[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 70 (Wednesday, June 3, 1998)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1010]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




    TECHNICAL CORRECTION TO THE DANIEL BOONE HERITAGE TRAIL PROJECT 
                              DESCRIPTION

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                           HON. RICK BOUCHER

                              of virginia

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, June 3, 1998

  Mr. BOUCHER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to clarify, for the record, a 
technical correction within H.R. 3978. I am the primary sponsor of the 
Daniel Boone Heritage Trail project that was included in the recently 
passed transportation reauthorization measure H.R. 2400, and is listed 
as project number 746 in the Conference Report on H.R. 2400, the 
Transportation Equity Act for the 21st Century Act.
  The Daniel Boone Heritage Trail is of tremendous historical 
importance to our Nation. Early in our Nation's history, the trail 
served as the major artery of passage for settlers crossing the 
Appalachian Mountains on their way westward. Over the last two hundred 
years, the covered wagon has been replaced by more modern forms of 
transportation and portions of the original trail eventually fell into 
disuse and were reclaimed by nature. However, a determined group of 
local citizens in Southwest Virginia, Eastern Kentucky, and Eastern 
Tennessee have joined together recently to locate and restore the 
trail. I have been supportive of these efforts and included within the 
transportation reauthorization measure funding to help purchase a 
parcel of land containing a segment of the trail.
  In the original BESTEA measure, and in the subsequent conference 
report passed by the House on May 22, 1998, the project description for 
the Daniel Boone Heritage Trail describes the land to be acquired as 
being within the Jefferson National Forest. However, the acquiring 
group may desire to purchase privately owned land instead.
  It was my intent that the technical corrections measure, H.R. 3978, 
strike the reference to the Jefferson National Forest within the Daniel 
Boone Heritage Trail project description, creating the flexibility for 
the purchase of either publicly owned or privately owned land. 
Unfortunately, although non-controversial, language to strike the 
reference to the Jefferson National Forest from the project description 
was not included in H.R. 3978. I rise today to state for the record the 
project's original intent.

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