Blake Moore: “I thank the ranking member of the House Natural Resources Committee for his support of this legislation and also to my…”

“I thank the ranking member of the House Natural Resources Committee for his support of this legislation and also to my colleague from New Mexico, Representative Leger Fernandez, for her kind words of support and her support of the bill overall, as well as, most importantly, our committee staff. I thank them all very much. Madam Speaker, I rise today in strong support of H.R. 3616, the Bear River National Heritage Area Study Act, which would conduct a study to determine the area's suitability for a national heritage area designation. This would help local communities in the area protect important elements of their heritage and promote the area's tourism industry. This important bill enjoys significant local support and, if enacted, would help the region better share its incredible history with the world. The Bear River basin, which stretches through northern Utah and southeastern Idaho, played a key role in the settling, expansion, and development of the American West. Native American Tribes, such as the Shoshone, called this area home because of its lush environment and favorable weather. Today, with the construction of the Boa Ogoi Cultural Interpretive Center in southeastern Idaho, these stories will soon be told like never before. Eventually, explorers and adventures, fur trappers, and religious pioneers also settled in the area and began to build homes.…”