Authorizing Secretary of Interior to Grant States and Local Governments Easements and Rights-Of-Way Over Federal Land Within Gateway National Recreation Area

Floor Speech

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Mr. GOSAR. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 6666) to authorize the Secretary of the Interior to grant to States and local governments easements and rights-of-way over Federal land within Gateway National Recreation Area for construction, operation, and maintenance of projects for control and prevention of flooding and shoreline erosion.

The Clerk read the title of the bill.

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Mr. Speaker, H.R. 6666, introduced by Congressman Daniel Donovan, is an essential piece of legislation that will protect human life and property in coastal New York from devastating hurricanes and storm surges.

Hurricane Sandy was one of the deadliest and most destructive hurricanes in our country's history, tragically killing 162 people and causing $70 billion in damage. Staten Island, New York, was especially hard hit. H.R. 6666 seeks to ensure this type of devastation does not happen again.

This bill authorizes the Secretary of the Interior to issue an easement across the Gateway National Recreation Area for the construction of a seawall to protect coastal residents and infrastructure. The plan for this seawall was developed by the Army Corps of Engineers in conjunction with the State of New York as part of a coastal storm risk management plan.

The National Park Service, which operates the recreation area, supports this necessary project.

I thank Congressman Donovan for his good work on the bill, and I urge its adoption.

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