Raúl Grijalva: “Mr. Speaker, H.R. 1388 would designate the Star-Spangled Banner Trail in Maryland, Virginia, and the District of…”

“Mr. Speaker, H.R. 1388 would designate the Star-Spangled Banner Trail in Maryland, Virginia, and the District of Columbia as a National Historic Trail to commemorate the events of the Chesapeake campaign during the War of 1812. The bill was introduced by my colleague on the Natural Resources Committee, Mr. Sarbanes of Maryland, who is a valued member of our National Parks, Forests and Public Lands Subcommittee. The Star-Spangled Banner National Historic Trail designated by H.R. 1388 would follow the historic routes used by British and American troops during the war. The National Park Service supports this designation, as do an impressive array of State and local governments and numerous private organizations. Mr. Speaker, as the bicentennial of the War of 1812 approaches, this historic trail will help Americans retrace some of the crucial events of a war that fashioned our Nation's character. Mr. Sarbanes has done great work on this measure, and I urge my colleagues to support the bipartisan legislation.”