[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 37 (Monday, March 5, 2007)]
[House]
[Page H2131]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




        LOWELL NATIONAL HISTORICAL PARK BOUNDARY ADJUSTMENT ACT

  Mr. GRIJALVA. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the 
bill (H.R. 299) to adjust the boundary of Lowell National Historical 
Park, and for other purposes.
  The Clerk read as follows:

                                H.R. 299

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

     SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

        This Act may be cited as the ``Lowell National Historical 
     Park Boundary Adjustment Act''.

     SEC. 2. AMENDMENTS.

       The Act entitled ``An Act to provide for the establishment 
     of the Lowell National Historical Park in the Commonwealth of 
     Massachusetts, and for other purposes'' approved June 5, 1978 
     (Public Law 95-290; 92 Stat. 290; 16 U.S.C. 410cc et seq.) is 
     amended as follows:
       (1) In section 101(a), by adding a new paragraph after 
     paragraph (2) as follows:
       ``(3) The boundaries of the park are modified to include 
     five parcels of land identified on the map entitled `Boundary 
     Adjustment, Lowell National Historical Park,' numbered 475/
     81,424B and dated September 2004, and as delineated in 
     section 202(a)(2)(G).''.
       (2) In section 202(a)(2), by adding at the end the 
     following new subparagraph:
       ``(G) The properties shown on the map identified in 
     subsection (101)(a)(3) as follows:
       ``(i) 91 Pevey Street.
       ``(ii) The portion of 607 Middlesex Place.
       ``(iii) Eagle Court.
       ``(iv) The portion of 50 Payne Street.
       ``(v) 726 Broadway.''.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from 
Arizona (Mr. Grijalva) and the gentleman from Utah (Mr. Bishop) each 
will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Arizona.


                             General Leave

  Mr. GRIJALVA. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members 
have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and include 
extraneous material on the bill under consideration.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from Arizona?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. GRIJALVA. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, H.R. 299, introduced by my colleague from Massachusetts 
(Mr. Meehan), provides for a minor boundary adjustment to the Lowell 
National Historic Park. Lowell National Historic Park was established 
in 1978 to commemorate the City of Lowell's prominent role in the 
American Industrial Revolution.
  H.R. 299 would authorize the Secretary of the Interior to acquire 
five small tracts of land totaling less than 1 acre. These tracts are 
necessary to complete development of the canalway, a linear park and 
walkway along Lowell's 5.6-mile historic power canal system.
  These parcels provide the access points needed for the development, 
maintenance, and surveillance necessary to complete the historic 
canalway. While the total boundary adjustment is less than 1 acre, it 
would allow public access to at least 2 miles of this historic 
canalway.
  I want to commend my colleague from Massachusetts (Mr. Meehan) for 
his efforts on behalf of Lowell National Historic Park. He has worked 
diligently to advance many partnership efforts such as this one, which 
would bring together Federal, State, and local resources to preserve 
and interpret the park.
  Mr. Speaker, H.R. 299 is supported by the administration, the City of 
Lowell, and the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. Identical legislation 
was approved by the House last Congress, and we urge our colleagues to 
support this measure today.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. BISHOP of Utah. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 299, and I 
yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, the majority has adequately explained this bill, which 
passed the House in the 109th Congress and is supported by the 
administration. I urge adoption of this bill.
  Mr. MEEHAN. Mr. Speaker, I want to thank the Gentleman from West 
Virginia (Mr. Rahall) and the Gentleman from Arizona (Mr. Grijalva) for 
bringing this important bill to the floor.
  This bill passed the House unanimously last December, and the other 
body was unable to take it up before the 109th Congress ended. I am 
hopeful that, given more time, this bill will work its way through the 
Senate and be signed into law by the President.
  Mister speaker, my bill is simple but its impact cannot be 
overstated. This bill will authorize the Secretary of the Interior to 
acquire five small tracts of land totaling less than an acre and add 
them to the boundaries of the Lowell National Historical Park.
  Adding these small tracts of land will allow the park to add more and 
safer access points, and allow the visiting public full access to the 
entire canal system.
  The park was created in 1978, a product of the late Paul Tsongas and 
his vision for Lowell, Massachusetts. Paul knew that Lowell, as the 
cradle of America's Industrial Revolution, was worthy of preservation.
  The park attracts three-quarters of a million visitors each year, and 
the ripple effect is significant.
  Since the park has come into existence, Lowell has been named a 
Distinctive Destination City by the National Trust for Historic 
Preservation and an All American City by the National Civic League.
  This bill will keep the progress at the Park rolling, by allowing the 
last two miles of Lowell's historic canal way to be accessed by the 
public.
  I would like to thank Park Superintendent Michael Creasey, Assistant 
Superintendent Peter Aucella, and all the others that have worked on 
this project.
  Their tireless efforts, and the effort of their staff, keep Lowell 
National Historical Park as one of the crown jewels of the national 
park system, and make the Mill City proud.
  Mr. BISHOP of Utah. Mr. Speaker, I have no additional speakers, and I 
yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. GRIJALVA. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentleman from Arizona (Mr. Grijalva) that the House suspend the rules 
and pass the bill, H.R. 299.
  The question was taken; and (two-thirds being in the affirmative) the 
rules were suspended and the bill was passed.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

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