Consolidated Natural Resources Act of 2008

Floor Speech

CONSOLIDATED NATURAL RESOURCES ACT OF 2008 -- (Senate - April 10, 2008)

Mr. SCHUMER. Mr. President, I thank my colleague from Oklahoma, with whom I do not agree on many things, but I know he speaks with integrity and from the heart.

I rise to speak in support of S. 2739, the Consolidated Natural Resources Act of 2008, which we are working on. I wish to thank my colleague from New Mexico, Chairman Bingaman, and Vice Chairman Domenici for their leadership on this legislation. We have waited a long time for it. In the Senate we need to get just about everyone on board. Due to some Senators' steadfastness, including Majority Leader Reid's, we are here today.

All provisions of the legislation are important, but there is one provision for western New York for which we have waited a very long time, and that is the provision that would designate land at thematic sites along the entire Niagara River corridor--from Buffalo in the south to Lake Ontario in the north--as a national heritage area.

Establishing this heritage area will allow us to protect the world class natural resources of Niagara Falls while promoting tourism and economic development in the region. For the first 5 years of this heritage area, a Federal commission would work to implement a management plan to capture the full benefits of the natural, historic, cultural, and recreational resources of the entire Niagara Falls region.

Known the world over, Niagara Falls, of course, is a geological wonder that has drawn visitors for more than 200 years. But the region has so much more than just the profound drama of beautifully cascading waters.

The Niagara River corrridor has played an important role in our Nation's history. Native American culture, early European exploration, the French and Indian War, the American Revolution, the War of 1812, the Underground Railroad, and the development of hydroelectric power all have strong connections to the region.

Furthermore, the Niagara River corridor abounds with scenic beauty that offers something for recreational enthusiasts of all stripes. With numerous State parks in the area, hikers, fishermen, birders, and hunters flock to the region to enjoy its outdoor splendor.

Despite these strong assets for tourism, visitors to the U.S. side of Niagara Falls have been on the decline for several years. Too much of the New York side of the border is marked by aging infrastructure and blighted land. And all too frequently, visitors spend far more time on the Canadian side of the falls, while barely visiting the New York side. We must reverse this trend.

Let me be clear. The attractions and resources exist for the Niagara River corridor to become a world class destination. But the attractions it offers lack a comprehensive, unifying thread that ties the elements together in a meaningful way for the visitor.

Designating the land a heritage area will help us link the existing sites of interest in a coordinated fashion, marking the region effectively, and attract more visitors. It will promote collaboration among Federal, State, and local resources and help spur investment and economic development in the region.

Let me say that this heritage area has been years in the making. When I first was elected to the Senate in 1999, people in Niagara Falls said we have to do something. It probably surprises my colleagues that there is virtually no Federal involvement at Niagara Falls, one of our greatest scenic wonders. We tried to figure out the way to go. Some advocated it should be a national park, and there were other things. We concluded that the heritage area is the right way to go. It will allow Federal help to come to the region, Federal resources and experience, with planning and linking the great wonder of Niagara Falls to other historic and tourist attraction sites, but at the same time it will allow the local region to maintain control.

So in 2001, at my request, the NPS reconnaissance team visited the region and recommended a congressionally authorized study be undertaken to determine the best development strategies for the area along the Niagara River. We asked them to look at the heritage area.

In 2005, the National Parks Service completed that study. I thank the Park Service, because they certainly relied on local input. There was tremendous local input here, so nobody in the Niagara Falls area felt anything was being rammed down their throat. What they found--the Park Service--is strong local support for a heritage area, as well as a very great need for the resources it would offer. The report wrote:

In order for Niagara Falls to fulfill its strategic role as a key regional attraction, it is necessary for it to upgrade the visitor experience to match the expectations of 21st century travelers.

That sums up the challenge we face in Niagara Falls. The study concluded that based on Niagara Falls' natural and cultural resources, the evidence of a thematic framework, the potential for effective public and private partnerships, as well as strong public support, the region met the criteria for designation as a National Heritage Area.

Last May, the Subcommittee on National Parks held a hearing on this issue, where I testified in support of the bill. After the hearing, we worked closely with both the National Park Service and the Energy Committee staff--whom I thank for the good work they do--to iron out the technical corrections to the bill so it could be discharged by the full committee. The heritage area has been studied now for more than 7 years. It has broad public support, and it is time for it to become law.

The $10 million authorized under this act should help Niagara Falls realize a substantial return on that investment. First and foremost, any Federal expenditures will be matched by State, local, or private contributions, adding millions more to the investment in the region.

Second, it is estimated that implementing the heritage area would attract 140,000 new visitors per year, and some estimates project that this would infuse up to $20 million into the local economy annually.

With the summer tourist season fast approaching, we are reminded that far too many visitors only view Niagara Falls from the Canadian side of the border. They have missed out on the history, culture, recreation, and natural beauty that is found in equal measure on the New York side. This legislation will take great strides in balancing that inequity and help revitalize an area of our country in need of investment and economic development.

With that, I yield the floor and thank my colleague for working so long and hard with us to make this legislation today a reality.

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