[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 158 (2012), Part 1]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 952]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




   REINTRODUCTION OF THE NORTH MAUI COASTAL PRESERVATION ACT OF 2012

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. MAZIE K. HIRONO

                               of hawaii

                    in the house of representatives

                        Friday, February 3, 2012

  Ms. HIRONO. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to introduce the North Maui 
Coastal Preservation Act of 2012, a bill directing the National Park 
Service to study the suitability and feasibility of designating certain 
lands along the northern coast of Maui, between Sprecklesville and 
Paia, as a unit of the National Park System. I have previously 
introduced this bill in the 110th and 111th Congresses.
  The citizens of Maui strongly support preservation of this coast, 
which provides important open space and public beach areas.
  The beautiful coastline of North Maui is under significant 
development pressure. Its closeness to major population centers in Maui 
and its popularity with both visitors and residents makes protecting 
access a major priority.
  Supporters of this park have asked that it be named after 
Congresswoman Patsy Takemoto Mink, a native of Maui who grew up in the 
Hamakua Poko/Paia area. While this bill, which authorizes a study, does 
not direct what the prospective national park would be named, I would 
certainly support naming it after Patsy Mink, whose commitment to the 
people of the island and state was without question.
  I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting this bill.

                          ____________________