Kingman And Heritage Islands Act Of 2009

Floor Speech

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Ms. NORTON. Mr. Speaker, I thank the chairman of the subcommittee, Mr. Lynch, not only for yielding to me, but especially for his hard work on this bill, and I thank our ranking member for his important work on this bill as well.

I want to associate myself with your remarks, Mr. Chairman, simply to indicate that this land is already in the possession of the District of Columbia, and yet the subcommittee had to be in pains to make sure that the reversionary clause was in keeping with the last bill, which I also sponsored, and with the changes we have asked for.

The District took what was an abandoned man-made island, but in our most valuable Anacostia River, and tried to make something of it when it looked like there were some people who wanted to make a children's theme park. That did not occur, yet we were left with a bill that said this shall be a children's theme park or it reverts. It was up to me to come and change the reversionary clause when the District abandoned the idea.

If I may say so, I am pleased the District has abandoned the idea and wants to use Kingman and Heritage Island to revitalize the Anacostia River and to essentially return this plot of land to use as an environmental natural reserve park which will help to restore the ecosystem and provide usable space, in addition, when people want to enjoy the river and nature in a place that is really in the middle of the District of Columbia, a big urban center.

The District also wants to build an environmental education center. You can see how well the uses fit the land than even a children's theme park. I am particularly enamored with the remembrance grove. We have not forgotten the three children who were on the plane that went down on 9/11 who had won a contest by the National Geographic Association and who were looking forward to that trip.

I am particularly pleased that the city's new plan complements my own work on the Anacostia Watershed Initiative bill which this Congress passed last session. I thank the chairman and the ranking member, and may I thank Mr. Rahall and his ranking member as well for waiving jurisdiction and allowing us to get on with the work of taking Kingman and Heritage Islands back to where they belong.

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