[Congressional Record Volume 146, Number 113 (Thursday, September 21, 2000)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1554]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                   GOVERNORS ISLAND PRESERVATION ACT

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. BENJAMIN A. GILMAN

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                      Thursday, September 21, 2000

  Mr. GILMAN. Mr. Speaker, today I rise to introduce H.R. 5242, the 
Governors Island Preservation Act. This legislation is a historic 
opportunity to preserve and protect the third and final jewel of New 
York Harbor, Governors Island.
  Governors Island was owned and operated as a military facility by the 
British and American armed forces for more than 200 years. This 
national treasure has played an important role in the Revolutionary 
War, the War of 1812, the American Civil War, World Wars I and II, as 
well as hosting the site of the 1988 Reagan-Gorbachev Summit, during 
the cold war.
  In 1800, in order to provide for the national defense, the people of 
the State of New York ceded control of Governors Island to the Federal 
Government, then, in 1958, transferred the island outright for only $1.
  The U.S. Coast Guard has now vacated Governors Island because of the 
high costs involved in maintaining its base there. The now unused 
island is being maintained by General Services Administration with an 
annual appropriation and, by law, must be disposed of by 2002.
  New York State and New York City need our help to preserve and 
protect one of our Nation's most important and beautiful landmarks, and 
turn Governors Island into a destination with significant open and 
educational spaces for public use.
  The State and the city of New York have worked out a detailed plan 
that will protect the historic nature of the island while transforming 
the southern tip into a 50-acre public park, complete with recreation 
facilities and stunning views of the Statue of Liberty and the harbor. 
New interactive educational facilities, including an aquarium and a 
historical village, are planned, as is moderately-priced family lodging 
and a health center. The awe-inspiring opportunity we have to establish 
this new public space to complement both liberty and Ellis Island is 
unprecedented and mandates decisive action.
  Accordingly, the Governors Island Preservation Act will open the 
doors to this opportunity by transferring the island back to the 
citizens of New York for the same nominal price the Federal Government 
paid.
  Mr. Speaker, I would like to take this opportunity to call upon all 
my colleagues in asking their support for the Governors Island 
Preservation Act. Governor Pataki, Senators Moynihan and Schumer, Mayor 
Giuliani, Speaker Silver, Representatives, Nadler, Fossella, Maloney, 
and myself, have all worked extremely hard to address every concern and 
develop bipartisan legislation which will open Governors Island up not 
only to the people of New York, but to our entire Nation.

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