[Congressional Record Volume 148, Number 98 (Thursday, July 18, 2002)]
[Senate]
[Pages S7040-S7041]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

      By Mr. JEFFORDS (for himself, Mr. Leahy, Mr. Schumer, and Mrs. 
        Clinton):
  S. 2756. A bill to establish the Champlain Valley National Heritage 
Partnership in the States of Vermont and New York, and for other 
purposes; to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
  Mr. JEFFORDS. Mr. President, I am very pleased to introduce the 
Champlain Valley National Heritage Act of 2002. I am joined by Senator 
Leahy and

[[Page S7041]]

Senators Schumer and Clinton of New York. This bill will establish a 
National Heritage Partnership within the Champlain Valley. Passage of 
this bill will culminate a process to enhance the incredible cultural 
resources of the Champlain Valley.
  The Champlain Valley of Vermont and New York has one of the richest 
and most intact collections of historic resources in the United States. 
Fort Ticonderoga still stands where it has for centuries, at the scene 
of numerous battles critical to the birth of our Nation. Revolutionary 
gunboats have recently been found fully intact on the bottom of Lake 
Champlain. Our cemeteries are the permanent resting place for great 
explorers, soldiers and sailors. The United States and Canada would not 
exist today but for events that occurred in this region.
  We in Vermont and New York take great pride in our history. We 
preserve it, honor it and show it off to visitors from around the 
world. These visitors are also very important to our economy. Tourism 
is among the most important industries in this region and has much 
potential for growth.
  The Champlain Valley Heritage Partnership will bring together more 
than one hundred local groups working to preserve and promote our 
heritage. Up to $2 million a year will be made available from the 
National Park Service though the Lake Champlain Basin Program to 
support local efforts to preserve and interpret our heritage and 
present it to the world. Most of the funding will be given to small 
communities to help preserve their heritage and develop economic 
opportunities.
  This project has taken many years for me to bring to the point of 
introducing legislation. This has been time well spent working at the 
grass-roots level to develop a framework to direct federal resources to 
where it will do the most good. I am confident that we have found the 
best model. This will be a true partnership that supports each member 
but does not impose any new Federal requirements.
  The Champlain Valley National Heritage Partnership will preserve our 
historic resources, interpret and teach about the events that shaped 
our Nation and will be an engine for economic growth. I am hopeful that 
this bill soon become law.
  Mr. LEAHY. Mr. President, I am very pleased to join with my Senate 
colleagues from Vermont and New York as we introduce the Lake Champlain 
Heritage Act of 2002. With this legislation, we will take an important 
step in recognizing the importance of the Lake Champlain Valley in the 
history of America.
  I want to thank Senator Jeffords and his staff for all the work they 
have put into this effort. I know that many hours have gone into the 
research, discussion and editing to get where we are today. I also want 
to thank Senators Clinton and Schumer who are our valuable New York 
partners in all things related to Lake Champlain.
  Over the July 4th recess, I was able to participate in the Lake 
Champlain Maritime Museum's opening of a new exhibit featuring 
artifacts recovered from the 1776 Revolutionary War Battle of Valcour. 
It was just 1 year ago that Senator Clinton and I were at the site of 
the Battle to take part in the recovery and beginning of the 
conservation process of those artifacts.
  The Valcour Bay Research Project followed the 1997 discovery of the 
missing American gunboat from the Battle. I bring this up because our 
purpose today as we introduce this legislation underscores to the rest 
of our Nation a message we Vermonters and New Yorkers have long 
proclaimed: the role of Lake Champlain in the cause of American 
independence cannot be overlooked.
  The evidence of the struggle for this strategic waterway from the 
days of Native American excursions, through the colonial rivalry 
between Britain and France, our War of Independence, until the end of 
the War of 1812, constantly surrounds those of us who make our homes in 
this Valley.
  This act is intended to advance the cultural heritage goals of 
``Opportunities for Action,'' the comprehensive plan developed under 
the Lake Champlain Special Designation Act by the Lake Champlain Basin 
Program with broad public input and support as well as with the 
involvement of local, State and Federal Governments.
  We envision activities such as locally planned and managed heritage 
networks and programs, a management strategy for the Lake's underwater 
cultural resources and strengthening the links between cultural 
resources and economic development. This legislation will also help 
provide assistance as the 400th anniversary of Samuel De Champlain's 
arrival in the Valley is commemorated in 2009.
  Today, we are taking a significant step in helping all Americans 
better appreciate the full history of the Lake Champlain Valley which 
holds such an extensive collection of historic sites and artifacts.
  As Vermonters and New Yorkers the stewards of Lake Champlain, we have 
a serious responsibility to conserve this evidence for future 
generations. We believe that what we do here, how we manage the 
cultural heritage of the Valley, can contribute to the growing debate 
on how present generations can live and prosper on the same ground that 
we conserve as our natural and cultural heritage.
  Our Vermont and New York Champlain Valley communities share this 
heritage and have helped us develop a vision to enhance the 
conservation, interpretation and enjoyment of our shared history and to 
make it more readily available to residents and visitors alike. We can 
help revitalize local economies and promote heritage tourism as we 
improve the stewardship of the Valley's cultural legacy by making 
additional resources available to communities and organizations through 
the Lake Champlain Basin Program.
  I think it is most fitting that we have come here together to 
introduce this long-awaited bill, reasserting our partnership for Lake 
Champlain: Vermont and New York engaged in a cooperative effort to 
conserve, interpret, and honor our common heritage.
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