[Congressional Record Volume 140, Number 32 (Monday, March 21, 1994)]
[House]
[Page H]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[Congressional Record: March 21, 1994]
From the Congressional Record Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

 
         NEW JERSEY COASTAL HERITAGE TRAIL ROUTE AUTHORIZATION

  Mr. VENTO. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the 
Senate bill (S. 1574) to authorize appropriations for the Coastal 
Heritage Trail Route in the State of New Jersey; and for other 
purposes.
  The Clerk read as follows:

                                S. 1574

       Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of 
     the United States of America in Congress assembled, That 
     section 6 of Public Law 100-515 (16 U.S.C. 1244 note) is 
     amended--
       (1) by striking ``There'' and inserting ``(a) There''; and
       (2) by adding at the end the following:
       ``(b)(1) Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection (a), 
     there are hereby authorized to be appropriated to the 
     Secretary to carry out the purposes of this Act $1,000,000, 
     which is in addition to any sums appropriated for such 
     purposes for use during fiscal years ending on or before 
     September 30, 1993.
       ``(2) Funds appropriated pursuant to this subsection to 
     carry out the purposes of this Act shall be used solely for 
     technical assistance and the design and fabrication of 
     interpretive materials, devices and signs. In addition to the 
     limitation on funds contained in subsection (a), no funds 
     made available under this subsection shall be used for 
     operation, maintenance, repair or construction except for 
     construction of interpretive exhibits.
       ``(3) The Federal share of any project carried out with 
     funds appropriated pursuant to this subsection may not exceed 
     50 percent of the total cost for that project and shall be 
     provided on a matching basis. The non-Federal share of such 
     cost may be in the form of cash, materials or in-kind 
     services fairly valued by the Secretary.
       ``(c) The authorities provided to the Secretary under this 
     Act shall terminate five years after the date of enactment of 
     this subsection.''.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from 
Minnesota [Mr. Vento] will be recognized for 20 minutes, and the 
gentleman from Alaska [Mr. Young] will be recognized for 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Minnesota [Mr. Vento].


                             general leave

  Mr. VENTO. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may 
have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks on 
the Senate bill presently under consideration.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from Minnesota?
  There was no objection.

  Mr. VENTO. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, S. 1574, which passed the Senate on November 20, 1993, 
is a bill sponsored by Senator Bradley to raise the authorization 
ceiling for the New Jersey Coastal Heritage Trail Route. An identical 
bill (H.R. 3377) was introduced on the House side by Representative 
Bill Hughes.
  In 1988, legislation was enacted to authorize the Secretary of the 
Interior to designate the New Jersey Coastal Heritage Trail Route to 
enhance the public's understanding and appreciation of the New Jersey 
coast and its heritage. This vehicular tour route extends 275 miles 
along existing public roads from Perth Amboy in the north to Cape May 
in the south and northwest along the Delaware Bay shoreline. The 
National Park Service recently completed an implementation guide which 
presents the strategy for developing the trail route. The 1988 
legislation limited the Federal financial contribution to $250,000 for 
this project. However, that amount has been exceeded and no additional 
funds can be appropriated unless the authorization is amended.
  The Committee on Natural Resources adopted an amendment in the nature 
of a substitute to S. 1574 which made several changes in the bill to 
address concerns about the scope and cost of this project. The 
committee amendment limits future appropriations to $1 million in 
addition to the $1.2 million that has already been appropriated. 
Second, it limits the use of funds to those intended by the original 
legislation which are technical assistance for planning and for the 
design and construction of interpretive exhibits. Third, it requires 
that Federal funds be matched in the form of cash, materials, or in-
kind services from non-Federal sources. The original legislation 
envisioned a partnership approach for developing the trail route and 
this match is in keeping with this partnership approach. Finally, the 
substitute terminates the role of the National Park Service 5 years 
after the date of enactment.
  The substitute amendment provides an appropriate level of involvement 
for the National Park Service consistent with the original legislation. 
That legislation envisioned a limited short-term role for the National 
Park Service and not a permanent ongoing presence. The National Park 
Service has done a good job in completing an inventory of the natural 
and cultural resources and drafting an implementation guide for trail 
route. They will continue to be involved for up to 5 more years but 
their efforts will phase out and the long-term operation and 
interpretation should be left up to the State and local entities.
  Mr. Speaker, S. 1574, as amended, would provide for a limited but 
important role for the National Park Service in this project. I urge 
Members to support this bill.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. YOUNG of Alaska. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of S. 1574.
  Mr. THOMAS of Wyoming. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of S. 1574, the 
Coastal Heritage Trail Route in the State of New Jersey. I appreciate 
Chairman Vento's efforts on this measure. We were able to agree on 
significant amendments that will both limit the amounts authorized to 
be spent over the next 5 years and the purposes for which those funds 
can be spent. Another very important amendment is the sunset provision, 
which will terminate the National Park Service's involvement in this 
project in 5 years from enactment. As the chairman knows, our side of 
the aisle is concerned about the extent of involvement of the Park 
Service and Federal dollars in these types of heritage areas.
  Mr. Speaker, I urge enactment of S. 1574.
  Mr. HUGHES. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of S. 1574, 
legislation to reauthorize the New Jersey Coastal Heritage Trail Route. 
This measure is similar to H.R. 3377, legislation I introduced the 
House of Representatives last session.
  The New Jersey Coastal Heritage Trail was established by an act of 
Congress in October 1988 that was sponsored in the Senate by my 
colleague Senator Bradley, and in the House by myself, Congressman 
Saxton, and our friend, the late Jim Howard. The purpose of that 
legislation was to highlight the many points of scenic and natural 
beauty along the New Jersey coast, and to identify sites of historic 
and cultural interest. In fact, the distinguished chairman of the 
National Parks Subcommittee, Mr. Vento, was instrumental in helping 
that legislation become law.
  The trail starts in the north at Sandy Hook and extends south to Cape 
May, where it swings west into the Delaware Bay region. The Trail 
includes such resources as wildlife refuges, marine mammal sanctuaries, 
sailing and fishing communities, historic sites and lighthouses, forts 
and battlefields, national monuments, abandoned shipwrecks, scenic 
routes, such as Ocean Drive in Cape May County, and entire communities, 
like Smithville, Salem, Bridgeton, Ocean Grove, and Cape May. Many of 
these sites are of significance not only to New Jersey, but are part of 
the national heritage of all Americans.
  S. 1574 is more than a simple funding reauthorization. As reported by 
the Natural Resources Committee, this legislation establishes 
guidelines that will help direct the project through completion. 
Although the State of New Jersey has already contributed substantially 
to the project, this legislation would cement that commitment by 
requiring that each Federal dollar is matched by State funds or 
services.
  I believe that it is important for my colleagues to note that the 
trail does not require the acquisition, taking, or purchase of 
property. Its purpose is to identify the famous, as well as the little-
known or underutilized attractions for the benefits of residents and 
visitors to the State of New Jersey.
  Last year, Interior Appropriations Subcommittee Chairman Yates saw 
fit to include funding for part support in the fiscal year 1994 
Interior appropriations legislation. Unfortunately we soon realized 
that the funding we had asked for exceeded the authorization limit 
included in the original act. That money was understandably dropped 
from the final House-passed version of the Interior appropriations 
legislation due to a lack of authorization. However, the need for 
funding has only increased since that time.
  By approving this legislation we will give the Appropriations 
Committee the authority to provide the money necessary to help draw 
well-deserved attention to the points of scenic natural beauty that 
grace my State. Encourage tourism, and build greater public support of 
the preservation of important and irreplaceable resources. This issue 
is of great importance to me and the State of New Jersey and I am 
certain that the small Federal expenditures needed to maintain this 
trail will be more than compensated by the return to the public.
  I would like to thank Chairman Vento and Mr. Hansen, as well as 
Chairman Miller, and Mr. Young, for moving this legislation 
expeditiously. Enactment of this bill will assure the continued success 
of the New Jersey Coastal Heritage Trail which in turn will build 
greater public support for the identification and preservation of other 
important cultural, historical, and ecological treasures throughout the 
country.
  I urge my colleagues to pass this measure.
  Mr. YOUNG of Alaska. Mr. Speaker, I have no requests for time, and I 
yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. VENTO. Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for time. I ask 
for support of the legislation and I yield back the balance of our 
time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentleman from Minnesota [Mr. Vento] that the House suspend the rules 
and pass the Senate bill, S. 1574, as amended.
  The question was taken; and (two-thirds having voted in favor 
thereof) the rules were suspended and the Senate bill, as amended, was 
passed.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

                          ____________________