[Congressional Record Volume 166, Number 42 (Tuesday, March 3, 2020)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E253]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




CHESAPEAKE BAY GATEWAYS AND WATERTRAILS NETWORK REAUTHORIZATION ACT OF 
                                  2019

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                       HON. ELEANOR HOLMES NORTON

                      of the district of columbia

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, February 26, 2020

  Ms. NORTON. Madam Speaker, I rise in support of the Chesapeake Bay 
Gateways and Watertrails Reauthorization Act (H.R. 2427). I am an 
original cosponsor of this legislation. This legislation would 
reauthorize the Chesapeake Bay Gateways Program for six years, 
providing continued congressional support to the National Park Service 
(NPS) as it partners with state and local governments to promote public 
access to the Chesapeake Bay, which is the nation's largest estuary and 
spans six states and my own district, the District of Columbia. Nearly 
98 percent of the Bay's vast shoreline is privately owned, with only a 
small portion available for public use. The Chesapeake Bay Gateways 
Program helps to maximize the effectiveness of public access points to 
the Bay by providing resources for infrastructure improvements, 
signage, exhibits and public education. The Chesapeake Bay Gateways and 
Watertrails network includes over 170 gateways, including parks, 
wildlife refuges, maritime museums, historic sites and watertrails, 
which serve as points of recreation and exploration along the Bay.
  The history of the Bay is rich, and gateways allow the public to 
engage with the life of the Bay through learning about its history, 
ecology and people. For example, the Captain John Smith Chesapeake 
National Historic Trail allows visitors to retrace the journey Captain 
John Smith and fellow colonists took when they arrived at the 
Chesapeake Bay in 1607. Through over 3,000 miles spanning Virginia, 
Maryland, Delaware and the District, visitors can experience the sights 
and sounds of the trail both by water and land. Another key point in 
the gateway system is the 125-mile Harriet Tubman Underground Railroad 
Scenic Byway. Visitors can explore the byway via car and learn about 
Harriet Tubman's upbringing in Maryland's Eastern Shore and view 
historic sites important to her legacy. Other attractions of note 
include the Pamunkey Indian Reservation, the George Washington 
Birthplace National Monument and Kingman and Heritage Islands Park in 
the District.
  The preservation of these sites, and the numerous other gateways 
along the Bay, is critical to the NPS's mission of maintaining the 
national park system and preserving the legacies of the communities in 
which parks and monuments are located. I am proud to support this 
legislation and know that it will greatly benefit the District, as well 
as the broader Bay region and visitors to these important sites.
  I urge my colleagues to support this legislation.

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