[Congressional Record Volume 155, Number 153 (Wednesday, October 21, 2009)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E2598]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




DELAWARE WATER GAP NATIONAL RECREATION AREA CITIZEN ADVISORY COMMISSION

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                       HON. CHRISTOPHER P. CARNEY

                            of pennsylvania

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, October 21, 2009

  Mr. CARNEY. Madam Speaker, on October 13, I was unable to speak in 
favor of or cast a vote in support of H.R. 3476, a bill I introduced 
with the gentleman representing the congressional district to the east 
of Pennsylvania's 10th Congressional District, Representative Garrett.
  H.R. 3476 would reauthorize the Delaware Water Gap National 
Recreation Area Citizen Advisory Commission for another 10 years.
  The Citizen Advisory Commission, CAC, was first proposed in 1988 by 
Congresswoman Marge Roukema in an effort to establish a more open 
dialogue between National Park Service, NPS, employees working the 
Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area, DWGNRA, and the 
surrounding local communities. Communication between these two parties 
is valuable in maintaining a healthy DWGNRA for generations to come.
  The CAC allows the communities' experiences in--and knowledge of--the 
Delaware Water Gap to strengthen National Park Service decisionmaking 
in the National Recreation Area. Park officials are provided with a 
unique perspective on issues as varied as sustaining or preserving 
historic structures, to protecting wildlife and forests, to improving 
public safety and preventing or mitigating flooding along the river.
  The Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area preserves almost 
70,000 acres of land along the Delaware River's New Jersey and 
Pennsylvania shores. This majestic area is popular not only with local 
residents, but also for tourism due to activities such as hiking, 
fishing, camping, swimming, and boating.
  Part of ensuring that this beautiful area straddling the border 
between Pennsylvania and New Jersey is preserved for future generations 
is reauthorizing the CAC, which plays an invaluable role in assisting 
the NPS to protect, preserve, and expand the Delaware Water Gap 
National Recreation Area.

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