[Congressional Record Volume 159, Number 102 (Wednesday, July 17, 2013)]
[House]
[Page H4532]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


                   COMMUNITY PARKS REVITALIZATION ACT

  (Mr. SIRES asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute.)
  Mr. SIRES. Madam Speaker, I rise today to speak about the Community 
Parks Revitalization Act.
  This bipartisan legislation would provide matching funds and a new 
loan program to assist our communities in developing and redeveloping 
parks and recreational facilities.
  As a former mayor, I have seen firsthand the value that investing in 
parks brings to our communities. When we make investments in our parks, 
it leads to healthy, vibrant neighborhoods in which businesses want to 
invest and families want to live. Our parks and recreational centers 
are also instrumental in helping to achieve the important national goal 
of increasing exercise and in providing recreational opportunities for 
our youth and disabled or injured veterans.
  The Community Parks Revitalization Act has the support of many 
national organizations, including the National Recreation and Park 
Association and the American Society of Landscape Architects, and it 
has strong bipartisan support in the 113th Congress.
  I encourage my colleagues to join me in strengthening our community 
parks.

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