[Congressional Record Volume 157, Number 21 (Thursday, February 10, 2011)]
[Senate]
[Pages S645-S646]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

      By Mr. CARDIN (for himself and Ms. Mikulski):
  S. 324. A bill to amend the Chesapeake And Ohio Canal Development Act 
to extend to the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal National Historical Park 
Commission; to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
  Mr. CARDIN. Mr. President, today I am proud to re-introduce 
legislation to support greater public involvement in the administration 
of one of Maryland's most treasured National Parks. The Chesapeake and 
Ohio Canal National Historical Park Advisory Commission Act ensures 
that the communities located along the 184.5 mile long C&O Canal 
National Historical Park have a voice with the National Park Service 
regarding decisions affecting the administration of the Park. The 
Commission keeps the people and small businesses most affected by the 
operation of the C&O Canal National Historical Park informed and 
involved in the decisions surrounding the Park. Citizen involvement in 
the governmental process is a hallmark of our democracy and the C&O 
Canal National Historical Park Advisory Commission Act exemplifies the 
goal of ensuring the public's role in government decision making.
  The importance of the Commission is intrinsically tied to the 
uniqueness of the C&O Canal National Historical Park. The Park covers 
an area of 20,000 acres winding North and West along the Potomac River 
from the heart of Georgetown's old industrial district in Washington 
D.C. to Cumberland, MD nestled in the valleys and mountains of Western 
Maryland. The Park's watered canal, contiguous towpath, popular among 
cyclists, backpackers, day hikers and runners, hundreds of historic 
structures and towns like Hancock, Hagerstown, Harpers Ferry, 
Williamsport and Sharpsburg that grew during the Canal's heyday, all 
tell the story of how the C&O Canal once served as a crucial East/West 
commercial link. The Park also preserves pristine views of the Potomac 
River, evocative of the C&O Canal's working days. At its widest points, 
the C&O Canal National Historical Park spans less than \2/10\ of a mile 
across and in many areas directly abuts neighboring commercial and 
residential properties bordering the Park.
  During the commercial operation of the C&O Canal, these towns were 
local commercial centers where area farmers and tradesman utilized the 
canal boats to deliver their goods to market. Today, the hospitality 
and tourism industries of these communities thrive upon the C&O Canal 
National Historical Park's popularity and are integral to enhancing the 
park user experience. Whether it is hotel or bed and breakfast to spend 
the night in, a restaurant or diner to grab a meal, stores to shop in 
and perhaps stock up on camping provisions, boathouses to rent a canoe 
for the afternoon, bike shops to service a flat tire or make repairs to 
your bike or any of the myriad of goods and services park visitors may 
need, the communities along the C&O Canal are as important to the Park 
user experience as the Park's users are to maintaining their 
businesses.
  In 2009, more than 3.75 million people visited the C&O Canal National 
Historical Park. To put it in perspective, in 2009, more people visited 
this historic treasure than the number of people who visited 
Yellowstone, Yosemite, the Everglades or Shenandoah National Park. Much 
of the C&O Canal National Historical Park's success is attributable to 
the positive relationship that has developed over time between the 
National Park Service and the local community leaders that span the 
length of the Park. The Park's Commission has greatly facilitated this 
relationship.
  The Commission provides the vital link between the affected committee 
that the Park runs through and the National Park Service. The 
Commission ensures that the public is engaged in the numerous processes 
surrounding operational policy and infrastructure maintenance and 
restoration projects on the C&O Canal National Historic Park. The 
Commission plays a vital consultation and planning role for park 
activities and operations. The cooperation that has developed between 
the Commission and the National Park Service helps ties to the Park to 
its communities. The Commission serves a purely advisory function and 
does not have the authority to make binding park policy.
  The Commission was first established as part of the 1971 Chesapeake 
and Ohio Canal Development Act sponsored by Rep. Gilbert Gude, R-MD. 
Every ten years, a bill like mine comes before congress, when the 10-
year extension of the Commission's authorization expires. Three times 
over a 40-year period extension bills have passed by unanimous consent 
and without controversy. My bill is another 10-year extension of the 
Advisory Commission's authorization and makes no changes to the 
Commission's authority. Legislative precedent has never set an 
authorization amount for the Commission, but the Commission has always 
functioned at a nominal cost.
  The General Services Administration's Federal Advisory Commissions 
Act database determined that the C&O Canal Advisory Commission's 
expenses totaled $33,199 for fiscal year 2010. All expenses came out of 
the National Park Service's general operating budget. Expenses covered 
the cost of travel for commission members, $295, Federal staff time, 
$28,074, and miscellaneous expenses, $4,830, like meeting space, 
printing, supplies and website maintenance.
  The National Park System is a showcase of America's natural and 
historical treasures. So much of the National Park System's success is 
rooted in the citizen stewardship projects and the involvement of 
caring citizens and community leaders. Like so many of our National 
Parks the C&O Canal National Historical Park has an extensive backlog 
of maintenance and repair projects. The Commission plays a critical 
role in helping keep these projects moving forward and assisting the 
National Park Service with their completion because there is 
recognition of the shared responsibility between the Park Service and 
the Commission about the importance of continuing to make the Park a 
desirable tourism and outdoor recreation destination. The Commission 
provides that bridge between the government and public. I urge my 
colleagues to support this bill.
  Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the text of the bill be 
printed in the Record.
  There being no objection, the text of the bill was ordered to be 
printed in the Record, as follows:

                                 S. 324

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

[[Page S646]]

     SECTION 1. CHESAPEAKE AND OHIO CANAL NATIONAL HISTORICAL PARK 
                   COMMISSION.

       Section 6(g) of the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal Development 
     Act (16 U.S.C. 410y-4(g)) is amended by striking ``40'' and 
     inserting ``50''.

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