Amending the Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area Improvement Act to Extend the Exception to the Closure of Certain Roads Within the Recreation Area for Local Businesses, and for Other Purposes

Floor Speech

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Ms. TLAIB. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 6364) to amend the Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area Improvement Act to extend the exception to the closure of certain roads within the Recreation Area for local businesses, and for other purposes, as amended.

The Clerk read the title of the bill.

The text of the bill is as follows: H.R. 6364

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, SECTION 1. USE OF CERTAIN ROADS WITHIN THE DELAWARE WATER GAP NATIONAL RECREATION AREA.

Section 4(b) of the Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area Improvement Act (Public Law 109-156; 119 Stat. 2948) is amended in the matter preceding paragraph (1), by striking ``Until'' and all that follows through ``subsection (a)'' and inserting ``Until September 30, 2026, subsection (a)''. SEC. 2. DETERMINATION OF BUDGETARY EFFECTS.

The budgetary effects of this Act, for the purpose of complying with the Statutory Pay-As-You-Go Act of 2010, shall be determined by reference to the latest statement titled ``Budgetary Effects of PAYGO Legislation'' for this Act, submitted for printing in the Congressional Record by the Chairman of the House Budget Committee, provided that such statement has been submitted prior to the vote on passage.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of H.R. 6364 introduced by my colleague, Representative Matt Cartwright. This bill will amend the Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area Improvement Act to extend the use of Highway 209 within the recreation area until 2026.

Mr. Speaker, in 1981, the section of Highway 209 that runs through the recreation area was transferred from the State to the National Park Service.

In 1983, Congress enacted a provision of law that closed that section of Highway 209 to commercial traffic, with an important exception for vehicles serving businesses located in or adjacent to the recreation area. Since then, the United States Congress has extended the exemption multiple times, with the latest exemption set to expire on September 30 of this year.

Mr. Speaker, without this exemption, commercial vehicles have limited acceptable alternatives. Commercial traffic would have to travel a minimum of 10 extra miles to avoid the recreation area.

This permitted access contributes to economic vitality that impacts that community, the public safety, and the quality of life of the park's adjacent communities.

I, again, thank my good colleague, Representative Cartwright, for introducing this important legislation and championing this bill on behalf of his constituents.

Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to vote ``yes'' on this bill, and I reserve the balance of my time.
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Ms. TLAIB. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this legislation, and I yield back the balance of my time.

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