[Congressional Record Volume 156, Number 47 (Wednesday, March 24, 2010)]
[Senate]
[Pages S2020-S2021]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

      By Mr. SPECTER (for himself and Mr. Casey):
  S. 3159. A bill to amend Public Law 10-377 to revise the boundaries 
of the Gettysburg National Military Park to include the Gettysburg 
Train Station, and for other purposes; to the Committee on Energy and 
Natural Resources.
  Mr. SPECTER. Mr. President, I have sought recognition to introduce 
legislation to incorporate two historically significant properties into 
the boundary of Gettysburg National Military Park. This expansion 
effort is consistent with Gettysburg National Military Park's 1999 
General Management Plan, the goals of the National Park Service and is 
supported by the Gettysburg Borough Council.
  The bill I have introduced will expand the boundary of the park to 
include the Gettysburg Railroad Station, also known as the Lincoln 
Train Station, located in downtown Gettysburg, PA. This train station 
was built in 1858 and is listed in the National Register of Historic 
Places. The station served as a hospital during the Battle of 
Gettysburg and was the departure point for thousands of soldiers who 
were wounded or killed in battle. The Lincoln Train Station is perhaps 
most historically significant as the site at which President Abraham 
Lincoln arrived on November 18, 1863, 1 day before he delivered the 
Gettysburg Address.
  Currently, the station is operated by the National Trust for Historic 
Gettysburg and is open to the public throughout the year. Additionally, 
the station

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served as the home of the Pennsylvania Abraham Lincoln Bicentennial 
Commission, which promoted events to commemorate the 200th anniversary 
year of Lincoln's birth in 2009. I am informed that the borough of 
Gettysburg had planned for the Lincoln Train Station to be used as an 
information and orientation center for visitors. Toward that goal, the 
borough in 2006 completed a rehabilitation of the station funded 
thought a State grant but has been unable to operate the visitor center 
due to a lack of funds. Accordingly, I understand that the Gettysburg 
Borough Council voted in 2008 to transfer the station to the National 
Park Service.
  The legislation I introduced also expands the boundary of Gettysburg 
National Military Park to include 45 acres of land at the southern end 
of Gettysburg battlefield. I am informed by National Park officials 
that there were cavalry skirmishes in this area during the Battle of 
Gettysburg in July of 1863. Moreover, I am advised that this property 
is environmentally significant as the home to wetlands and wildlife 
habitat related to the Plum Run stream that traverses the park. This 
45-acre property is adjacent to current park land and was generously 
donated in April of 2009. Therefore, no federal land acquisition 
funding will be necessary to obtain this property.
  This legislation will help preserve properties and land that are 
historically and environmentally significant and critically important 
to telling the story of the Battle of Gettysburg. The Civil War was a 
defining moment for our Nation and we ought to take steps necessary to 
preserve historical assets for the benefit of current and future 
generations.
  I urge my colleagues to support this bill.
                                 ______