[Congressional Record Volume 154, Number 23 (Tuesday, February 12, 2008)]
[House]
[Pages H823-H824]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
{time} 1430
ACADIA NATIONAL PARK IMPROVEMENT ACT OF 2008
Mr. GRIJALVA. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the
bill (H.R. 2251) to extend the Acadia National Park Advisory
Commission, to provide improved visitor services at the park, and for
other purposes, as amended.
The Clerk read the title of the bill.
The text of the bill is as follows:
H.R. 2251
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 ``Acadia National Park
Improvement Act of 2008''.
SEC. 2. EXTENSION OF LAND CONVEYANCE AUTHORITY.
Section 102(d) of Public Law 99-420 (16 U.S.C. 341 note) is
amended by striking paragraph (2) and inserting the
following:
``(2) Federally owned property under jurisdiction of the
Secretary referred to in paragraph (1) of this subsection
shall be conveyed to the towns in which the property is
located without encumbrance and without monetary
consideration, except that no town shall be eligible to
receive such lands unless lands within the Park boundary and
owned by the town have been acquired by the Secretary.''.
SEC. 3. EXTENSION OF ACADIA NATIONAL PARK ADVISORY
COMMISSION.
(a) In General.--Section 103(f) of Public Law 99-420 (16
U.S.C. 341 note) is amended by striking ``20'' and inserting
``40''.
(b) Effective Date.--The amendment made by subsection (a)
shall take effect on September 25, 2006.
SEC. 4. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.
Section 106 of Public Law 99-420 (16 U.S.C. 341 note) is
amended by adding the following:
``(c) Additional Funding.--In addition to such sums as have
been heretofore appropriated, there is hereby authorized
$10,000,000.''.
SEC. 5. INTERMODAL TRANSPORTATION CENTER.
Title I of Public Law 99-420 (16 U.S.C. 341 note) is
amended by adding at the end the following new section:
``SEC. 108. INTERMODAL TRANSPORTATION CENTER.
``(a) In General.--The Secretary may provide assistance in
the planning, construction, and operation of an intermodal
transportation center located outside of the boundary of the
Park in the town of Trenton, Maine to improve the management,
interpretation, and visitor enjoyment of the Park.
``(b) Agreements.--To carry out subsection (a), in
administering the intermodal transportation center, the
Secretary may enter into interagency agreements with other
Federal agencies, and, notwithstanding chapter 63 of title
31, United States Code, cooperative agreements, under
appropriate terms and conditions, with State and local
agencies, and nonprofit organizations--
``(1) to provide exhibits, interpretive services (including
employing individuals to provide such services), and
technical assistance;
``(2) to conduct activities that facilitate the
dissemination of information relating to the Park and the
Island Explorer transit system or any successor transit
system;
``(3) to provide financial assistance for the construction
of the intermodal transportation center in exchange for space
in the center that is sufficient to interpret the Park; and
``(4) to assist with the operation and maintenance of the
intermodal transportation center.
``(c) Authorization of Appropriations.--
``(1) In general.--There are authorized to be appropriated
to the Secretary not more than 40 percent of the total cost
necessary to carry out this section (including planning,
design and construction of the intermodal transportation
center).
``(2) Operations and maintenance.--There are authorized to
be appropriated to the Secretary not more than 85 percent of
the total cost necessary to maintain and operate the
intermodal transportation center.''.
[[Page H824]]
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, H.R. 2251 was introduced by my good friend
from Maine, Representative Mike Michaud. The legislation addresses
several housekeeping matters at the Acadia National Park. Acadia,
located on Mount Desert Island on the coast of Maine, is one of our
most popular and most visited national parks.
This bill would authorize the park to participate in the construction
of a new transit center. Currently, visitors can only catch the park
bus at their hotels, meaning that day visitors have no access to the
system. The bill would allow the park to participate in the
establishment and operation of a planned intermodal center to be
located just off the island. This center would provide visitor
services, parking, and bus access to day visitors. A variety of
Federal, State, and local agencies are involved in establishing the
center.
H.R. 2251 would also extend the authorization of the Acadia National
Park Advisory Commission for another 20 years, continuing this
important forum for the park and local communities to jointly consider
issues of importance.
Finally, H.R. 2251 would authorize an additional $10 million for the
park's land acquisition budget to enable the park to keep pace with
rising property values and providing for prompt payment to willing
sellers who regularly offer their lands to the park.
At the hearing in the last Congress, the National Park Service
testified in support of similar legislation, and that measure also
passed in the Senate. The measure before us today has been updated to
address several concerns by the National Park Service, and to cap NPS
contributions to the intermodal transportation center.
Mr. Speaker, this bill will significantly improve the experience of
visitors to one of our great national parks. Representative Michaud and
Representative Allen are to be commended for their hard work on this
legislation.
I urge the House to support H.R. 2251.
Mr. Speaker, at this time, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. BISHOP of Utah. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself as much time as I may
consume.
The gentleman from Arizona has adequately explained H.R. 2251, and
we're prepared to accept this legislation with a brief clarification
from the chairman of the subcommittee on the intent of this bill.
The question we have is, is the proposed intermodal transportation
center intended to limit the access to the park by automobile, or is
this part of a larger plan to abolish the public's ability to travel
through the park by private automobile?
Mr. Speaker, I would yield to the gentleman from Arizona if he is
prepared to address that issue right now.
Mr. GRIJALVA. Let me thank the gentleman from Utah for allowing me to
try to clarify this point.
The Island Explorer transit system at Acadia is entirely voluntary
and, I might add, very, very popular. I can categorically assure the
gentleman that there are no plans to ban autos from Acadia. Visitors
who want to drive the park's loop roads are welcome to do so, but many
have found that riding the bus is much more convenient. So there is a
categorical assurance that the intention of this legislation is not now
or will be to ban automobiles from Acadia.
Mr. BISHOP of Utah. Thank you. Reclaiming my time, I appreciate that
statement. And with that assurance, we can accept this legislation.
Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. GRIJALVA. Mr. Speaker, at this time, I yield as much time as he
may consume to Representative Michaud, the sponsor of this legislation.
Mr. MICHAUD. I thank the gentleman for yielding.
Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of the Acadia National Park
Improvement Act.
I would like to thank Chairman Rahall and Ranking Member Young, as
well as subcommittee Chairman Grijalva and Ranking Member Bishop, for
their work on this measure.
This is a very important bill for the State of Maine as well as the
future of Acadia National Park. Acadia National Park is a spectacular
and unique landscape of mountains, hills, ponds, marshes and
shorelines.
Earlier visitors to Mount Desert Island and its surroundings helped
to establish Acadia as the first national park east of the Mississippi.
The park is a major engine of the regional economy, bringing in almost
$130 million in visitor spending to the region, and supporting over
2,600 jobs.
The Acadia National Park Improvement Act will help the park continue
to attract visitors to the area and maintain and preserve their
important natural resources. It allows the park to continue to complete
the vision laid out in the 1986 law setting the park's boundaries and
to enhance the emission-reducing Island Explorer bus system.
Most importantly, this legislation will reauthorize the Acadia
National Park Advisory Commission. The commission brings
representatives of surrounding towns, the State of Maine, and the
Department of the Interior together to make sure all community members
are involved in park planning.
I want to thank everyone involved for their hard work on this, and I
encourage my colleagues to vote in favor of this important bill for the
State of Maine.
Mr. BISHOP of Utah. Mr. Speaker, 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. 2251, as amended.
The question was taken; and (two-thirds being in the affirmative) the
rules were suspended and the bill, as amended, was passed.
A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.
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