San Antonio Missions National Historical Park Boundary Expansion Act of 2013

Floor Speech

Mr. DOGGETT. Thank you to my colleague from California, who has ties directly to San Antonio and appreciates the importance of this legislation.

I do rise in support of the San Antonio Missions National Historic Park Boundary Expansion Act, a measure that has enjoyed the support of all of the members of the Texas delegation who represent a part of Bexar County. The bill does expand the park by 137 acres.

The Spanish Missions in San Antonio are truly a unique treasure--for us as Texans, and for all Americans. The Missions National Historic Park preserves the largest collection of Spanish colonial resources anywhere in the United States. It's an educational, historical, and cultural resource that each year is bringing over a million people to enjoy and learn from it.

The park is important to the understanding of Texas and the development of the United States and, of course, it has a significant impact on San Antonio and Bexar County economically.

In his famous ``San Antonio Rose,'' Bob Wills sung of the Alamo and ``old San Antone.'' And most people do associate San Antonio with the Alamo, a landmark of Texas independence. But in addition to the Alamo, there are five remaining Spanish Missions in San Antonio.

The Alamo lies just north of these four missions that compose the Missions National Historical Park. All of them date back to the 1600s, 1700s, the oldest one to 1690, and they were built when the first of six flags flew over Texas, as Spanish colonialists settled San Antonio, then on the frontier with the Comanches and Apaches.

The missions reached out to a number of local Native American tribes, teaching them trades and crafts. The missions do reflect the original ``old San Antone.''

Thanks to the leadership of Bexar County Judge Nelson Wolff, there's now a great new Mission Reach Trail that connects from near the Alamo to all four missions within the park. It's possible to walk or cycle that trail along the San Antonio River, from the excitement of downtown, first to Mission Concepcion.

Next up is the larger Mission San Jose, site of so many gatherings. Recently, I joined Father Tony Posadas, Andrew Anguiano, Neighborhood Association President Armando Cortez and thousands of people who gathered there for the annual Mission Fest.

Nearby is Mission San Juan Capistrano, a very narrow white stucco building, beautiful with its simplicity. Archbishop Gustavo Garcia-Siller, Father David Garcia and Father Jim Galvin recently reopened that mission after an impressive and complex restoration effort. Each of these missions is a working parish church, relying on their parishioners, and fully restored thanks to the leadership of Father Garcia.

Working closely with him is a group called Los Compadres, a group of committed citizens who've raised over $1 million for the continued restoration and preservation of the missions, led by Pamela Bain and Executive Director Susan Chandoha. Their annual Music Under the Stars concert at Mission San Jose is a great way to experience the park.

And thanks to the leadership of State Representative Joe Farias, park visitors also benefit now from a newly dedicated Veterans Memorial Bridge in the historic Bergs Mill area.

The last of the missions, or the first when it comes to our colleague, Congressman Gallego, is Mission Espada, and he'll have more to say about it, a very important part of the park.

Among the many community partners who've joined with us in the delegation for park expansion are Susan Snow, the World Heritage coordinator of the National Park Service; Suzanne Dixon, with the National Parks Conservation Association; Bexar County Commissioners Tommy Adkisson and Chico Rodriguez; Shannon Miller, with the city's Historic Preservation Office; Suzanne Scott, with the River Authority; and Marco Barros, with the San Antonio Tourism Council. They're making the missions even more accessible and enjoyable for both neighbors and tourists.

One economic study has recently concluded that the park is already supporting almost $100 million in annual economic activity and over 1,100 jobs. With the completion of initiatives associated with this park expansion, the missions can more than double their economic impact in San Antonio.

In addition to the bill that we have here today, it is very important that we achieve our Quest for World Heritage Status for the missions. About a year ago this week, then-Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar announced that the Department of the Interior had officially authorized the Spanish Missions for nomination to the UNESCO World Heritage List.

Another economic study has found that that World Heritage status for this expanded park could yield over $500 million for the San Antonio area within a decade of the World Heritage status.

Unfortunately, because the United States is not paying its dues to UNESCO, which funds the World Heritage Committee, our application could be hampered. I hope that obstacle can be overcome by the time next year that there's a formal submission of this application.

I'm hopeful that by passing this bill relatively early in this Congress that the Senate will finally be able to move it and have ample time to consider it.

Frankly, as my colleague Mrs. Napolitano pointed out, I would have liked to have achieved more today. There are other lands in Bexar and Wilson County with historic ties to the mission that should really be a part of this park. I know the Wilson County part is of particular importance to Congressman Cuellar. But after so many years of failed attempts to secure this legislation, it's better to move forward together and achieve what is possible today.

So together, I believe we are taking constructive steps forward to enhance a national treasure. Our action is not only about preserving culture but about promoting jobs. This park expansion provides another good reason for family vacations and national conventions to take the ``road to San Antone.''

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