[Congressional Record Volume 158, Number 36 (Tuesday, March 6, 2012)]
[Senate]
[Page S1423]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

      By Mr. KOHL:
  S. 2158. A bill to establish the Fox-Wisconsin Heritage Parkway 
National Heritage Area, and for other purposes; to the Committee on 
Energy and Natural Resources.
  Mr. KOHL. Mr. President. I wanted to speak today regarding a bill I 
am introducing to establish the Fox-Wisconsin Heritage Parkway National 
Heritage Area. The Fox-Wisconsin Heritage Parkway would cut diagonally 
across Wisconsin through parts of 15 counties following the Fox River 
from Green Bay to Portage and the Wisconsin River from Portage to the 
Mississippi River. This parkway marks the route taken in 1673 by 
explorers Father Jacques Marquette and Louis Joliet through Wisconsin.
  The Fox-Wisconsin Heritage Parkway concept was created in 1991 by the 
National Trust for Historic Preservation and the Wisconsin Department 
of Commerce with the purpose of highlighting and enhancing the unique 
heritage of the State of Wisconsin. The Fox and Wisconsin rivers that 
serve as the pathway of Wisconsin's first explorers will increase 
heritage and recreational tourism to sites within the 280 mile Parkway 
and create awareness of this region's contributions to United States 
history.
  A National Heritage Area designation would revitalize the Parkway as 
an economic, environmental and recreational resource and ensure it for 
future generations. This project has the strong support of local towns, 
cities, businesses and non-profits that are located within this 
proposed parkway. I look forward to working with my colleagues in 
Congress on this National Heritage Area designation.
                                 ______