Statements on Introduced Bills and Joint Resolutions

STATEMENTS ON INTRODUCED BILLS AND JOINT RESOLUTIONS

S. 2140. A bill to expand the boundary of the Mount Rainier National Park; to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.

Ms. CANTWELL. Mr. President, I rise today to introduce-along with my colleague Senator MURRAY-the Expanding and Making Mount Rainier National Park More Accessible Act.

This bill authorizes a boundary expansion of Mount Rainier National Park to allow the National Park Service to acquire 800 acres of land from private landowners, on a willing seller basis. These lands are located near the Carbon River and, if acquired, they would be included in Mount Rainier National Park, one of America's greatest national parks.

If enacted, the proposed expansion will improve access for visitors, allow for a new campsite to be built, and save taxpayers money that will no longer be needed to repair a frequently washed out road.

While this legislation will make Mount Rainier National Park safer and more accessible for families and outdoor enthusiasts, it is important to note that this expansion will also promote the local economy. Outdoor recreation is more than an activity in the Northwest, it is also a key part of our economy. By improving access to the park, my bill will make it easier for visitors to enjoy the park and to purchase goods and services in nearby communities.

This expansion will ensure continued access to the park because the northwest entrance road is continually washed out by seasonal fluctuations of the glacier-fed Carbon River. The river, which now flows at a higher elevation than the roadbed, has blocked visitors from accessing the National Park Service's Ipsut Creek campground and nearby hiking trails inside the park. The repairs to this road have proven both costly and short-lived and have strained the National Park Service's already limited maintenance budget. In the long run, the expansion will save taxpayers money because the road will not have to be maintained to current standards. If this bill is enacted, the National Park Service plans to provide a shuttle service to take visitors to the Carbon Glacier trailhead. That way, visitors will still be able to hike to the Carbon Glacier during day trips.

If this bill is enacted, local conservation groups and the National Park Service will work to reach agreements with landowners in the proposed expansion area. I am pleased that the current landowners actively participated in the process and enthusiastically support this legislation. In fact, they are eager to sell their land to the National Park Service so that these lands will be permanently protected for the enjoyment of future generations.

I look forward to working with my colleagues in the Senate as well as other members of the Washington state congressional delegation to ensure swift passage of this important legislation.