On the recordJanuary 16, 2018
I want to thank both of my friends for their work on this bill, and I want to thank Natural Resources Committee Chairman Rob Bishop, who is a cosponsor of this bill, for his support and leadership of this legislation, as well as Ranking Member Raul Grijalva, who has also supported our efforts. I also want to thank Oversight and Government Reform Chair Trey Gowdy and Ranking Member Elijah Cummings for their support and for moving this bipartisan legislation through their committee as well. So you see, we have gone through two committees, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I am particularly pleased and grateful to Senator Lisa Murkowski, chair of the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources, which has jurisdiction over the bill, who has introduced the Senate companion of this bill. Our bill is noncontroversial, as you have heard, Mr. Speaker. It would only clarify that the District of Columbia has the authority to enter into cooperative management agreements, called CMAs, to maintain and invest in National Park Service properties in the city. There are many such properties, we are grateful to say, in the District of Columbia. NPS already has the authority to enter into these agreements with States, and I believe with the District of Columbia, but the better part of valor was to make sure that that was understood. Our bill would simply provide the District with the same opportunity to work collaboratively with the NPS as States and cities already do.…
