[Congressional Record Volume 159, Number 32 (Wednesday, March 6, 2013)]
[Senate]
[Pages S1232-S1233]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

      By Mr. CARDIN (for himself and Ms. Mikulski):
  S. 476. 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 reintroduce 
legislation to support greater public involvement in the administration 
of one of Maryland's most treasured National Historical Parks. The 
Chesapeake and Ohio Canal National Historical Park Advisory Commission 
Act ensures that the communities located along the 184\1/2\ 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, Brunswick, 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 two-
tenths 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 a 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 
communities 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 tie 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:

[[Page S1233]]

                                 S. 476

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

     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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