[Congressional Record Volume 157, Number 98 (Tuesday, July 5, 2011)]
[Senate]
[Pages S4330-S4331]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

      By Ms. LANDRIEU:
  S. 1325. A bill to direct the Secretary of the Interior to study the 
suitability and feasibility of designating sites in the Lower 
Mississippi River Area in the State of Louisiana as a unit of the 
National Park System, and for other purposes; to the Committee on 
Energy and Natural Resources.
  Ms. LANDRIEU. Mr. President, I rise today to introduce legislation 
entitled the Lower Mississippi River National Historic Site Study Act. 
This bill will direct the Secretary of the Interior to study the 
suitability and feasibility of designating sites in Plaquemines Parish 
along the Lower Mississippi River Area as units of the National Park 
System. This area in Southeastern Louisiana has contributed much to our 
Nation's history and there are many stories that have yet to be 
preserved for future generations. Unless Congress acts to preserve 
these historical assets, they will be lost forever. That is why I am 
again, for the third time, introducing this legislation. It is 
important that this legislation become law and I look forward to 
working with my colleagues to enact it.
  In order to be designated as a unit in the National Park System, the 
Department of Interior must first conduct a special resources study to 
determine whether an area possesses nationally significant natural, 
cultural or recreational resources to be eligible for favorable 
consideration. This is exactly what my bill does. It asks the 
Department of Interior to take the first step in determining what I 
already know, that the Lower Mississippi River Area would be a suitable 
and feasible asset to the National Park Service.
  As many from Louisiana are already aware, this area has vast 
historical significance and is rich with cultural history. In the 
1500s, Spanish explorers traveled along the banks of the river. In 
1682, Robert de LaSalle claimed all the land drained by the area. In 
1699, the area became the site of the first fortification on the Lower 
Mississippi

[[Page S4331]]

river, known as Fort Mississippi. Since then, it has been home to ten 
different fortifications, including Fort St. Philip and Fort Jackson.

  Fort St. Philip, which was originally built in 1749, played a key 
role during the Battle of New Orleans when American soldiers blocked 
the British Navy from going upriver. Fort Jackson was built at the 
request of General Andrew Jackson and partially constructed by famous 
local Civil War General, P.G.T. Beauregard. This fort was the site of 
the famous Civil War battle known as the ``Battle of Forts'' which is 
also referred to as the ``night the war was lost.'' Mr. President, as 
you can see, from a historical perspective, this area has many 
treasures that provide a glimpse into our past. These are treasures 
that have national significance and they should be maintained and 
preserved.
  In addition, there are many other important and unique attributes to 
this area. This area is home to the longest continuous river road and 
levee system in the U.S. It is also home to the ancient Head of Passes 
site, to the Plaquemines Bend, and to two National Wildlife Refuges.
  Finally, this area has a rich cultural heritage. Over the years, many 
different cultures have made this area home, including Creoles, 
Europeans, Indians, Yugoslavs, African-Americans and Vietnamese. These 
cultures have worked together to create the infrastructure for the 
transport of our Nation's energy, which is being produced by these same 
people off our shores in the Gulf of Mexico. They have also created a 
vibrant fishing industry that contributes to Louisiana's economy.
  I think it is easy to see why this area would make an excellent 
addition to the National Park Service. However, the longer Congress 
takes to act, the greater the opportunity for these treasures and their 
rich history to erode away. Unfortunately, this area has weathered the 
passing of several hurricanes, including Katrina, and is now suffering 
from the impacts of the BP oil spill. All of these events threaten to 
destroy these historical assets, but this need not be the case. These 
assets need protection and this is the first step in securing it. That 
is why I am reintroducing this bill to conduct a study to determine the 
suitability and feasibility of including this area in the system and 
ultimately to begin the process of adding this area as a unit of the 
National Park Service. I look forward to working with my colleagues to 
quickly enact this bill.

                          ____________________