Maurice Hinchey: “In 1980 this Congress created Biscayne National Park, a park for all the people of the entire country. At that time…”

“In 1980 this Congress created Biscayne National Park, a park for all the people of the entire country. At that time there were seven leaseholders in the park who held campsites by lease. They were given a period of time to remove themselves from the national park. In 1990, they asked for an extension. That extension was given to them, and they had until 1999. They have had 20 years now for these leaseholders to get out of a national park. They are denying access to the public by holding these leases. This is a park that has been designated by the Congress for the enjoyment of all the people of the country. Anyone should be able to go there. They should not be able to be stopped by people who have illegal leaseholds. That is precisely what this is. The issue here is a very simple one. In a national park, are we going to allow private people who are intruders, who are violating the law, who have overstayed their welcome, to continue to be there and prevent the rest of the public from using that public land appropriately as the Congress has designated? That is the issue.”