Bear River National Heritage Area Study Act

Floor Speech

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Mr. WESTERMAN. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Madam Speaker, I first want to thank Chairman Grijalva and Chairwoman Leger Fernandez for their cooperation in moving this bill forward.

H.R. 3616, offered by my colleague, Mr. Moore of Utah, requires the Secretary of the Interior to conduct a study assessing the suitability and feasibility of designating the Bear River National Heritage Area in northern Utah and southern Idaho.

The Bear River area straddles the Utah-Idaho border where the Great Basin and Rocky Mountains meet. It is home to the Northwestern Band of the Shoshone Nation, the Golden Spike National Historical Park, the Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge, the Hardware Ranch, numerous Latter- day Saints history sites, the Oregon Trail, and a strong agricultural economy and abundant natural beauty.

The Bear River area is a great candidate for study as a potential national heritage area, and this legislation enjoys strong local support.

I commend Congressman Moore for his work on this legislation, and I urge adoption of the measure.

Ms. LEGER FERNANDEZ.

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Mr. WESTERMAN. Madam Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from Utah (Mr. Moore).

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Mr. WESTERMAN. Madam Speaker, I thank the gentleman for bringing this to our attention, I urge adoption, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Ms. LEGER FERNANDEZ. Madam Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this bill. I look forward to listening to the many interconnected and complex stories that will come out of this study and to perhaps visiting the heritage area in the near future. I urge my colleagues to support the legislation, and I yield back the balance of my time.

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