Jon L. Christensen: “I rise in support of H.R. 938, to establish the Upper Housatonic Valley National Heritage Area in Connecticut and…”

“I rise in support of H.R. 938, to establish the Upper Housatonic Valley National Heritage Area in Connecticut and Massachusetts. I am particularly pleased that Title 2 of the bill includes legislation I sponsored in the last Congress and again in this Congress to provide for a study of the suitability and feasibility of establishing my home island of St. Croix as a National Heritage Area was also included in this package. I want to begin by thanking Chairman Richard Pombo and Ranking Member Nick Rahall for their support in including my bill in H.R. 938. Mr. Speaker, I can think of no more fitting place that should be studied for possible designation as a national Heritage Area than my home island of St. Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands. The island of St. Croix has a long, distinguished, and varied history, including being the site where Christopher Columbus first stepped onto what is now American soil. There is significant interest in preserving and enhancing the natural, historical and cultural resources of the island on a cooperative basis and such a study would provide guidance on how we can best achieve those purposes. Even though each one of the four major islands of the U.S. Islands Virgin Islands can make a good case for designation as a National Heritage Area, the island of St. Croix with its two historic towns-- Christiansted built in 1734 and Frederiksted built in 1752--is richly blessed with all of the attributes that would justify this designation.…”