[Congressional Record Volume 152, Number 134 (Thursday, December 7, 2006)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E2126]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




   H.R. 5466, CAPTAIN JOHN SMITH CHESAPEAKE NATIONAL HISTORIC TRAIL 
                            DESIGNATION ACT

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                               speech of

                         HON. MICHAEL N. CASTLE

                              of delaware

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, December 5, 2006

  Mr. CASTLE. Mr. Speaker, today I rise in strong support of H.R. 5466, 
the Captain John Smith Chesapeake National Historic Trail Designation 
Act, which traces the 1607 and 1608 water voyages of Captain John Smith 
to chart the land and waterways of the Chesapeake Bay. The water trail 
extends approximately 3,000 miles along the Chesapeake Bay and its 
tributaries in Virginia, Maryland, Pennsylvania, Delaware, and in the 
District of Columbia. The year 2007 will mark the 400th anniversary of 
the founding of Jamestown and Captain John Smith's monumental voyages 
of exploration in the Chesapeake Bay, making passage of this 
legislation and the designation of this route as a national historic 
trail timely.
  Designating this historic trail is an excellent way for Americans to 
learn about the voyage of Captain John Smith and the valuable resources 
of the Chesapeake Bay and will help to spur efforts to protect and 
restore the region's historic and environmental assets. During his 
voyage, Captain John Smith traveled 45 miles up the Nanticoke River 
into Delaware. He reached approximately half a mile above Broad Creek, 
in present-day Sussex County, where he placed a brass cross to 
symbolize the furthest extent of his exploration. During that time, 
Captain John Smith met and traded with hundreds of the Kuskarawaok 
(Nanticoke) Indians who were vital to keeping the Jamestown settlement 
alive through their knowledge and trade goods.
  This project is widely supported in Delaware by Governor Ruth Ann 
Minner; Delaware Economic Development Office; Department of Natural 
Resources & Environmental Control; Nanticoke Indian Tribe; New Castle 
County; City of Seaford; Town of Laurel; Bethany-Fenwick Area Chamber 
of Commerce; Delmarva Low Impact Tourism Experiences; Greater Seaford 
Chamber of Commerce; Laurel Chamber of Commerce; Southern Delaware 
Tourism (Sussex County); University of Delaware; the Conservation Fund 
in Delaware; and the DuPont Corporation.
  As an original cosponsor of this legislation and earlier legislation 
that authorized the feasibility study of the proposed trail by the 
National Park Service, I fully back this project and look forward to 
visiting the portion of the trail that extends along the Nanticoke 
River in Delaware.

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