[Congressional Record Volume 155, Number 60 (Thursday, April 23, 2009)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E959-E960]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




        INTRODUCTION OF KINGMAN AND HERITAGE ISLAND ACT OF 2009

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                       HON. ELEANOR HOLMES NORTON

                      of the district of columbia

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, April 23, 2009

  Ms. NORTON. Madam Speaker, the Kingman and Heritage Islands Act of 
2009 will make it possible for the District of Columbia, the Army Corps 
of Engineers and environmental education groups to develop Kingman and 
Heritage Island as a center for environmental education, a recreation 
site, and for restoration of the Anacostia River eco-system. Kingman 
and Heritage Islands were created by the Army Corps of Engineers in the 
1920's as part of the Anacostia Tidal Flats Reclamation project and 
were managed by the U.S. Department of the Interior/National Park 
Service (NPS) through 1996. At the request of the District, Congress 
dedicated the two islands to a child-oriented theme park in the 
National Children's Island Act of 1995. This Act transferred title of 
certain NPS property in Anacostia Park to the District of Columbia 
(District). These properties included Heritage Island and a portion of 
Kingman Island located within the District. However, the law includes a 
reversionary provision to the Department of Interior if a theme park 
was not built, necessitating this bill.
  As times have changed, the District no longer believes that a theme 
park is the highest and best use of the space. Instead, the District 
announced plans to use Kingman Island as part of an initiative to help 
revitalize the River. The bill calls for a unique environmental natural 
reserve park to restore the ecosystem, provide usable open space for 
residents and visitors, and environmental education, including a 
September 11th Remembrance Grove. In my view, this is an even more 
appropriate use for Kingman Island. This use also buttresses my own 
work in the Congress on the Anacostia River, particularly the Anacostia 
Watershed legislation, which Congess has passed and whose 
implementation is now underway.
  A renovated pedestrian bridge now provides access to these islands 
for environmental programs and the general public. Over 40 acres of 
tidal marsh in Kingman Lake are currently being restored through the 
combined efforts of the Army Corps, the District and local 
environmental teaching groups. The renovated islands will include a 
particularly appropriate memorial tree grove dedicated to the three 
District of Columbia schoolchildren who were victims of the September 
11 terrorist attack. Self-guided trails and interpretive stations will 
instruct visitors about the abundant natural history of the Anacostia 
River and will track contemporary efforts to restore the river's 
wildlife, habitats and water quality.
  This non-controversial, no-cost bill will have a positive effect on 
the deteriorating ecology of the region. Because the bill involves a 
District of Columbia property, it has little national significance 
except for residents of the region and visitors to the nation's 
capitol. The bill will serve all who are here or are visiting and 
therefore I intend to ask that the bill be put on the suspension 
calendar after review by the appropriate committee.

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