[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 159 (2013), Part 12]
[House]
[Page 16968]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




        OZARK NATIONAL SCENIC RIVERWAYS GENERAL MANAGEMENT PLAN

  (Mr. SMITH of Missouri asked and was given permission to address the 
House for 1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. SMITH of Missouri. Mr. Speaker, on Friday, the National Park 
Service released a draft general management plan for the Ozark National 
Scenic Riverways in Missouri's Eighth Congressional District. The 
general management plan seeks to limit my constituents' access to the 
rivers that they have enjoyed for generations.
  This plan from the National Park Service would shut down public 
access points to the rivers, eliminate motorized boat traffic from 
certain areas, further restrict boat motor horsepower in other areas, 
close several gravel bars, and propose additional areas to be 
designated as Federal wilderness.
  The outcry I have heard from my constituents is unanimous. They 
believe the Ozark National Scenic Riverways are already overmanaged and 
my constituents do not want the National Park Service to further 
intrude on their access to their public rivers.
  Mr. Speaker, I urge the park service to reject changing management 
practices on the Ozark National Scenic Riverways so that my 
constituents can continue enjoying their rivers.

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