Sam Gejdenson: “as the sponsor of H.R. 1619 along with Congressman Neal, I rise in strong support of this measure. I would like to begin…”

“as the sponsor of H.R. 1619 along with Congressman Neal, I rise in strong support of this measure. I would like to begin by thanking Chairmen Young and Hansen and Ranking Members Miller and Romero-Barcelo and their staffs for their support in moving this legislation through the Committee process. I truly appreciate their efforts. The bill before us today represents a consensus reached between residents of Connecticut and Massachusetts to expand the Quinebaug and Shetucket Rivers Valley National Heritage Corridor. The new communities in Massachusetts and Connecticut are linked to the existing 25 towns in the Corridor by geography, history, culture and, most importantly, the rivers they share. The bill before us today has been slightly modified from the measure Congressman Neal and I introduced in late April. I am pleased to report that the amended version has the support of the National Park Service, the States of Connecticut and Massachusetts, the management authority and citizens in both states. The bill expands the boundary of the Corridor to include Union, Connecticut and the towns of Brimfield, Charlton, Dudley, E. Brookfield, Holland, Oxford, Southbridge, Sturbridge, and Webster, Massachusetts. It designates a local, nonprofit entity--Quinebaug- Shetucket Heritage Corridor, Inc.--as the management entity. It provides a continuing role for the Governors of Connecticut and Massachusetts in Corridor management.”