Salem Maritime National Historical Park Redesignation and Boundary Study Act

Floor Speech

Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of the Salem Maritime National Historical Park Redesignation and Boundary Study Act introduced by the gentleman from Massachusetts (Mr. Moulton).

This bill would redesignate the Salem Maritime National Historic Site in Salem, Massachusetts, as the Salem Maritime National Historical Park, and it would require a study into including additional sites and resources.

The Salem Maritime National Historic Site preserves more than 600 years of our history, documenting the development of international maritime trade and the journey to American economic independence following the Revolutionary War.

Due to the importance of preserving the maritime history of New England, Congress chose to designate a piece of the Salem waterfront as the country's first national historic site in 1938. The site has since grown to nine acres of land, 12 historic structures, and a visitors center hosting an average of over 300,000 visitors per year.

The bill before us today would redesignate the site to more accurately reflect the scope, scale, and significance of the resources managed there by the National Park Service.

Mr. Speaker, this is an important update to an important historical resource, and I thank Representative Moulton for his leadership on this bill. I urge my colleagues to support this bill, and I reserve the balance of my time.
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Ms. HOYLE of Oregon. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this legislation, and I yield back the balance of my time.

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