[Congressional Record Volume 169, Number 147 (Tuesday, September 12, 2023)]
[House]
[Pages H4255-H4256]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 EXTENDING THE AUTHORITY TO COLLECT SHASTA-TRINITY MARINA FEES THROUGH 
                            FISCAL YEAR 2029

  Mr. WESTERMAN. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the 
bill (H.R. 3324) to extend the authority to collect Shasta-Trinity 
Marina fees through fiscal year 2029.
  The Clerk read the title of the bill.
  The text of the bill is as follows:

                               H.R. 3324

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

     SECTION 1. SHASTA-TRINITY MARINA FEES.

       Section 422 of the Department of the Interior, Environment, 
     and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2008 (Public Law 
     110-161; 121 Stat 2149) as amended, is further amended by 
     striking ``and each subsequent fiscal year through fiscal 
     year 2019'' and inserting ``and each subsequent fiscal year 
     through fiscal year 2029''.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from 
Arkansas (Mr. Westerman) and the gentleman from Arizona (Mr. Grijalva) 
each will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Arkansas.


                             General Leave

  Mr. WESTERMAN. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members 
have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and to 
include extraneous material on H.R. 3324, the bill now under 
consideration.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from Arkansas?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. WESTERMAN. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may 
consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 3324. This is a good 
bipartisan effort being led by Representatives Huffman and LaMalfa and 
will help to improve recreation opportunities to their constituents in 
northern California.
  This bill extends the authority of the Shasta-Trinity National Forest 
to collect and retain existing marina fees for the purpose of enhancing 
recreation opportunities and improving access at the Whiskeytown-
Shasta-Trinity National Recreation Area, which is located within 
Congressmen LaMalfa and Huffman's districts.
  The Whiskeytown-Shasta-Trinity National Recreation Area encompasses 
large reservoirs and abundant mountain terrain. This area is very 
popular with hunters, anglers, and outdoor recreationists.
  The authority to collect and retain marina fees expired in 2019 but 
has been temporarily extended through appropriations legislation. The 
marina fees retained by the Forest Service are spent on recreation 
enhancement projects such as boat ramp improvements, lake cleanup 
efforts, maintaining recreational facilities, and improving access for 
visitors with disabilities. The Forest Service also provides 
educational programs with these funds.
  This bill would not increase or otherwise affect the price of the 
current marina fees. H.R. 3324 simply continues a current authority 
that has yielded positive results for families who enjoy visiting this 
idyllic destination. I commend Representatives Huffman and LaMalfa for 
their collaborative work on this effort.
  Mr. Speaker, I support the bill, and I reserve the balance of my 
time.
  Mr. GRIJALVA. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, H.R. 3324, introduced by my friend from California, 
Representative Huffman, would extend the Forest Service's existing 
authority to collect and retain marina fees in the Shasta-Trinity 
National Forest.
  The chairman has outlined the content of the legislation, and I won't 
repeat that again. It is a good bill and it is essential to the 
operation and the management of the recreation area. It is a critical 
tool that needs to be extended.
  The continuation of this authority has been an ongoing priority for 
the Forest Service and the surrounding communities. I thank and 
congratulate Mr. Huffman for his leadership on the issue.
  Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to vote ``yes'' on the bill, and I 
reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. WESTERMAN. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. GRIJALVA. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the 
gentleman from California (Mr. Huffman).
  Mr. HUFFMAN. Mr. Speaker, I thank the ranking member for yielding 
time, and I thank the chairman and the ranking member for supporting 
this bill.
  I appreciate the chance to just take a moment to talk a little more 
about the importance of this bill to my district.
  The Shasta-Trinity National Recreation Area is in northern 
California, part of it in my district and part of it in Mr. LaMalfa's 
district. It spans 246,000 acres and includes the Shasta, Trinity, 
Lewiston, and Whiskeytown lakes.
  It is a recreation paradise. Every year, more than 3\1/2\ million 
people visit this area for all manner of outdoor activities, such as 
fishing, camping, horseback riding, swimming, paddling, backpacking, 
and more.
  The area is a fundamental part of our regions' identity and our 
economy. It is one of our most popular tourist attractions, and it is 
obviously a very vital economic driver.
  The U.S. Forest Service and the National Park Service manage the 
Shasta-Trinity National Recreation Area and support a large variety of 
these recreation opportunities and improvement projects, such as boat 
ramp upgrades, public service announcements about boating and water 
safety, enhancing accessibility to the lakes for those with 
disabilities, floating restrooms, and interpretive and educational 
programs.
  The marina fees that they use to complete this work also support fire 
prevention patrols and fund 15 permanent staff members and 9 seasonal 
employees who make it possible for everyone to enjoy the recreation 
area.
  It is clear how important these fees are to the continued operation 
of this regional treasure. My bipartisan bill on the floor today will 
extend the Department of Agriculture's ability to collect and hold 
these marina fees through the year 2029, allowing them to continue 
enhancing recreation and improving access.
  This fee retention authority was initially granted back in 2008, and 
we have been fortunate enough to extend it through annual 
appropriations. That is pretty tenuous funding, and it is not a good 
basis on which to plan and implement important, longer-term projects.
  The authority we are providing in this bill will provide that long-
term stability. It will go a long way toward ensuring certainty and 
consistent funding for future projects.
  Most of Trinity County is made up of Federally owned public lands, 
and its local economy is heavily reliant on the success of this 
national recreation area. It is essential that we extend this authority 
to collect marina fees and carry out the significant services that they 
support.
  Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleagues, especially Mr. LaMalfa, who has 
partnered with me on this legislation several years in a row now. I am 
grateful to colleagues on both sides of the aisle for working with us 
to support outdoor recreation in northern California.
  Mr. Speaker, I urge support of the bill.

[[Page H4256]]

  

  Mr. WESTERMAN. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. GRIJALVA. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this 
legislation, and I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. WESTERMAN. Mr. Speaker, I commend Mr. Huffman and Mr. LaMalfa for 
bringing this legislation forward. I think this could actually be a 
model that could be expanded on across the country so that recreation 
fees collected in a certain area could be retained and used to reinvest 
back into that area to provide Americans more access to our public 
lands.
  Mr. Speaker, I urge adoption of the bill, and I yield back the 
balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentleman from Arkansas (Mr. Westerman) that the House suspend the 
rules and pass the bill, H.R. 3324.
  The question was taken.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. In the opinion of the Chair, two-thirds 
being in the affirmative, the ayes have it.
  Mr. WESTERMAN. Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.
  The yeas and nays were ordered.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to clause 8 of rule XX, further 
proceedings on this motion will be postponed.

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