NAN A. S. HAYWORTH: “Mr. Speaker, H.R. 3819, introduced by the gentleman from Washington State (Mr. Baird), would redesignate Fort Clatsop…”

“Mr. Speaker, H.R. 3819, introduced by the gentleman from Washington State (Mr. Baird), would redesignate Fort Clatsop National Memorial as the Lewis and Clark National Historical Park, to include in the park sites in the State of Washington as well as the State of Oregon, and for other purposes. Additionally, this bill directs the transfer of existing Federal lands currently under the jurisdiction of the BLM and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to the National Park Service for inclusion in the Lewis and Clark National Historical Park. Finally, H.R. 3819 calls for a study of additional sites associated with the eastern legacy of the Lewis and Clark expedition to be completed by the Secretary of the Interior and the results transmitted to Congress within 1 year of this bill's passage. The study will serve to identify potential additions east of the Mississippi to the Lewis and Clark National Historic Trail, for which several pieces of legislation have recently been introduced. Mr. Speaker, without completing this important first step, determining which sites are truly worthy of recognition, designating further sites would stain the authenticity of the Lewis and Clark Historic Trail as a whole. Mr. Speaker, H.R. 3819 is supported by the majority and the minority of the committee and by the administration. I would urge adoption of the bill.”