[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.
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