[Congressional Record Volume 149, Number 22 (Thursday, February 6, 2003)]
[Senate]
[Page S2054]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

      By Mr. SARBANES (for himself and Ms. Mikulski):
  S. 328. A bill to designate Catoctin Mountain Park in the State of 
Maryland as the Catoctin Mountain National Recreation Area,'' and for 
other purposes; to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
  Mr. SARBANES. Mr. President, today I am re-introducing legislation, 
together with my colleague Senator Mikulski, to re-designate Catoctin 
Mountain Park as the Catoctin Mountain National Recreation Area. I 
first introduced this measure in October 2002, but unfortunately it was 
not acted upon during the closing days of the 107th Congress. It is my 
hope that the legislation will receive full and prompt consideration 
this year.
  I spoke last year about the need for this legislation and would like 
to underscore the principal arguments today. Catoctin Mountain Park is 
a hidden gem in our National Park System. Home to Camp David, the 
Presidential retreat, it has been aptly described as ``America's most 
famous unknown park.'' Comprising nearly 6000 acres of the eastern 
reach of the Appalachian Mountains in Maryland, the park is rich in 
history as well as outdoor recreation opportunities. Visitors can enjoy 
camping, picnicking, cross-country skiing, fishing, as well as the 
solitude and beauty of the woodland mountain and streams in the park.
  Catoctin Mountain Park had its origins during the Great Depression as 
one of 46 Recreational Demonstration Areas, RDA, established under the 
authority of the National Industrial Recovery Act. The Federal 
Government purchased more than 10,000 acres of mountain land that had 
been heavily logged and was no longer productive to demonstrate how 
sub-marginal land could be turned into a productive recreational area 
and help put people back to work. From 1936 through 1941, hundreds of 
workers under the Works Progress Administration and later the Civilian 
Conservation Corps were employed in reforestation activities and in the 
construction of a number of camps, roads and other facilities, 
including the camp now known as Camp David, and one of the earliest--if 
not the oldest--camp for disabled individuals. In November 1936, 
administrative authority for the Catoctin RDA was transferred to the 
National Park Service by Executive Order.
  In 1942, concern about President Roosevelt's health and safety led to 
the selection of Catoctin Mountain, and specifically Camp Hi-Catoctin 
as the location for the President's new retreat. Subsequently 
approximately 5,000 acres of the area was transferred to the State of 
Maryland, becoming Cunningham Falls State Park in 1954. The remaining 
5,770 acres of the Catoctin Recreation Demonstration Area was renamed 
Catoctin Mountain Park by the Director of the National Park Service in 
1954. Unfortunately, the Director failed to include the term 
``National'' in the title and the park today remains one of 17 units in 
the entire National Park System and one of 9 units in the National 
Capital Region that does not have this designation. Those units include 
four parkways, four wild and scenic rivers, the White House and Wolf 
Trap Farm Park for the Performing Arts.
  The proximity of Catoctin Mountain Park, Camp David, and Cunningham 
Falls State Park, and the differences between national and state park 
management, has caused longstanding confusion for visitors to the area. 
Catoctin Mountain Park is continually misidentified by the public as 
containing lake and beach areas associated with Cunningham Falls State 
Park, being operated by the State of Maryland, or being closed to the 
public because of the presence of Camp David. National Park employees 
spend countless hours explaining, assisting and redirecting visitors to 
their desired destinations.
  My legislation would help to address this situation and clearly 
identify this park as a unit of the National Park System by renaming it 
the Catoctin Mountain National Recreation Area. The mission and 
characteristics of this park--which include the preservation of 
significant historic resources and important natural areas in locations 
that provide outdoor recreation for large numbers of people--make this 
designation appropriate. This measure would not change access 
requirements or current recreational uses occurring within the park. 
But it would assist the visiting public in distinguishing between the 
many units of the State and Federal systems. It will also, in my 
judgment, help promote tourism by enhancing public awareness of the 
National Park unit.
  The legislation is supported by the Board of County Commissioners and 
Tourism Council of Frederick County. I urge approval of this 
legislation.
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