[Congressional Record Volume 156, Number 45 (Tuesday, March 23, 2010)]
[House]
[Pages H2233-H2235]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




              RECOGNIZING THE FLORIDA KEYS SCENIC HIGHWAY

  Mr. PERRIELLO. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to 
the resolution (H. Res. 917) recognizing the Florida Keys Scenic 
Highway on the occasion of its designation as an All-American Road by 
the U.S. Department of Transportation, as amended.
  The Clerk read the title of the resolution.
  The text of the resolution is as follows:

                              H. Res. 917

       Whereas established by Congress in 1991, the National 
     Scenic Byways program is a collaborative effort to help 
     recognize, preserve, and enhance selected roads throughout 
     the United States;
       Whereas the U.S. Department of Transportation recognizes 
     certain roads as All-American Roads or National Scenic Byways 
     based on one or more archeological, cultural, historic, 
     natural, recreational, and scenic qualities;
       Whereas, on October 16, 2009, the U.S. Department of 
     Transportation announced 42 new designations to the America's 
     Byways collection, including five All-American Roads and 37 
     National Scenic Byways, thus increasing the total number of 
     designations to 151;
       Whereas the Florida Keys Scenic Highway was listed by the 
     U.S. Department of Transportation as one of five All-American 
     Roads for 2009;
       Whereas the Florida Keys Scenic Highway is the first All-
     American Road in the State of Florida and only one of 30 in 
     the United States, joining an elite list which includes the 
     Blue Ridge Parkway, Alaska's Seward Highway, and Historic 
     Route 66;
       Whereas the Florida Keys Scenic Highway follows the 
     railroad trail blazed in the 1900s by Henry Flagler;
       Whereas the Florida Keys Scenic Highway comprises of an 
     110-mile stretch of US 1 from Key Largo to Key West;
       Whereas the Florida Keys Scenic Highway incorporates 42 
     bridges over the waters of the Atlantic Ocean, Florida Bay, 
     and the Gulf of Mexico;
       Whereas the road's corridor is a leading tourist 
     destination, featuring world-renowned coral reefs, exotic 
     fish species, and historic shipwrecks; and
       Whereas the end of the Florida Keys Scenic Highway, Mile 
     Marker 0, is the southernmost city in the Continental United 
     States: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
       (1) recognizes the Florida Keys Scenic Highway on the 
     occasion of its designation as an All-American Road by the 
     U.S. Department of Transportation; and
       (2) congratulates those residents of the Florida Keys who 
     participated in the effort to support this designation.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from the 
Virginia (Mr. Perriello) and the gentleman from Tennessee (Mr. Duncan) 
each will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Virginia.


                             General Leave

  Mr. PERRIELLO. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members 
may have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their 
remarks and to include extraneous material on H. Res. 917.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from Virginia?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. PERRIELLO. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may 
consume.
  I rise today in support of H. Res. 917, offered by the gentlewoman 
from Florida (Ms. Ros-Lehtinen), recognizing the Florida Keys Scenic 
Highway on the occasion of its designation as an All-American Road.
  Since its establishment in 1991, the Scenic Byways program has 
recognized a collection of roadways that are notable for their scenic, 
cultural, and historic characteristics. Last October, the

[[Page H2234]]

Department of Transportation announced the newest additions to the 
Federal Scenic Byway program, including the Florida Keys Scenic Highway 
which was awarded the designation of All-American Road.
  I would also like to note another corridor that was designated by the 
National Scenic Byway at that time, the historical Journey Through 
Hallowed Ground Byway, which runs from Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, to 
Charlottesville, Virginia.
  The Florida Keys Scenic Highway runs for over 100 miles along U.S. 1, 
from Key Largo to Key West, following the East Coast Railway line 
originally established by Henry Flager in the 1900s. The highway serves 
as a key transportation link and tourist destination for southern 
Florida, crossing 42 bridges over the Atlantic Ocean, the Florida Bay, 
and the Gulf of Mexico.
  The designation of All-American Road brings the Florida Keys Scenic 
Highway into a select group that includes Virginia's Blue Ridge 
Parkway, Alaska's Seward Highway, and the historic Route 66. In order 
to be designated as an All-American Road, a highway, must possess two 
outstanding intrinsic qualities on a national scale and must serve as a 
destination unto itself. The Florida Keys Scenic Highway is the first 
All-American Road in the State of Florida and one of just five to 
receive such a designation from the Department of Transportation in the 
most recent round of awards.
  A scenic byways designation comes as the result of much work from 
area residents as well as local and State governments. This effort 
began with the designation of the highway as a Florida State Scenic 
Byway in 2001, the first step towards gaining recognition under the 
Federal program. This designation is a testament to the hard work of 
the residents of the Florida Keys who sought to recognize and enhance 
this vital corridor.
  Being designated as a scenic byway is a significant distinction, as 
today there are only 151 nationally designated scenic byways around the 
country. These byways give Americans access to the best our country has 
to offer and provide a window into our history and our culture.
  I thank the gentlewoman from Florida for bringing forth this 
resolution to honor the designation of the Florida Keys Scenic Highway 
as an All-American Road and to congratulate the residents of the 
Florida Keys who worked to support this designation. I urge my 
colleagues to join me in supporting H. Res. 917.
  I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. DUNCAN. I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, House Resolution 917, as amended, recognizes the Florida 
Keys Scenic Highway on the occasion of its designation as an All-
American Road by the U.S. Department of Transportation.
  Few roads in America offer such natural beauty and rich history as 
the Florida Keys Scenic Highway. The 106-mile journey takes the 
traveler through miles of ocean vistas, State and national parks, and 
areas rich in cultural heritage. It truly is a road to paradise.
  On October 16, 2009, the Florida Keys Scenic Highway was designated 
an All-American Road through the Federal Highway Administration's 
National Scenic Byways program.
  I have about one of the first scenic highways, the Cherohala Skyway, 
through a mountainous area of my district, and I had the privilege of 
serving as the first Republican cochair of the Scenic Byways Caucus. 
This designation goes a little further. An All-American Road 
designation will help recognize and preserve this remarkable road 
through the collaborative efforts of the Florida Department of 
Transportation and local grassroots organizations.
  This bipartisan resolution has more than 20 cosponsors; but I 
especially want to commend the gentlewoman from Florida (Ms. Ros-
Lehtinen), who has been such a leader in this Congress on many 
different issues, for introducing this resolution. I join her and all 
of the cosponsors in supporting passage of this resolution, and I urge 
my colleagues to do the same.
  I yield such time as she may consume to the gentlelady from Florida 
(Ms. Ros-Lehtinen).
  Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. I thank the Speaker and I thank my good friend for 
the time. Thank you very much to my colleagues on the other side.
  I obviously rise in strong support of my resolution. I introduced it 
to recognize the Florida Keys Scenic Highway and its designation as an 
All-American Road by the U.S. Department of Transportation.
  I have the wonderful pleasure of representing this historic highway, 
long known as the Overseas Highway, which is part of U.S. 1 and runs 
along 100 miles through a series of tropical islands from Key Largo to 
Key West. It is paradise.
  This resolution also recognizes the many dedicated grassroots 
activists who have long worked hard on this major endeavor, actually 
since 1996. They formed the Florida Keys Scenic Corridor in 2007 and 
finally made this dream a reality.
  The Florida Keys Scenic Highway is one of only five All-American 
Roads named on October 16, 2009, by the U.S. Department of 
Transportation under the National Scenic Byways program.
  Since 1991, the National Scenic Byways program has recognized, 
preserved, and enhanced a collection of All-American Roads based on 
their scenic, historic, recreational, cultural, archeological, and 
natural intrinsic qualities.
  The Florida Keys Scenic Highway was chosen in particular on its 
recreational and scenic qualities, and it is the first All-American 
Road in my wonderful State of Florida, the Sunshine State.
  Since its completion in 1944, the highway has long been a leading 
tourist destination known for its recreational opportunities, for its 
State and national parks, its historic sites, its museums and cultural 
heritage. Along the highway are many historical sites, such as the 
Florida Keys History of Diving Museum on Islamorada which focuses on 
the 500-year-old history of salvaging wrecks beginning with the Spanish 
galleons.
  Another milestone in the highway's history is Pigeon Key, which 
served as the base camp for those who built the old Florida Keys 
extension of the Florida East Coast Railroad which was destroyed by the 
1935 hurricane.
  And, finally, at the end of this beautiful road, at the end of the 
highway is the city of Key West, which includes among its many 
attractions the Key West Lighthouse, the Civil War-era Fort Zachary 
Taylor, and the Ernest Hemingway home.
  This resolution is a fitting tribute to the many men and women who 
contributed to the fabled history of this fabulous highway which 
stretches back hundreds of years. I thank the committee for allowing me 
to present and hopefully pass this resolution. I thank my good friend 
from Tennessee for the time.

                              {time}  1530

  Mr. DUNCAN. Mr. Speaker, I have no additional speakers. I will simply 
say that I have had the privilege of having two different visits of 
several days each to the Florida Keys. It's a beautiful area. I've read 
much of the history of the area. I've been on this highway on several 
occasions, and I think it's very fitting and appropriate that it be 
given this All-American Road designation.
  So I urge support of this resolution, and I yield back the balance of 
my time.
  Mr. PERRIELLO. Mr. Speaker, I just want to thank my colleague from 
Florida for her tremendous work on this effort, congratulate the people 
of Florida, and urge colleagues on both sides of the aisle to support 
this resolution.
  Mr. OBERSTAR. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H. Res. 917, 
offered by the gentlewoman from Florida (Ms. Ros-Lehtinen), recognizing 
the Florida Keys Scenic Highway on the occasion of its designation as 
an All-American Road. The Florida Keys Scenic Highway is one of the 
newest additions to the Federal Scenic Byways program, which 
recognizes, preserves, and enhances scenic routes across the country.
  The Florida Keys Scenic Highway runs for more than 100 miles from Key 
West to Key Largo, bounded by the Atlantic Ocean and the Gulf of 
Mexico. The highway conveys travelers across 42 bridges and is noted 
for its unique scenic and recreational qualities.
  This designation brings the Florida Keys Scenic Highway into an elite 
group of All-American Roads, which must possess several outstanding 
intrinsic qualities and must serve as a destination unto itself. This 
byway is the first All-American Road in the State of Florida, and one 
of only five to receive such a designation from the Department of 
Transportation in the most recent round of awards.

[[Page H2235]]

  The Scenic Byways program is the cornerstone of our efforts to 
provide transportation options that celebrate our nation's scenic, 
cultural, and historic heritage, and has been an integral part of our 
Federal-aid highway program since its inception in 1991.
  Being designated as a scenic byway is a notable distinction, one 
given only after thorough consideration. Today, there are 151 byways 
across the country, which represent the best America has to offer in 
recreation, history, and scenic travel. These byways are the soul of 
our national infrastructure, taking people where they want to go--not 
just where the road takes them. The program recognizes the richness 
that America has to offer--the scenic vistas, diverse cultures, and 
historic places that define the American landscape.
  These byways are a national treasure, providing cultural, scenic, and 
recreational opportunities for all Americans. From California's scenic 
Route 1, winding along the Pacific coastline; to the historic National 
Road, the first federally-funded interstate highway running from 
Illinois to West Virginia; to the Selma to Montgomery Byway in Alabama, 
honoring the leaders of the civil rights movement, our byways preserve 
our history and allow us to appreciate the beauty of the American 
landscape.
  The Surface Transportation Authorization Act, marked up by the 
Subcommittee on Highways and Transit last summer, will continue our 
commitment to this important program and preserve these treasures for 
generations to come.
  I thank the gentlewoman from Florida for bringing forth this 
resolution to honor the designation of the Florida Keys Scenic Highway 
as an All-American Road, and congratulate the residents of the Florida 
Keys who worked to bring this designation to fruition.
  I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting H. Res. 917.
  Mr. PERRIELLO. I yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentleman from Virginia (Mr. Perriello) that the House suspend the 
rules and agree to the resolution, H. Res. 917, as amended.
  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. PERRIELLO. 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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