[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]


                              {time}  1310
 
   INCREASING HIGHWAY AUTHORIZATION FOR CHICKAMAUGA AND CHATTANOOGA 
                   NATIONAL MILITARY PARK IN GEORGIA

  Mr. VENTO. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill 
(H.R. 3516) to increase the amount authorized to be appropriated for 
assistance for highway relocation regarding the Chickamauga and 
Chattanooga National Military Park in Georgia, as amended.
  The Clerk read as follows:

                               H.R. 3516

       Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of 
     the United States of America in Congress assembled,

     SECTION 1. INCREASE IN AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

       Section 1(c) of the Act entitled ``An Act to authorize and 
     direct the National Park Service to assist the State of 
     Georgia in relocating a highway affecting the Chickamauga and 
     Chattanooga National Military Park in Georgia'', approved 
     December 24, 1987 (101 Stat. 1442), is amended by striking 
     ``$30,000,000'' and inserting ``$45,000,000''.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Montgomery). Pursuant to the rule, the 
gentleman from Minnesota [Mr. Vento] will be recognized for 20 minutes, 
and the gentleman from Wyoming [Mr. Thomas] 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 
H.R. 3516, the bill now 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, H.R. 3516, introduced by my colleague on the Natural 
Resources Committee, Representative Nathan Deal, increases the level of 
funding authorized to assist the State of Georgia in relocating a 
highway corridor currently crossing the Chickamauga and Chattanooga 
National Military Park. A hearing was held on this measure by the 
Subcommittee on National Parks, Forests and Public Lands on February 8, 
1994, and the Committee on Natural Resources approved H.R. 3516 with an 
amendment on March 9, 1994.
  The park, which was established in 1890, was the first of the 
national military parks, and has been closely maintained in its 
original state. Most of the historic road system that existed in 1863 
remains largely intact with the exception of LaFayette Road--a crucial 
artery of the battle which has since become better known as Highway 27, 
a major north-south commuter route.
  Legislation enacted with the 100th Congress (Public Law 100-211) 
authorized $30 million in Federal funds to assist the State of Georgia 
in relocating the stretch of highway to an area outside the park, with 
the Federal contribution totaling 75 percent of the total cost of the 
project. H.R. 3516, as amended, would increase that amount to $45 
million. Since enactment of Public Law 100-211, $23.5 million has been 
appropriated for the relocation project. The National Park Service, in 
consultation with the Federal Highway Administration and the Georgia 
Department of Transportation, now estimates the total cost of the 
project at $57.5 million, thus the Federal contribution, under the 
current 75-25 percent cost sharing arrangement, would total $43.2 
million. This legislation accommodates the new figures and raises the 
authorized level to $45 million.
  The 3.7 miles of the highway located within the park continues to 
present a significant impediment to visitor safety and enjoyment of the 
park, and its increasing use threatens the park's resources. This 
project is well underway--the planning process is virtually complete. I 
urge my colleagues to support the increase in authorization so that the 
bypass can be constructed and the park's resources preserved.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. THOMAS of Wyoming. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may 
consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 3516, a measure to increase by 
$15 million the authorization for construction of a highway bypass 
around Chickamauga and Chattanooga National Military Park.
  Chairman Vento has adequately explained this measure. The need for 
this project has been identified in the park plan and it is the highest 
priority construction project at the park.
  Construction of this bypass road will have a positive impact on the 
visitor experience at the park and I urge my colleagues to join me in 
supporting it.
  Mr. VENTO. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the 
gentleman from Georgia [Mr. Deal], a member of the committee and a 
sponsor of the bill.
  (Mr. DEAL asked and was given permission to revise and extend his 
remarks.)
  Mr. DEAL. Mr. Speaker, I would like to begin by thanking Mr. Vento 
and Mr. Miller for their continued support for this project. I 
especially would like to thank my fellow colleague from Georgia, Mr. 
Darden, for his involvement in this project. He and I have a similar 
interest in this park and bypass in that they were previously in his 
district and the initial funding was made available through his 
efforts.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 3516. As Mr. Vento 
stated, H.R. 3516 is a bill to increase the authorization of 
appropriations for the National Park Service to assist Georgia in 
relocating a highway affecting the Chickamauga and Chattanooga National 
Military Park.
  The Chickamauga and Chattanooga National Military Park was 
established in 1890 to commemorate the Civil War military engagements 
which took place there and to allow opportunities for future study of 
these historic battles. The park was administered by the War Department 
until 1933 when jurisdiction was transferred to the National Park 
Service. In addition to its inspirational and commemorative values, the 
park is also used for military instruction, although this military 
activity was substantially curtailed following its transfer to the 
National Park Service. Today, the Army Command General Staff continues 
to bring field classes here to study the military strategies used 
during the battles.
  Specifically, this project reroutes a 3.7-mile section of U.S. 
Highway 27, which passes through the park, by way of a 7-mile-long 
bypass around the western boundary. This rerouting is necessary to 
protect the natural and historic resources within the park from damages 
caused by heavy traffic.
  Highway 27 is a major north-south highway through the center of 
Chickamauga National Military Park connecting Chattanooga, TN to 
Florida. It is a well traveled commuter route between northwest Georgia 
and Chattanooga. On average, 16,200 vehicles pass through the park each 
day by way of Highway 27.
  U.S. Highway 27 serves as a vital north-south link among the three 
States and its renewal is a top priority of the Georgia DOT. Highway 27 
presently is undergoing construction from end to end to upgrade the 
highway for substantial commercial usage. At this point, the State of 
Georgia has allocated $71.7 million to the full length of the highway. 
In fiscal year 1993, Georgia DOT appropriated $12.4 million for the 
project, and for fiscal year 1994 through fiscal year 1999 it has 
authorized and will receive $353.4 million for completion of the 
project. When complete, Highway 27 will be a four-lane highway through 
rural areas of Georgia and will include five-lane bypass sections 
around urban areas with limited access.
  The matching funds for this project are 75 percent Federal to 25 
percent State. Total appropriated Federal funds for this project now 
stand at $23,456,000. Revised cost estimates by the Federal Highway 
Administration [FHWA], based on the Georgia Department of 
Transportation's actual average bid prices, increase the total cost of 
this project to $57.53 million. This increases the Federal share to 
$43.2 million. This amount exceeds the total funds authorized under 
Public Law 100-211 by $13.2 million. Therefore, this project needs to 
be reauthorized to reflect the appropriate dollar amounts.
  Mr. Speaker, this is a worthwhile project for the State of Georgia. 
The people of the Ninth District of Georgia thank the House for its 
consideration of this bill.
  Mr. VENTO. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the 
gentleman from Georgia [Mr. Darden], the architect of this bill from 
the 100th Congress, as he continues his hard work in terms of support 
of this important project.
  Mr. DARDEN. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding me this 
time.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise in very strong support of H.R. 3516. As the 
chairman, the gentleman from Minnesota [Mr. Vento], has explained, this 
bill would provide authorization necessary to complete the task of 
protecting the Chickamauga and Chattanooga National Military 
Battlefield by constructing a highway bypass around the park.
  I commend the chairman and also the gentleman from Georgia [Mr. Deal] 
for their diligent efforts in bringing this important ongoing project 
in the State of Georgia before this body today.
  Mr. Speaker, we have heard a lot about unfunded mandates and 
situations in which the Federal Government imposes rules and 
regulations on States without picking up the cost of the mandates that 
they pass on to us. This situation is different, however, because when 
the Federal Government properly ruled, the National Park Service, the 
highway could not be widened within the park, this would have placed an 
undue amount of expense on the State and the counties to bring this 
parkway around this very historic national park.
  Working with the Committee on the Interior staff several years ago 
and specifically the staff director, Dale Crane, we worked out a 
formula of 75 percent Federal and 25 percent State participation so we 
could assure that the extra cost brought about by the Federal 
Government's ruling would, in fact, be borne by the Federal Government, 
with the State participating up to 25 percent. This is a good 
compromise.
  It is a good bill. It is necessary to raise the ceiling on the 
authorization, and I want to thank everyone involved for their strong 
support of this and ask that the House pass this legislation 
overwhelmingly.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of H.R. 3516. As Chairman Vento 
has explained, this bill will provide the authorization necessary to 
complete the task of protecting the Chickamauga and Chattanooga 
National Military Battlefield Park by constructing a highway bypass 
around the park. I commend the Chairman and Congressman Deal for their 
diligent efforts in bringing this important, ongoing project in the 
State of Georgia before this body today.
  Mr. Speaker, the need for the highway bypass around the Chickamauga 
and Chattanooga National Military Battlefield Park in Walker and 
Catoosa County, GA, is clear. The Committee on Natural Resources' 
report on this project concludes that without relocation of a portion 
of U.S. Highway 27 from its current route through the park, important 
sections of the park will be damaged by the negative effects of heavy 
automobile traffic.
  Mr. Speaker, the Chickamauga and Chattanooga National Military Park, 
which was first established in 1890, is the oldest and largest national 
military park in the Nation. This area was the site of battles over the 
course of several months in the fall of 1863. These engagements 
involved the soldiers of many States, including Wisconsin, Indiana, 
Alabama, Massachusetts, Ohio, Illinois, and my home State of Georgia. 
This park is an historical site of significance that touches our entire 
nation.
  Mr. Speaker, over the past several years the Congress has supported 
the effort to protect the Chickamauga and Chattanooga Military Park. I 
urge my colleagues to continue this support by approving H.R. 3516 
which will allow this project to move forward to a successful 
completion.
  Mr. VENTO. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. 
Mr. Speaker, I commend both of the sponsors, the gentlemen from Georgia 
[Mr. Deal] and [Mr. Darden], for this important bill and for their 
interest and dedication to this policy path.
  Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for time, and I yield back 
the balance of my time.
  Mr. THOMAS of Wyoming. Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for 
time, and I yield back the balance of my 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 bill, H.R. 3516, as amended.
  The question was taken; and (two-thirds having voted in favor 
thereof) the rules were suspended and the bill, as amended, was passed.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

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