Chellie Pingree: “Last month, when I was standing on the banks of the York River in Maine, I learned that the river serves as a home for…”

“Last month, when I was standing on the banks of the York River in Maine, I learned that the river serves as a home for species like the New England Cottontail, the Eastern Box Turtle and the threatened Harlequin Duck; but the York River is also a place where people are making their livings. Fishermen depend on the good quality of the water and access to the waterfront, and farmers in the York River Watershed grow pumpkins, potatoes and other produce that keep Maine communities healthy. The natural beauty of the river draws visitors to the area from around the State and around the country. Mr. Speaker, later today, I am introducing the York River Wild and Scenic River Study Act, which would commission a feasibility study to find out if the river qualifies as a ``Wild and Scenic Partnership River''--a designation that would help preserve the river as an economic and natural resource for generations to come. ____________________”