[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 111 (Friday, August 7, 1998)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1612]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                      NEW YORK STATE CANAL SYSTEM

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                          HON. JOHN J. LaFALCE

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, August 6, 1998

  Mr. LaFALCE. Mr. Speaker, today, I am introducing legislation to 
recognize the historically significant role the New York Canal System 
has played in developing American culture. The New York State Canal 
System is the largest and most ambitious public works project ever 
undertaken by a single state. It has been the catalyst for enabling New 
York State to become the nation's leader in industry and commerce by 
establishing the first effective route for inland interstate commerce 
in the country.
  During the nineteenth century, the system played a vital role in 
fostering settlement, expansion, and ethnic diversity in the entire 
northern half of the United States. During this time, it was seen as a 
symbol of westward movement, and has found an enduring place in 
American legend through song and art. It has also been instrumental in 
developing a strong political and cultural connection with our Canadian 
neighbors by providing a link that extends through New England, Upstate 
New York, and the Old Northwest.
  Today, the Canal's banks are bordered by more than two-hundred 
diverse municipalities, ranging from urban industrial areas, farmland, 
and wildlife preserves. More than four million people live in the 
counties surrounding the canal system. In all, thirteen million people, 
or 75 percent of the state's population, live along the Erie Canal-
Hudson River corridor between Buffalo and New York City.
  Because of the vital role that the Canal System has played in our 
nation's history, it is certainly appropriate that it be recognized by 
the federal government, and that every effort be made to preserve and 
develop its rich resources and those of the communities that surround 
it. The bill that I and several of my New York colleagues introduce 
today will designate the New York Canal System and its adjacent 
counties and connecting waterways as an affiliate of the National Park 
Service. This will allow the Park Service to provide technical 
assistance to enhance the canal region without infringing upon the 
autonomy of local governments and private property owners. This 
legislation will complement and build upon other federal efforts, such 
as the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development's Canal 
Corridor Initiative, that are committed to enabling communities along 
the canal to maximize their potential for economic growth and community 
revitalization.

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