On the recordMarch 18, 2010
I want to express also my deep appreciation and gratitude to the chairman of the Natural Resources Committee, Nick Rahall, for working with me to move this important piece of legislation. I also would like to thank Chairman Grijalva and the staff of the Natural Resources Committee for all the support and guidance throughout this process. I would like to mention that there are no restrictions in the context of this legislation for any of the things that were just mentioned. None whatsoever. In fact, all of those kinds of activities will be enhanced and encouraged and be much more easy to achieve and more beneficial to the communities. H.R. 4003 would authorize the National Park Service to conduct a special resource study of the Hudson River Valley to evaluate the area's national significance and determine the suitability and feasibility of designating the area as a unit of the National Park System, a unit of the National Park System, not a national park. This legislation is cosponsored by each of the Members whose district is within the proposed study area. And that in and of itself of course is very interesting. They have garnered strong support locally. Twenty-four local organizations have already endorsed the bill, and I expect to see that there will be more in the coming weeks and months. The Hudson River Valley is one of the most significant river corridors in our country.
