources. But thank you very much for being here with us today.
Thank you.
Mr. Hansen. The gentlelady from the Virgin Islands, you are
recognized.
Ms. Christian-Green. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I also want
to add my thanks to the panel and also to all of you who have
come out to support this bill, and to thank you also for your
efforts, which I am sure come at sacrifice to many of you to
keep the story of the railroad alive.
I would like to just ask one question just to probably
allow you to elaborate, but let me ask, Ms. Gantt-Wright,
having just read a book that my staff is tired of hearing me
talk about, I am sure, the Comino Folk, which gives the
eyewitness accounts of slavery in the Danish West Indies and
Virgin Islands, and how much that book enriched my life from
reading those accounts, I understand how important it is for us
as African Americans to be able to relive and to come to
understand in a more meaningful way the history and the story
of the Underground Railroad. But to what do you attribute the
widespread support that you say you have been receiving through
phone calls to your offices?
Ms. Gantt-Wright. I think you can attribute it to several
things, but I think probably one of the most important is the
Underground Railroad engenders in people something really
powerful, especially in a time when we are really struggling
with this issue of race. And many of the phone calls that we
are getting are from people who have stories, who had families
or ancestors who either were conductors of the railroad or they
were enslaved individuals who passed stories down. And what you
get most times from those people is not just a story, but you
get the passion. There is just this wonderful passion about the
ability to educate the rest of the country on what this story
really was. And what that education means is a country that
begins to look at each other in an entirely different--from an
entirely different perspective. And I think that is exactly
what it is. It is just the passion for the story.
Mr. Hansen. The gentlelady from Wyoming.
Mrs. Cubin. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I especially liked
your remark, Mr. Blockson, that we want to commemorate, not
commercialize. And also several of you alluded to the fact that
the people at the local level know how to do this better than
the people at the national level or the people from another
part of the country. And I so very, very much support that
concept, not just with this issue but most all issues that come
into play in my life. The grass-roots effort that I see from
all of you, all of you out there, is very moving to me, and I
am so thankful that you are doing this.
I represent the entire State of Wyoming, and we have fewer
than 2 percent African American population in the entire State,
and I know that the education that I received--I am a chemist--
in Wyoming was a wonderful education, but it wasn't complete.
And now the opportunity my children will have to learn about
all Americans is very, very rewarding to me. And I thank you
very much.
Mr. Hansen. The gentleman from Nevada.
Mr. Gibbons. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. And I also would like
to join my colleagues in thanking all of you for your
appearance here today. I think it is very important for America
to hear and to learn about what this project is all about and
what we are trying to celebrate here. I think if this country
is ever going to heal, it has to heal from inside. And in order
to heal from inside, we have to educate. This program, this
project will help America heal from inside. I think it is a
wonderful opportunity for us to create an institution of
recognition of the struggle of Americans as the history of this
country developed. This is critically important to the future
of this country. I applaud you and I thank you very much for
your effort in trying to get this promoted. Thank you, Mr.
Chairman.
Mr. Hansen. Thank you. Mr. Stokes.
Mr. Stokes. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Mr. Chairman, I don't
have any questions, but I would like to take just a moment to
express my appreciation to Ms. Iantha Gantt-Wright, to Curator
Charles L. Blockson, Ms. Cathy D. Nelson and Mr. Edward J.
Rigaud for their very eloquent and powerful testimony here this
morning with reference to this part of American history.
Mr. Chairman, this is one of those days when one serving in
the U.S. Congress feels how very important it is to have an
opportunity to serve in this great body. There are days when
one questions whether it is really--whether you are really
providing a service to be here. This happens to be one of those
days where I in particular feel very good about being able to
serve in the U.S. Congress.
I am mindful on an occasion of this sort that I am a great
grandson of a slave. I am also reminded of the fact that in the
history of the U.S. Congress, less than 100 African Americans
have ever served in the U.S. Congress. And so I sit here today,
of course, with a great deal of personal feeling regarding the
history lesson that we have heard in this room today. And I
again want to especially thank you for the privilege all of us
have had to be able to participate in the history that has
taken place in this room today. And I thank you.
Mr. Hansen. Mr. Portman.
Mr. Portman. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I, too, want to thank
the panel. I have no questions for them, but to commend them.
Iantha, you were very helpful in coming up with this
legislation. I think this is the proper vehicle. I know that
every one of the panelists and a lot of the visitors who are
with us today, Mr. Chairman, have put an enormous amount of
time and energy into this effort. Dr. Blockson and I have
spoken before about his research dating back a couple of
decades and other people who I see around the room who have
also worked together and in their own regions on this effort.
I am very pleased to see that everyone is pulling together.
I would urge all of us to continue to do that. And I think that
is one of the lessons, of course, of the Underground Railroad,
is the cooperation that we are commemorating here today. I also
think that it is important that we all try to stick together as
we move this process forward. I saw that today and I want to
thank everyone, because a number of people have spent an
enormous amount of time and energy working on this. It is
difficult sometimes to pull together with a single vehicle or
method or approach to commemorating this incredible mosaic that
was the Underground Railroad that has so many aspects to it. It
is very difficult, I think, to commemorate with one single
approach.
Again, I want to thank all the panelists, Iantha
particularly, for kind of pulling this together.
I am very pleased, Mr. Chairman, with your comments and the
support of others around this panel. I think this is something
that is very important for this Congress to do and for this
country to do for proper commemoration. I would just also thank
you for the forum today, because you heard a lot of very
powerful statements made by our panelists. It is a very
emotional and powerful tale, and you have provided the ability
for this to be told.
I hope that we will now be able to move forward to final
passage, enactment, and we can do something together, as Mr.
Stokes says, which will be positive for not just this Congress
but for our country. It is a pleasure to have been involved in
it and to have been enriched myself as I looked into my own
roots. And I think all Americans will find that experience
enriching.
Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
Mr. Hansen. Thank you very much. We thank the distinguished
panel for their excellent testimony. We will excuse you at this
time and turn to our last panel. The last panel is Albert C.
Eisenberg, Deputy Director for Conservation Policy, National
Parks and Conservation Association, and our former colleague,
Allan T. Howe, Washington Representative, National Park
Hospitality Association. Mr. Eisenberg, you now have 5 minutes.
STATEMENT OF ALBERT C. EISENBERG, DEPUTY DIRECTOR FOR
CONSERVATION POLICY, NATIONAL PARKS AND CONSERVATION
ASSOCIATION
Mr. Eisenberg. Thank you, Mr. Chairman and members of the
Subcommittee. I am Albert C. Eisenberg, Deputy Director of
Conservation Policy for National Parks and Conservation
Association. We were founded in 1919, and today have about
500,000 members.
I will summarize my statement and ask that the written one
be included in the record.
I appreciate the opportunity to indicate our strong support
for H.R. 755. By coincidence, the basic elements of my
testimony track Mr. Duncan's almost exactly, but that will not
dissuade me from proceeding.
I have three points here. Before I get to them I do want to
commend Mr. Duncan for this leadership in this important issue,
and you, Mr. Chairman, for holding these hearings and being
responsive to it. Three basic points: National Park Service has
an enormous and growing backlog of maintenance operations and
capital projects that regular appropriations can't match. Two,
the Federal Government has a fundamental responsibility to
support the National Parks through general appropriations. We
should also use other means to supplement, not supplant these
appropriations. Three, the taxpayer checkoff concept is a sound
one that Congress should endorse by enacting this legislation
with just a couple of modest but important changes.
The backlog: Congressional appropriations would reach $1.6
billion for fiscal year 1998 under the Presidential
Congressional Budget Agreement, but looked at over the last 20
years that amount represents a substantial loss in actual
purchasing power. In other words, as actual dollar levels have
increased, the value of these dollars is stretched thinner and
thinner.
Park visitation has grown to almost 270 million people now,
55 million more than 20 years ago. It has a direct impact on
the amount and severity of park needs. The park system has
grown, too, since then by 79 new units. The Park Service
backlogs $5.6 billion for construction and maintenance, $2
billion in resource protection, $1.2 billion land acquisition,
which we understand is not part of this particular legislation.
As the old saying goes, the harder I run the behinder I
get, and that is basically how the Park Service is operating
today with these backlogs. We have a survey of park
superintendents that bears this out, and I would like to have
that submitted for the record, Mr. Chairman.
Mr. Hansen. Without objection.
Mr. Eisenberg. The combination of internal and external
pressures compounded by inadequate Federal funding have
imperiled places that this Nation has officially recognized as
the American peoples' most treasured lands. As the parks
historic, cultural and natural resources deteriorate, along
with infrastructure and facilities designed to serve and to
help in the safety of park visitors, the very reasons that
Americans value their parks will diminish too. Behind repeated
expressions of support for the national parks, the Federal
Government has also got to place the money to protect the
resources that make these places unique, enduring symbols of
America's relationship to its land and its heritage.
Two, supplemental financing: It is a good idea to augment
general appropriations with supplement sources of funds to
benefit the national parks. The new fee program is one way to
do it. We support this at reasonable levels carefully
monitored, its progress measured according to suitable,
reliable criteria on which to base future decisions. Too, like
you, Mr. Chairman, we are also eager for reform of the national
parks concession system, and we look forward to our continuing
collaboration with you on this important issue.
Also NPCA supports a workable program of revenue bond
finance for park capital projects, particularly for resource
protection projects.
Three, to the point of this hearing, Mr. Duncan's taxpayer
checkoff program offers a worthwhile addition to the list of
supplemental financing proposals. It should be adopted. It
creates an entirely win/win result for the national parks, the
American taxpayer and the Federal Government. It would utilize
a mechanism already in place. It would cost the Federal
Government nothing since additional administrative costs, if
any, would be financed by taxpayers' donations. Monies would
come into the program through entirely voluntary contributions
that in many cases would otherwise be lost to the Federal
Treasury through tax refunds.
Mr. Duncan's proposal is based on a long-time experience
with the State. As he noted, 41 plus the District of Columbia
already have some 163 taxpayer checkoff programs. Many of the
programs relate directly to the purpose of Mr. Duncan's
legislation. The most popular and widely employed program of
this type are the non-game wildlife funds that exist in 36
States. We think that when you figure the amount of taxpayers
in this--tax returns in this country on an individual basis,
about 116 million, a 1-percent median participation rate for
these programs and then calculate the $8.28 per tax return
amount here, multiply that product and put it all together, you
get about a little less than $10 million per year from this
program. It is a very worthwhile amount.
We would suggest three changes. One, specify that
construction include resource protection. We have got to
protect and upgrade these historic structures and cultural
sites and other park resources or else the park's values will
decline and visitors will not enjoy what they have come to
enjoy. Specify that the funds derived from the program shall
not be used to offset Congressional appropriations. We know you
can't bind the Committee, the appropriations committees in that
regard, but it does send a strong signal about the intent of
the legislation. Three, establish a study on the effects of the
program for the 2-year period following enactment so that you
can monitor how it works and then make adjustments as
necessary.
With your indulgence, Mr. Chairman, I will address one
quick issue of the National Park Service position. Just because
others may also have a good idea about other tax checkoffs
doesn't mean that none should be accepted. Congress is fully
capable of determining which if any taxpayer checkoff to
specify. And besides, as Mr. Gibbons pointed out earlier, these
are not Federal funds. These are taxpayers' money, and this
legislation presents an organized means of encouraging
voluntary contributions.
Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
[Statement of Albert C. Eisenberg may be found at end of
hearing.]
Mr. Hansen. Thank you. From Utah, Mr. Howe.
STATEMENT OF ALLAN T. HOWE, WASHINGTON REPRESENTATIVE, NATIONAL
PARK HOSPITALITY ASSOCIATION
Mr. Howe. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Nice to be back in the
old Committee room again where I spent a number of busy hours
when I was here. This is a wonderful Committee, and you are
doing an outstanding job as the Chairman of this Committee
moving forward the protection and the use and enjoyment of our
national parks by millions of visitors who come every year.
Mr. Duncan, I am particularly pleased to be here today to
support your legislation, H.R. 755. You have done a remarkable
job, I think, of outlining an idea and a method by which the
Park Service can be supported and good projects within the Park
Service can be funded with no impact at all on the deficit. And
it should give no worry to anybody in the Congress to support
that legislation.
I am also glad to be here with Al Eisenberg, who is the
Chairman of the Arlington County Board, who I support and try
to work with over in Arlington where I live.
Today I would like to say a number of things, Mr. Chairman.
Some people may find it curious that the association that I
represent, which of course is the National Park Hospitality
Association, the men and women and their companies who provide
visitor services in the parks, would come forward and support
this legislation. But as one considers the fact that our
businesses only exist in terms of supporting the visitors who
come to the parks and enjoy it, you can understand that if the
infrastructure of the park is falling down around our visitor
service businesses, no one would come. No one wants to come and
endanger their lives to participate even in the glorious
experience of going to a scenic area that would be otherwise
very enjoyable.
The needs have been outlined very well before your
Committee, and I won't spend a lot of time on that except to
say that the figure of at least $8 billion in backlog does
boggle my mind somewhat. When I was here we were dealing with
millions and now you are into the billions. It seems to me that
we need to take hold of this problem before it grows any
larger. I won't elaborate more except to say that one fact that
comes through to me as I drive to the parks, and you probably
have this feeling, as well, is that throughout the entire park
system each year the Park Service says about another 1 percent
of the roads fall from fair classification to the area of poor
or failed. So just to keep up with the road-building program,
which of course as you know is only one aspect of it, but a
very important one. The mobility of the visitors around the
park to be able to see it is, in fact, very important.
The concept of H.R. 755 does make sense. It allows the
American taxpayers to authorize by a checkoff on their Federal
tax returns a contribution over and above what they would owe
in taxes, or to return a portion of their refund. Unlike the
Presidential checkoff, as Mr. Duncan has observed, H.R. 755
would not allow taxpayers to divert their taxes from the
Treasury to the National Park Trust Fund, as provided and set
up under section 2 of the bill.
Now would the checkoff really help meet the NPS needs? Let
me tick off about four quick points, Mr. Chairman. The National
Park Service is the most popular Federal agency. I am always
interested in the polls that are run when the pollsters go out
among the public and they say what do you like best about the
Federal Government. Well, as we know--you especially who serve
in the Congress know the American people aren't always very
happy with what the government is doing, and it is incredible
that the Park Service comes out No. 1 in all of these polls of
relative popularity.
What does that mean in terms of the checkoff? Certainly it
means that their idea of supporting the Park Service and
favorably endorsing what they are doing would likely carry over
to this checkoff system. We would get, I think, a tremendous
response.
No. 2, the precedent of the Presidential checkoff shows
that it could be done. Over the last 3 years, the Presidential
checkoff has raised over $200 million. I think that could be
matched or even exceeded by this system that is set up for the
parks. We are talking here about the 368 units of the park
system. The Park Service would certainly have to determine
where the greatest need was. As we saw this year with Yosemite,
that was crucial to get that problem solved, which I commend
you and your colleagues in the Appropriations Committee for
addressing this year to get those needs taken care of. It would
change from year to year.
No. 3, the cost to the Internal Revenue Service would be
minimal. The reprinting of the forms goes on every year anyway.
The addition of another line to explain the Park Service
checkoff would not be any great burden on cost to the National
Park Service.
No. 4, the similar conservation checkoff programs, as has
been observed, in various States has been successful. We have
observed that 41 States have a successful program.
In conclusion, Mr. Chairman, let me just say that the
American people do have a longstanding love affair with
recreation activities on their public lands, and especially do
we see this in our national parks. Millions upon millions of
American families and many more foreign visitors come to enjoy
our camping, hiking, boating, fishing, sightseeing and other
sports each year. These visits are very valuable in the ways in
which our Nation rekindles its love and dedication to our great
historic, cultural, professional, natural and recreational
heritage. I am confident that millions of Americans will
respond to the opportunity to make a small but significant
contribution to support our national parks if Congress will
enable them to do so through the provisions of H.R. 755.
Thank you, Mr. Chairman, for this opportunity to testify.
[Statement of Allan T. Howe may be found at end of
hearing.]
Mr. Hansen. Thank you very much. We appreciate the
testimony of both of you gentlemen. Questions for the panel,
Mr. Duncan?
Mr. Duncan. Well, thank you, Mr. Chairman. First, let me
thank Mr. Eisenberg and former Congressman Howe for some
outstanding testimony and remarks and thank them for the
support that they and their organizations have provided to this
legislation. It really means a lot to me personally and I
appreciate it very much.
Like you, I am extremely optimistic about this legislation.
As Congressman Howe pointed out, the Presidential checkoff has
resulted in over $200 million in funds going to the
Presidential campaigns in just the last 3 years. And I think
this checkoff will be much more popular than that.
Mr. Eisenberg's group conducted a poll not too long ago
that found that 80 percent of the American people would support
or would give at least a $1 contribution to the parks if given
an opportunity to do so on their tax returns. And as I said in
my opening statement, we envision this, if we can accomplish
this, to be done in a way in which people can contribute $1, $5
or $10. And I think that many, many people would contribute
some very large amounts. And I think that we would be amazed at
what could be raised in this way. I believe we could raise
hundreds of millions of dollars each year.
So I appreciate the efforts that both of you are making
through your groups and your willingness to come here and
testify in support of this legislation today.
I did--interestingly enough, I noticed that Mr. Galvin said
that his opposition was regrettable, and I tried to point out
that States, 41 States have these, and Mr. Eisenberg mentioned
the District of Columbia also. They have been able to limit
these checkoffs and keep their tax forms simple and do this
without any real problem. And Mr. Galvin was smiling and very
friendly out in the hall and he said--he told me, he said,
Congressman, he said, we would love your bill. And I think that
the lukewarm opposition that he expressed was--came from a
little higher up, maybe, than the Treasury or the OMB or
something like that. But I think it is opposition that we can
overcome.
One matter of paperwork, I suppose. I do have a letter from
the Friends of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. This is
an organization with over 6,000 members which has raised--I
said in my statement $1.3 million. Since they were formed 3
years ago, they have raised $1.6 million. And they have written
a letter, a very strong letter, in support of this legislation.
And they have asked that I place this in the record. And, Mr.
Chairman, I would like to place this in the record at this
time.
Mr. Hansen. Without objection.
[Statement of Friend of Great Smoky Mountains may be found
at end of hearing.]
Mr. Duncan. Thank you very much.
Mr. Hansen. Thank you, Mr. Duncan. The gentlelady from the
Virgin Islands.
Ms. Christian-Green. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I don't
really have a question. I want to thank Congressman Howe and
Mr. Eisenberg for their testimony. I just had a comment based
on Mr. Eisenberg's testimony, because as we see an increasing
resistance to appropriating adequate funds for national parks
and public lands, I share what really is a concern that the
funds supplement and supplant Federal appropriations. And I
agree that if passed at the very least the intent of Congress
that these funds not be used to offset the Congressional
appropriations be included in the bill.
Mr. Hansen. Thank you. The gentleman from Michigan, Mr.
Kildee, the Distinguished Mr. Kildee.
Mr. Kildee. Thank you, Mr. Distinguished Chairman. It is
good to have Allan Howe. Allan is one who befriended me when I
first came to Congress 21 years ago, and I remember that very
much, Allan. You made a very good point. The Park Service
certainly is very well respected by the American people. If we
ever had any doubt on that, when the government was closed down
a couple years ago the thing that, I think, angered people more
than anything else was the fact that the parks were closed now.
It really--I got more letters on that than any other parts of
government closing down. So I think your point was really
demonstrated during that unfortunate closing down of
government. And I think Mr. Duncan has a bill here that
certainly, I think, will help them show their reverence and
respect for the Park Service. I certainly would like to support
him.
Mr. Hansen. Thank you very much. We appreciate the
testimony from the distinguished panel. Mr. Duncan.
Mr. Duncan. Mr. Chairman, can I say one more thing? And I
appreciate Ms. Christian-Green as a co-sponsor, and I think
many, many of the co-sponsors that we have of this legislation
are from this Subcommittee and Full Committee. I appreciate Mr.
Kildee's support and especially yours. But also, I did mean to
mention it when I was speaking a few moment ago that I think
Mr. Eisenberg has made several good suggestions in regard to
this legislation. I think they are suggestions that can make
this bill even better. And so we will work with you in regard
to those suggestions.
Mr. Eisenberg. Thank you very much.
Mr. Hansen. We look forward to marking up this legislation.
I would be curious--I don't mean to take you time and I have
got a meeting in about 5 minutes, but I would curious to know
your reaction to the--what was it, U.S. News and World Report
or Newsweek or something that said Parks in Peril? Which one
was that? U.S. News and World Report. I hope you both read
that. I would be curious to know your reaction. If you ever get
a chance, drop me a note.
Thank you. The Committee will stand adjourned.
[Whereupon, at 11:52 a.m., the Subcommittee was adjourned.]
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