[Congressional Record Volume 159, Number 114 (Friday, August 2, 2013)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1211]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




           RECOGNIZING AUGUST 7TH AS NATIONAL LIGHTHOUSE DAY

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                           HON. BRIAN HIGGINS

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                         Friday, August 2, 2013

  Mr. HIGGINS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize August 7th as 
National Lighthouse Day, and to stress the important role of 
lighthouses in our Nation's history and the values that they represent.
   On August 7th, 1789, Congress passed an Act regarding the 
establishment and support of lighthouses, beacons, buoys, and public 
piers. This early acknowledgement of their significance demonstrates 
the central part lighthouses play in America's growth and development, 
from its inception to the present.
   Throughout our Nation's history, lighthouses have provided guidance 
for ships carrying economic goods and hopeful travelers into and out of 
the country, and protected our largest entry point, our coasts, from 
danger. Their shining lights embrace newcomers as they arrive on shore, 
and wish those departing farewell.
   In my hometown of Buffalo, we are fortunate to have lighthouses that 
remain standing today. ``Chinaman's Lighthouse'' is Buffalo's oldest 
building still standing on its original foundation. Lit in 1833, our 
Buffalo Light is one of the oldest on the Great Lakes and is a landmark 
along Buffalo's Outer Harbor Waterfront.
   Buffalo's lighthouses are key cultural components of our efforts to 
revitalize our region's waterfront as a destination for western New 
Yorkers and tourists alike. The light that once welcomed immigrants as 
they landed on the shores of Lake Erie now serves to encourage people 
to enjoy the new recreational opportunities on the waterfront.
   The Buffalo Light like many others had fallen into disrepair for 
years. To save this important structure, the Buffalo Lighthouse 
Association was established in 1985 dedicated to restoring and 
promoting this vital link to our history, heritage, and future.
   Due to post-9/11 security requirements the Buffalo Lighthouse, which 
sits on land adjacent to the U.S. Coast Guard Sector Buffalo station, 
was not accessible to the public for over a decade. Working in 
conjunction with then-Senator Hillary Clinton, we secured $6.1 million 
to upgrade and consolidate Coast Guard facilities while opening up 
access to the historic lighthouse once again.
   Restoration, including masonry repair and stonework, was completed 
in 2011 on the Lighthouse with funding I was pleased to play a part in 
securing through the New York Power Authority relicensing agreement 
funds awarded by the Erie Canal Harbor Development Corporation.
   The dedicated volunteers at the Buffalo Lighthouse Association are 
now focusing their attention on its recently acquired Buffalo South 
Entrance Light Station, more commonly known as the South Buffalo 
Lighthouse. This station dates back to 1903 and while its condition is 
deteriorating, the Buffalo Lighthouse Association is bringing its 
expertise and commitment to pursuing the resources necessary to restore 
and repurpose the station for public tours with historic 
interpretation, educational opportunities for our youth, and a facility 
for shoreline and bird habitat studies.
   We owe a sincere debt of gratitude to the Buffalo Lighthouse 
Association for its stewardship and vision because when the South 
Buffalo Lighthouse project is completed it will be paired with the 
restoration of the 1833 Buffalo Lighthouse at the northern end of the 
harbor, providing local, national, and international visitors the 
unique chance to tour cultural and historic bookends along Western New 
York's Outer Harbor.
   Mr. Speaker, thank you for allowing me a few moments to appreciate 
the function and beauty of the lighthouse and the good works of those 
dedicated to these structures. These structures and their legacy 
deserve to be honored for their historical and symbolic significance in 
our national narrative. I recognize August 7th as National Lighthouse 
Day, and commend the efforts of the Buffalo Lighthouse Association and 
all those who strive to preserve, restore, and educate the public about 
these magnificent structures.

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