Chesapeake Bay Gateways and Watertrails Network Reauthorization Act of 2019

Floor Speech

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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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