[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.

                          ____________________