[Congressional Record Volume 155, Number 125 (Tuesday, September 8, 2009)]
[House]
[Page H9289]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


         DOROTHY BUELL MEMORIAL VISITOR CENTER PARTNERSHIP ACT

  Mr. GRIJALVA. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the 
bill (H.R. 1287) to authorize the Secretary of the Interior to enter 
into a partnership with the Porter County Convention, Recreation and 
Visitor Commission regarding the use of the Dorothy Buell Memorial 
Visitor Center as a visitor center for the Indiana Dunes National 
Lakeshore, and for other purposes.
  The Clerk read the title of the bill.
  The text of the bill is as follows:

                               H.R. 1287

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

     SECTION 1. DOROTHY BUELL MEMORIAL VISITOR CENTER.

       (a) Short Title.--This section may be cited as the 
     ``Dorothy Buell Memorial Visitor Center Partnership Act''.
       (b) Memorandum of Understanding.--The Secretary of the 
     Interior may enter into a memorandum of understanding to 
     establish a joint partnership with the Porter County 
     Convention, Recreation and Visitor Commission. The memorandum 
     of understanding shall--
       (1) identify the overall goals and purpose of the Dorothy 
     Buell Memorial Visitor Center;
       (2) establish how management and operational duties will be 
     shared;
       (3) determine how exhibits, signs, and other information 
     are developed;
       (4) indicate how various activities will be funded;
       (5) identify who is responsible for providing site 
     amenities;
       (6) establish procedures for changing or dissolving the 
     joint partnership; and
       (7) address any other issues deemed necessary by the 
     Secretary or the Porter County Convention, Recreation and 
     Visitor Commission.
       (c) Development of Exhibits.--The Secretary may plan, 
     design, construct, and install exhibits in the Dorothy Buell 
     Memorial Visitor Center related to the use and management of 
     the resources at Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore, at a cost 
     not to exceed $1,500,000.
       (d) National Lakeshore Presence.--The Secretary may use 
     park staff from Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore in the 
     Dorothy Buell Memorial Visitor Center to provide visitor 
     information and education.

     SEC. 2. INDIANA DUNES NATIONAL LAKESHORE.

       Section 19 of the Act entitled ``An Act to provide for the 
     establishment of the Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore, and 
     for other purposes'' (16 U.S.C. 460u-19) is amended--
       (1) by striking ``After notifying'' and inserting ``(a) 
     After notifying''; and
       (2) by adding at the end the following:
       ``(b) Contiguous Clarified.--For purposes of subsection 
     (a), lands may be considered contiguous to other lands if the 
     lands touch the other lands, or are separated from the other 
     lands by only a public or private right-of-way, such as a 
     road, railroad, or utility corridor.''.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from 
Arizona (Mr. Grijalva) and the gentleman from Colorado (Mr. Lamborn) 
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 
may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks 
and to 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. I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, H.R. 1287 will allow the National Park Service to share 
visitor center facilities for the Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore with 
the local county's Convention, Recreation and Visitor Commission. The 
bill also allows the National Park Service to construct exhibits at the 
visitor center, and authorizes NPS employees to work there since the 
visitor center lies outside the established boundaries of the park.
  Finally, Mr. Speaker, H.R. 1287 would clarify the definition of 
``contiguous lands'' in the park's original legislation so that NPS 
could accept donations of contiguous land even if that land is 
separated by a right-of-way, such as a road, a railway line or a 
utility corridor.
  Mr. Speaker, Congressman Visclosky has been working hard on this bill 
for a long time and is to be commended for his diligence and 
persistence. The legislation passed the House last Congress by an 
overwhelming vote. I ask my colleagues, once again, to support this 
measure.
  I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. LAMBORN. I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, H.R. 1287 has been well explained by the majority, and 
we support this legislation.
  I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. GRIJALVA. Mr. Speaker, I would yield as much time as he may 
consume to the sponsor of H.R. 1287, Mr. Visclosky.
  Mr. VISCLOSKY. I appreciate the gentleman's yielding.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of H.R. 1287, the Dorothy 
Buell Memorial Visitor Center Lease Act. I am the proud sponsor of this 
legislation, and as I have in the previous Congress, I thank Mr. 
Donnelly for joining me as a cosponsor.
  I also do want to thank Chairman Rahall, Ranking Member Hastings, 
Subcommittee Ranking Member Bishop, and especially Subcommittee 
Chairman Grijalva for all of their hard work in ensuring that this 
legislation is brought to the floor.
  It has been explained and I will simply say that it is my sincere 
hope that this legislation will enable the continuance of our efforts 
to protect and to enhance the Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore and to 
ensure that all Americans can benefit from the park. The Indiana Dunes 
National Lakeshore, which was established in 1966, is relatively new, 
but as it continues to mature, the Dorothy Buell Memorial Visitor 
Center will be vital in helping to provide each lakeshore visitor a 
complete and rewarding experience.
  Mr. Speaker, we should not delay the lakeshore's ability to mature, 
thus allowing more people to appreciate the natural beauty of northwest 
Indiana.
  Again, I urge my colleagues, as they did in the last Congress, to 
support this measure.
  Mr. LAMBORN. Mr. Speaker, if there are no further speakers, then I 
would 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. 1287.
  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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