Political Quotes

“Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, H.R. 2897, introduced by Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton of the District of Columbia, authorizes the District of Columbia to establish cooperative management agreements with the National Park Service to operate, manage, and maintain National Park Service properties within the city limits. As of 2015, 21.7 percent of the District's total surface area, over 8,000 acres in all, was owned and managed by the National Park Service. This area includes 23 distinct units of the National Park System, the National Mall, and many of the small urban green spaces spread throughout the city. A significant portion of this land is in disrepair. The District ranks second in the National Park Service's deferred maintenance, with an estimated total deferred maintenance of approximately $1.2 billion. H.R. 2897 authorizes the District of Columbia to enter into cooperative management agreements with the National Park Service for the operation and maintenance of units around the city. This bill is a component to a major restorative initiative headed by the Mayor's office and sponsored by local nonprofits, and conversations are already underway between the District and the National Park Service for the improvement and repair of Franklin Park. The city has set aside nearly $14 million for the restoration of the park, and local public and private partnerships will provide yearly maintenance and upkeep. Mr.…”