[Congressional Record Volume 150, Number 23 (Friday, February 27, 2004)]
[Senate]
[Page S1892]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

      By Mr. LAUTENBERG (for himself and Mr. Corzine):
  S. 2142. A bill to authorize appropriations for the New Jersey 
Coastal Heritage Trail Route, and for other purposes; to the Committee 
on Energy and Natural Resources.
  Mr. LAUTENBERG. Mr. President, I rise to introduce legislation to 
reauthorize the New Jersey Coastal Heritage Trail Route on behalf of 
myself and Senator Corzine. This bill makes a number of important 
changes to legislation that was enacted in 1988 and reauthorized in 
1994 and 1999.
  The original legislation, which I co-sponsored, called for a route 
that links nationally significant natural and cultural sites associated 
with the coastal area of New Jersey. The New Jersey Coastal Heritage 
Trail runs south for nearly 300 miles from Perth Amboy along the 
Atlantic Ocean to Cape May, then west along the Delaware Bay to the 
Delaware Memorial Bridge. Along the way are sites like the Barnegat Bay 
Decoy and Baymen's Museum, the Cape May Migratory Bird Refuge, and the 
Sandy Hook Unit of the Gateway National Recreation Area.
  Five theme trails, of which three are open, are planned to showcase 
different aspects of New Jersey coastal life: maritime history, coastal 
habitats, wildlife migration, historic settlements, and relaxation/
inspiration. The Trail is operated by a partnership that includes the 
National Park Service, the State of New Jersey, local communities, and 
private non-profit organizations. Fifty percent of the funding for the 
Trail is provided from non-federal funds.
  My legislation raises the funding authorization for the New Jersey 
Coastal Heritage Trail to $8 million, doubling the current 
authorization of $4 million. The legislation also: extends the deadline 
for project completion by 5 years to May 4, 2009; allows funds to be 
used for grants in addition to technical assistance; and requires the 
National Park Service to prepare a strategic plan for the long-term 
maintenance of this coastal route. A companion bill, H.R. 3070, has 
been introduced in the House by Congressman LoBiondo, with 
cosponsorship by the entire New Jersey delegation.
  New Jersey has a long shoreline of which we are extremely proud. This 
bill will provide the necessary resources and strategic planning to 
ensure that the New Jersey Coastal Heritage Trail fulfills its promise 
to the people of my home State and to visitors from around the world. 
The additional funding authorized in this bill will support: 1. 
Creation of a long-term strategic plan on the roles of the National 
Park Service and other Trail partners; 2. Development of two remaining 
theme trails (historic settlements and relaxation/inspiration); 3. 
Development of interpretive media such as videos, brochures and 
exhibits; 4. Technical assistance for the State park system, wildlife 
management, and historic and cultural sites; 5. Construction of a New 
Jersey State Park Service facility on the trail at Double Trouble State 
Park in the Barnegat Bay Region; 6. Continuing work on a welcome center 
at Sandy Hook; and 7. Construction of a welcome center in the Absecon 
region.
  I urge my colleagues to support this legislation, which is needed to 
assure that funding for this valuable undertaking will continue to be 
authorized after May 2004.
   I ask unanimous consent that the text of the bill be printed in the 
Record.
   There being no objection, the bill was ordered to be printed in the 
Record, as follows:

                                 S. 2142

       Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of 
     the United States of America in Congress assembled,

     SECTION 1. NEW JERSEY COASTAL HERITAGE TRAIL ROUTE.

       (a) Authorization of Appropriations.--Section 6 of Public 
     Law 100-515 (16 U.S.C. 1244 note) is amended--
       (1) in subsection (b)(1), by striking ``$4,000,000'' and 
     inserting ``$8,000,000''; and
       (2) in subsection (c), by striking ``10'' and inserting 
     ``15''.
       (b) Grants.--Public Law 100-515 (16 U.S.C. 1244 note) is 
     amended--
       (1) in section 4, by inserting ``and, subject to the 
     availability of appropriations, grants for,'' after 
     ``technical assistance in''; and
       (2) in section 6(b)(2) by inserting ``and grants'' after 
     ``technical assistance''.
       (c) Strategic Plan.--Public Law 100-515 (16 U.S.C. 1244 
     note) is amended by adding at the end the following:

     ``SEC. 8. STRATEGIC PLAN.

       ``(a) In General--Not later than 4 years after the date of 
     the enactment of this section, the Secretary shall prepare a 
     strategic plan for the route.
       ``(b) Contents.--The strategic plan prepared under 
     subsection (a) shall describe--
       ``(1) opportunities to increase participation by national 
     and local private and public interests in the planning, 
     development, and administration of the route; and
       ``(2) organizational options for sustaining the route.''.
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