[Congressional Record Volume 149, Number 151 (Friday, October 24, 2003)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E2128]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




   U.S. ARMY CORPS OF ENGINEERS AND THE LEWIS AND CLARK BICENTENNIAL

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. IKE SKELTON

                              of missouri

                    in the house of representatives

                        Friday, October 24, 2003

  Mr. SKELTON. Mr. Speaker, The Bicentennial of the Lewis and Clark 
Expedition is being commemorated between 2003 and 2006. As we celebrate 
the Bicentennial, the famous expedition evokes pride and awe in 
countless Americans who reflect on its achievements. While most 
Americans have some knowledge of the expedition, relatively few 
recognize that it was an Army endeavor. It was not an accident that 
President Jefferson turned to the Army for the mission. President 
Jefferson chose the Army for his Corps of Discovery because it was the 
``right tool'' for the arduous job. Frontier soldiers possessed the 
toughness, teamwork, discipline and training appropriate to the 
challenge of exploring the newly acquired lands. Most importantly, 
Meriwether Lewis and William Clark were outstanding officers and 
leaders who had previously served the Army with distinction.
  Today, the route followed by the Lewis and Clark Expedition lies 
within eight Corps districts. By virtue of its stewardship role for the 
Nation's rivers and its Army heritage of exploring and mapping the 
western United States, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers will play a key 
leadership role in the observance of the Bicentennial. Of the more than 
5,000 miles of trail from Pittsburgh to the Pacific Ocean, the Corps 
directly or indirectly manages nearly 4,700 river miles. Corps 
management activities include navigation channel maintenance, levee 
maintenance, environmental permitting responsibilities, and operation 
of the reservoirs and locks/dams. Because the Corps manages more of the 
trail than any other governmental entity, and it is the largest Federal 
provider of outdoor recreation opportunities in the country, the Corps 
will play an important role during the Bicentennial Commemoration.
  The Commemoration officially began in January 2003 at Monticello and 
will retrace the original expedition across the United States and back. 
There are 17 Signature events planned and organized under the guidance 
of the Lewis and Clark bicentennial Council. The Corps of Engineers 
will support these Signature events by participating in the Federal 
interagency project called Corps of Discovery II--200 Years to the 
Future, which is a traveling exhibition and classroom, providing 
educational programs for school children, and manning displays and 
exhibits.
  The overall goal of the Corps' participation in the Lewis and Clark 
Bicentennial Commemoration is to accommodate the anticipated increased 
visitation, ensure a safe visitor experience, and provide information 
on the Expedition, the Army, and the Corps--all with minimal impact on 
the environment. To reach this goal, the Corps is working to upgrade 
sanitary facilities, visitor centers and campgrounds. The Chief of 
Engineers has emphasized that park facilities should be in good 
condition to support the additional visitation and visitor 
expectations, particularly those facilities that are on the Lewis and 
Clark trail or within 50 miles of a signature event. To reach the 
``safe visitor experience'' objective, the Corps will provide water 
safety information specific to reservoirs and rivers along the Lewis 
and Clark route, including locking and portage procedures, the 
identification of hazardous areas, fueling areas, and the location of 
boat ramps. The Corps is also cooperating with other Federal, State and 
local enforcement, safety and emergency agencies to provide the 
essential public safety services along the route. The Corps will 
provide information to the public during the Bicentennial to educate 
about the expedition and the contribution of the Army to the success of 
the expedition. The legacy of the expedition is also an important 
story, including the role the Corps of Engineers played in exploration 
and development of the waterways that opened the west to river travel 
and the continuing role of the Corps in developing, managing, and 
protecting the Nation's water resources.
  The Corps is also a partner and sponsor of the Ft. Leavenworth re-
enactors who will attend many of the Signature events and portray the 
Lewis and Clark expedition as an Army reconnaissance mission. The Corps 
is the sponsor of numerous educational products including a discovery 
box educational kit which is used by Corps park rangers to educate 
school children about the Lewis and Clark Expedition as a military 
expedition. Other educational products that we have partnered in 
include an interagency brochure, car audio tours, a training academy 
for educators, exhibits and a film that will be marketed to public 
television. Lewis and Clark began the legacy of Army exploration of the 
American West which led to the Corps long tradition of service to our 
customers--the American public.

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