[Congressional Record Volume 155, Number 147 (Tuesday, October 13, 2009)]
[House]
[Pages H11179-H11180]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




   REAUTHORIZING DELAWARE WATER GAP NATIONAL RECREATION AREA CITIZEN 
                          ADVISORY COMMISSION

  Mr. SABLAN. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the 
bill (H.R. 3476) to reauthorize the Delaware Water Gap National 
Recreation Area Citizen Advisory Commission.
  The Clerk read the title of the bill.
  The text of the bill is as follows:

                               H.R. 3476

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

     SECTION 1. REAUTHORIZATION OF DELAWARE WATER GAP NATIONAL 
                   RECREATION AREA CITIZEN ADVISORY COMMISSION.

       (a) Reauthorization.--Section 5 of Public Law 100-573 (16 
     U.S.C. 460o note) is amended by striking ``20'' and inserting 
     ``30''.
       (b) Effective Date.--This section shall be deemed to have 
     taken effect on October 30, 2008.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from the 
Northern Mariana Islands (Mr. Sablan) and the gentleman from Alaska 
(Mr. Young) each will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from the Northern Mariana Islands.


                             General Leave

  Mr. SABLAN. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may 
have 5 legislative days in which 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 the Northern Mariana Islands?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. SABLAN. I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, this legislation, sponsored by Representative Garrett, 
will authorize the Citizen Advisory Commission for the Delaware Water 
Gap National Recreation Area for the next 10 years. The advisory 
commission has provided two decades of guidance and input that has 
assisted in the management of the national recreation area and should 
be allowed to continue its work.
  I urge my colleagues to support H.R. 3476.
  I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. YOUNG of Alaska. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may 
consume.
  The Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area is the National Park 
Service's largest outdoor recreation area in the Northeastern United 
States. This recreation area includes 67,000 acres along 40 scenic 
miles of the Delaware River in the States of New Jersey and 
Pennsylvania. With 5 million recreational visits each year, it is our 
10th most visited national park.
  Our colleague, Mr. Garrett, introduced H.R. 3476 to enhance citizen 
participation in the administration of the park by extending the 
recreation area's Citizen Advisory Commission for another 9 years to 
the year 2018. I am pleased to join Mr. Garrett in support of this 
legislation.
  Mr. YOUNG of Alaska. Mr. Speaker, at this time I yield 3 minutes to 
the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Garrett), the author of this fine 
piece of legislation.
  Mr. GARRETT of New Jersey. I thank the gentleman from Alaska for 
recognizing what a fine piece of legislation it is and appreciate his 
support of this legislation as well.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 3476. It is a bipartisan 
bill to reauthorize the Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area 
Citizens Advisory Commission through the year 2018. And both 
Representative Carney and I believe that this citizen action group 
serves as an important liaison between the National Park Service, their 
officials, and the neighbors in the area.
  Many of my constituents have asked me to extend this commission, and 
I am pleased to have worked with Representative Carney on this 
legislation to do just that. Communication is the key to addressing and 
resolving citizens' concerns, and it's clear that the residents and the 
park users value the opportunity to respond to the park decisions as 
well as propose alternatives when they come up with those.
  The Delaware Water Gap region has a turbulent history, if you know of 
it. One was marked by improper government interference and Federal 
invasion of rights of private property owners.
  Back in the mid-1950s, the Federal Government proposed a plan to 
build a

[[Page H11180]]

dam across the Delaware River. This was the Tocks Island Dam Project, 
and it required the use of eminent domain, and the government seized 
many properties. Well, the project fell through and the property that 
was taken away is now known as the Delaware Water Gap Recreational 
Area. And residents in the area were upset by the creation of this 
recreation area. As a result, Congress passed legislation that 
established a citizens advisory commission, and that was back in 1988.
  Now, this advisory commission was reauthorized for an additional 
decade back in 1998; and it's basically served as a forum, if you will, 
for the public to interact with park officials. Due to the combined 
efforts of the various commission members and park officials, the 
recreation area has now increased in popularity over the years, and we 
see literally millions of visitors each year. In fact, out of nearly 
400 parks in the National Park system, the Delaware Water Gap was just 
named one of the top 10 most photogenic parks for fall foliage.
  And I am confident that the Citizens Advisory Commission will 
continue to play a valuable role in preserving its splendor in this 
area and others for future generations.
  It's the ability of local residents to communicate with Federal 
agencies that has been one of my main focuses here in Congress; and I 
call upon my colleagues--and I am glad that the gentleman from Alaska 
joins me in this effort--to join with Representative Carney and me to 
support this legislation.
  Mr. YOUNG of Alaska. I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. SABLAN. I again urge Members to support the bill, and I yield 
back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentleman from the Northern Mariana Islands (Mr. Sablan) that the House 
suspend the rules and pass the bill, H.R. 3476.
  The question was taken.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. In the opinion of the Chair, two-thirds 
being in the affirmative, the ayes have it.
  Mr. SABLAN. Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.
  The yeas and nays were ordered.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to clause 8 of rule XX and the 
Chair's prior announcement further proceedings on this motion will be 
postponed.

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